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

[Mustang2Ranger]

OP-

Agree with the rest, upgrade your shocks

And good strategy to monitor the temps before modding. I do suspect it is heat related though. Not sure the cause, limp mode is concerning. Any light bars or anything like that blocking cooling or huge ass tires?

I usually tow in the CA desert at 70-90+ degrees. 600 or so lbs in the bed and trailer is 3500 lbs. Usually around 70 mph. My favorite spot requires going over the Cajon pass here, 4k elevation. The Tacos struggle unloaded on that climb

For those reasons I decided it was best to try and get as much heat out as possible. Catback exhaust will help marginally. The winner is a high flow downpipe and intercooler combo in my opinion (I have the intercooler pipes too). Depending on your state, you might not pass smog with the downpipe though. Just some thoughts...

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[ControlNode]

I installed the 5100s on the rear of mine, I got a good deal on them and since the dimensions are nearly the same between the 4600 and 5100, it's more of a finish difference than anything. The other thing that helped was going from the standard load tires the truck came with and going to extra load tires. What RPM are you maintaining while towing? With that much of a sail you are pulling against the wind I would not want less than 2,500 at speed, maybe closer to 3,000, easy to do with the lockout mode of the transmission. I recall Ford stating somewhere that max speed while towing is 62MPH. Also I think the max frontal area is only about 55 sq ft.

 

[ctechbob]

I installed the 5100s on the rear of mine, I got a good deal on them and since the dimensions are nearly the same between the 4600 and 5100, it's more of a finish difference than anything. The other thing that helped was going from the standard load tires the truck came with and going to extra load tires. What RPM are you maintaining while towing? With that much of a sail you are pulling against the wind I would not want less than 2,500 at speed, maybe closer to 3,000, easy to do with the lockout mode of the transmission. I recall Ford stating somewhere that max speed while towing is 62MPH. Also I think the max frontal area is only about 55 sq ft.

The square footage thing is just related to performance. They don't say not to tow over that frontal area, just that performance might be reduced....which is.....duh...

 

[hami6718]

OP-

Agree with the rest, upgrade your shocks

And good strategy to monitor the temps before modding. I do suspect it is heat related though. Not sure the cause, limp mode is concerning. Any light bars or anything like that blocking cooling or huge ass tires?

I usually tow in the CA desert at 70-90+ degrees. 600 or so lbs in the bed and trailer is 3500 lbs. Usually around 70 mph. My favorite spot requires going over the Cajon pass here, 4k elevation. The Tacos struggle unloaded on that climb

For those reasons I decided it was best to try and get as much heat out as possible. Catback exhaust will help marginally. The winner is a high flow downpipe and intercooler combo in my opinion (I have the intercooler pipes too). Depending on your state, you might not pass smog with the downpipe though. Just some thoughts...

Good thoughts. I got my ScanGauge today so I’ll be watching temps, except I won’t be towing soon. All in good time.

I installed the 5100s on the rear of mine, I got a good deal on them and since the dimensions are nearly the same between the 4600 and 5100, it's more of a finish difference than anything. The other thing that helped was going from the standard load tires the truck came with and going to extra load tires. What RPM are you maintaining while towing? With that much of a sail you are pulling against the wind I would not want less than 2,500 at speed, maybe closer to 3,000, easy to do with the lockout mode of the transmission. I recall Ford stating somewhere that max speed while towing is 62MPH. Also I think the max frontal area is only about 55 sq ft.

55 square feet is not much; I'm at 84. I never knew Ford spec'd that. And I don't drive 62mph, more like 65-67. I always use tow mode, which keeps the rpms up a little, but maybe I should try Sport mode. I'll keep the extra load tires in mind but I probably won't be buying tires for another year.

 

[ctechbob]

Good thoughts. I got my ScanGauge today so I’ll be watching temps, except I won’t be towing soon. All in good time.

55 square feet is not much; I'm at 84. I never knew Ford spec'd that. And I don't drive 62mph, more like 65-67. I always use tow mode, which keeps the rpms up a little, but maybe I should try Sport mode. I'll keep the extra load tires in mind but I probably won't be buying tires for another year.

You'll be ok sticking in Tow/Haul, just lock out 9/10 (The truck usually won't use those anyways unless you're on very flat ground). You can play around with locking out 8th as well once you're monitoring temps and fuel usage. It may or may not keep everything cooler and use less fuel depending on the situation.

I usually just let mine run in 8th most of the time on the highway at 65-70.

Totally different truck, but the F150 Hybrid will pull 10th easily at highway speeds, but running in 8th gets me about 1mpg better at 70. Oil temp runs a smidge higher, but nothing astronomical. Trans runs about the same.

 

[21Blackout]

OP, you're definitely on the right track. Personally, I've never experienced limp mode while towing, and I pull 7,000 lbs every weekend for 60 miles in the Adirondacks of NY. My elevation change is just under 3,000 ft, and I keep my speed below 70 mph, usually setting cruise control at 60. NYS is posted at 55 except on interstates. My mods include Load Lifter 5000 lb air bags(set at 15psi), a PPE aluminum transmission pan, and Red Line Water Wetter. Transmission temperature never exceeds 230°F on a 5% grade, and engine temperature stays steady at 200°F Stock shocks but 4600s are on the to do list.

