Towing the Line?

[SumsloppyRanger]

I can say this much the hand full of times I have moved it I've made sure to stay on back roads and made sure that there was literally nothing inside of it other than what came with it so it was as light as I could get it. I got an appointment to go trade out my Ranger for an F150 at Ford of Port Richey tomorrow. I never expected to be towing anything when I bought the Ranger I was looking an F150 to begin with but then I got surprised with this 28ft R.V. recently so I can start working this Gold Mining claim. That or I'm selling the R.V. and getting a smaller one with a better weather package..

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[Grumpaw]

I think that's the smart way to go if you plan on keeping that rig as when you start loading it, and the Ranger, you'd be way way over the tongue weight rating. You could add some hefty mods to the suspension/tires, but it would never handle it properly.
I know my Ranger is right at it's limit towing our Jayco 24RL....anything bigger any I'd be looking at a larger truck. But at my and wife's age, this is most likely gonna be our last trailer, so the Ranger serves us well.
Much better decision going with a larger truck.
Honestly, if your plans include towing alot/long distances, you might consider an F-250. It looks like only the higher end F-150 with the larger engine would be appropriate, but alot depends on how much your gonna be towing, how often, and how far...for lots of use, I'd go for the 250. Probably not too much difference in price, and the F-250 won't be over-taxed at all.
Just my opinion...if it were me, I'd go for the F-250.

 

[CAG]

Check the hitch on the F-150, you might have the same issue and need to replace the hitch.
2020 F-150 Towing

The 3.3 engine will only get you 7,500 ish towing. Payload is a little more than Ranger.

 

[JimG_AZ]

I think that's the smart way to go if you plan on keeping that rig as when you start loading it, and the Ranger, you'd be way way over the tongue weight rating. You could add some hefty mods to the suspension/tires, but it would never handle it properly.
I know my Ranger is right at it's limit towing our Jayco 24RL....anything bigger any I'd be looking at a larger truck. But at my and wife's age, this is most likely gonna be our last trailer, so the Ranger serves us well.
Much better decision going with a larger truck.
Honestly, if your plans include towing alot/long distances, you might consider an F-250. It looks like only the higher end F-150 with the larger engine would be appropriate, but alot depends on how much your gonna be towing, how often, and how far...for lots of use, I'd go for the 250. Probably not too much difference in price, and the F-250 won't be over-taxed at all.
Just my opinion...if it were me, I'd go for the F-250.

I could not agree more. If you are going to be pulling a toy hauler and loading toys, get the 3/4-ton truck. The 3/4-ton truck is set up from the factory for what you need to do. My first toy hauler was a 26' Nomad Rampage bumper pull. I pulled it with a Ram 2500. It pulled very well until I put the 3rd ATV in it which sat behind the rear axle. This lightened the tongue weigh to the point I got sway. The only way I could safely tow the trailer with the 3rd ATV loaded was to increase the tongue weight. I had to put @ 100 pounds of weight in the front storage compartment.

 

[Frenchy]

If you like the Ranger than I suggest getting a different trailer. Nothing wrong with making sure the trailer meets your needs, but something tells me it can be a little smaller

 

[Gerder]

I see one problem right off.....the dry hitch weight is 830 lbs, so your 80 lbs over the recommended max hitch weight of 750 lbs. and that's before loading the first can of beans.
Your trailer weight is under, but your hitch is over, and probably means your going to be somewhere around 1000 lbs hitch weight when loaded out with your food and "stuff".....WAY over recommended max.
A few lbs over, no big deal, but your going to have some stability problems with that much hitch weight.
Unfortunately, the way the trailer is laid out, your not going to be able to overcome the hitch weight.
Our trailer is larger than yours, but with a hitch weight thats acceptable. And, I'm very experienced, but even I wouldn't tow that rig with a Ranger.

ur right. but I think as long as he didn‘t load the Ranger itself up to the limits and put a few psi more pressure to the rear tires its gonna be ok.
the trailer seems to be a smooth rolin‘ but not to agile thing with the axle between the second and the last third…
don‘t know how the ride with ur NA flimsie rear suspension is, but my ROW does around 800Kg more than allowed without serious issues…?

 

[Grumpaw]

ur right. but I think as long as he didn‘t load the Ranger itself up to the limits and put a few psi more pressure to the rear tires its gonna be ok.
the trailer seems to be a smooth rolin‘ but not to agile thing with the axle between the second and the last third…
don‘t know how the ride with ur NA flimsie rear suspension is, but my ROW does around 800Kg more than allowed without serious issues…?

I don't know how your trailers are "dry weighed" over there, but here, unless stated by the manufacturer, the dry/new tongue weight is without battery or filled propane tanks. When added weight of those are included, his hitch weight will be around 900-925 lbs. Then he adds personal items, food, ect, and he will be over 1000 lbs tongue weight.
Not accounting what the truck frame is able to handle, the hitch itself is only rated for 750 lbs tongue weight. That weight is given by the hitch manufacturer, not Ford, and is based on strength of the hitch, how its made/constructed.
Just my opinion, but towing his pictured rig would lead to many problems, including a safety issue with the hitch not being up to the job. No matter how you modify the suspension, the Ranger is not up to that job.

