Towing Trip Report - Honest Review

[HappyFlyer]

Trailer - Grand Design Imagine 2150RB (26ft 9in all in). Loaded up weighed 6200lbs, tongue weight was 680lbs. Our Ranger is a 2020 Sport 4x4 XLT, wife, myself and two dogs. Our combined total weight was around 12,000lbs. We have the Andersen hitch.
Route :
Direct to US border, then Hwy 25 to Davenport WA
HWY28 to Odessa WA then 21 and I90 to Moses Lake for a night stop.
HWY17 to 395, I84 and 97 to Bend for the night.
97 and 138 to Cape Blanco.
101 to Cannon Beach
I5 then 12 to Yakima
I82 to Ellensburg
I90 to George
283 and 17 to Coulee
2 to Davenport
25 back to the border and home to Nelson.
Total distance 3850 km. Average MPG was around 11.

Real mixed terrain through the mountains, over the high desert inland Oregon and along the coast. Anybody who has been around Oregon will know the long climbs and long descents and the wind. The Ranger had zero issues going up or down...we kept the speed to around 65 on the Interstate (so weren't the fastest on the road) and 55-60 elsewhere, haul mode engaged. On the interstate and coastal roads, when it was really windy there was some movement at the back end but nothing that was white knuckle. I have never towed with a larger truck so don
t have anything to compare it to. I have been towing for a bunch of years so it doesn't really bother me but less experienced may find it a bit uncomfortable when a side gust hits. Semis overtaking or passing opposite direction really didnt upset us at all - but we knew when a big square uhaul or similar was coming from behind at speed. Again, nothing scary, just felt it. We did find us getting sucked into the draught if we overtook a semi too close or vice-versa, but soon learned to give it the space it needed. We only had one truly uncomfortable moment on I90 East of Ellensburg as we traversed the higher ground before we got to the Columbia River. It was really gusty and super busy so with all the turbulence I found I had to slow right down to 50-55 for a bunch of miles.

I was quite anxious before this journey having read all the comments in all the forums about towing heavier trailers...gotta say I was soooo surprised at how comfortable it was. Can't wait for the next trip ! These trucks are great !

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[Toto]

Thank you for sharing. It is good to know. I have done those roads many times. I live in Oroville, WA, but I tow a mini camper.

 

[Grumpaw]

Your trailer is very close weight wise to our Jayco 24RL, We have well over 12,000 miles towing it thru all kinds of terrain, and have never had a problem using the Ranger as a tow vehicle.
There are several of us who regularly tow travel trailers in that size/weight range and have been well satisified with the Ranger.
Your mpg is pretty much spot on for towing that heavy a trailer thru different roads/terrain. Pretty much what I get with our rig.....a bit more and a bit less depending on roads/conditions/speed.
We're actually on the road now down in the Jonesboro Tenn area.
Check thru the towing section for some info on our rigs and what we have done to the Ranger to better equip it for heavy towing.

 

[HappyFlyer]

Grumpaw it was your forum comments that convinced me I would be fine ! And I feel my overall experience was similar to what you report, so I am happy with that. My Ranger is 100% stock, so am looking to see what mods make sense - best bang for buck and all that. I assume it's going to be rear struts but I don't want to ruin the non-towing experience as I commute 2 hours a day 3 times a week in the truck. I will start researching....

 

[Grumpaw]

There isn't too much you will do that will ruin the ride. My Ranger is a 2 WD, and I replaced the rear shocks with Bilstein 5100's, Blue Sumo Bump Stops, A Roadmaster Active Rear Suspension Sstem, and that's it. Still gives a great ride, and the Roadmaster System only comes into play when the rear is loaded up. I also went to a set of Yokohama G015 10 ply tires as they can be aired up a lot more, and gives a more stable ride than the OE 2 ply tires. When towing I run 50 psi rear and 40 psi front. Daily use their at 35 psi.
The rear shocks on your 4x4 may be OK as their probably better than the OE 2WD shocks....other 4x4 owners will probably chime in with their opinions.

 

[MXGOLF]

That's good to hear Chris and thanks for the ride report. I do tow myself but a tent trailer and have absolutely no problems and quite enjoy towing. I have been up in Washington and all over Oregon towing and this truck is awesome.

 

[awd.nv]

My only complaint when towing is I wish the tank was larger, otherwise I have been very pleased with towing out smaller trailer too.

