I did the same thing. I got the Ranger to tow a Jay 174BH and later upgraded to a 264BH. 25' box, 29.5' overall. 4800 lbs with nothing but propane, up to 6000 lbs loaded. There's been no regrets. I use an Andersen No-Sway hitch and everything is as smooth as could be. No lack of power. No scary moments on the highway. Just works!
Hi thanks for your input regarding towing with the Ranger. Just wondering , now that you are 2 years in, are you still towing with the ranger and how is working out? Any issues? Again Thank you.
@@pauls477 it's been great other than minor issues with the Andersen anti-sway hitch. It's a good hitch but it's possible to greatly reduce anti-sway on it if the ball gets pulled upwards 2-3mm (which can happen during hookup/unhooking if not loosening chains first). When the ball gets lifted or pushed back in, bits of friction material become dislodged and the ball can't fully settle into the friction material. When the hitch was working properly it was a dream. When it wasn't, it was still okay, but windy days or gusts from semis would become annoying.
@@technicallyreal Thank you for the prompt reply - that is fantastic (aside from the hitch issue which does not seem to serious) There are a few RV shows here (mid Canada) in the next couple of weeks. I have a 2020 ranger towing a 20 foot GVRW 3500 lbs without issue. I have a 2024 Ranger on order and am considering a Grand Design Imagine 21 BHE - empty 4600 lbs - GVWR 6300 (which i will never reach) and tongue weight of 456 lbs. Your commentary has provided insight and relief i suppose. Thank you.
Thank you for this good information. I have a 2019 Ford Ranger with the tow package and upgraded from a Forest River 171RBXL to a larger Forest River 24RLXL. The new camper has a hitch weight of 550 lbs with a UVW of 5063 lbs. I added an electric brake and have the weight distribution sway control hitch too. I have no issues pulling my trailer through the Pennsylvania mountains. I'm happy to see someone else is using their truck the same as me. I'll be subscribing to see how your making out in the future.
I did the exact same comparisons for hauling our motorcycle trailers with 3 bikes and the ranger checks all of our boxes. It’s incredible how far along these new rangers have come. Very happy with my 2021. Great video for those who haven’t compared the numbers 👍🏻
We bought the ranger lariat tremor. Number one concern , will it fit in the garage. It does. The 4cyl has a good punch, great little engine. And has the tow capability for a small trailer. We love our truck.
Excellent breakdown! I just bought the 2021 Ranger XLT and my dad bought a 2020 F150 XLT. We were talking tow capacity, and I had no idea the capacity was so close.
They are only close because it was compared to the base model 3.3L v6 in the f150. While that is a great engine for everyday driving and reliability its the least tow worthy engine of the lineup. The apples to apples comparison would have at least been with the 2.7L turbo in the f150 which starts at around 10K tow capacity.
I think you made the right choice. I've found the Ranger to be extremely capable while towing a very similar trailer to yours. And I had to trade in my full size for a Ranger because my full size wouldn't fit in the garage of our new house. Ranger sits in my garage or is empty 99% of the time. Tows 1% of the time. I was concerned about lost capability at first but 2.5 years later I have no more concerns.
I currently own a sport track and I'm looking to upgrade. I am comparing all the standard full size and mid size trucks. I think this is a great comparison. Thanks for taking the time to do so.
Thank you. This video helped a lot. We have a 2019 Ford Ranger and are looking at getting a Bullet 243bhswe. Dry weight of 5082 lbs. I was a little uncertain about pulling it. My husband was not. After watching your videos, I feel better.
Glad you found this to be helpful. Suggest you also watch our video on the top ten causes of RV accidents. This is a list published by the RV industry which is a great overview of things to watch for when towing our trailers. Happy RVing...Jan
Thank you for this video. I am trying to decide between midsize and full size for towing my 23’ forest river and full size trucks are too expensive. I drive an older full size now and am sick of parking and driving around town. I think I am going with the 23 canyon
Thanks for the comments. Just be sure to match the gross weigh of your loaded trailer with the maximum towing capacity of the Canyon. Our only issue with the Ranger has been towing in high cross winds as we find we need to keep our speed around 60 mph. I also added weight to the truck bed using patio blocks stacked at the bulk head in order to put more weight over the center of the truck. This helps keep the front end more stable on the highway especially on those bumpy roads where you get front to back bounce. Good luck and happy RVing. Jan
Just got a 2021 Ranger w/off road package, tow package, black appearance package for 42K. Beautiful truck. Drives like a mid-size SUV. We are in Portland OR and I previously had a 2019 RAM that was a PITA for city driving/parking. The Ranger is comparable to our Subaru Ascent on drive ability. Really ecstatic you shared this video as we just bought a Airstream Basecamp 20x(picking it up tomorrow) and we’re a bit concerned what the towing dynamics would be like. But sounds like it will be just fine. Also great. Our Ranger has been getting 20mpg on regular gas, for more torque and capability than the Ascent that needs premium gas. Go eco boost!
