Towing question

[ctechbob]

https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/grey-wolf-26djse-and-a-ranger.25650/

Here you go. This is real-world info on ready-to-camp loading and as built weights etc.

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[Frenchy]

As long as the total trailer weight when loaded is within your towing specifications on the Ranger and you are smart and take things slow and needed I promise you will be totally fine. The Ranger has a maximum tow capacity of 7,500 lb

 

[ctechbob]

As long as the total trailer weight when loaded is within your towing specifications on the Ranger and you are smart and take things slow and needed I promise you will be totally fine. The Ranger has a maximum tow capacity of 7,500 lb

The trailer he has his eye on has too much hitch weight, and loaded to travel it is going to be right on the ragged edge as far as overall weight is concerned.

 

[Grumpaw]

I agree with ctech....the rig your looking at has too heavy a tongue weight , and that's empty. By the time you load it up you'll be well over the Rangers 750 lbs rating.
As posted, nothing you do to the Ranger will raise the tongue weight rating.....the mod's we have listed will let you handle a larger trailer better, but not raise the ratings.

 

[dtech]

There is an app I used to , maybe tow buddy? That is as precise as it gets telling you what your limits are, it requires a lot of inputs as to your tow vehicle, trailer, payload etc and it gives you a safety rating , it is conservative but surprised me when I plugged towing my 4162 lbs trailer where I stood regards safe towing, and with towing I believe in having a safe setup, better safe than sorry. I'm towing today and my main concern is mostly making it to next gas station.

 

[ctechbob]

I'm towing today and my main concern is mostly making it to next gas station.

I've come to think of our smallish tanks as a 'feature'.

When we're traveling, either me, the wife, or the dog needs to stop after about a tank of fuel, so even if I had a bigger tank, we'd still be stopping for one reason or another. Might as well get fuel while the rest of them are doing what they need to.

 

[Grumpaw]

I've come to think of our smallish tanks as a 'feature'.

When we're traveling, either me, the wife, or the dog needs to stop after about a tank of fuel, so even if I had a bigger tank, we'd still be stopping for one reason or another. Might as well get fuel while the rest of them are doing what they need to.

Same for us...wife and 2 pup's. After 2-3 hours/150-175 miles (depending on speed/roads/interstate) we're ready for a stretch/coffee/piddle break.
Gas up and quick walk around the rig...

 

[rio-ranger]

I come to the realization i need a bigger truck or the lighter trailer. Thank you all for the help.

 

[fjwlobo]

@Grumpaw, @ctechbob and others. Appreciate all the info and towing advice on this and other threads. Was wondering how much the Roadmaster Active Rear Suspension lifts the rear end of the Ranger when not towing? I don't want to add any more rake than I have already if possible.

I'm looking at getting a Grand Design AIM 16ML TT and trying to get the Ranger set up for towing when I retire in about 3 years. I have the ICON 2.5 Stage 6 with adjustable rear shocks and rear leafs set at option 2. This gives me about a 1.5" lift in the rear over stock with a 2" level in the front which was basically eliminated. I also have the Ford brake controller and Clearview mirrors already installed and have a MBS , PPE trans pan, and blue Sumo's waiting for warmer weather.

What additional items would be recommended other than a WD sway bar hitch and maybe side and rear cameras as I'll be traveling only with the fur kids?

Thanks for any info ?

 

[Grumpaw]

@Grumpaw, @ctechbob and others. Appreciate all the info and towing advice on this and other threads. Was wondering how much the Roadmaster Active Rear Suspension lifts the rear end of the Ranger when not towing? I don't want to add any more rake than I have already if possible.

I'm looking at getting a Grand Design AIM 16ML TT and trying to get the Ranger set up for towing when I retire in about 3 years. I have the ICON 2.5 Stage 6 with adjustable rear shocks and rear leafs set at option 2. This gives me about a 1.5" lift in the rear over stock with a 2" level in the front which was basically eliminated. I also have the Ford brake controller and Clearview mirrors already installed and have a MBS , PPE trans pan, and blue Sumo's waiting for warmer weather.

What additional items would be recommended other than a WD sway bar hitch and maybe side and rear cameras as I'll be traveling only with the fur kids?

Thanks for any info ?

The Roadmaster setup added about 1/2-3/4 inch to my stock 2 wheel drive Ranger. It does raise it, but because it's a passive system, does not affect the ride when solo driving.
Seeing as yours is already lifted, the Roadmaster probably won't add anything extra.
When I went to a slightly larger E rated 10 ply tire, that also added about another 1/2 inch.
All in all, I am not concerned with the rear going up a bit....truck handles great and I never feel out of control.
Also have the Clearviews and Fitzstick, and waiting a few more days for warmer weather to install my deep pan.
I looked at the 16ML....very nice smaller rig....just right for you and the pup's. Your Ranger won't have any problems towing it, and what you've done and planned will be more than adequate.

 

[dtech]

I've come to think of our smallish tanks as a 'feature'.

When we're traveling, either me, the wife, or the dog needs to stop after about a tank of fuel, so even if I had a bigger tank, we'd still be stopping for one reason or another. Might as well get fuel while the rest of them are doing what they need to.

