Newbie to towing with a bunch of questions!

[Retirednavy2010]

Good day everyone!

I have had my '23 Ranger Lariat since August '24 and it has been a good truck! When I bought it, it did not come with a factory brake controller, which I thought was weird for a truck that came with a tow package. So I asked the dealership to install the Ford brake controller for me before I took delivery. Instead the installed a Curt Spectrum Brake Control 51170. I have not used it yet so I don't know if it actually works or not! Has anyone else used this controller, is it any good?

After I bought my truck I took and bought a pop-up camper weighing maybe 2,000 pounds and it came with non-working surge brakes. The truck towed it awesome, didn't even really notice it was behind me most of the time. I ended up selling the trailer and at the 2026 RV show in Edmonton I am going to be buying a 2026 R-Pod 194.

This trailer has a GVWR of 4,760 pounds, which I doubt I will ever load it up to, hopefully will keep it around 4,000 to 4,200 pounds max with all my gear and food. I will also be bringing with me 3 25L Jerry cans of extra fuel, kept in the bed of the truck, since this thing has such a tiny fuel capacity.

My question is, do I need a WDH hitch? I keep seeing people saying yes I do and I see people saying no I don't. This will be my actual full size trailer I am buying and towing. A lot of my trips will be on the prairies with hills and such, but I will also be doing a trip to BC every year (mountains). I want to be as safe as possible while on the road. I know when I hauled 1,000 pounds of dirt in the bed, the truck really didn't squat that much, but I'm not sure what having around 546 pounds of tongue weight (4200lbs x 13% tongue weight) will do to the truck.

When I was doing all my numbers, I found it interesting as well how the truck is rated to tow 7500 pounds max with a 750 pound tongue weight max, but according to my numbers, my GVWR is 6,050 pounds, the GCWR is 12,500 pounds, which means I could really only legally tow 6,450 pounds. How did they come up with the higher number?

Another question. The truck currently has 45,657 KM's on it, only had standard service (oil change, new tires, filters.) I bought it off a 1yr lease which I assume was doing mostly highway mileage as it had just over 38,000 KM's when I bought it. I put less than 10,000 KM's on a year, so this didn't really bother me. When I start towing, how often should I change my transmission fluid? Is just doing a pan drop and filter change okay or do I need to do it another way? In the spring time when I do my spring oil change, I also plan on changing the fluid in both diff's, the transfer case, change the spark plugs, so that when I start towing I know I've got a fresh tune up. I currently do 2 oil changes a year; one in the fall around October and then one in the spring time around April. I do this because most of my driving is 5KM or under one way, so the engine and fluids never really get up to operating temp. I plan on doing four good trips next year!

My dad is a Ford mechanic, so I have access to a shop (on occasion) with a hoist to do most of the work myself and someone to help me with stuff I can't do, which is always nice!

Thank you for all the help and tips!

Attached is a pic after I bought my truck and the '97 Jayco pop-up trailer I had bought!

A WDH doesn't just distribute the tongue weight it also helps reduce and control trailer sway by redistributing the trailer's tongue weight evenly across the axles of the tow vehicle and trailer, which improves overall stability and handling. By keeping the vehicle and trailer aligned and level, the hitch minimizes the effects of crosswinds, uneven loading, and other factors that can cause dangerous fishtailing. Many premium weight distribution systems also include built-in sway control features to provide even greater resistance to side-to-side motion. I didn't believe i needed on until pulling my old 25 ft camper behind my Tacoma, the tongue weight made the suspension squat but the side winds killed me. Put a WDH on and the tail wagging issues all but ceased.

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[Jimmy07]

I use a Fastway E2 on my R-pod 178. Two round trips CA to AK, and really happy with the WDH. There is one exception I take with Grumpaw ... the spring bars should not be oversized. An oversized spring bar that is too stiff would transmit too much bounce to the travel trailer.

 

[RangerOwner86]

I use a Fastway E2 on my R-pod 178. Two round trips CA to AK, and really happy with the WDH. There is one exception I take with Grumpaw ... the spring bars should not be oversized. An oversized spring bar that is too stiff would transmit too much bounce to the travel trailer.

So I would probably want something with about 600-800 lb rating then correct? I am guessing that the linked earlier would probably be too heavy duty for the 194? https://arrkannrvparts.com/products/fastway-trailer-products-14-5607-weight-distribution-hitch

I did see this one... https://www.fastwaytrailer.com/products/equal-i-zer-hitch/ I am assuming that I would be best to go with the 600/6000 lb rated one? If I am going to buy one, then I figure I should get the best one that isn't too big for my trailer...

 

[Grumpaw]

I use a Fastway E2 on my R-pod 178. Two round trips CA to AK, and really happy with the WDH. There is one exception I take with Grumpaw ... the spring bars should not be oversized. An oversized spring bar that is too stiff would transmit too much bounce to the travel trailer.

That's why I prefer the chain type bar set up....you can drop to a lower or raise to a higher link to tailor the bar.....