 

[EJH]

Good report that matches my experience.

I also live and tow in the PNW, mountains all around me.

I have a slightly smaller trailer - 5,000 lbs gross, 20 ft long. The wind gusts occasionally hit me, but after several years towing with the Ranger, I am used to them being harmless. Upgraded suspension and tires improved my towing experience significantly. The only area I hate to tow is I-84 through Idaho. The wind is nuts there and I have to drop my speed way way down (like 50-55mph).

Any issue with the border crossing either way? We are debating taking our trailer up to BC next summer instead of staying in AirBnBs. We go to BC 1x-2x/year but never with an RV.

 

[Chris M]

My only complaint when towing is I wish the tank was larger, otherwise I have been very pleased with towing out smaller trailer too.

There's a replacement tank for that...

 

[Cabose-1]

I towed a 30ft tt. very few complaints from me about the ranger. it seemed to hunt gears a lot driving against the wind between 9th and 8th gears. so i locked out 10th and 9th gears. super happy after that. never went above 70, no need to just did not find a reason too. mostly stuck to 65. would have driven the same speed even if i had an f350. just no sense in driving fast when towing.
biggest complaint MIRRORS!!!!!! mirrors are awful on this truck. Saving up right now to get the clearview mirrors, and the roadactive suspension springs. and later the gen y torsion hitch!! I can be used with a wdh too. thats all i am looking to do to the ranger. I run my psi on tyres the same as grumpaw. 30 for driving around town. i have 255 75 17 tyres. thats about it from me. I tow a lot locally. different trailers and different stuff, cars, small tractors, junk, lawnmowers, dirt, plants, cargo trailers and the such. always use a GEN Y HITCH.
good luck glad the ranger lives up to its capability
keep the rubber side down!!
2022 xlt fx2

 

[dozxab]

Grumpaw it was your forum comments that convinced me I would be fine ! And I feel my overall experience was similar to what you report, so I am happy with that. My Ranger is 100% stock, so am looking to see what mods make sense - best bang for buck and all that. I assume it's going to be rear struts but I don't want to ruin the non-towing experience as I commute 2 hours a day 3 times a week in the truck. I will start researching....

I just put Eibachs in my FX4 and I can assure you the ride on rough terrain is vastly improved and handling on twisty roads is better too. Good info here, these guys are straight shooters. https://www.shocksurplus.com/blogs/news/leveling-strut-comparison-bilstein-vs-eibach-vs-fox

 

[HappyFlyer]

Good report that matches my experience.

I also live and tow in the PNW, mountains all around me.

I have a slightly smaller trailer - 5,000 lbs gross, 20 ft long. The wind gusts occasionally hit me, but after several years towing with the Ranger, I am used to them being harmless. Upgraded suspension and tires improved my towing experience significantly. The only area I hate to tow is I-84 through Idaho. The wind is nuts there and I have to drop my speed way way down (like 50-55mph).

Any issue with the border crossing either way? We are debating taking our trailer up to BC next summer instead of staying in AirBnBs. We go to BC 1x-2x/year but never with an RV.

No issues at all crossing the border in either direction. They weren’t interested in the trailer in the slightest. Didnt ask to look, didnt ask what we had in it. We were concerned about all the rules around food so deliberately didnt stock the fridge, but we worried for no reason.

 

[awd.nv]

There's a replacement tank for that...

I have only seen the Long Range America one but the capacity is much more than I would want since I off-road, it looks like it could get hit a lot easier. Something like 24-26 gallons would be awesome. Only when towing do I wish I had the capacity, if I am going to a new location I might bring 1-2 Jerry cans of fuel but would be nice to not loose the precious space in the bed.

My wife wants an F150 for larger interior when towing but I love this thing.

 

[Montana Ranger]

We tow a Jayco 24RL, just short of 7,000lbs loaded. Power is never an issue, even at high altitudes. Crosswinds can be challenging and we take steep downhill grades with care.

 

[Grumpaw]

We tow a Jayco 24RL, just short of 7,000lbs loaded. Power is never an issue, even at high altitudes. Crosswinds can be challenging and we take steep downhill grades with care.

Funny.....your rig is a Jayco Jay Flight 24RL, and ours is a Jayco Jay Feather 24RL.....
Must be a western item...didn't know they made a Jay Flight 24RL.

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