What do you reckon the maximum 2 Litre Ford Ranger Bi Turbo could tow safely.
Cheers
Dougwe said
04:35 PM May 10, 2025
G'day Drummo,
When I was looking around back in 2014 for a new tow vehicle I looked at specs and owner's manuals for max tow weight of vehicle. Then looked for an aluminum tent at least 500kg less than that. It was easy to find a suitable one. I then made sure the tow bar I fitted suited the aluminum tent weight. I ended up with the Colorado listed below as it was capable of 3.5t but worked on less than 3t. I tow 2.7t so well under. I'm a happy camper.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
Are We Lost said
05:41 PM May 10, 2025
I believe the most important factor is to have the tow vehicle heavier than what it tows. The Ranger has GVM of 3200kg (maximum it can weigh on the wheels), and GCM of 6000kg (the maximum combined total weight). If the Ranger is laden to 3000kg, that is too heavy for a 3000kg van because a desirable ball weight of 10% would take it to 3300kg, exceeding the GVM. If it is laden to 2900, then 300kg ball weight added, it just scrapes in within GVM of 3200kg. But the van is then slightly heavier than the tow vehcile. So, something less than 3000kg.
Someone experienced with several thousand kilometres towing experience can maybe push the boundaries a bit. New to towing, make it somewhat less.
It also depends on what you carry in the back of the Ranger and how it is distributed. With say 300kg on the towball it is very easy to overlad the rear axle if you want canopy, fridge, etc in the back. It makes a difficult compromise as maximum weights are approached.
-- Edited by Are We Lost on Saturday 10th of May 2025 05:58:40 PM
Whenarewethere said
06:46 PM May 10, 2025
I have a Land Rover Freelander. LR was owned by Ford at the time. My car is basically a Ford with the remaining parts Volvo. Brilliant car. 350kg tow ball weight, but mathematically useless technically. No issues with the 2.0L petrol engine with the car loaded to the extreme, & beyond!
Drummo said
12:42 PM May 11, 2025
Cheers guys. Thanks for the input.
I am hoping that someone out there has actually got one of these and can share their experience. It's hard to trust any reviews on the net.
My Van is a Concept Belmont 22' with a GTM 2640kg
-- Edited by Drummo on Sunday 11th of May 2025 12:43:17 PM
-- Edited by Drummo on Sunday 11th of May 2025 12:44:09 PM
Are We Lost said
07:15 PM May 11, 2025
The ATM is more important and how much it actually weighs when laden for travel, as well as the measured towball mass. I imagine it fits just inside the figures I proposed in the previous post. If you are asking if it has enough power, then sure. I have a 3.2L PX2 which has very similar performance figures to the 2.0L. Where the smaller engine suffers a bit is reduced engine braking on long descents.
Brodie Allen said
02:07 PM Jun 1, 2025
Although in fear of being poo-pooed, here's my take -
Small engines highly stressed to produce credible torque running thru a
10-gear box to keep the torque coming just aint my estimation of a good
long-term investment.
Struth - my motorbike is 2200cc !!!
Further, 10 gears changing so often to keep the outfit cooking along seems
like a great hi-tech disaster waiting to happen.
You can't beat cubes - and d on't think that tiny motors necessarily will use less fuel:
I have a 5L VW and at 100k sit on 14.2L/100k. And the gearchanges are minimised
by the simple low rev torque range.
283,000 K now and all but the initial 30K lugging a 21'6" 3500kg van. I have 2 other
vechicles that are my works/shopping trolleys.
You can't get effort (torque) out of thin air. Power takes juice. (Within reason) - some
engines of course more economical than others. But the differences in other
ways likely will catch up with you eventually.
B
Rodsvan said
05:29 AM Jun 2, 2025
The weight limits given above are for the previous model. For the current model the GVM is 3,230kg (very close), and the GCM is 6,350kg.
Cupie said
01:13 PM Jun 2, 2025
Brodie Allen wrote:
Although in fear of being poo-pooed, here's my take -
Small engines highly stressed to produce credible torque running thru a 10-gear box to keep the torque coming just aint my estimation of a good long-term investment.
Struth - my motorbike is 2200cc !!!
Further, 10 gears changing so often to keep the outfit cooking along seems like a great hi-tech disaster waiting to happen.
You can't beat cubes - and d on't think that tiny motors necessarily will use less fuel: I have a 5L VW and at 100k sit on 14.2L/100k. And the gearchanges are minimised by the simple low rev torque range.
283,000 K now and all but the initial 30K lugging a 21'6" 3500kg van. I have 2 other vechicles that are my works/shopping trolleys.
You can't get effort (torque) out of thin air. Power takes juice. (Within reason) - some engines of course more economical than others. But the differences in other ways likely will catch up with you eventually.
Hi all.
What do you reckon the maximum 2 Litre Ford Ranger Bi Turbo could tow safely.
Cheers
When I was looking around back in 2014 for a new tow vehicle I looked at specs and owner's manuals for max tow weight of vehicle. Then looked for an aluminum tent at least 500kg less than that. It was easy to find a suitable one. I then made sure the tow bar I fitted suited the aluminum tent weight. I ended up with the Colorado listed below as it was capable of 3.5t but worked on less than 3t. I tow 2.7t so well under. I'm a happy camper.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
I believe the most important factor is to have the tow vehicle heavier than what it tows. The Ranger has GVM of 3200kg (maximum it can weigh on the wheels), and GCM of 6000kg (the maximum combined total weight). If the Ranger is laden to 3000kg, that is too heavy for a 3000kg van because a desirable ball weight of 10% would take it to 3300kg, exceeding the GVM. If it is laden to 2900, then 300kg ball weight added, it just scrapes in within GVM of 3200kg. But the van is then slightly heavier than the tow vehcile. So, something less than 3000kg.
Someone experienced with several thousand kilometres towing experience can maybe push the boundaries a bit. New to towing, make it somewhat less.
It also depends on what you carry in the back of the Ranger and how it is distributed. With say 300kg on the towball it is very easy to overlad the rear axle if you want canopy, fridge, etc in the back. It makes a difficult compromise as maximum weights are approached.
-- Edited by Are We Lost on Saturday 10th of May 2025 05:58:40 PM
I have a Land Rover Freelander. LR was owned by Ford at the time. My car is basically a Ford with the remaining parts Volvo. Brilliant car. 350kg tow ball weight, but mathematically useless technically. No issues with the 2.0L petrol engine with the car loaded to the extreme, & beyond!
Cheers guys. Thanks for the input.
I am hoping that someone out there has actually got one of these and can share their experience. It's hard to trust any reviews on the net.
My Van is a Concept Belmont 22' with a GTM 2640kg
-- Edited by Drummo on Sunday 11th of May 2025 12:43:17 PM
-- Edited by Drummo on Sunday 11th of May 2025 12:44:09 PM
Small engines highly stressed to produce credible torque running thru a
10-gear box to keep the torque coming just aint my estimation of a good
long-term investment.
Struth - my motorbike is 2200cc !!!
Further, 10 gears changing so often to keep the outfit cooking along seems
like a great hi-tech disaster waiting to happen.
You can't beat cubes - and d on't think that tiny motors necessarily will use less fuel:
I have a 5L VW and at 100k sit on 14.2L/100k. And the gearchanges are minimised
by the simple low rev torque range.
283,000 K now and all but the initial 30K lugging a 21'6" 3500kg van. I have 2 other
vechicles that are my works/shopping trolleys.
You can't get effort (torque) out of thin air. Power takes juice. (Within reason) - some
engines of course more economical than others. But the differences in other
ways likely will catch up with you eventually.
B
I agree.