What are you guys towing?

[WxNerd2015]

Working on moving to our new house! Borrowed a 14'x7'x10' cargo trailer! Tandem axles with trailer brakes, so finally got to try out my Redarc TBC as well! Truck towed it great! I am very happy! Will be making a few good trips back and forth with this trailer! But should cut down on how many trips we have to take with this size!

I'm pulling a 7x12 V Nose. Curious on what your MPG was with this trailer. I am averaging 13 at 60-65. Trailer loaded with my Spyder is approx 3200lbs.

I wouldn't say that I drove it enough yet to give a good idea! And really only between 45-60 MPH so far! I will update once I have driven it a bit more!

So we have now moved all out to our new place and made a few additional trips as well! I have at least 1000 miles on this setup and have been seeing about 13-15 MPG through mixed driving conditions and weight. About 40%-50% of the timing I was towing fully loaded in the trailer (I estimate 6000-7000) and the rest of the time was empty to half loaded. Additionally, this was a 50/50 mix of expressway (65-75 MPH) and 2 lane roads (55 MPH) with some start and stop as well as slow downs and speed ups for curves. Additionally, a good about of hills to tow through, and for the big moves, maybe ~200 miles or so of quite a strong head wind. Temps were also pushing 90+ for some of the towing. Overall, I am very happy with how the truck pulled and I am very impressed that this Ranger was able to do everything we demanded of her! She was rewarded nicely! Haha!

I would continue to tow this setup without question, and the truck felt very confident, though the big difference was definitely the trailer brakes on both axles when slowing down. Truck has no issues hauling and moving the load, but you got to be able to slow it down as well, and with this bigger trailer and load, that made the biggest confidence difference for me.

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[nm6r]

I frequently tow our Honda Talon 1000R on our 14 ft. trailer for day rides.

Less frequently but longer distances I tow our 16 ft. cargo trailer toy hauler conversion (fully equipped).

 

[ElSolo]

My 2020 XLT pulls my new 2021 Coachmen Apex Nano 22ft travel trailer easily but I did have to find some aftermarket mirrors

Which model is that? Our family is seriously considering either the 194bhs or the 208 bhs. Curious to know more about what it's been like towing your TT with the Ranger since it seems like we'll be in something very similar. Finally, what is your tongue weight when fully loaded for the trip?

 

[Chris M]

I frequently tow our Honda Talon 1000R on our 14 ft. trailer for day rides.

Less frequently but longer distances I tow our 16 ft. cargo trailer toy hauler conversion (fully equipped).

That looks like it could be a fun ride!

 

[The Crow]

One of the reasons I traded in my 2011 Ranger for a new 2021 was the increased towing capabilities. Really like how it tows, seems very capable. Think they missed the mark by not offering a brake controller, so just installed a Tekonsha myself.

 

[Mastodon]

You all are putting way too much emphasis on frontal area. You can’t just say “it’s 8 feet wide and 10 feet tall, so it has a frontal area of 80 sqft.” Frontal Area is the total area in square feet that a moving vehicle AND trailer exposes to air resistance. It’s about air resistance and most trailers are sloped and rounded to reduce that resistance.

Just look that doc that @Leftcoast attached earlier. Showed max frontal area allowed for the Mustang: 12 sq ft. That alone should say that aerodynamics plays a part, since Ford lists the Mustang at 55” tall and 75” wide (excluding mirrors). Simple height x width would give it a frontal area of over 28 sq feet, which is more than double Ford’s own allowance!

So yeah, don’t worry about Frontal Area. No average consumer can do the complex calculations to figure out what their combination really is. Ford probably can’t even do it without the algorithms in their CAD programs.

We have a 174BH that we’ve been pulling with our Explorer. The Explorer has the smaller 2.3L engine, slightly smaller fuel tank, and has a shorter wheelbase than the Ranger. We also have the stock suspension, but have a WDH with sway control. We’ve put nearly 10,000 miles on this setup, with no issues what so ever. Sure, it sucks driving into a 25mph headwind while at interstate speeds, but that’d be the case in any vehicle. We still average somewhere between 8-12 mpg.

