Towing Capacity with Manual Tran

[Dirtman]

Dont forget IF something happens while towing you're insurance company will tell you to pound sand and you will be 100% liable for damages. Not that it's likely but you will be technically towing an illegal load.

 

[RonD]

Yes, most insurance companies have the "Insured shall operate the vehicle in a legal lawful manner" clause

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I think U hauls polcies are shitty anyways...

Theyll rent a 26ft just under CDL box truck and a car trailer for some idiot whos never towed in his life to park his 7000lb escalade on and thats "A ok".....

But some dude whos probably well versed in towing squeezing the limits of his own pickup (not that 4000lbs is really squeezing) is unacceptable.

Makes no sense.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

U haul said my 87 ranger on a dolly was to heavy for my 77 F250.

Sometimes i think they do that to entice you to rent their equipment

They said that an 89 F-350 dump wasn’t enough for pulling a 79 F-150. Never mind that the dump was regularly used to legally haul around a 10k rated trailer with a skid steer which I want to say was roughly a total of around 8k or so behind it and the GVWR of the 150 was only 6250....

 

[Dirtman]

I think U hauls polcies are shitty anyways...

Theyll rent a 26ft just under CDL box truck and a car trailer for some idiot whos never towed in his life to park his 7000lb escalade on and thats "A ok".....

But some dude whos probably well versed in towing squeezing the limits of his own pickup (not that 4000lbs is really squeezing) is unacceptable.

Makes no sense.

Im sure it makes sense somehow to whatever team of lawyers drafted their insurance policies. Most of these regulations, laws, and what not are not based on any logic, just the incoherent ramblings of insurance companies.

 

[backporch]

I understand your warning about liability. If I read the owners manual correctly I am able to tow a 3200 lb trailer. That may assume nothing in the bed and no driver.? Overall I am close to being within their guidelines for a 4.0 4x4 extended cab with manual transmission

 

[gaz]

I am considering using my 4x4 1999 Ranger with manual trans to tow a project vehicle home on a car dolly. The car weighs under 3200 lbs, which is what the owner's manual says is close to max. Car dolly will probably only add several hundred pounds more. Drive is local and flat on a road that will probably be under 55 most of the way. I will have to try and convince u-haul to let me tow with my configuration.

Real question is for manual transmissions, are there any tricks to towing other than taking it slow and easy?

Backporch:

Though this is not a trick, persay it is a guideline that I wish I had known, the first time I towed with my 5sp. "DO NOT USE OVERDRIVE" or, do not use the overdrive gear, while towing. This may slow you down a little but towing a little slower is safer in my book

The other thing that I learned is if I can tow at or near my Max torque RPM it will be easier on the engine.

If your weights are within limits and the tow vehicle operates well you should be safe.

 

[don4331]

U-haul tow dolly weigh 750 lbs, combination of tow dolly + towed vehicle can't weigh more than the towing vehicle weight.

Book weight for '09 Ranger SC 4x4 manual - 3,700 lbs, minus dolly = 2,950lb . The GVWR for project car needs to be less than that - you could be putting a Yaris filled to the gunwales on that dolly*. The book weight also needs to be <3,450 lbs for a dolly for FWD, 3,900 for RWD.

U-haul also gets their panties in a bunch if it is a RWD/AWD being towed on dolly - they are worried about liability for transmission damage on the vehicle being towed - I always go over with them that the driveshaft has been removed.

Brakes on the dolly aren't great - but try to back it up and you will find out that they do work.

If you want to get U-Haul really spinning tell them you are towing an Explorer.

 

[Dirtman]

There should be a pin/key thing attached to the trailer that you stick into the slide of the surge brakes to prevent them from activating when reversing. Never rented a uhaul trailer or dolley but id imagine they have lost all those keys though.

Ive seen guys jam all sorts of things in there at the boat ramp. I think a nickle fits in mine.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

If you want to get U-Haul really spinning tell them you are towing an Explorer.

Aviator, Mountaineer and Navajo are GTG though!

 

[don4331]

Aviator, Mountaineer and Navajo are GTG though!

Just making sure we're on same, I intended to tow the Explorer- not that I was using the Explorer as tow vehicle.

And a 2016 Explorer is so removed from those which had the issue, but then u-haul doesn't always have the brightest bulbs on the string. But it beats me having to fine space for a car trailer in the garage.

 

[RonD]

Just making sure we're on same, I intended to tow the Explorer- not that I was using the Explorer as tow vehicle.

And a 2016 Explorer is so removed from those which had the issue, but then u-haul doesn't always have the brightest bulbs on the string. But it beats me having to fine space for a car trailer in the garage.

Thats why you make friends with people who have car trailers

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Just making sure we're on same, I intended to tow the Explorer- not that I was using the Explorer as tow vehicle.

And a 2016 Explorer is so removed from those which had the issue, but then u-haul doesn't always have the brightest bulbs on the string. But it beats me having to fine space for a car trailer in the garage.

Yeah, I was talking tow pig.

I think the 2011’s are GTG to tow u haul with.

The IRS ones that are body on frame are bad though.