Towing 6Klbs for 1400 Miles?

[ControlNode]

On the front weight, at least that front bumper will help with that.

As for positioning the truck on the trailer, not much option using the directions and tie downs of that trailer. Now, the new trailer they are coming out with next year looks to be way better for putting the load where you need it to get the right tongue weight for the load. I'm not sure backwards wouldn't end up too light on the tongue either though.

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[mang5927]

I’m glad I asked about this trip on here. You all have brought up good points I hadn’t considered.
Here’s my breakdown of weights. Some are estimated but close enough.

GCWR allowed for my truck: 12,400
GVWR: 6050
Curb Weight: 4232
Payload Capacity: 1545
Estimated Payload
People: 300
Shell: 250
Bumper: 120 (170lb ARB minus 50lb OEM)
Dogs: 130
Luggage: 100
Tools/Oh crap gear: 50
Total: 950
Tongue Weight: 590-885 (10% and 15% of 5900lb) I know this is an issue as 750 is the max tongue weight

Estimated Total Payload: 1540 - 1835
Estimated total GCWR: 11,672 - 11,967

Max allowed GCWR given altitude at 6400ft: 11,160lbs (2% reduction per 1000ft, starting at 1000ft of elevation, so that would be 10% right?) Also the manual states 3% but everything I’ve read elsewhere says 2%

Bottom line it seems like the tongue weight might be the biggest issue given my truck is leveled. (Yes @Frenchy I know…..) And being over payload. Maybe I can get around this with the truck going on the trailer backwards?

Also the other issue is the GCWR. I’m not massively over but I still don’t like to flirt with this.

I also like the tow dolly idea but the truck is 76.8” at its widest in the front but I can’t find the width at the tires and the max allowed seems to be 72”. This is cutting it close in my mind but would solve the weight issues of a car hauler.

Bottom line we are really in the weeds but I don’t like to go over ratings as this is my daily driver, paid for, and outside of all warranties. I’m leaning towards finding an auto transport or paying a buddy with an F350 and trailer to go pick it up.

 

[dtech]

I'd definitely recommend switching to the wildpeaks and if the weather turns ugly hope you have time to wait it out, wind and blowing snow can be brutal in WY, not sure how people survive up there.

 

[Grumpaw]

My main concern isn't the weight or the Rangers ability....it's that you indicate you might run into snow/rain/ice and in high altitudes with mountain grades.
My concern is with the brakes on the trailer, which are going to be "iffy" at best. The slightest miscalculation on your part could lead to an unfortunate outcome.
If in flat, dry conditions, I'd say no problem....but rain/snow/ice/mountain grades....no.
Adding, I regularly tow a heavy travel trailer, and both it and the Ranger are set up for safe towing, and I would NOT attempt to tow in any conditions where snow/ice may be a consideration

 

[mang5927]

@Grumpaw yep I agree. Even if the towing itself was way under weight I don’t really want to get stuck in WY waiting for highways to open. I’ve decided to have my buddy go get it at some point

 

[ControlNode]

When you start getting that close to the limits you have to be creative or even change the plans all together. Like I mentioned sometime moving gear from the truck to the trailer, and putting in the area that best helps get the tongue weight within range can be part of the "fun". The balancing act that can be is the reason that I bought the WeighSafe hitch so I can see tongue weight and adjust the load as needed. I have had the family in the truck with gear for weekend trips and when I get the RV pickup have moved gear into the RV so that my payload on the truck is not over the limit, and the side affect is that gear moving to the back, can tweak the tongue weight some. Towing is also the reason I went with a trifold bed cover over a camper shell. I can easily remove the bed cover and my bed tent is 15lb (tent also allow me to use the bed with tailgate down for sleeping so I get more than 5ft for my 6ft self to lay down).


I have my weighted tag to 12,000lb, as I don't plan on using that last 500lb for my 4WD SuperCrew. And if needed I'm not against borrowing or renting a Super Duty when needed.

 

[hookem57]

I am needing to tow about 5900lbs from north TX to southern MT right after Christmas. It comes out to about 1400 miles and is a generally flat route, just slowly increasing in altitude. The only questionable part of the route will be through WY because of wind and possible snow/ice. I will be hauling a 1993 Chevy single cab short bed on a U-Haul car hauler. Truck weighs about 3700lbs and the trailer weighs about 2200. I have a leveling coilover kit on my Ranger and the truck will be loaded with about 800lbs including myself and my wife. I have the blue sumo springs on my shelf that will be installed before the trip.

Any thoughts on whether this is a good idea or not? I know I will probably be nose high at least a bit. I tow frequently for work but in 3/4 and 1 ton trucks for shorter distances. Just not sure how the Ranger will do with this kind of load at highway speeds and I don’t have a way to test as all our work trailers are goose necks.

Thanks for your input and let me know if I can answer any questions!

Just a little advise on your route. WY is horrible this time of year. I've driven a semi for years through there. Be advised that even if the roads are open, does not mean they are clear. Your biggest worry is the winds in a couple of areas. 60mph plus steady is common up there. Be safe.

 

[Awg9Tech]

I’m leaning towards finding an auto transport or paying a buddy with an F350 and trailer to go pick it up.

