Tongue/hitch weight

[kipkohl]

Man!, this place is a wealth of info. Thanks. I do have the Ford branded Redarc controller, just haven't installed it yet. I've read the thread here, and looking at the supplied instructions, I'm pretty sure I can do the installation....Just wish I had a heated shop LOL

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[Dereku]

I would highly recommend renting one first or see if you can take it for a test tow and hit a scale. First time towing can be a nightmare. Luckily i was taught before I could legally drive.

 

[subquark]

Everyone who tows a trailer should watch this about towing. Even seasoned people will find it interesting. I've been towing trailers for 40 years and still found it informative.

Great video but the wiggle made me think back to my younger days ...

 

[Skit hjälm]

Fwiw,
I tow a similar weight (5k-ish) utility trailer loaded with a small tractor.
To run around the flatlands, you definitely know it's there. But it does fine.
Taking it over the mountians, it'll do the job alright but it's not very happy about it.

 

[Cabose-1]

Always remember. Use a
GEN-Y hitch
And a torsion one for added comfort.

 

[Jhbryaniv]

this might be of interest to some here. There are several other pdf's here that might be of interest to ya'll too.

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[HAMMERTIME]

To date my truck (2020 XLT Sport) has 90,000 kms on it and 30,000 are pulling my TT. It is a 21 ft trailer and fully loaded is just over 6000 lbs and 650 lbs on the tongue. I use a Husky round bar WDH with 800-1200 lb bars. I have a Tekonsha brake controller and it works great. With the trailer on I do not exceed 65 mph. If I could offer any advise, make sure set up is done properly, learn off Interstate roads and leave lots of space in front of you. You won't stop on a dime, ever.

 

[joeduran3]

Wow, thanks for the replies. All of them are pretty much in line with what I was thinking. Our second choice is the 1575, GVWR of 4600 and a tongue weight between 350-690 by my calculation.

I tow a travel trailer, 24 feet long, approximately 5000 pounds fully loaded. Have a 2020 Lariat Supercrew. It pulls the weight fine especially in tow/haul mode. The wind tends to push the trailer around, which you feel in the truck. I use a weight distribution hitch. I think this size trailer is as big as I would go given the effect of side winds and passing trucks. I'm considering replacing the FX4 shocks/struts with something better, but haven't decided how much $$ I want to spend.

 

[RickyDean]

My wife and I are starting to look at TT's and I have a question about tongue weight ratings. We're looking at the Lance 1685:
Dry weight 4620
GVWR. 6300
Dry hitch. 540
My question is; does the tongue weight increase in a linear fashion as trailer weight increases? It looks like the dry tongue weight is about 12% of the dry trailer weight. I know tongue weight in part depends on how the trailer is loaded, but in general is the tongue weight going to be 12% of the loaded trailer weight? At GVWR tongue weight would be 756lbs.

We have a '21 super crew xlt fx4 with a 1434 payload. I see a lot of people pulling similar TT's with the Ranger, but this seems like it doesn't leave much of a safety margin as far as weight limits, or am I being too conservative? We're totally new to trailer towing.

Thanks for any wisdom you can throw my way.

Hey Kip,
I have a ‘19 XLT Lariat and tow a Lance 1985 TT with it. I also have a 16ft landscape trailer that I haul a Yamaha SxS on with a total weight of about 3200lbs.
I have a weight distribution hitch for the Lance and that works pretty well at keeping the truck and trailer level. The overall weight of the Lance is no problem for the Ranger but you really want a WD hitch. Even set up with the WD hitch, towing it with the Ranger is a little nerve wracking as the sail area of the Lance can cause a bit of sway.
If you are really set on towing your Lance with your Ranger consider spending the big bucks for a Hensley Arrow WD hitch with the best sway control on the market.
I am personally thinking of going with a bigger truck but when you start looking at half tons, look closely at the payload capacity. I’ve seen several half ton trucks with only 1400-1600lb payload capacity. That could mean that those trucks may not handle your TT tongue weight much (or any?) better than your Ranger.
I mentioned earlier that I also tow a landscape trailer/SxS. I am currently working on putting a WD hitch on that trailer too as if I load the SxS in front of the axles it causes the Ranger rear to sag and puts my headlights in the eyes of oncoming traffic.

