BowWow
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Steve
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2020
- Threads
- 6
- Messages
- 88
- Reaction score
- 250
- Location
- Alberta Canada
- Vehicle(s)
- 2020 Ford Ranger
- Thread starter
- #1
Just finished a 2200 km round trip towing a 6x12 dual axle enclosed utility trailer (GVW 7,000 pounds), and before I go to bed I wanted to pick a few bones with Ford about my Ranger trailering experience. For the record, I'm driving a 2020 Lariat FX4 with the trailer towing package.
Here's the bones:
1. Seriously. A trailer towing package without a brake controller???? C'mon, Ford!
2. The umbilical outlet is mounted upside down in the rear bumper. This is not only inconvenient (my trailer umbilicals are trained to bend a certain way. Turn them upside down and they get all wonky), but may cause damage when the tailgate is opened and it hits a pistol-grip-shaped trailer plug. I also have a backup alarm that plugs into the trailer outlet (required for my work) that makes contact with the tailgate when it's open, because the outlet is mounted upside down. Luckily, I discovered this before doing much damage (a small black spot in the paint is all). I'll try to pop the outlet out and turn it around if I can...
3. The truck knows when a trailer has been plugged in. All sorts of warnings and stuff flash on the screen. But you have to manually press the Trailer Tow button to put the transmission into town mode. Again, seriously, Ford? If the truck knows a trailer is plugged in, have it tell the bloody transmission!!! It should automatically turn the trailer tow mode on when a trailer is plugged in. Then, if I don't want the trailer tow engaged, make me turn it off, not on!
4. When the trailer tow button is pushed, a very bright orange icon lights up on the dash. It isn't dimmable with the rest of the display. Why not have an information light in the display, like the 4H and 4L lights, instead of this garish glaring warning light? After a while I actually adjusted my body position in the seat so the steering wheel would obstruct the light. It's extremely obnoxious! I know, I know, a piece of electrical tape strategically stuck to the glass. But seriously, who wants a blob of tape stuck to their instrument panel???
5. Towing mirrors. Should be part of the towing package, no? The stock Lariat mirrors are fine for my 6 foot wide trailer, but a 7 or 8 foot wide trailer would be impossible. I seriously miss my ghost trailer mirrors on my Ram!???
6. Tiny fuel tank. But you knew that already, didn't you Ford. And did I mention the lack of an integrated brake controller?????
7. This is more of a wish than pointing out obvious failures. My 2017 Nissan Titan had headlights that could be adjusted from inside the cab. A 4 position roller switch let me aim them up or down as needed, while driving. Of course, each headlight cost about $900, but it sure was nice!!!
These are the bones. My towing experience was actually great. Gobs of power, lots of torque available. The loaded trailer slightly magnified the stock FX4 shocks weaknesses. I'm swapping for Eibach soon. Eibach or Bilstein should cure the wallow. The truck tracks well with the trailer properly loaded, no porpoislng at all. The trailer dropped the bumper by about an inch and a half. I didn't re-aim my headlights, so I got flashed - a lot.
I found the best balance of fuel mileage/speed by staying at 60-65 mph in 7th or 8th gear. Not great fuel mileage (just over 13 mpg), but far better than my 2017 Titan got pulling that trailer! Most of the trip was through the Rockies between Calgary Alberta and Prince George BC. Spectacular!!! The Icefields Parkway between Lake Louise and Jasper is stunning both ways!!! So lots of up and down. The truck didn't miss a beat.
Well, there you have it. I'll probably send a sternly worded email to whomever I can find at Ford to tell them of my experience, and perhaps some future edition of a Ford truck will get the towing experience right, straight out of the box...
Here's the bones:
1. Seriously. A trailer towing package without a brake controller???? C'mon, Ford!
2. The umbilical outlet is mounted upside down in the rear bumper. This is not only inconvenient (my trailer umbilicals are trained to bend a certain way. Turn them upside down and they get all wonky), but may cause damage when the tailgate is opened and it hits a pistol-grip-shaped trailer plug. I also have a backup alarm that plugs into the trailer outlet (required for my work) that makes contact with the tailgate when it's open, because the outlet is mounted upside down. Luckily, I discovered this before doing much damage (a small black spot in the paint is all). I'll try to pop the outlet out and turn it around if I can...
3. The truck knows when a trailer has been plugged in. All sorts of warnings and stuff flash on the screen. But you have to manually press the Trailer Tow button to put the transmission into town mode. Again, seriously, Ford? If the truck knows a trailer is plugged in, have it tell the bloody transmission!!! It should automatically turn the trailer tow mode on when a trailer is plugged in. Then, if I don't want the trailer tow engaged, make me turn it off, not on!
4. When the trailer tow button is pushed, a very bright orange icon lights up on the dash. It isn't dimmable with the rest of the display. Why not have an information light in the display, like the 4H and 4L lights, instead of this garish glaring warning light? After a while I actually adjusted my body position in the seat so the steering wheel would obstruct the light. It's extremely obnoxious! I know, I know, a piece of electrical tape strategically stuck to the glass. But seriously, who wants a blob of tape stuck to their instrument panel???
5. Towing mirrors. Should be part of the towing package, no? The stock Lariat mirrors are fine for my 6 foot wide trailer, but a 7 or 8 foot wide trailer would be impossible. I seriously miss my ghost trailer mirrors on my Ram!???
6. Tiny fuel tank. But you knew that already, didn't you Ford. And did I mention the lack of an integrated brake controller?????
7. This is more of a wish than pointing out obvious failures. My 2017 Nissan Titan had headlights that could be adjusted from inside the cab. A 4 position roller switch let me aim them up or down as needed, while driving. Of course, each headlight cost about $900, but it sure was nice!!!
These are the bones. My towing experience was actually great. Gobs of power, lots of torque available. The loaded trailer slightly magnified the stock FX4 shocks weaknesses. I'm swapping for Eibach soon. Eibach or Bilstein should cure the wallow. The truck tracks well with the trailer properly loaded, no porpoislng at all. The trailer dropped the bumper by about an inch and a half. I didn't re-aim my headlights, so I got flashed - a lot.
I found the best balance of fuel mileage/speed by staying at 60-65 mph in 7th or 8th gear. Not great fuel mileage (just over 13 mpg), but far better than my 2017 Titan got pulling that trailer! Most of the trip was through the Rockies between Calgary Alberta and Prince George BC. Spectacular!!! The Icefields Parkway between Lake Louise and Jasper is stunning both ways!!! So lots of up and down. The truck didn't miss a beat.
Well, there you have it. I'll probably send a sternly worded email to whomever I can find at Ford to tell them of my experience, and perhaps some future edition of a Ford truck will get the towing experience right, straight out of the box...
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