I love a good road trip and anything that takes the stress off that trip makes it that much more enjoyable.

*If* you have the funds available, think about how much stress and “what ifs” would be reduced having someone else transport the truck.

 

[JHRODD]

I towed a 4,000# Kubota TLB on a 2,200# trailer from WA to AZ through CA over the Siskiyou's and the grapevine with a Super Cab FX2 and it was uneventful. I would advise keeping the speed down to 65 or so especially, as has been mentioned, in WY and MT if it's windy and icy.

 

[Grandaccess]

real world, these trucks are great, I tow more than that every week, one truck last year I had on my trailer was 5k and didnt know it was back there
just a standard trip, check your oil, water and tire pressure, you will be fine ....

 

[harringtondav]

Weights cited here are close to the edge. Particularly an unknown tongue weight.
I used a weight distributing hitch for years hauling a boat behind a 2WD Caravan and it was a game changer.
A weight distributing hitch will transfer tongue load to the trailer and the truck's front axle reducing both tongue weight and GVWR. It also nearly eliminates any chance of trailer sway.
Key point is not overloading the trailer tires max weight rating with the WD hitch. Also check the trailer tire's air pressure for max load. I've never rented a trailer without having to top off the tire's air.
Above comments about altitude and weather conditions hold. WDHs won't improve these.

 

[Fordup]

I once rented a heavy duty car/truck dolly to tow home a old F250 4wd plow truck behind my 3/4 ton Chevy and it was a nightmare. The back of pickup trucks are light and don't try to stop on a curve even with the dolly having excellent brakes. Only went about 25 miles and it wasn't safe over 50 mph. A dolly does not add much tongue weight and easily can push the back of the towing truck sideways if the truck being towed is the same or more weight then the towing vehicle. On the other hand we used a dolly behind our 22,000 pound motor home and didn't even know a vehicle was being towed. Go trailer for a vehicle close to or higher then the tow vehicle weight.

 

[Big Blue]

Weights cited here are close to the edge. Particularly an unknown tongue weight.
I used a weight distributing hitch for years hauling a boat behind a 2WD Caravan and it was a game changer.
A weight distributing hitch will transfer tongue load to the trailer and the truck's front axle reducing both tongue weight and GVWR. It also nearly eliminates any chance of trailer sway.
Key point is not overloading the trailer tires max weight rating with the WD hitch. Also check the trailer tire's air pressure for max load. I've never rented a trailer without having to top off the tire's air.
Above comments about altitude and weather conditions hold. WDHs won't improve these.

In the OPs situation, using a rented Uhaul trailer, using a WDH is not an option.

But to your points. A WDH doesn't not reduce the tongue weight, it simply, as the name implies distributes the tongue weight by turn to normally flexible hitch connection into a vertically semi-ridged connection. I reduces the loading on the rear axle and increases the loading on the front axle and trailer axles. It does not change any of the weight ratings of the combined tow vehicle/trailer system. Yes properly set up and depending on the hitch type, it will greatly reduce the chances of trailer sway.

Any time you are towing you need to make sure to run proper tire pressures on both the tow vehicle and trailer. Also be sure you are within the axle rating on both.

Lastly because the weights are nearing maximum ratings and the chances of extreme weather conditions and the elevations involved. I beleive that the OPs decision to find alternate ways to get this transport accomplished is the wise decision.

 

[RuggedRanger]

FWIW: I towed max capacity of the Ranger with a 20’ trailer from the California foothills to central Illinois this past August with no issues. About 2,100 miles.

I shortcut through of the very steep and curvy bypass routes through the Sierra Nevada and across Nevada. No issues whatsoever. Truck handled like a dream.

I’ve got a 3” Eibach lift, heavy duty OME rear springs that give about +3” to rear, and 33” tires. I’ve also upgraded the radiator, inner cooler and ECU. There are some other mods, but this should give you an idea that my truck would likely be considered at the upper limits for this kind of haul with the tires and suspension, offset by the performance mods.

I went through some wild winds in Nevada, plus wind & storms through Utah.

I was keeping up fine with guys driving $75k+ trucks with similar. Saw a lot of guys on the road that go overkill with giant trucks and tiny loads.

Don’t forget, this size truck platform is the only option available in a lot of countries outside of the US and those guys are doing just the same as me, if not more. In Australia, the truck even has a higher towing capacity because they measure in kilograms, and for some reason in the US Ford decided to round downwards when converting to standard weights & measurements. Probably to decrease competition with the F150. Point being, there’s plenty of margin built into this truck to do all sorts of things.

tl;dr: you’ll be fine as long as you’re okay with getting between 7 to 10 mpg.

 

[harringtondav]

In the OPs situation, using a rented Uhaul trailer, using a WDH is not an option.

Yes, I just realized this while reading your post. A surge brakes on a trailer are disabled, or even fouled up with a WDH. .....other than that I don't know why a WDH wouldn't work on a two axle trailer.,

Edit: Total truck/trailer weight isn't effected by a WDH, but the GVWR on the truck is reduced by the WDH by the amount of weight transferred to the trailer.

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