2022 Ranger unstable towing

[BReeves61]

When in doubt start with the basics.

-Take the trailer at travel weight and get it weighed.
-Arrange your gear so that 10-15% of the trailer's weight is on the ball(this can be done with a bathroom scale and some 2x4s.
-Follow the WDH manufacturer's guide to setup the hitch.
-The trucks tires absolutely do not need to be at maximum sidewall pressure to pull a 3500# TT. Start with the trucks recommended tire PSI and add a pound or two if you are having sidewall flex.
-Make sure you have the correct size WDH for your trailer.
-Lastly you may need to play around with your tongue weight and WDH tension. Some trailers will feel more stable with 10% over the tongue with less tension on the bars. Some will feel better closer to 15% with more tension on the bars. Leave the sway control loose or off while you are setting the trailer up.

thanks!

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[BReeves61]

A couple things to look at. First of all what is your tongue weight. It needs to be between 10% and 15% of the trailer weight. Even though not as bad as too light, to much tongue weight can cause handling issues. Second, having the trailer level or slightly nose down is good. Having the truck level is relative. If your truck has the stock rake it should still have some when hooked up. What I mean is you should see your front not raise when hooked up. If it is you are taking weight off your front steering wheels. This will let the trailer push the truck around. To correct this you may need to adjust your distribution bars to get more weight transfered to the front of the truck. Too much tongue weight plays into this as well. Third, I personally am not a fan of the friction sway bars. They are hard to adjust consistantly and need to be removed to backup. Much perfer WDH with built in 2 or 4 point sway control. Lastly if you have a FX4 with the stock rear shocks, change them.

thanks!

 

[Elmosaurus]

I run between 55 and 60 most of the time.

Very reasonable speeds then.

Only other question I'd ask is what brand of tire?

I didn't want to believe it, but once a friend convinced me to switch, I learned there is a VAST difference in towing character/quality between different tire brands.

When I changed to Goodyear Endurance tires, it was like night and day. Was the only change made to the setup, and it towed infinitely better and more stable. Never, ever would have believed it if I hadn't actually tried it myself.

 

[BReeves61]

Are you sure you're level? Only reason I ask is that the Ranger is usually near the high end of hitch heights and usually requires quite a bit of drop on the hitch shank before things are back level. They're certainly taller than a Ram. Especially if you reused the equipment you already had and didn't adjust for the height.

I'd look at the tire pressure as well. There are several of us that tow heavy with ours and most of us settle around the 40psi area for tire pressures. If the pressures are too high, you'd probably expect the truck to be 'fidgety' when pushed around a bit by the wind.

yeah, I put a level on the trailer and its right on the money. May add a link on the chains and see what that does

 

[BReeves61]

Very reasonable speeds then.

Only other question I'd ask is what brand of tire?

I didn't want to believe it, but once a friend convinced me to switch, I learned there is a VAST difference in towing character/quality between different tire brands.

When I changed to Goodyear Endurance tires, it was like night and day. Was the only change made to the setup, and it towed infinitely better and more stable. Never, ever would have believed it if I hadn't actually tried it myself.

I have Goodyear Endurance tires as well. Good tires

 

[BReeves61]

I guess crank it down ... I do have plenty of tow experience. tow haulers too 5th wheels. I bought my ranger to flat tow behind our RV and go off roading. Your honestly challanging this choice of truck. Sure it can pull it, but a 3500lb trailer is usually empty, loaded your 4500. a 4500lb parachute is gonna challange a 5000 truck. if it was a boat you'lld been ok because low profile. but the size and shape works is working against you imho. but Tonge weight critcal, where your weight inside the trailer is too. A level trail so axels are level and a sway bar gonna be only help. Not sure if you would have 2 sway bars. But the sway bar worked amazing for me way back with a 2500 suburban and a 26ft toy hauler. Eventually I went to diesel truck and then 5th wheel. Now on to class A's You might want to call a couple trailer hitch company tech line direct!!

 

[BReeves61]

thanks!

 

[Elmosaurus]

I have Goodyear Endurance tires as well. Good tires

Having eliminated those basics, then the result has to be something in your WDH setup. Follow the advice given above by the others about finding optimum load on the tongue, and keeping some amount of rake in your truck.

 

[Dereku]

What is your tire pressure at on the truck? Might be too high. That can cause wiggle.

 

[brroberts]

I’d second the wdh setup and tongue weight.

I tow at 60mph max. I’m still on factory tires on the truck and trailer. I have about 11,000 miles towing with the Ranger and Escape 19 trailer. I have towed much of my adult life, and bought the Ranger specifically for towing. I run my truck tires at 35 psi and my Chinese trailer tires at 50 psi. When the trailer tires wear out I’ll move to the Goodyears. I have towed with my C2500 and Ranger, and the Ranger seems solid. My travel trailer weighs 4620lbs ready to go with 560lbs of tongue weight. I have an Equalizer hitch and in one very quick construction zone stop the trailer moved a little. On a bridge from the OBX I hit VERY strong unnerving winds. We slowed down to about 10 mph and got shoved around, but the truck and trailer moved as one. So, I know with the right weight distribution and the right hitch setup, the Ranger can be very capable.