 

[hami6718]

OP, you're definitely on the right track. Personally, I've never experienced limp mode while towing, and I pull 7,000 lbs every weekend for 60 miles in the Adirondacks of NY. My elevation change is just under 3,000 ft, and I keep my speed below 70 mph, usually setting cruise control at 60. NYS is posted at 55 except on interstates. My mods include Load Lifter 5000 lb air bags(set at 15psi), a PPE aluminum transmission pan, and Red Line Water Wetter. Transmission temperature never exceeds 230°F on a 5% grade, and engine temperature stays steady at 200°F Stock shocks but 4600s are on the to do list.

The PPE pan is on my maybe list after I study temperatures for a while. I've never heard of Red Line Water Wetter and I'm trying to understand how that could increase heat transfer. Interesting. You drive 60mph? If I drove 60 I would surely stay out of trouble but I would love to stay more in the upper 60s. I'll do the 4600s before I consider air bags because the shocks need to be replaced regardless. Cheers!

 

[21Blackout]

Red Line Synthetic Oil. WaterWetter® It works—I’ve been using it in all my vehicles for 15 years now. I don’t fully understand the science behind it, but I know it’s effective. On the rice rockets I’ve owned, which get driven hard on track days, I noticed faster cooldowns between runs with it compared to without. Temperatures remained stable due to the thermostat, but it also took longer to heat soak. PPe pan normal cruising keeps me at 185 to 190 daily driving avg temp while towing is 200.

 

[ControlNode]

The square footage thing is just related to performance. They don't say not to tow over that frontal area, just that performance might be reduced....which is.....duh...

I call it i limitation because that is how they word it in the headings. Yes, on the left it does mention reduced performance. But, if attempting to tow at 70, beyond the frontal limits, perhaps that is why the heat and limp mode. So, it is very on topic./

55 square feet is not much; I'm at 84. I never knew Ford spec'd that. And I don't drive 62mph, more like 65-67. I always use tow mode, which keeps the rpms up a little, but maybe I should try Sport mode. I'll keep the extra load tires in mind but I probably won't be buying tires for another year.

Yeah, 55sq ft is not much. I've pulled the larger RV campers that are 8ft wide, but I normally rent them from someone close to my destination so I'm no pulling for hours on freeway and such. I would not use sport mode, just lockout the upper gears using the +/- buttons on the side of the shifter. I waited on tires until I wore out the OE set.

Another note, you have tow mirrors (clip/suck-on or full replacements) on your truck yet? If you get into SC with that trailer the OE mirrors alone on the truck could result in a ticket. I don't know the requirements in GA, just looked into SC since I was towing an RV to CMP in Kershaw.

 

[Mustang2Ranger]

Yea forgot to mention locking out 9&10 the whole time, and on a grade usually 8/7/6

Super flat/downhill 9

 

[hami6718]

View attachment 241697
I call it i limitation because that is how they word it in the headings. Yes, on the left it does mention reduced performance. But, if attempting to tow at 70, beyond the frontal limits, perhaps that is why the heat and limp mode. So, it is very on topic./


Yeah, 55sp ft is not much. I've pulled the larger RV campers that are 8ft wide, but I normally rent them from someone close to my destination so I'm no pulling for hours on freeway and such. I would not use sport mode, just lockout the upper gears using the +/- buttons on the side of the shifter. I waited on tires until I wore out the OE set.

Another note, you have tow mirrors (clip/suck-on or full replacements) on your truck yet? If you get into SC with that trailer the OE mirrors alone on the truck could result in a ticket. I don't know the requirements in GA, just looked into SC since I was towing an RV to CMP in Kershaw.

That's all good information. So not Sport mode, just lock out 9 & 10 and use tow mode. I do not have tow mirrors. I tried that a few years back(cheap ones) and did not get a decent few so I put in a camera on the back of the trailer. That's far better than the mirrors, for driving and especially for backing in to a campsite. I did not know there were states that require tow mirrors, and I do get over to SC. Hmmmm.

 

[ControlNode]

That's all good information. So not Sport mode, just lock out 9 & 10 and use tow mode. I do not have tow mirrors. I tried that a few years back(cheap ones) and did not get a decent few so I put in a camera on the back of the trailer. That's far better than the mirrors, for driving and especially for backing in to a campsite. I did not know there were states that require tow mirrors, and I do get over to SC. Hmmmm.

I can't speak to how a camera system would impact the officier's decision to ticket or not, or if the laws have any consideration for electronic alternatives. But, I know that having mirrors that look like they are up to the job, could prevent getting pulled over to start with.

 

[hami6718]

I can't speak to how a camera system would impact the officier's decision to ticket or not, or if the laws have any consideration for electronic alternatives. But, I know that having mirrors that look like they are up to the job, could prevent getting pulled over to start with.

Anything that keeps me from getting pulled over is great. I just looked and Georgia requires them! Who knew!(Not me). I will get some.

 

[Frenchy]

I would just go with the Bilstein 4600 Shocks and Struts. The overall ride will be improved especially with towing. I say this because the stock Shocks and Struts suck.

 

[hami6718]

Anybody know how much the road clearance will change with the PPE Deep pan?

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