Ranger 2.3L Towing 4000+ lb. Winnebago Trailer -- pic & impression

The Lone Ranger · Feb 19, 2025

Just towed this home - three hour drive. No weight distribution hitch. Truck only dropped 2"

Was pretty impressed - the 2.3 did a better than expected job even climbing grades.

Ford Ranger Ranger 2.3L Towing 4000+ lb. Winnebago Trailer -- pic & impression Ranger and Micro Minnie

John E Davies · Feb 19, 2025

Be sure to weigh the axles and tongue when it is fully loaded with fluids and your personal stuff. It may appear to be satisfactory with a simple ball mount, but a good WD hitch like an Andersen will control that annoying jouncing on choppy highways, keeping your copilot happy, plus it will level out the truck and put extra weight on the steering tires (more stability)... Have you checked the trailer tire pressures yet? I bet they are grossly over inflated. Don’t pump them up to the max sidewall value, use those axle scale weights to adjust them correctly Add a good TPMS if it doesn’t already have one.

Remember that high elevations require you to “derate” the tow figures by 2% per 1000 feet, as per the Ranger Towing Guide and common sense.

Do you have any previous towing experience?

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

Don Vandyke · Feb 20, 2025

The Lone Ranger said:
Just towed this home - three hour drive. No weight distribution hitch. Truck only dropped 2"

Was pretty impressed - the 2.3 did a better than expected job even climbing grades.

Don Vandyke · Feb 20, 2025

Looks good I am looking for a similar camper

LLCCPA · Feb 20, 2025

Why no weight distribution hitch?

stemplar · Feb 20, 2025

This looks like the trailer’s in the sweet spot for ranger towing, assuming it has the max tow package. The truck looks pretty close to level, but in the photo it looks like the trailer could benefit from a height-adjustable hitch as the front seems to be higher than the back (putting more weight on the trailer’s rear axle).

Satex · Feb 20, 2025

John E Davies said:
Be sure to weigh the axles and tongue when it is fully loaded with fluids and your personal stuff. It may appear to be satisfactory with a simple ball mount, but a good WD hitch like an Andersen will control that annoying jouncing on choppy highways, keeping your copilot happy, plus it will level out the truck and put extra weight on the steering tires (more stability)... Have you checked the trailer tire pressures yet? I bet they are grossly over inflated. Don’t pump them up to the max sidewall value, use those axle scale weights to adjust them correctly Add a good TPMS if it doesn’t already have one.

Remember that high elevations require you to “derate” the tow figures by 2% per 1000 feet, as per the Ranger Towing Guide and common sense.

Do you have any previous towing experience?

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

I disagree with your interpretation about elevation adjustments. Ford doesn't word that as a requirement. It says essentially "to maintain full performance ..." So, the engine loses power at elevation, but that doesn't impact it's tow or payload rating.

Satex · Feb 20, 2025

stemplar said:
This looks like the trailer’s in the sweet spot for ranger towing, assuming it has the max tow package. The truck looks pretty close to level, but in the photo it looks like the trailer could benefit from a height-adjustable hitch as the front seems to be higher than the back (putting more weight on the trailer’s rear axle).

I see it the same. Depending on the weight and other factors, simply getting an adjustable height ball carrier (or a ball carrier with slightly less drop) may be plenty. I don't like using weight distributing hitches unless I think one is needed.

John E Davies · Feb 20, 2025

LLCCPA said:
Why no weight distribution hitch? Doesn't seem like a good idea to me.

Because a WD hitch is an expensive, heavy, long term hassle that takes away from your already minimal payload, and it is debatable if it is truly needed for light weight trailers like a Micro Minnie; it does indeed add safety, but if you tow on unimproved forest roads, it is becomes a serious liability. So is a regular ball coupler in that case. The OP is in Oregon, I doubt that he will never stray off pavement, but I would appreciate hearing about his intended usage.

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

John E Davies · Feb 20, 2025

Satex said:
I disagree with your interpretation about elevation adjustments. Ford doesn't word that as a requirement. It says essentially "to maintain full performance ..." So, the engine loses power at elevation, but that doesn't impact it's tow or payload rating.

The load numbers isn’t the problem, it is climbing with a full load of your camping stuff up that endless mountain grade on a 100 degree day, with a stiff head wind thrown in. THIS is why you derate the allowed trailer load. Watch a few TFL Truck videos about the Eisenhower Grade and you will understand better. If you are towing in dead flat, calm conditions, even a 12,000 foot elevation becomes irrelevant.