Check your hitch and weight distribution. I’d second making sure you have the right amount on the truck front and rear tires, and have enough tongue weight. Continue to keep the trailer level. Typically you measure the front fender height with the truck loaded to travel minus the trailer. Then measure with the trailer attached without weight distributing bars attached. Then try to get at least half that distance back, and NEVER more than you started with on the front.

Finally tow with each tank either full or empty to minimize the sloshing water effect. I go empty black and gray with full fresh, although I have to work harder on balance with my fresh behind the axel and the other two in front. Don’t forget to keep weight reasonably balanced left to right in the trailer to keep tire loads even. This can be hard with trailer layouts, but it does help.

 

[Floyd]

yep. I went from a Ram v6 to the Ranger. Never felt the trailer at all with the Ram however it did not have the power the Ranger has.

I assume your trailer is tandem axle?
How fast do you tow?
What do you estimate payload to be on the Ranger when towing?
Don't forget that tongue weight is part of payload.
Start over with your set up and get your tongue weight to around 400 to 425 before adding your WDH.
Be sure the trailer is level with approximately equal weight on each axle.
It is also possible to over tighten a WDH so go back, start over, and read the manual.
Above all... moderate your speed when towing anything, no pickup with an RV trailer is as stable at the same top cruising speed as when not towing....period!

 

[EJH]

I understand how you feel, and have experienced that with my 5,000 lb trailer. It was when the WDH (with build in sway - Fastway E2 600/6,000 hitch) was not set up with enough spring bar tension from the dealer. It was also not setup level (the trailer nose was too high up).

I highly recommend a few things:

• Get a WDH with built in sway and set it up to the exact instructions. Even then, you may need to tweak things. Something like my E2 or similar type (Equalizer, etc.). Many people love Andersen hitches also. I tweaked my hitch after each of the first 3-4 trips. I have it dialed now.
• You may need an aftermarket drop bar. The Ranger hitch is high. I have my E2 WDH on the lowest position. Even there, I wish I had one more setting lower.
• Replace your rear shocks. The Ranger shocks are too soft and underdampened. The rears are way worse than the front. $200-300 will get you a nice pair of rear shocks. An hour is enough time to install them yourself. If you don't off-road, go with Eibach or Bilstein. They are stiffer. If you off-road, get Fox. You can take it one step further and either get a rear sway bar for the truck or something like the Roadmaster Active Suspension. I have neither of these, but many will attest that they help.
• I agree with the brroberts above about the tanks. My grey and black are behind my trailer axle. I try to dump those before I drive any long distance. My fresh is directly over the trailer axle.

Then, there is the reality that you are towing with a mid-size truck. You will never be as smooth and carefree as in a full size. You get used to it. I have over 6,000 miles towing in the last 6 months across the western US. I used to get stressed when driving, but now I am relaxed (as long as it isn't very windy, lol).

 

[LostMy65]

 

[Cabose-1]

The scLes are your friend here. Make sure your trailer is level, use a gen y hitch. I tow my fathers cargo trailer at 3000lbs no sway bar nothing, just safety chains. The ranger tows just fine. 70mph max, no tailgating just nice and easy and the truck does fine.
Make sure the weight is properly distributed. Make certain the wdh is set up correctly. I dont tow tt's, but its the same principle applies

Tow vehicle was a
2020 xlt 4x2

 

[P. A. Schilke]

I have a 2022 Supercrew and tow a 3500 lb travel trailer. On the interstate it feels every vehicle that passes causing a wiggle to truck and trailer. I have a weight distribution hitch and both truck and trailer are level. We load everything in the front part of the camper. I use a sway bar (brake style)
at medium tight. I pump my tires to the max rating on both truck and trailer as well. It's mainly when someone passes me from behind. What am I missing? Thanks!

Hi Bobby,

This is an unusual concern here on these forums...most folks marvel on how great the Ranger tows. So first thing is for you to visit your local Truck Stop Scales and weigh the trailer, Ranger and Trailer, and Ranger. This will help you with data, not guesstimates.

Bumpping tires to max is not advisable...There are load vs tire pressure charts for tire manufacturers... you are likely too high on pressure...again...you are guessing...

It sounds like you do not have the correct tongue load and are biased to the rear of the trailer.

There is a bit of help that I use on my RV. They are called Air Tabs and are vortex generators that work to smooth out air flow behind the RV... They move the center of pressure to be close to the polar moment of inertia thus reducing sway. Not very expensive and effective in my opinion...
You can see them on my Alfa RV here: https://www.airtab.com/airtab-applications.htm

Best,
Phil

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