Tow set up advice

[ldg]

Hi all, looking for some advice for potential tow set up. I’m looking at buying a horse trailer to tow with my 2022 tremor. Trailer is 3800 lbs (empty) but the tongue weight for the particular one I like is listed at 800 lbs. It’s rated higher because there is an extra ramp to unload the horse at the side of the trailer.

I read the tongue weight for my particular truck is only 750 lbs. Are there any modifications or special set up that could help increase the tongue weight?

Sorry if this is a really dumb question, I’m new and looking to educate myself better before I do something dumb and ruin my truck ?

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[Grumpaw]

Simple and definite answer is NO !!! The 750 lb max tongue weight is specified by both Ford, and the hitch manufacturer. There are no modifications you could make to raise the tongue weight capacity. And, if that 800 lbs is the tongue weight of just the trailer, empty, than it will go up once you load it.
You could get rid of the factory hitch platform and replace it with a class 4 platform, of which some are rated for 1000 lbs. But I don't think anyone makes one for the Ranger. And, even then you would be overtaxing the structural load capacity of the Ranger. It just wasen't made for that kind of tongue weight.
Get a lighter trailer or a bigger truck...

 

[ldg]

Simple and definite answer is NO !!! The 750 lb max tongue weight is specified by both Ford, and the hitch manufacturer. There are no modifications you could make to raise the tongue weight capacity. And, if that 800 lbs is the tongue weight of just the trailer, empty, than it will go up once you load it.
You could get rid of the factory hitch platform and replace it with a class 4 platform, of which some are rated for 1000 lbs. But I don't think anyone makes one for the Ranger. And, even then you would be overtaxing the structural load capacity of the Ranger. It just wasen't made for that kind of tongue weight.
Get a lighter trailer or a bigger truck...

thanks so much! i figured any overloading would be an awful idea so i’ll opt for a lighter trailer that doesn’t have a side ramp.

 

[Cabose-1]

I second what grumpaw said

One thing to move a trailer way overweight on some country dirt road for a mile or 2, another to over load and drive safely on a long trip across public paved roads.

Smaller trailer or one with less tongue weight, or bigger truck

 

[ldg]

I second what grumpaw said

One thing to move a trailer way overweight on some country dirt road for a mile or 2, another to over load and drive safely on a long trip across public paved roads.

Smaller trailer or one with less tongue weight, or bigger truck

thank you! i’m definitely going to go with a lighter trailer option ?.

 

[Grumpaw]

Your Ranger is fully capable of handling the weight of a trailer (I would guess a 2 horse rig with dual axles) with 2 horses, but it's the tongue weight of the loaded trailer thats over the rating.
Additionally, with any tongue weight over around 350 lbs or so your going to need a weight distributing hitch set up to safely tow, especially with "precious cargo" in the trailer. You don't want to haul with just a slip in shank and ball.
Even with a "lighter trailer" when you load a horse or two, the tongue weight will most likely be substantial. Even a tow package with a good shank and ball would not be "safe". To be safe you should invest in a good weight distributing hitch set up and to have it properly set up.
And, depending on the trailer and the type of braking system it has, you will probably need some type of brake control...
Yup, it can get a bit involved, but it's the safe and proper way to go.

 

[ldg]

Your Ranger is fully capable of handling the weight of a trailer (I would guess a 2 horse rig with dual axles) with 2 horses, but it's the tongue weight of the loaded trailer thats over the rating.
Additionally, with any tongue weight over around 350 lbs or so your going to need a weight distributing hitch set up to safely tow, especially with "precious cargo" in the trailer. You don't want to haul with just a slip in shank and ball.
Even with a "lighter trailer" when you load a horse or two, the tongue weight will most likely be substantial. Even a tow package with a good shank and ball would not be "safe". To be safe you should invest in a good weight distributing hitch set up and to have it properly set up.
And, depending on the trailer and the type of braking system it has, you will probably need some type of brake control...
Yup, it can get a bit involved, but it's the safe and proper way to go.

thank you for all the advice and the explanations to go with it! you are correct in your assumption about a 2 horse rig, there are just so many different models and i dreamed about having one with a side ramp to offload easier but that totally makes sense about the extra weight on the tongue because of it. i just couldn’t justify driving a larger truck everyday so the tow capacity (amongst other things) are why i went with a ranger so my dreams of a side ramp trailer will have to wait ?. i’ll stick with a regular one for now.

i will look into getting a weight distributing hitch set up. my truck already had an electronic trailer breaking system installed when i purchased it ?.

 

[Tom_C]

Switch over to pony's.

 

[Cabose-1]

I dont know steve, i as of yet have never used a weight distribution hitch. I am towing a cargo van, e250 from dallas to mcallen tx using a car hauler. It will be about a 6k tow, but am not using a wdh. Of all the vehicles and small tractors i have towed, i am usualy abkut 4k to 6500 lbs. Tmranger does just fine towing. No sway, huge squat nothing. Brakes suck. But brake controller or hydraulic brakes help with weight. So....just do not, have not seen the need for wdh.
I have never towed a tt so from my understanding, that is a whole different kind of tow. And i do see and know why its a different kind of tow.
I have dealt with 2000lb trailers improperly loaded and that will make your a#%hole pucker.

 

[Grumpaw]

I dont know steve, i as of yet have never used a weight distribution hitch. I am towing a cargo van, e250 from dallas to mcallen tx using a car hauler. It will be about a 6k tow, but am not using a wdh. Of all the vehicles and small tractors i have towed, i am usualy abkut 4k to 6500 lbs. Tmranger does just fine towing. No sway, huge squat nothing. Brakes suck. But brake controller or hydraulic brakes help with weight. So....just do not, have not seen the need for wdh.
I have never towed a tt so from my understanding, that is a whole different kind of tow. And i do see and know why its a different kind of tow.
I have dealt with 2000lb trailers improperly loaded and that will make your a#%hole pucker.

