romore wrote:
The Ranger should have adequate capacity to tow something like that as long as you don't expect 40 mpg at 70 mph through the mountains. Maybe an Explorer would better suit your needs
OP WOULD need a Ranger with 4.0 engine at a minimum, they listed ASHEVILLE which is in NC and is pretty mountainous area.
However, I would caution the OP on buying a Ranger, most are not equipped for towing (IE no hitch, no heavy duty radiator or extra transmission cooler) and have only the ball mount hole on the bumper step (no Weight distribution possible).
Additionally, while the 4.0 is a decent motor, it does have one major "Achilles heel" which is issues with the heads developing a crack often on the rear cylinders..
I have several relatives who have experienced this multiple times. The explanation we got was the oil passages in the rear tend to plug, this allows build up of sludge and that sludge holds more heat and the extra heat buildup stresses the heads to the point of cracking.
Rangers also tend to have a lot of rust issues in the front end, radiator supports and bumper supports seem to just disintegrate over night..
Honestly, for the money you will pay for a Ranger, you can often find a F150 CHEAPER. Friend of mine just recently bought a '08 F150 4x4 with about 100K miles for $9K! You would be hard pressed to buy a Ranger for less unless you are looking at '80s Rangers with lots of rust rot..
