Towing 4500 lb travel trailer up and down 7% grade for 8 miles

[BReeves61]

Anyone done this with a 2022 Ranger Supercrew? If so, how did it go up and down? Any tips are appreciated as we are planning to go Asheville NC area traveling on I 40 from Raleigh.

Thanks!

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[Grumpaw]

Been there, done that, towing a 7000 lb camper. Did the I-40 west of Ashville after taking I-26 from I-81........up, down, all around !!!
Your Ranger will do just fine (as long as it's properly set up). Just use the tow-mode and when climbing the grades, drop tranny down a few gears if you need too....won't hurt anything.
Have climbed the Saluda Grade coming up out of So. Carolina, the !-77 grade coming north out of No. Carolina into Va., mountains in Vt, Hew Hamp., and all along the north east without any problems.
4500 lb camper....Ranger will be fine.

 

[Chris M]

I've only ever done that with a tractor-trailer, so I can't be of the help you need at all. Sorry!

A beautiful drive once you get past Winston-Salem a few miles. Pay close attention to the speed limits and stuff, as many other people don't and they make for a scary drive at times.
Enjoy your trip!

 

[WingShot]

Living in Denver and camping throughout the Rocky Mountains (from Montana to New Mexico), pulling a camping trailer up and down the hills is about all I do with it. Mine tops out at just over 5700 pounds and the Ranger pulls and stops it with very little trouble. I've had a reoccurring problem with an emergency collision sensor freaking out every once in while, but that seems un-related to the trucks towing ability.

 

[BReeves61]

Been there, done that, towing a 7000 lb camper. Did the I-40 west of Ashville after taking I-26 from I-81........up, down, all around !!!
Your Ranger will do just fine (as long as it's properly set up). Just use the tow-mode and when climbing the grades, drop tranny down a few gears if you need too....won't hurt anything.
Have climbed the Saluda Grade coming up out of So. Carolina, the !-77 grade coming north out of No. Carolina into Va., mountains in Vt, Hew Hamp., and all along the north east without any problems.
4500 lb camper....Ranger will be fine.

How high did your rpms go coming down the mountain in tow mode? Did the engine breaking help?

 

[brroberts]

Sorry, can’t be more helpful. I’ve only done 17% at the most with 4700lbs and a fully loaded truck. ?

 

[Grumpaw]

Don't recall about the rpm's, but were never high enough for any concern...thinking they got into the 3000 range. But, the Ranger has no problem at all with keeping up the speed, more than enough power to never be caught in the right truck/slow lane. Has plenty of power to pass.
The tow mode does act like a mild trans brake when going down, but it's just as easy to drop a few gears and let the trans help, and rpm's don't go up enough to be of concern.
I have around 12,000 miles towing a 29 foot 7000 lb camper all over the north east, and mountains of N.C., Tenn, W. Va, and more, and have never even had the Ranger come close to overheating.
I know of the grade you referring to, going west on I-40 heading into Ashville....your Ranger won't break a bit of sweat and you'll be able to maintain 60 mph all the way, easy peasy !!!
Just go have a good time !!!

 

[EJH]

How high did your rpms go coming down the mountain in tow mode? Did the engine breaking help?

Engine braking helps our Rangers (towing or not towing) but there is only so much a 2.3L 4 cylinder can do. My Subarus actually engine brake better than my Ranger (presumably due to AWD allowing engine braking on all four wheels).

You can use Sport mode and knock the gears down as needed when descending. I do that (with/without a trailer).

I don't know RPMs, but I think I can get up to 4k or so?

 

[jflogerzi]

4500lbs is well within the rangers tow rating. the cooling and trans were well designed and should be no trouble. take it slow and make sure your hitch, tounge weight are setup right.

 

[ctechbob]

To piggyback on what others have said. Engine braking out of the I4 is pretty minimal, but let it do its thing. I've had mine downshift right up to almost redline while descending some grades before. It isn't a big deal. Just take your time and crest the hill at a slower speed than you normally would and the truck will handle the rest.

I've bumped my trailer gain up ever so slightly as well on a long downhill and make the trailer do more of its share of work.

 

[EJH]

I've bumped my trailer gain up ever so slightly as well on a long downhill and make the trailer do more of its share of work.

I do this also ^

 

[Friday yet?]

Ranger has a great engine IMHO. I'm a real fan of it.

But physics is physics. If you want stellar engine braking you need displacement. In which case I'd recommend a KW with a 15L Cummins.

 

[Grumpaw]

Ranger has a great engine IMHO. I'm a real fan of it.

But physics is physics. If you want stellar engine braking you need displacement. In which case I'd recommend a KW with a 15L Cummins.

Yes, true. But we're talking about a Ranger...his Ranger. If I don't have any problem with braking my rig with its 7000 lb trailer down a 7-8 % grade, I'm sure he won't with a 4500 lb trailer.
Again, its just the combined use of the truck braking, maybe a bit more gain on the trailer brakes, and down shifting to a lower gear. This is just second nature to those of us who tow a lot.

 

[Friday yet?]

Yes, true. But we're talking about a Ranger...his Ranger. If I don't have any problem with braking my rig with its 7000 lb trailer down a 7-8 % grade, I'm sure he won't with a 4500 lb trailer.
Again, its just the combined use of the truck braking, maybe a bit more gain on the trailer brakes, and down shifting to a lower gear. This is just second nature to those of us who tow a lot.

Completely agree! Wasn't even remotely insinuating that the truck isn't up to the task. It should handle it beautifully.

But it doesn't change the fact that no matter how advanced and awesome 4 cylinder engines are/become... compression braking is the one area where they simply have their limits. No criticism there either. Just pointing it out.

 

[BReeves61]

does any turn off the AC especially when climbing a long grade when towing or does it matter?

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