Tow capacity help...

P71_CrownVic wrote: I think a Saturn Ion should do the trick!    Seriously though...my 1986 weighs just under 4K pounds with fluids/fuel/trailer/etc. Keep that in mind. My Silverado will spin until the diff locks, then it will come out.

OK, I just couldn't resist any longer. I took the bait. My wife prefers to use the Escape anytime she needs to tow an outhouse however!

Someone else might have more insight on that. I don't know what it does for tow ratings, I just know it gives confidence at the ramp.

My above mentioned Dakota is a manual. I have not had any issues with towing. It is the reason I always use 4 low. Rather than work the clutch in difficult situations I can let it out and creep along with plenty of time for fine steering adjustments. It has never stalled in 4 low no mater how bad my teenager might dump the clutch. A side issue is cell phone use. I loved driving my 88 accord with a manual, then my next vehicle was an automatic. After replacing the tranny on that one I though I would go back to a clutch when I bought the 2000 year vehicle new. In the interim cell phones became common place and although I would not advocate driving and using a cell I admit at times I answer it, and adding that in with steering and shifting is a bad deal.

P71_CrownVic wrote: I think a Saturn Ion should do the trick!    Seriously though...my 1986 weighs just under 4K pounds with fluids/fuel/trailer/etc. Keep that in mind.

is that with the original trailer or have you upgraded??

Maximal691 wrote: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6yVkGGwZG0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Youtube link

I tow with a 2.9 liter dodge dakota with 200,000 miles. I have towed twice five hours to green lake. Last year I fought overheating on the way home in very hot humid conditions. Local is not much of a problem but trailer brakes would be highly recommended. I always go up the ramp in 4 low. Would not feel real confident with two wheel on the ramps.

You will be fine just driving down the road as long as you use caution when coming to stops. I'd more concerned about getting the boat out of the launch being two wheel drive. There are plenty of factors that go into it though, the quality of your tires, steepness of the launch, and how slick the launch surface is. Does the ranger have limited slip? If not you only have one wheel actually doing the work. The last thing you want to do is be "that guy" at the boat launch on a busy saturday.

Being able to pull up the ramp is critical if you are executing the pullout by yourself. If you have another person, you can push with the prop to get momentum if you have to. If the wheels spin, the rig can slip downhill, not a good feeling!

NCH20SKIER wrote: I used to tow my 83 with a V6 explorer which probably has a similar power plant - never an issue pulling out of the lake always used 1st gear (automatic trans). Slow to get up to speed from the lights and stops were planned / anticipated in advance

From a stop, the car is going to use 1st whether it's in D or 1.

if you've ever experienced a trailer with good operating trailer brakes, then pulling it wouldnt even be a question, sn, points out the obvious,

How far do you plan on going? Is it an automatic? New or used?

It is a 4x2 btw