And no, the tow package didn’t include a brake controller on the Explorer either. This isn’t just a Ford thing, either. Most mid-sized trucks and SUVs don’t have integrated controllers. For me, the tow package gave me an integrated hitch, 7-pin wiring, and the tow/haul mode (at least I assume that’s not in non-tow equipped vehicles.) I added whatever controller they had on hand at the RV dealer. And yes, I have AEB and adaptive cruise control (which works all the way down to 0mph) and didn’t worry about a special “Ford Approved” brake controller, and everything still works.

Now, for my Ranger, I did add the Redarc, but because I liked the look of it better than the black box I have in the Explorer. Sometime after I get my truck back from the shop, I’ll finally get to tow with it. I don’t have any concerns or reservations about it, because I even in the Explorer I’ll forget I have the trailer attached. The Ranger should be even better, so much so that probably by the end of the year we’ll trade the 174BH in for something bigger, possibly the 264BH, or maybe NorthTrail’s 24BHS. But whatever it is, frontal area won’t be something I’ll concern myself with.

 

[Tom_C]

Taking the ATV back to VA to service it.

 

[Arly]

Taking the ATV back to VA to service it.

We do that as well.

 

[Jake]

New to me trailer and tractor. Guy threw in a 7.5' plow and mount for the tractor that I wasnt expecting which is why I only have the 1 harbor freight strap and the loader on it. Ranger handled the weight well. It actually rode much better loaded vs empty with the stiff, bouncy springs on the 10000lb trailer.

My estimate for towing weight:
Trailer 2700lbs
Tractor 3500lbs
Plow and frame ~800?(not sure how much the plow really weighs but the mount must've been 150 on it's own.)
Total weight ~7000lbs

 

[Dayton86]

I have a wolf pup too! I love it!

One of the reasons I traded in my 2011 Ranger for a new 2021 was the increased towing capabilities. Really like how it tows, seems very capable. Think they missed the mark by not offering a brake controller, so just installed a Tekonsha myself.

 

[mark_anderson_us]

Now, for my Ranger, I did add the Redarc, but because I liked the look of it better than the black box I have in the Explorer. Sometime after I get my truck back from the shop, I’ll finally get to tow with it. I don’t have any concerns or reservations about it, because I even in the Explorer I’ll forget I have the trailer attached. The Ranger should be even better, so much so that probably by the end of the year we’ll trade the 174BH in for something bigger, possibly the 264BH, or maybe NorthTrail’s 24BHS. But whatever it is, frontal area won’t be something I’ll concern myself with.

did you install the redarc yourself? if so, how easy is it?

Also, which version did you get?

 

[WxNerd2015]

Got a new trailer for the Ranger the other, and finally my own trailer! It's a 7'x16' Aluminum MMT trailer with a wood deck! Got it to tow the Jeep to trailheads and allow me to have more fun wheelin' with not having to worry about how to make it home if I break something! Trailer is nice and light being all aluminum, and even has side loading ramps too! And went with aluminum to be able to leave the most payload left in the trailer and the most capacity left in the truck as well! But the Jeep only weighs ~4700 lbs (weighed at CAT scale) and the trailer is ~2000 lbs dry, so still some nice wiggle room in capacity all around there!

Even pulled the Jeep on just for a quick test fit! But got to get my straps and all that, so haven't driven it around yet!

 

[Deleted member 1634]

Passing through the Badlands on our way out the Black Hills last week. Always gets plenty of looks and inquiries no matter where we go.

 

[Arly]

Passing through the Badlands on our way out the Black Hills last week. Always gets plenty of looks and inquiries no matter where we go.

Gee, we've not been through the badlands in many years.

 

[Deleted member 1634]

Gee, we've not been through the badlands in many years.

We usually at least drive the scenic road through every time we pass by on our way out west. Or even use it as an overnight pitstop. It's about 10hrs from Duluth so definitely within a days drive.

Either that or Theodore Roosevelt NP, which is about 9hrs from Duluth. Just depends which freeway we use to head west. haha That might be my favorite park since it's so open and less visited. You can really enjoy the aspects of the park without being bothered by hoards of people.

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