Ford Ranger Towing Ability

Jiles · Oct 4, 2009

I have a I.H. 364 tractor. It is about the size of a 135 MF.
I need to carry this tractor on a 14' car hauling trailor to my new home about 13 miles away.
I recently sold my Dodge half ton truck that I pulled this trailer with.
I now have a 2001 Ford Ranger 4X4 with trailer towing package and a 4L engine with automatic transmission.
Am I asking too much to use this smaller truck to pull my rig?

tractorsam · Oct 4, 2009

I don't know about the truck but for a one time move of 13 miles I'd be driving the tractor and not worrying about the truck. Sam

RodinNS · Oct 4, 2009

You could drive the tractor in the amount of time it would take to load it and chain it down.

Yeah... the ranger could probably do it just the once if you can keep the tounge weight under control, but I wouldn't make a practice of it.

I pull balers with mine that are close in weight to the tractor (minus the trailer) without any trouble... but that's also a 5 speed.
Should be OK tho...

Rod

TimMiller · Oct 4, 2009

I know a guy who pulls a 24' gooseneck cargo trailer with his ranger. I'd pull it just get the weight somewhat equal on the trailer and you will be just fine. A friend of mine just pulled his new tractor (about the size of our 135) with a loader using his dodge durago over 100 miles without a problem. Personally I like knowing the numbers, so i'd lookup the weight of the tractor on external_link, then lookup the towing capacity of the truck (which should be plenty b/c it does have the towing package), and then see how much overhead you have and use it when guessing the weight of the trailer, which i'd guess is around 500-800 lbs for most 14-16' flatbed tandem axle trailers.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 4, 2009

had a ranger and the best would be put the ranger on the trailer and pull it with the tractor.them rangers aren't much

jay-eye-see · Oct 4, 2009

Tractor data says your tractor is about 2 tons. I had an 01 4x4 Ranger just like the one you discribe and pulled a load I figured weighed 3800 or so about 50 miles there and back once with no problems. Getting it stopped was where I felt there could be problems. I was extra careful not to put myself in a tight spot, something one should do no matter the rig. I would think nothing of it myself but some would(and do) call me crazy.

GordoSD · Oct 4, 2009

Probably a 45 minute trip driving the tractor.1 Hour trip loading, pulling and unloading the trailer. Do the math.

Gordo

Anonymous-0 · Oct 4, 2009

Does the trailer have its own brakes on it? Do you have a brake box in the truck? Why not just drive the tractor there, use some flahing lights and a SMV sign. It would be much safer.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 4, 2009

500 TO 800 pounds weight for a tandem trailer? No way I have Pequa 16ft tandem that weighs 2000 pounds empty, 7000 gross vehicle weight. Treated floor and angle iron sides.

ChrisB · Oct 4, 2009

500-800 would hardly cover the wood decking on the trailer.

Goose · Oct 4, 2009

Drive the tractor. That should be a no brainer.

I once drove a combine 45 miles with a 16' header on it. I'd scouted the route so I knew I wouldn't run into any bridges I couldn't cross. I packed a couple of baloney sandwiches and a jug of lemonade, and hit the road. Took me about four hours.

I then sold the combine I was replacing to a fellow about 20 miles down the road. He showed up one morning with a buddy and a trailer. They spent the entire morning taking the header off the combine and loading it on a trailer. They then disappeared for the rest of the day. Next morning, they showed up again with a combine trailer, loaded the combine, and left about noon. I never did figure it out. They screwed away two days of hard work, where they could have driven the combine in 2 or 3 hours.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 4, 2009

Ya,,,, thats what I said.

Don-Wi · Oct 4, 2009

Drive it. Would take more time to chain it down and haul it.

Donovan from Wisconsin

Oldmax · Oct 4, 2009

That model Ranger is known to have transmision problems. My transmision man told my after fixing my sons transmision that should neaver pull anything over 3000 LBS with it. Ford says 6000 LBS. My tandem trailer weights in at about 1400 lbs. Is a 7000 LB trailer. I pull a 1715 NH on it with a Nisson Hard Body . But I have equlizer hitch and brakes on all 4 wheels. If I haul something like that I use my K-2500 Chev crew cab.

barn E · Oct 4, 2009

Pulled a big van once with a K car. Stay in low gear if you have to do this. Dave

barn E · Oct 4, 2009

Pulled a big van once with a K car. Stay in low gear if you have to do this. Don't let trans go to second.

hoof print · Oct 4, 2009

When I was much dumber, I pulled a 24 ft travel trailer with a v6 ranger extended cab.

trailer weighs 4700lbs.

If you plan on doing much hauling buy a bigger truck.

john *.?-!.* cub owner · Oct 4, 2009

Jiles, I have the same setup in my Ranger, and if it is the trailer package it is rated for 5500 pound trailer. Mine also has an F-150 transmission (factory option), I have regularly pulled 5000 pound loads with it. One thing to think about is braking though, Ranger has good brakes for itself, but not enough for a 4,000 pound trailer.

TimMiller · Oct 4, 2009

Good to know on the trailer weight. I guess i have been guessing a bit low. I have never actually weighed ours.

495man · Oct 5, 2009

Drive the tractor....

Traditional Farmer · Oct 5, 2009

I have a Ranger with a 5 speed and I pull a 5X8 trailer with it put and I wouldn't want over 1,000 lbs on the trailer.I'd just drive the tractor.DOT man would have a BIG DAY if he caught you with that Ranger towing that tractor

RodinNS · Oct 5, 2009

1000#? You must drive 90 mph?

I've hauled 3000# of steel on a tandem axle hay wagon that probably weighed another 3000# behind my 3L 5 speed ranger. IT had no trouble pulling it. Stopping it.... was a more calculated manuver. I just didn't go fast so I had no problems... but a trailer with brakes would not be a problem.

Rod

Tim in OR · Oct 5, 2009

While most of us have done worse things, IE hauling a bobcat on a trailer behind a chevy LUV. I have wised up and really hesitate to tow a bumper hitch trailer that outweighs the towing vehicle. Brakes are a must, but Electric brakes are less than perfect.
Tim in OR

greenbeanman in Kansas · Oct 5, 2009

I, too, have a Ford Ranger. Personally I"d tow the trailer to where the tractor is, put a ball on the drawbar, load the pickup and tow the loaded pickup to the new location.

Roading a tractor 13 miles is not that far, no further than some farmers travel between farm fields.

Traditional Farmer · Oct 5, 2009

If you have to 'go slow' you don't have enough truck

woolie · Oct 5, 2009

(quoted from post at 14:23:46 10/04/09) had a ranger and the best would be put the ranger on the trailer and pull it with the tractor.them rangers aren't much

Good advice.

Leland2 · Oct 5, 2009

You are way overloaded and if you got into an accident the law and a good personal injury lawyer would be eating your rear end for years .either buy a real truck or drive the thing ,after a reckless stunt like this could wind up putting you in jail .

F-350 · Oct 5, 2009

The Ranger will do just fine if you take it slow and easy on the
back roads..You dont even want to know what all I've done with a
Ranger 4 cyl 5 speed.

However,if it was me I'd just drive the tractor as 13 miles is
nothing.Have someone follow you with their flashers on.

RodinNS · Oct 5, 2009

Enough to pull it. Enough to stop it quickly... no. That principle can be applied to a lot of things on the road, not just my Ranger...

Rod

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