Am I in trouble?

[floyd fish5033]

I am wondering if I will have any problems towing an 18' fiberglass with a V-8 i/o single axle with my '03 Ford Ranger (4.0L 4wd)<br />I'm guessing this type of boat weighs around 2200 lbs.

 

[sangerwaker]

Re: Am I in trouble?

Don't guess on weight. Go to www.nada.com and get the weight of your boat model. It's not exact, but it's usually pretty close. Then you need to add for the weight of the trailer (I would guess in the 600-800 pound range). Also be sure to add the weight of the fuel in the boat and all of the stuff you have in there. Add that all up and compare to the towing capacity of your truck. Should be in your owners's manual.<br /><br />BTW-Welcome to iboats!

 

[craze1cars]

Re: Am I in trouble?

Have no fear, with a few checks it'll be fine. The fact that your trailer is a single axle tells me that you're most likely near or below 3,000 pounds. Not too many axles out there designed to handle more than that without going to a tandem. I'm quite sure your Ranger is rated to tow more than 3K, so use that as a guide.<br /><br />Read your manual to confirm. I'd also make sure you have an external transmission cooler and nothing less than a 2 inch receiver hitch. Those who trust their step bumpers to support the trailer are frequently in for a surprise! Trailer brakes would be a definite bonus as well, and I do believe it's illegal to run over 2,000 lbs without trailer brakes in some states (but I'm no expert in those laws.)

 

[rwidman]

Re: Am I in trouble?

1. Get the boat and trailer weighed. Take it to a truck scale, recycling center, etc. Published weights can be inaccurate, mine is.<br /><br />2. Check your vehicle's owner's manual for tow ratings. If you can't find it there, check the manufacturer's website. An Internet search may also locate a tow rating listing for your vehicle.

 

[KM2]

Re: Am I in trouble?

floyd,<br /><br />I have a fiberglass 18 ft. wieghs 2400# trailer is close to 600#, 200# of fuel and 120# batteries... I'm close to 3500# <br /><br />A ranger with tow package can handle that. 4.10 gears would be nice to help with acceration. The problem is stopping, trailer brakes are a great idea and could be a life saver.