 

[kipkohl]

Thanks for the replies. I think a little smaller trailer is in our future at this point. I go back and forth about the 1685 because I see a lot of people towing similar TT's, but they probably are a lot more experienced than I am, which is to say, I have no towing experience.
There is a Lance trailer that is a step down that is well within the Ranger's and my comfort level. We'll probably go down that path based on the great info I've received here. You all are a wealth of information!

 

[CODave]

To date my truck (2020 XLT Sport) has 90,000 kms on it and 30,000 are pulling my TT. It is a 21 ft trailer and fully loaded is just over 6000 lbs and 650 lbs on the tongue. I use a Husky round bar WDH with 800-1200 lb bars. I have a Tekonsha brake controller and it works great. With the trailer on I do not exceed 65 mph. If I could offer any advise, make sure set up is done properly, learn off Interstate roads and leave lots of space in front of you. You won't stop on a dime, ever.

I have a very similar setup to this. '19 Lariat SuperCrew, towing a Winnebago 2306BHS with 6000lb. GVW. (This is a 7' wide trailer, not an 8', so there's less frontal area) I knew this was going to be at the upper end of the limits of the truck, so I had to set up everything very carefully. I installed the Redarc brake controller, and a weight distributing hitch. I set up the trailer so my batteries are in the rear, and keep heavier stuff in the back, too. (toolbox, grill, etc.) My tongue weight is right around 11%. I also never go over 65 mph. But, it tows beautifully. Living in Colorado, I've taken this rig over the Continental Divide, including Eisenhower Tunnel, at 11,158'. Just don't try to be the hero in the left lane passing everyone, and you'll do fine. Just take it nice and slow, the truck can handle it.

 

[HAMMERTIME]

I have a very similar setup to this. '19 Lariat SuperCrew, towing a Winnebago 2306BHS with 6000lb. GVW. (This is a 7' wide trailer, not an 8', so there's less frontal area) I knew this was going to be at the upper end of the limits of the truck, so I had to set up everything very carefully. I installed the Redarc brake controller, and a weight distributing hitch. I set up the trailer so my batteries are in the rear, and keep heavier stuff in the back, too. (toolbox, grill, etc.) My tongue weight is right around 11%. I also never go over 65 mph. But, it tows beautifully. Living in Colorado, I've taken this rig over the Continental Divide, including Eisenhower Tunnel, at 11,158'. Just don't try to be the hero in the left lane passing everyone, and you'll do fine. Just take it nice and slow, the truck can handle it.

You forgot to mention that you are also now a professional gas pumper having to stop every 2 - 3 hours for gas pulling a TT. That is the only "not fun" part of owning this truck. My worst was Hamilton, ON to Myrtle Beach, SC and I had to stop 7 times to gas up. It's too bad they went with such a small tank as the truck is so great at towing.

 

[EJH]

You forgot to mention that you are also now a professional gas pumper having to stop every 2 - 3 hours for gas pulling a TT. That is the only "not fun" part of owning this truck. My worst was Hamilton, ON to Myrtle Beach, SC and I had to stop 7 times to gas up. It's too bad they went with such a small tank as the truck is so great at towing.

The wife or I have to pee at least every two hours, not an issue for us What is an issue is some remote areas out west where gas stations are too far apart. Unless I know the area we are driving through, I never pass by a gas station when at 1/2 a tank or lower.

 

[Grumpaw]

The wife or I have to pee at least every two hours, not an issue for us What is an issue is some remote areas out west where gas stations are too far apart. Unless I know the area we are driving through, I never pass by a gas station when at 1/2 a tank or lower.

Same for us. Stopping every 2-3 hours gives us a chance to strech and give our two pup's a walk.
And, I drive on the top 1/2-2/3 tank. Traveling thru western Canada and into Alaska, that is S.O.P....1/2 tank, time to fill up.

 

[Friday yet?]

Just don't try to be the hero in the left lane passing everyone, and you'll do fine.

That statement right there is spot on.

I'll be one of the first to occasionally try to roll up the left lane behind me. But towing is a whole different animal. Sad, and sometimes scary, that many towing people have no concept of that fact.

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