I'm not exactly sure how but on my return trip I managed 13.5 mpg, vs 10.5 mpg outbound, route going home was different with less severe inclines, went from grand junction to zion np and Paige AZ. Avg speed was pretty much the same. I didn't realized in a past discussion on atf you were towing, that makes a big difference especially if towing in hilly or mountainous , the tranny shifts a lot, would be interesting to see exactly how many gear changes I did on this trip. On the return leg though I didn't leave it in tow mode all the time on more level stretches not using tow mode allowed more time in 9 gear, whereas tow mode I was in 8th gear a good deal .

 

[rio-ranger]

I really do not want to trade my ranger for a F150, I kept researching and found this guy. So I think I will wait and do a test tow to see what it can do.

 

[Grumpaw]

I really do not want to trade my ranger for a F150, I kept researching and found this guy. So I think I will wait and do a test tow to see what it can do.

I would re-check the tongue weight he is stating....
He states it is around 600 lbs, but spec sheet from Forrest River states 724 lbs.....BIG difference !!!
Forrest River lists their tongue weight with a battery (around 40 lbs) and 2 full propane tanks (around 60 lbs for 2 smaller tanks).....so their 724 lbs maybe closer to correct.
I would tend to go by Forrest River's specs....that is a front kitchen which means all the appliances weight are forward of the axles. Also, the floor plan shows the slide out (a heavy component) is also forward of the axles...724 lb tongue weight seems right, and thats before you load it with your "stuff".
I need to edit this......
I went onto Forrest River website, and even their dry as shipped weight is extremely vague......
Stated that the rigs are weighed as they leave the factory. If it has a battery and/or propane tanks that weight is included, but if no battery or tanks, it is just trailer weight.
Now, the problem....they do not indicate if their trailers are or are not shipped with battery or tanks, but "usually" the battery and propane tanks are added at the dealer.....
So if that is true, than the weight spec's for the rig, and it's tongue weight must be increased by around 40 lbs for one battery and 80 lbs for two full 20 lbs propane tanks.....so around 120 lbs ADDED to the specked tongue weight in their brochures.
It is probably best to ask the dealer if the battery/tanks were added at the dealership.

So, the guy in the video may be playing with an empty rig, to which 120 lbs has to be added to the tongue weight, or the Forrest River weight at 724 lbs is an empty weight, and 120 lbs has to be added to that....
Confusing, ain't it !!!!!!!!
The only, absolutely positive way to determine tongue weight at a dealer....buy a Tongue Weight Scale for around $150-$170 on Amazon and bring it with you when you go trailer hunting !!!
Have the dealer weight it right in front of you

 

[Frenchy]

I would re-check the tongue weight he is stating....
He states it is around 600 lbs, but spec sheet from Forrest River states 724 lbs.....BIG difference !!!
Forrest River lists their tongue weight with a battery (around 40 lbs) and 2 full propane tanks (around 60 lbs for 2 smaller tanks).....so their 724 lbs maybe closer to correct.
I would tend to go by Forrest River's specs....that is a front kitchen which means all the appliances weight are forward of the axles. Also, the floor plan shows the slide out (a heavy component) is also forward of the axles...724 lb tongue weight seems right, and thats before you load it with your "stuff".
I need to edit this......
I went onto Forrest River website, and even their dry as shipped weight is extremely vague......
Stated that the rigs are weighed as they leave the factory. If it has a battery and/or propane tanks that weight is included, but if no battery or tanks, it is just trailer weight.
Now, the problem....they do not indicate if their trailers are or are not shipped with battery or tanks, but "usually" the battery and propane tanks are added at the dealer.....
So if that is true, than the weight spec's for the rig, and it's tongue weight must be increased by around 40 lbs for one battery and 80 lbs for two full 20 lbs propane tanks.....so around 120 lbs ADDED to the specked tongue weight in their brochures.
It is probably best to ask the dealer if the battery/tanks were added at the dealership.

So, the guy in the video may be playing with an empty rig, to which 120 lbs has to be added to the tongue weight, or the Forrest River weight at 724 lbs is an empty weight, and 120 lbs has to be added to that....
Confusing, ain't it !!!!!!!!
The only, absolutely positive way to determine tongue weight at a dealer....buy a Tongue Weight Scale for around $150-$170 on Amazon and bring it with you when you go trailer hunting !!!
Have the dealer weight it right in front of you

Understanding the concern with tongue weight I'm curious if that tongue weight is really at empty or at full capacity. Obviously you want to look at the gross trailer weighted too because if that's going to be higher than the tow rating I wouldn't want to do it.

 

[Grumpaw]

When you see a tongue weight listed on a dealers or manufacturers site or info/spec sheet, it is always given as when the trailer is empty.
And, if the battery/s and propane tank/s were not added od shipped with the empty trailer, and added at the dealer, than the weight of those items must be added to the weight of both the trailer weight, AND the tongue weight of the trailer. If empty tongue weight was listed a 500 lbs, and the dealer added a battery and 2 propane tanks than you have to add around 100 lbs to the "empty" tongue weight.
Different manufacturers do different shipping when battery and propane tanks are concerned, but most do not ship their trailers with them....their added at the dealer.
Trailer weight is also as produced and empty.....usually taken as the rig leaves the factory with any accessories such as ac, awning included in the empty weight.

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