Have fun. It will tow fine. I will be posting a video of us towing our 28 ft Forest River Surveyor 25 FKS with our Ford Ranger later this week. We did this all last summer and had no issues. The Ranger towing package and Curt hitch with self-leveling and sway control made all the difference. I will add that with the trailer I drive between 60 to 65 mph on the highway.
You rationale makes sense, the only thing is because the Ranger has a shorter/thinner wheelbase and less weight thus less mass, in a condition of high wind the RV could theoretically overpower the truck and make it sway
so... food for thought I used a ranger to tow a 28ft 6000lbs camper on a 2000 miles round trip adventure plenty of power it was never ever under powered 9mpg with the peanut gas tank meant gas about every 100 miles Dont even think about interstate speeds 55mph is a good limit even though the speed limit is often 70 mph you will fill your pants with fecal matter the first time a semi truck blows past you. it is WHITE KNUCKLE at 70 mph in traffic and wind the truck does NOT have enough weight not even close IT needs another 1000 lbs to be safer at speed and yes i use a weight distribution hitch set up properly actually used 2 different hitches same result Buy a full size truck for full size work
Yes, I agree. If we were traveling any further than just to local campgrounds, we would have purchased a F 150. Our camping is typically an hour or two from our home and we often take the sight seeing routes. When we do travel on the highway we stay between 55 and 60 mph. The big negative concerning the F 150 was that it won’t fit in our garage and we get lots of snow here in the winter which was a major factor in our truck selection process. We had to make some compromises to make everything work for us and the shorter trips we make pulling the trailer made it an easier decision.
The ranger is an awesome truck. Plenty of zip. As long as you know the limitations of the size. If all I did was local camping it would still be in my garage. 2 weeks after my big trip. I traded it in on a full size truck I wish it would have done better for me but I needed a highway truck also.
Hi Jan. I also have a 2020 Ranger with the tow package and I’m thinking of getting a Grand Design - Imagine XLS 22RBE. Like your Surveyor, it’s larger than what I sometimes hear should be towed with a Ranger but within the limits. I’m wondering if you have continued to find the Ranger to be a good tow vehicle for your Surveyor.
Thanks for the question and yes, we are very happy with the Ford Ranger towing our Forest River Surveyor 25FKS. I will add, though, that I tyically do not drive over 60 mph while towing as this not only maximizes our mpg at around 18 mpg but also allows me to drive more comfortably when dealing with cross winds. I hope this feedback is helpful. Thanks, Jan
Very good video on why the Ranger was better for you. I like that the Ranger can get to its max towing numbers without a lot of options being added on. The only thing you didn't really talk about in the video though was the comfort and size in the cab of the truck. I am not sure how tall or big you are but I imagine that for people over 6 feet or a bit heavier, the F150 would feel more comfortable to them on long trips.
I just bought a 2021 ranger lariat, tow package, 4x4 and I tow a 26’ Cruiser MPG and so far so good. I’m 6’4 220 pounds and I fit in my ranger just fine. I have a great hitch hook up with sway bars, and things seem good. Thanks for the video. Please keep sharing your Ranger and RV stories. The more I learn the more comfortable I am .
Watching this again after looking at trucks online and recently drove 2 f150’s and wish Ford would add an integrated brake controller! Going to test drive the Ranger at the Cleveland auto show next month
You really don't get a whole lot extra tow capacity for that extra 10K price tag on the larger truck. I did a similar comparison between the Tacoma and the Tundra. I bought the Tacoma but I think I should have bought the Ranger like you did. Does Ford offer a 6 year 150k extented warranty on the ranger like Toyota does on the tacoma? I took the extended warranty because I plan to be Towing close to its Max Capacity.
Thank you for your comments. My wife and I are going through the same reflection right now but sit on different sides for the choice as she thinks the Ranger will be borderline and limit us in the long run... I prefer the smaller truck as it will be my daily... We also have a very similar travel trailer to yours (a 25ft Jayco with a slide) so I am comforted by your comments. The Ford salesman is pushing the F-150....