 

[ControlNode]

I can say this much the hand full of times I have moved it I've made sure to stay on back roads and made sure that there was literally nothing inside of it other than what came with it so it was as light as I could get it. I got an appointment to go trade out my Ranger for an F150 at Ford of Port Richey tomorrow. I never expected to be towing anything when I bought the Ranger I was looking an F150 to begin with but then I got surprised with this 28ft R.V. recently so I can start working this Gold Mining claim. That or I'm selling the R.V. and getting a smaller one with a better weather package..

Skip the F-150 if any of your towing will be off-road, F-150 is limited to only 5,000lb gross trailer weight while off-road since that is a place you cannot use a Weight distribution hitch, which the F-150 requires for trailers over 5,000lb.

If you will be towing on-road only, remember you will need the WD hitch for trailers over 5,000lb.

 

[Friday yet?]

Page 224 of the 2021 owners manual.
May be a different page number in the 2019.

And the Ford towing guide.

 

[Friday yet?]

I think that's the smart way to go if you plan on keeping that rig as when you start loading it, and the Ranger, you'd be way way over the tongue weight rating. You could add some hefty mods to the suspension/tires, but it would never handle it properly.
I know my Ranger is right at it's limit towing our Jayco 24RL....anything bigger any I'd be looking at a larger truck. But at my and wife's age, this is most likely gonna be our last trailer, so the Ranger serves us well.
Much better decision going with a larger truck.
Honestly, if your plans include towing alot/long distances, you might consider an F-250. It looks like only the higher end F-150 with the larger engine would be appropriate, but alot depends on how much your gonna be towing, how often, and how far...for lots of use, I'd go for the 250. Probably not too much difference in price, and the F-250 won't be over-taxed at all.
Just my opinion...if it were me, I'd go for the F-250.

Agreed....... except I'd go for the F350. Very little difference in price versus a 250. But much more capability for the buck.

 

[Grumpaw]

Agreed....... except I'd go for the F350. Very little difference in price versus a 250. But much more capability for the buck.

F-350 for that trailer and even a bit larger is a bit of overkill.....
But the one big downside of the F-350 would be if it's his only vehicle and it's use would also be for a daily driver. I think the suspension on an F-350 would be a bit harsh for a daily driver. It would be great for a very heavy rig or a 5th wheel, but for his trailer...a bit much.
Just depends on his plans and ultimate use.

 

[Montana Ranger]

We have a Jay Flight 24RLSW. (When we bought our Ranger we were originally looking at a 21 foot) After loading it up with our gear, I weighed it at a Cat Scale and we were just in limits. (About 710 on the tongue) Power isn't a problem, but going downhill or in crosswinds requires extra attention. If I had to do it over again, I would have gone with the F-150 for the better margin and more weight and wheel base up front. But I love the smaller size of the Ranger the rest of the time.

 

[Grumpaw]

We have a Jay Flight 24RLSW. (When we bought our Ranger we were originally looking at a 21 foot) After loading it up with our gear, I weighed it at a Cat Scale and we were just in limits. (About 710 on the tongue) Power isn't a problem, but going downhill or in crosswinds requires extra attention. If I had to do it over again, I would have gone with the F-150 for the better margin and more weight and wheel base up front. But I love the smaller size of the Ranger the rest of the time.

Very similar to our Jayco Jay Feather 24RL....same weight/size. Pretty sure your layout is same as ours....rear lounge/slideout
Have found when going down a grade, I drop it down to 3/4 gear and between that and the tow it does fine.....

 

[maxbottomtime]

We have a Jay Flight 24RLSW. (When we bought our Ranger we were originally looking at a 21 foot) After loading it up with our gear, I weighed it at a Cat Scale and we were just in limits. (About 710 on the tongue) Power isn't a problem, but going downhill or in crosswinds requires extra attention. If I had to do it over again, I would have gone with the F-150 for the better margin and more weight and wheel base up front. But I love the smaller size of the Ranger the rest of the time.

How close were you to each of the axle ratings/payload? Cap ain't helping.

 

[JimG_AZ]

We have a Jay Flight 24RLSW. (When we bought our Ranger we were originally looking at a 21 foot) After loading it up with our gear, I weighed it at a Cat Scale and we were just in limits. (About 710 on the tongue) Power isn't a problem, but going downhill or in crosswinds requires extra attention. If I had to do it over again, I would have gone with the F-150 for the better margin and more weight and wheel base up front. But I love the smaller size of the Ranger the rest of the time.

'Going downhill or in crosswinds requires extra attention" should be a concerning statement. What percent is the tongue weight at? Seriously, you may want to look at a better hitch. The Pro Pride of the Hensely Hitch (both designed by the same guy) would probably make a significant difference. They are not cheap, but going to a better hitch is way cheaper than upgrading to a F-150.

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