 

[RangerOwner86]

That's why I prefer the chain type bar set up....you can drop to a lower or raise to a higher link to tailor the bar.....

Is this what you mean by "chain type"? https://arrkannrvparts.com/products/weight-distribution-hitch-husky-round-bar-14-1069
Sorry, just trying to understand all of this as I am very new to towing a full size trailer

 

[Grumpaw]

So I would probably want something with about 600-800 lb rating then correct? I am guessing that the linked earlier would probably be too heavy duty for the 194? https://arrkannrvparts.com/products/fastway-trailer-products-14-5607-weight-distribution-hitch

I did see this one... https://www.fastwaytrailer.com/products/equal-i-zer-hitch/ I am assuming that I would be best to go with the 600/6000 lb rated one? If I am going to buy one, then I figure I should get the best one that isn't too big for my trailer...

Way too heavy....for a friction type maybe something around 500-550 lbs. With the chain type around 600 lbs as the chain type is more adjustable via the links...lower down to give lighter tension or raise up to tighten tension.
With either type, once you get it set up right, it will remain the same, but its furthur adjustable if you get a different trailer later on.

 

[Grumpaw]

Is this what you mean by "chain type"? https://arrkannrvparts.com/products/weight-distribution-hitch-husky-round-bar-14-1069
Sorry, just trying to understand all of this as I am very new to towing a full size trailer

Yup.....
Also, before you buy anything, take a few measurements as you will most likely need a drop shank (the part that inserts into the hitch platform) with a large drop, 10 inches or so as the Ranger's rear end sits high.
I can't tell you exactly what you'll need, but if you take the measurement of the trailers coupling, when the trailer is level. and the measurement of the height of the Ranger's hitch and give it too ETrailer, they will put you in the right equipment

 

[RangerOwner86]

Way too heavy....for a friction type maybe something around 500-550 lbs. With the chain type around 600 lbs as the chain type is more adjustable via the links...lower down to give lighter tension or raise up to tighten tension.
With either type, once you get it set up right, it will remain the same, but its furthur adjustable if you get a different trailer later on.

This one here would probably be a good option? It has the optional sway control as well...
https://www.huskytow.com/husky-towing-31995-weight-distribution-hitch

 

[Grumpaw]

To the OP....I keep referring to ETrailer as their probably the best for info here in the US.
But being in Alberta, there has to be a good RV dealer the can help you set the hitch up properly.
Setting it up right is soooo important....right and you will tow without any problems, but set up wrong and towing will become a chore and you will end up very dis-satisfied with the whole rig.

 

[Grumpaw]

This one here would probably be a good option? It has the optional sway control as well...
https://www.huskytow.com/husky-towing-31995-weight-distribution-hitch

Husky makes good quality stuff. Just remember, the sway control bar usually must always be disconnected before backing up into a spot where turns are required....no backing up straight for a few feet, but always when backing into spots where there will be right/left turns while backing.
It is not designed for sharp turns. Personally, I have never, in almost 60 years, used one...

 

[RangerOwner86]

To the OP....I keep referring to ETrailer as their probably the best for info here in the US.
But being in Alberta, there has to be a good RV dealer the can help you set the hitch up properly.
Setting it up right is soooo important....right and you will tow without any problems, but set up wrong and towing will become a chore and you will end up very dis-satisfied with the whole rig.

I'm going to be buying my trailer from Arrkann RV in Acheson, so I am hoping that they will be able to help me install the WDH. I will also be watching video's on setting these things up!

 

[Cmar]

Well I tow this with my 3.2 diesel Ranger, it is about 22' overall and weighs 2400 Kg (about 5,300 Lb) when filled to capacity. When I first bought it I did wonder if a WDH would be needed but I thought I would try it first, and found that it tows fine without it.
And I've towed it literally everywhere, like to Melbourne from here (which for you would be like towing from Canada to Florida) out to Birdsville in the central desert (including 250 km of dirt track) and many shorter local trip to the beaches just over the NSW border.
It has independent trailing arm suspension and electric brakes and just tracks along fine.

 

[Cmar]

Husky makes good quality stuff. Just remember, the sway control bar usually must always be disconnected before backing up into a spot where turns are required....no backing up straight for a few feet, but always when backing into spots where there will be right/left turns while backing.
It is not designed for sharp turns. Personally, I have never, in almost 60 years, used one...

Yes Al Ko and Hayman Reece make something similar over here. When we were kids we had a huge enormously heavy caravan which dad towed with the biggest, heaviest cars he could buy, and he used something similar that being a mechanical engineer, he made himself.
But I remember the rigamarole of using a lever to lift the bars, hooking on the chains, then having to release them for steep driveways or reversing and the constant banging on sharp turns. All this turned me off them forever, and I find my Ranger tows fine without one.

 

[Stevedbvik1]

I’m using the Andersen WDH set up. Also serves as a anti sway. Light weight and easy setup. We pull around 6000 and are very pleased with the setup.

 

[Cmar]

I've seen those for sale over here but never seen one in use. Most people tend to favour the spring bar ones instead.

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