Good luck. It is not an easy decision. We stay right around 60 to 65 mph when pulling the trailer and are comfortable at those speeds. The longest trip we have taken so far with the trailer was a 250 mile drive one-way to upper Michigan and we had no issues. .
Ford has a TSB coming for flat towing a Ranger. Many, thousands of people have destroyed their transmissions flat towing. I know Ford says you can flat tow but transmissions are saying no. Even with full neutral it’s burning them up. Might want to call Ford for direction, dealer will say yes you can. Peace
@@jefftalbot8371 There are no TSB's in the PTS system, with regards trans or transfer case issues being flat towed. I also don't see warranty issues of " Many, thousands of people have destroyed their transmissions flat towing" Please supply the is the TSB number.
My boat specs out the same as your RV. I chose the Ford ranger for the exact same reasons that you do. It is cheaper it fits the garage which is absolute mandatory it does get better gas mileage empty cuz it's my primary vehicle for getting around, and I only do 65 also.
Thank you for your comments. We absolutely love our Ford Ranger and after hearing how much car and truck insurance has gone up on those expensive F150s, we are really glad that we went with the Ranger:)
W4SAG here. I have the 2021 Ford Ranger and tow a Jayco Light Feather 24 RL. I don't think the dealer setup my hitch correctly and had a bit of a sway problem. The truck tows the trailer great and stops great too. I'm going to raise the ball about 2 more inches and have 4 more links to the hang (adding more tension) to the load bars. I'm using the Blue Ox Tension and sway bars. Do you think this will solve my sway problem?
Hi and thanks for the questions. Yes, we are absolutely delighted with the way the Ford Ranger handles our Surveyor 25 FKS. We are now in our third season with this and have taken more that 25 trips with the Ranger and Surveyor. We have had no issues. I will share too that I drive no faster than 60 mph and at the maximum speed I have no issues with the trailer swaying in cross winds plus I get a fantastic 16 mpg. We are very happy with this set up. One comment that is very imporant to be mindful of is the importance of the proper trailer hitch height and positiong of the anti-sway bars. We initally had this done by a realtively new technician at our RV dealer and as a result, we had a disasterous experience on our first camping trip. The fastest I was able to drive was 50 mph with the trailer and even at that speed, I felt considerable sway. We took the truck and trailer right back to the RV dealer the next week and the supervisor of the technicians reset up the hitch and sway bars. He spent about an 1 1/2 hours doing this and stressed to me that the initial set up can be very tricky. After he got done, we had no issues with any sway. We were so worried that the problem was due to the Ranger but is was not. Thanks again for reaching out.
@@rvtipsfromjan4933 The Ford Ranger has a hitch weight limit of 750 lbs but the 25FKS has a hitch weight of 814 lbs before propane and batteries. Is this not a problem?
@@jessenovotny4183 Hi and thanks for the comment. We did a physical check of our hitch weight and it is 655 pounds. This is due to the way we load the trailer plus the load we carry on the rear mounted carrier of the trailer. This puts the actual hitch weight within the specification limits of the Ranger. I hope this helps anwer your question and thanks again for reaching out.
Serious question. I’m looking to buy a new vehicle. It will be used every day to do deliveries putting in around 40 miles on freeway and 60 miles doing frequent stops, equaling about 100 every single day. Deliveries are no hauling or nothing heavy. Kinda like food delivery. Today. April 2021. F-150 XLT or Ranger XLT? Which one to buy and why? Thanks.
The Ranger will be more agile in traffic and very easy to maneuver in city traffic. It also will easily fit in virtually any garage. The F150 is longer and wider and will handle heavier loads. It will also cost $10,000 more when comparably equipped to the Ranger and won’t fit in most garages. Both are great trucks. So the final decision is really one of personal preference. Good luck and thanks for asking.
I’ve had both vehicles and prefer my Ranger. I like the smaller size and can take it anywhere. The F150 was kind of a beast when I had to take it into the city.
@@ericneal1872 I like that recommendation. I was looking at that as an option too. I gotta check if they will be the type of hybrid that doesn’t need to be plugged in. You know, like the ones that charges itself as it drives. Thanks.
What brake controller do you use and how difficult was it to install? Been seeing several different videos with the redarc Tow-Pro elite or others, but not much on the dealer installed tow package (which uses the Tow-Pro Elite but ties into the 3rd brake light and works with the Automatic Emergency Braking feature). Also heard some horrors about trying to install an aftermarket brake controller since there is no plug for the brake controller. