can a ford ranger tow trailer on steep mtns rds?

[EASY_RIDER]

I want to use this 2021 ford ranger, with a 4 cy engine with turbo on it to tow a trailer, while traveling in mountain roads, pulling about 4500 lbs.
I also will tow it behind my motorhome in some cases. thanks, Tom

[theoldwizard1]

EASY.RIDER wrote:
I should have added, with the tow pkg added it is rated capable of towing 7500lbs. however I am very concerned weather this truck can handle my load going up steep inclines and also going down hill.

Plenty of power for going up hill. Any trailer requiring a Class III hitch needs trailer brakes. PERIOD !

Gasoline engines have good "engine braking", unlike diesels. You can manually downshift the transmission to increase the engine breaking.

[n0arp]

time2roll wrote:

EASY.RIDER wrote:
thanks for the response, think i will forget about my plans for the ford ranger. think I need something more heavy duty.

You have more power and less weight than me and I been over plenty of hills. Hitch up and go have some fun. No diesel needed by a long shot with 4500 pounds. Don't worry these turbo charged engines run at much lower RPM that what in implied with people using the work "screaming". Most likely you glide effortlessly over the hills without issue.

When I said screaming, I was referring to my experience with engine/transmission braking on downhill grades with a... 2014 3.5 Ecoboost. The engine had more than enough power to make it up (without screaming), but struggled to keep speeds under control coming down without the brakes.

[time2roll]

EASY.RIDER wrote:
thanks for the response, think i will forget about my plans for the ford ranger. think I need something more heavy duty.

You have more power and less weight than me and I been over plenty of hills. Hitch up and go have some fun. No diesel needed by a long shot with 4500 pounds. Don't worry these turbo charged engines run at much lower RPM that what in implied with people using the work "screaming". Most likely you glide effortlessly over the hills without issue.

[philh]

If you're within rated specs, go and enjoy... unless you want an excuse for a bigger truck 🙂

the further you go over rated tow and payload numbers, the less fun the tow experience will be.

[blt2ski]

Shaving cream!
Hook it and go! I bought a 285/305 rated V6 in a full size half ton a couple if months ago. Granted I have yet to be above 700', I've had no issues towing a 6500 and a swag 8000 lbs of concrete mixer trailer behind me. It does every bit as well or better than my BB 454s pulling the 6500 lb trailer.
You have a turbo as noted, so you have sea level HP up to 8000-10000' if elevation. Said V10, 454s, and my V6 lose 3% per 1000' gained. In yellowstone at 10,000', you still have potentially 100% of your HP, those others have lost 30%!
Get w rounded trailer body, keep frontal are to 60-80 sq ft, I'm having a hard time thinking you're going to have issues. I probably would have bout the 300HP turbo I4 gm has in their1500s if anew truck was in my budget. Alasit was not, so a used truck it is. I would have no issues towing a 4-6000 lb trailer aerodynamically designed with ANY of the current model turbo 4 banger or the V6 like I have.

Marty

[EASY_RIDER]

thanks for the response, think i will forget about my plans for the ford ranger. think I need something more heavy duty.

[bgum]

carringb wrote:

bgum wrote:
If you don't mind pedestrians passing you it should be just fine. Thats a lot of weight.

So apparently 270 horsepower is insufficient??? That’s more than the original v10 made.

OP- the same motor has been in the Explorer for some time, and I’ve never heard a single power complaint.

And I had a V10 and in some situations pedestrians could have passed me. Can it pull it-sure it can-will I be comfortable-not really.

[wanderingaimles]

Since it's within the specs from the factory, it's a fair bet that ,,,,
Yes it will pull it.
Will that little 4 banger be screaming?
Most likely.
Will it provide enough drag on downhill slopes?
Likely not , without a lot of braking.
Do they offer a Tow/haul mode on those? Some method of forced downshifting would make a big difference, and with it, it may not be bad.

[Lwiddis]

Weather is an additional factor to consider IMO.

[EASY_RIDER]

I should have added, with the tow pkg added it is rated capable of towing 7500lbs. however I am very concerned weather this truck can handle my load going up steep inclines and also going down hill. This same pkg has been used in the 2019,2020 and now the 2021 models. Tom

[carringb]

bgum wrote:
If you don't mind pedestrians passing you it should be just fine. Thats a lot of weight.

So apparently 270 horsepower is insufficient??? That’s more than the original v10 made.

OP- the same motor has been in the Explorer for some time, and I’ve never heard a single power complaint.

[time2roll]

Keep the trailer GVWR within your tow rating for best results.
Watch the hitch weight does not use up all your payload.

[Lwiddis]

jahupe make good points about DEcending.

[bgum]

If you don't mind pedestrians passing you it should be just fine. Thats a lot of weight.

[n0arp]

Going up, you'll work the engine and spend the entire climb in boost. I doubt power will be an issue, but wear might be in the distant future if you tow often enough.

Going down I expect you'll be working the brakes because I don't imagine that engine/trans will offer enough hold back for the truck and 4500lb trailer to be of much use. Sounds like you might be setting yourself up for some white knuckle descents, but I've never tried that combination and I doubt many others here have.

I know my old Ecoboost 3.5 struggled to hold speed coming down 7-8% grades with a ~6K trailer, or at least scream doing it and still required some assistance. Your smaller engine will be notably less effective.