Towing “high, hot and heavy” is very stressful, to the powertrain and to the people inside.

As somebody who lives in the western mountains, with steep grades everywhere, I would never tow more than 5000 pounds long term, behind a 2.3 Ranger. That Minnie would be great behind the 2.7.

And don’t rush to adjust the trailer angle until it is loaded for travel, a full water tank plus pots and canned goods will raise the tongue slightly. as will reducing tire pressures if they are over inflated. And extra load in the bed will lower the tongue.

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

Blowndodge · Feb 20, 2025

I think at the weight 4500# most are overthinking this. You talk to him like he's a "newbie" with his head up his a$$. I too watch TFL and also know that the WD hitches and trailers are all part of their sponsors. So there's that.

Satex · Feb 20, 2025

John E Davies said:
The load numbers isn’t the problem, it is climbing with a full load of your camping stuff up that endless mountain grade on a 100 degree day, with a stiff head wind thrown in. THIS is why you derate the allowed trailer load. Watch a few TFL Truck videos about the Eisenhower Grade and you will understand better. If you are towing in dead flat, calm conditions, even a 12,000 foot elevation becomes irrelevant.

Towing “high, hot and heavy” is very stressful, to the powertrain and to the people inside.

As somebody who lives in the western mountains, with steep grades everywhere, I would never tow more than 5000 pounds long term, behind a 2.3 Ranger. That Minnie would be great behind the 2.7.

And don’t rush to adjust the trailer angle until it is loaded for travel, a full water tank plus pots and canned goods will raise the tongue slightly. as will reducing tire pressures if they are over inflated. And extra load in the bed will lower the tongue.

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

Try reading again what I wrote. And I'm familiar with the TFL video you're referencing. They also misinterpreted.

Ford says "to maintain full performance ..." If they meant "the tow rating must be reduced ..." they would have said that.

Perhaps the Ford engineers meant your interpretation, but without knowing that, I can go by what they actually wrote.

Satex · Feb 20, 2025

Blowndodge said:
I think at the weight 4500# most are overthinking this. You talk to him like he's a "newbie" with his head up his a$$. I too watch TFL and also know that the WD hitches and trailers are all part of their sponsors. So there's that.

I like TFL. In fact, I appreciate that most of their "max towing" demonstrations are purposefully done WITHOUT wdh's. They're open about their sponsorships, but I don't get the impression that they're pushing unneeded equipment.

One unnecessary thing they do use and promote is the hitch with integrated scale. I'm thinking about getting one ... unnecessary but cool and possibly helpful.

Blowndodge · Feb 20, 2025

Looking back on the OP's 1st post he wasn't asking for advice but just showing off his new trailer. Then the onslaught of demands on how he tows. I see no "give me some advice on towing this trailer". Good grief he got cross examined on showing off his nice trailer!

Hofstetm · Feb 20, 2025

The Lone Ranger said:
Just towed this home - three hour drive. No weight distribution hitch. Truck only dropped 2"

Was pretty impressed - the 2.3 did a better than expected job even climbing grades.

Nice RV! Maybe you’re like me and like to match as well, looks like a great pair!

We just picked up our Geo Pro 20BHS a few weeks ago from 6 hours away. The RR did great! The previous owner had a WDH so I used that for half of the trip (he had it set up for an F150 so it sat a bit higher than I would have liked) and I brought my ShockerHitch (airbag suspension hitch) with sway control arms for the second half. I’ll say 10/10 times I would use the ShockerHitch with sway control before the WDH just due to the sheer lack of cabin vibrations (and yes, I understand those two have different purposes). It was wild the difference. Pulling the trailer felt much smoother and let’s just say the passengers (wife + 3 y/o) both fell asleep on the last leg of the journey because of it.

Lastly, I did purchase suspension helper airbags for the rear which I will be installing soon from AAA suspension. Looking forward to leveling things out a bit as the RR squats more.

Happy RVing!

Ranger 2.3L Towing 4000+ lb. Winnebago Trailer -- pic & impression

The Lone Ranger

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John E Davies

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Don Vandyke

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Don Vandyke

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LLCCPA

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stemplar

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Satex

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John E Davies

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John E Davies

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Blowndodge

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Satex

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