2.3 or 2.7 with a cross country travel trailer road trip planned?

[robbo323]

Looking to upgrade from my 2019 Ranger to a 2024 or 2025 and unsure about which engine. The 2.3 I have has been great, and I have my eye on a 2024 that checks all my boxes - but its a 2.3. This truck will take me into retirement in a year or two at which time there are plans for a road trip all over the country, national parks, etc with a smallish couples travel trailer, likely no more than 5,000lbs fully outfitted. I guess I'm wondering based on the forum's experience whether several months of serious towing makes the 2.7 a must, or can I get away with the 2.3? Getting the advanced tow package in either case. Appreciate any thoughts you can share.

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[tubingchamp]

I think you need to get behind the wheel on a 2.7 and see how it feels. That made all the difference for me.

Just felt more natural and less "worked".

 

[Don Vandyke]

Looking to upgrade from my 2019 Ranger to a 2024 or 2025 and unsure about which engine. The 2.3 I have has been great, and I have my eye on a 2024 that checks all my boxes - but its a 2.3. This truck will take me into retirement in a year or two at which time there are plans for a road trip all over the country, national parks, etc with a smallish couples travel trailer, likely no more than 5,000lbs fully outfitted. I guess I'm wondering based on the forum's experience whether several months of serious towing makes the 2.7 a must, or can I get away with the 2.3? Getting the advanced tow package in either case. Appreciate any thoughts you can share.

You sound just like me, retiring in 2 years and looking at dual axle small campers. I went with the 2.7 just for peace of mind with a V6. 500 smiles on it right now and love it.

 

[Alaska Steve]

You can skip the models you‘re not interested in this video of the 2.3L.
Here is the 2.7L.
I’m in the same boat as you and went with the 2.7… I love it…

 

[superj]

The only thing that scares me on the 2.7, and its because i have never had ine or heard of it till recently, is that wet belt oil pump drive. Why use a belt, basically a timing belt, to drive the oil pump? Many people still lose engines to timing belt failure just because they dont know the time frame for change, and dont care to know because they just want to drive. But every once in a while s belt lets go earlier then expected. My luck is i would be that guy

 

[RANGER/HOBB]

The only thing that scares me on the 2.7, and its because i have never had ine or heard of it till recently, is that wet belt oil pump drive. Why use a belt, basically a timing belt, to drive the oil pump? Many people still lose engines to timing belt failure just because they dont know the time frame for change, and dont care to know because they just want to drive. But every once in a while s belt lets go earlier then expected. My luck is i would be that guy

They use it on the 5.0 without any issues.

 

[Blowndodge]

If towing 5,000 lbs or less the 2.3 would be fine. Both are rated to tow the same amount. If towing max 7,000 lbs. all the time the 2.7 would be prudent.

 

[Arsenall11]

I ran a 2.7 with livinoise tune in my last lariat 150, great engine lots of poop no issues 60k and the truck was a beast!

 

[Alaska Steve]

The only thing that scares me on the 2.7, and its because i have never had ine or heard of it till recently, is that wet belt oil pump drive. Why use a belt, basically a timing belt, to drive the oil pump? Many people still lose engines to timing belt failure just because they dont know the time frame for change, and dont care to know because they just want to drive. But every once in a while s belt lets go earlier then expected. My luck is i would be that guy

That’s already been proven out on this engine over many years in the F150

 

[superj]

I know, i just get the anomalies, it seems like. Thats why i am still worried about my ranger having some weird trouble hardly anyone else has had.


My sister in law has one of those 5.0 powered gt mustangs. She has almost 100k on it, so we will see what happens since she barely does the oil changes or services on time. Her boy friend wants to get her a new one and he keep the one they have now. Hope that wet oil pump belt lasts

 

[DutchRanger]

2.7 is the way

 

[jgruben1134]

Just towed about 5,000lbs from Atlanta to Ohio and back with the 2.3. It was an extremely draggy trailer and it handled it just fine. At 75mph, the oil temp would rise a bit going up hill and come back down on the declines, but at 65mph it stayed nice and cool. I'd like to add a bigger trans cooler, but other than that, no issues. I assume the 2.7 would benefit from a larger cooler, too.

 

[LLCCPA]

I think it would depend on the terrain you plan on towing through. I tow a camper about that size with my 2.3 around the state of Ohio and it does fine. If I were towing through mountains I would want something beefier.

 

[Afsigma21]

Watch the TFL Trucks video of the 2.7 towing 5000 lbs and you will have your answer. IMHO anyway the 2.7 is the only way to go if you plan to tow a lot. It will just do it better and more comfortable.

Here is a comparison I did of the 2.3 Ranger vs the 2.7 Colorado towing up the same mountain:

(Ranger 2.3L / Colorado 2.7L)
Brake applications - 9 / 11
35-60 MPH - 16 sec / 21 sec
Squat - 1.0 in / 2.5 in
Sound - 64 dB / 60 dB
Time - 8 mins for both
Uphill RPM - 3200-3800 / 3800-4700
Uphill MPG - 4.3 / 3.6
Overall MPG - 10.7 / 9.6

The 2.7L ranger did all these things even better.

 

[Morningpride]

Wet oil pump drive belt. Take it from me, terrible design. That will be the death of the 2.7 and 3.0. If you replace them every 50k you might be ok. However, as they age, the rubber degrades, comes off and blocks the oil sump before the belt finally breaks. Just ask any 1.0 Ecosport owner. 2.3 for sure!

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