2021 Ranger 4x4 stock height with Tow pkg questions about shocks, air bags, cooling?

[hami6718]

I have a WDH, Redarc brake controller, I always punch the trailer button when towing. My trailer is 8' wide by 10'6" and weighs 4100# dry and generally about 5k loaded. The ride is level with the WDH but the ride comfort could be better. I have original stock shocks and am considering putting on Bilstein 4600s all around and see how that feels. I will consider some air bags in the rear but what do you guys think of that?

Twice I have experienced getting slowed to a crawl by the engine safety system, I don't know what that's called. It's a surprise but then I pulled over and let it idle for 5 minutes then turned it off for 10 minutes. All good after that but I had been running 71mph and so I slowed down to 62 and had no more trouble. I have had other drives where it seemed to get sluggish after 3 hours steady so I wonder if my radiator and intercooler were topped out. I plan to set up ForScan and start watching those temps. Any thoughts on an upgrade radiator and/or upgrade intercooler? I have made two three week trips (3000+ miles) with this setup and will do that again next year.

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[Friday yet?]

Watching this one. Anticipate some good discussion/insight here.

 

[ctechbob]

Quick and dirty of it.

The Ford OEM shocks are garbage for towing. Your 4600 idea is spot on.

Skip the airbags and use the blue Sumosprings if you still feel like you need some help in the rear of the truck.

Are you using premium fuel while towing? It won't help with heat, but the truck will be happier when heavily loaded pulling 70mph.

I never once had mine go into a limp mode and that was towing highways down here in GA, so we were running hot.

I would be curious what temp is getting out of whack for the truck to pull back. Monitoring trans temp should be included in your plan for temp monitoring.

The 10R80's have a fun little thing they'll do if they are slightly overfilled and worked hard on the highway where they will foam the fluid and start a temperature runaway. Usually that is accompanied by blowing fluid out the vent, so unless you saw that while towing it isn't likely it was a trans overheat. But you still need to monitor that temp while towing.

 

[hami6718]

Yes, I use 93 octane always and I plan to start watching all the temps - head, intake air, trans, oil , radiator, and boost pressure. I am ordering a ScanGauge III, it looks perfect for this. Thanks for the confirmation on the 4600s. I will wait to see how they feel before I consider the Sumos. I did not see any vent foaming but I'm glad to have that heads-up for the future.

 

[WOADKIL]

So I tow A 20' 4,000 lb single axle trailer with my '21 XLT. Installed 5100 Bilsteins in the rear to eliminate the bouncing, and helped towing. Also installed the blue Sumos. No WDH, just a Reese friction bar to reduce sway.​

Very smooth towing.

Never had a slow down or limp mode, so I think that is serious, esp with no obvious observable reasons...

I admit to hitting 80 mph once on PCH while towing, but not recommended. And constant cruising at 71 mph has to put a strain on the truck drive train, not including any elevation changes. My normal cruise speed is 65, especially since the limit in CA is 55...​

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Shocks are a good start.​

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Enjoy!​

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[Just Awkward]

I have no experience with heat issues or an aftermarket intercooler, but I have heard others recommend an intercooler for 100+ degree heat.

 

[hami6718]

An intercooler upgrade is pricy but after I get a ScanGauge set up I will see what the temps look like all around and know what to do first.

 

[hami6718]

So I tow A 20' 4,000 lb single axle trailer with my '21 XLT. Installed 5100 Bilsteins in the rear to eliminate the bouncing, and helped towing. Also installed the blue Sumos. No WDH, just a Reese friction bar to reduce sway.​

Very smooth towing.

Never had a slow down or limp mode, so I think that is serious, esp with no obvious observable reasons...

I admit to hitting 80 mph once on PCH while towing, but not recommended. And constant cruising at 71 mph has to put a strain on the truck drive train, not including any elevation changes. My normal cruise speed is 65, especially since the limit in CA is 55...​

​

Shocks are a good start.​

​

Enjoy!​

​

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Yeah I usually stay around 66mph but we live in Atlanta and when I get close to home on the Interstate I find myself going 80 briefly just to stay clear of trouble! Why do I still live here? haha

 

[Rock squirrel]

I tow a 20’ travel trailer probably about 4000 lbs loaded and 600 lbs tongue weight. I upgraded to the Ford performance heavier overlanding suspension (Old Man Emu) and thought it was a nice improvement. I don’t use a weight distributing hitch so it squats a little bit, but much better than stock fx4 suspension. I also typically load the car so I’m usually close to GCWVR.

I’d be concerned about the limp mode and might want to have it checked out. I’ve towed up and down grades and in desert heat without much problems - I think I only had a limp once, but I’m not sure what caused it because it went away and was fine afterwards. It might have been related to some quirk when I was on cruise control going through whoopdies at highway speed. Never had issues after that until my transmission failed like many others here.

 

[Stic-o]

I've only had the limp mode thing happen once, and that was towing a 4500 lbs travel trailer through the Mojave desert at about 115* up hills doing about 75-80. I've towed heavier in hot weather but, it was a car hauler, and I didn't push the truck has hard after that.

Bilstein 5100's will be better for towing

 

[ctechbob]

Bilstein 5100's will be better for towing

If you're not leveling the truck, save the money and use 4600's, they're valved the same as the 5100's.

Source: Email directly from Bilstein

 

[Stic-o]

If you're not leveling the truck, save the money and use 4600's, they're valved the same as the 5100's.

Source: Email directly from Bilstein

That's not true. They just tell you that to sell both shocks. They are valved differently.

 

[ctechbob]

That's not true. They just tell you that to sell both shocks. They are valved differently.

So I'm not supposed to take the word of the tech directly from Bilstein?

 

[Stic-o]

So I'm not supposed to take the word of the tech directly from Bilstein?

You can believe whatever you want to believe. But why not just have 1 shock that fits all? Sound kinda silly to waste money building a shock that works with and with our lift, and the same but only for stock.

I literally deal with this everyday.

 

[ctechbob]

So again. Unless you're changing the ride height of the truck, the 4600's are going to be the same.

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