What are you guys towing?

[dtech]

looks like the hitch stayed coupled, this from the RV fails site and apparently happened this past weekend. Seeing how many posts there are in RV fails makes me wonder what % of RVs get into accidents as well as serving as a reminder to tow safely - both in driving style and having the proper setup.

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[dtech]

Nice looking rig. If this was ACTUALLY your first time ever towing, I would not expecting you to love the experience. Actually "love" is not a term I would ever use with the towing experience. Comfortable maybe, and that comes with experience.

I have a mostly stock 2019 FX4 that a tow a 4K TT with. Many people, myself included have found the OEM FX4 shocks to be lacking for towing. I have Bilstein rear shocks and blue Sumo springs in place of the OEM bumpstops. I also use a weight distribution hitch sized for a 6K trailer.

Hard to tell from the picture, but it does look like your a little nose high on the trailer. Should be level or slightly nose down. A hitch with more drop or adjustable would be a good investment. Weight distribution is also a big factor. The tongue weight needs to be kept in the range of 10-15 percent of total trailer weight. This becomes an item when loading a box trailer such as yours where loads change.

There are many on here that tow bigger trailers than me and are great resources to answer questions, @Grumpaw is just one of them. Take your time and tow safe. With experience and a few tweaks to you setup you will get comfortable towing.

basically I find towing a major pia and expensive , but I've been in my friends F-250 6.7 powerstroke 5th wheel towing a monster TT and it is smooth towing.

 

[Grumpaw]

looks like the hitch stayed coupled, this from the RV fails site and apparently happened this past weekend. Seeing how many posts there are in RV fails makes me wonder what % of RVs get into accidents as well as serving as a reminder to tow safely - both in driving style and having the proper setup.

A flip like that usually occurs for only a few reasons.....
Trailer started to sway, for any of several reasons (improper loading, wind gusts) and driver couldn't control it, or hit truck brakes instead of just hitting trailer brakes to stop sway.
Trailer had a tire blow out or axle/spring gave up the ghost.....
But the trailer swaying is the usual culprit and the natural response is to hit the brakes on the truck which only make it worse.....activating the trailer brakes only will solve the problem.
Kind of one main reason I like the older type brake controllers with the separate lever....easy to activate and very controllable.

 

[dtech]

A flip like that usually occurs for only a few reasons.....
Trailer started to sway, for any of several reasons (improper loading, wind gusts) and driver couldn't control it, or hit truck brakes instead of just hitting trailer brakes to stop sway.
Trailer had a tire blow out or axle/spring gave up the ghost.....
But the trailer swaying is the usual culprit and the natural response is to hit the brakes on the truck which only make it worse.....activating the trailer brakes only will solve the problem.
Kind of one main reason I like the older type brake controllers with the separate lever....easy to activate and very controllable.

good to know but hope I never get in an uncontrollable sway situation - but I've seen fools out there towing and the trailer is swaying and they just keep on at the same speed. Also have stayed in parked when the winds are to high to be safe.

 

[Rhino]

A flip like that usually occurs for only a few reasons.....
Trailer started to sway, for any of several reasons (improper loading, wind gusts) and driver couldn't control it, or hit truck brakes instead of just hitting trailer brakes to stop sway.
Trailer had a tire blow out or axle/spring gave up the ghost.....
But the trailer swaying is the usual culprit and the natural response is to hit the brakes on the truck which only make it worse.....activating the trailer brakes only will solve the problem.
Kind of one main reason I like the older type brake controllers with the separate lever....easy to activate and very controllable.

oooor the truck was very tired and needed to take a nap!

 

[dtech]

oooor the truck was very tired and needed to take a nap!

that type of comment would meet with approval on the "RV fails " site, lots of humorous and snide remarks along with the occasional "I hope everyone is ok"

Some of the pics that are posted are hard to believe as far as stupidity and disregard for safety, accidents waiting to happen.

 

[GhostStrykre]

wow, thanks for all the tremendous responses and advice! seriously!

The rig your towing, loaded the way you describe, is probably around 3500 lbs.....you need to weigh to be sure. But that means your tongue weight might be around 350 lbs or more. That along with your description of vagueness in steering points right at the need for weight distributing hitch set up.
You need to weigh the loaded rig to be sure, but anything around a 350 lb tongue weight will benefit from a WD setup.
Almost every hitch company makes WD setups for light 350 lb tongue weights. Proper setup will transfer some weight back to front of truck, getting rid of the vagueness and generally making the rig much more stable.
You have to take into account that your loaded trailer is the same size/weight as many campers/travel trailers and the same forces apply to your "box" trailer.....weight and "sail" area are the same as a 3500-4000 lb camper.
Just my 2 cents worth.....