Agree to a point....if it didn't involve live animals...
She gave the original tongue as around 800 lbs....too heavy right off the start. Even if she gets a trailer with a lighter weight, after adding a horse or two, tongue weight will go up, and the cargo is not static...it moves.
Lets say it ends up with a tongue weight of 650-700 lbs.....just remember that weight is , without a WD hitch, exerting 700 lbs of weight using a 2 inch ball (pretty sure most trailers of that type use a 2 inch coupler). I would not want to trust a trailer, live animals to just a ball and shank....
Me, I'd be using the best possible hitch equipment I could get. But, that's me, and I always err on the side of safety. Yeah, I have seen trucks pulling 2 and 4 horse trailers with only a ball, and running 70-75 mph, and it scares the crap out of me when I see it....maybe they get away with it as the trucks are usually 3/4 or one ton.
But the OP is just running a Ranger, and that limits it from the start....just offering what I personally would do.
Let me add, to the OP....I don't tow a trailer without a WD hitch, and aside from some smaller cargo trailers, all my experience has been with travel trailers and larger cargo where I used a WD hitch.
I would encourage you to talk with other horse trailer owners and towers and see what their using or their recommendations (from experienced towers).

 

[ldg]

Switch over to pony's.

having extra large horses has

Agree to a point....if it didn't involve live animals...
She gave the original tongue as around 800 lbs....too heavy right off the start. Even if she gets a trailer with a lighter weight, after adding a horse or two, tongue weight will go up, and the cargo is not static...it moves.
Lets say it ends up with a tongue weight of 650-700 lbs.....just remember that weight is , without a WD hitch, exerting 700 lbs of weight using a 2 inch ball (pretty sure most trailers of that type use a 2 inch coupler). I would not want to trust a trailer, live animals to just a ball and shank....
Me, I'd be using the best possible hitch equipment I could get. But, that's me, and I always err on the side of safety. Yeah, I have seen trucks pulling 2 and 4 horse trailers with only a ball, and running 70-75 mph, and it scares the crap out of me when I see it....maybe they get away with it as the trucks are usually 3/4 or one ton.
But the OP is just running a Ranger, and that limits it from the start....just offering what I personally would do.

i definitely would like to run on the safe side and will for sure be picking up a WDH. i put in a call to the trailer place and a local mechanic who does trailer set ups after you suggested the hitch, and they both said getting WDH is a great safety step to take. my horse is big so he needs an extra tall and extra long trailer, even without the side ramp option.

@Tom_C might be on to something with the pony idea ?

 

[Cabose-1]

Agree to a point....if it didn't involve live animals...
She gave the original tongue as around 800 lbs....too heavy right off the start. Even if she gets a trailer with a lighter weight, after adding a horse or two, tongue weight will go up, and the cargo is not static...it moves.
Lets say it ends up with a tongue weight of 650-700 lbs.....just remember that weight is , without a WD hitch, exerting 700 lbs of weight using a 2 inch ball (pretty sure most trailers of that type use a 2 inch coupler). I would not want to trust a trailer, live animals to just a ball and shank....
Me, I'd be using the best possible hitch equipment I could get. But, that's me, and I always err on the side of safety. Yeah, I have seen trucks pulling 2 and 4 horse trailers with only a ball, and running 70-75 mph, and it scares the crap out of me when I see it....maybe they get away with it as the trucks are usually 3/4 or one ton.
But the OP is just running a Ranger, and that limits it from the start....just offering what I personally would do.
Let me add, to the OP....I don't tow a trailer without a WD hitch, and aside from some smaller cargo trailers, all my experience has been with travel trailers and larger cargo where I used a WD hitch.
I would encourage you to talk with other horse trailer owners and towers and see what their using or their recommendations (from experienced towers).

I like the way you think Steve.

 

[Davidjc]

Hi all, looking for some advice for potential tow set up. I’m looking at buying a horse trailer to tow with my 2022 tremor. Trailer is 3800 lbs (empty) but the tongue weight for the particular one I like is listed at 800 lbs. It’s rated higher because there is an extra ramp to unload the horse at the side of the trailer.

I read the tongue weight for my particular truck is only 750 lbs. Are there any modifications or special set up that could help increase the tongue weight?

Sorry if this is a really dumb question, I’m new and looking to educate myself better before I do something dumb and ruin my truck ?

Smart move to research. Best of luck to you.

 

[ldg]

thanks so much again for the education & advice @Grumpaw and @Cabose-1 for chiming in as well.

i ended up buying the same model without the side ramp as it had a more appropriate loaded tongue weight for the ranger.

the head of the trailer shop test drove it first to make sure it was all safe and then we switched spots so he could see how comfortable i was with it.

he was really impressed with how well the ranger handled the trailer, even when he was trying to make mistakes to check how safe the set up was.

just for my own confidence, we are still getting the WDH once the dealer has availability to install. For now, Im practicing with the empty trailer just on the regular hitch.

 

[Grumpaw]

Looks good Lisa. From your photo, even empty the rear of the Ranger's rear has dropped, I would surmise due to the trailer, even empty, having a heavy tongue...trailer looks like it has the majority of the weight forward of the axles.
When you add a horse or two (1000/2000 lbs) that tongue weight will go up substantly....so I applaud your getting the WD hitch set up.
Additionally, you may want to look at a set of heavy duty shocks, especially for the rear, and when it comes time for tires, look into a set of "D or E" rated tires....heavier duty and 6-10 ply vs. the 2/4 ply of the OE tires....they will handle the weight much better. These are things you would most likely have to do even with a larger F-150.

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