Grumpaw, reading your comment was a facepalm situation for me. i'd completely forgotten about WD hitches. I know my own brother uses one on his trailer when it's really loaded up on his F-150, but I'd totally spaced on it. I figure the trailer was indeed somewhere between 3,000-3,500lbs. thanks so much for the reminder.

Nice setup!

What speed were you going? Was it all the time or on the highway?

The trailer also appears to be fairly nose up and that would load the back trailer axle and cause some sway.

I also notice that the hitch appears to have no drop. Most trailers will require about a 4" drop hitch on a Ranger.

Nice looking rig. If this was ACTUALLY your first time ever towing, I would not expecting you to love the experience. Actually "love" is not a term I would ever use with the towing experience. Comfortable maybe, and that comes with experience.

I have a mostly stock 2019 FX4 that a tow a 4K TT with. Many people, myself included have found the OEM FX4 shocks to be lacking for towing. I have Bilstein rear shocks and blue Sumo springs in place of the OEM bumpstops. I also use a weight distribution hitch sized for a 6K trailer.

Hard to tell from the picture, but it does look like your a little nose high on the trailer. Should be level or slightly nose down. A hitch with more drop or adjustable would be a good investment. Weight distribution is also a big factor. The tongue weight needs to be kept in the range of 10-15 percent of total trailer weight. This becomes an item when loading a box trailer such as yours where loads change.

There are many on here that tow bigger trailers than me and are great resources to answer questions, @Grumpaw is just one of them. Take your time and tow safe. With experience and a few tweaks to you setup you will get comfortable towing.

the trailer was, in fact, a bit nose up. the hitch in use was a 2" drop hitch that we had on hand. going forward, i'll absolutely look into a better hitch and, as grumpaw pointed out, a WD hitch. i'm not sure how often i'll be towing, but it's good to know there are products out there to improve the overall experience towing with a 5th gen ranger. i can start with these couple of products and move on into improved suspension and sumo's/bumpstops.

as for the rig itself, credit goes to my brother and the many graybeards who advised him at motorcycle hare scrambles. over the years he's really dialed the thing in and turned it into a quality trailer that hauls bikes by day and shelters wearied racers by night. it's great to have the old veterans at the races who provide tips and advice to help out. i tell you all this, the older fellas who raced in the 60s and 70s sure know how to live out of a trailer in comfort and stay well fed. lots of knowledge out there. just gotta get out into the world and try new things to learn it.

again, thanks to all for the advice here!

 

[WhyNot21]

Cross posting, but I think this belongs here. With the help of many on this forum, I was finally able to take my first trip while towing our new TT (Vintage Cruiser 23RSS). The Ranger pulled it without any drama. Looking forward to our first camping trip with it next weekend!

Took our first trip this weekend to a state park. Drove it back to its storage facility today, about an hour on the highway with up to 40 mph wind gusts! I must say I noticed it, but never felt I wasn't in control. We're taking it down to TX next weekend, so that should be the real test.

I bought mirror extenders, but don't think I will ever use them. The trailer is only 7' 6" wide and I have a rear camera. I don't really know what they would add, but I'll bring them along just in case.

 

[Rhino]

that type of comment would meet with approval on the "RV fails " site, lots of humorous and snide remarks along with the occasional "I hope everyone is ok"

Some of the pics that are posted are hard to believe as far as stupidity and disregard for safety, accidents waiting to happen.

its just my humor tbh lol ive got a dark humor sooooo

 

[dtech]

I've seen some suggest grumpaw tows much of a trailer, but check this tow job out

https://www.facebook.com/reel/24183929894547126

 

[WhyNot21]

I've seen some suggest grumpaw tows much of a trailer, but check this tow job out

https://www.facebook.com/reel/24183929894547126

Yikes!

 

[subquark]

I've seen some suggest grumpaw tows much of a trailer, but check this tow job out

https://www.facebook.com/reel/24183929894547126

No awkward bed rake there!

Perfect trailer for Ford Rangers!

 

[Grumpaw]

Yikes!

Not a big deal, but I'd like to see him back that up into a spot !!!

 

[KJRR]

Yikes!

Just needs weight distribution hitch.

 

[5thranger]

Just needs weight distribution hitch.

And more cranial power.

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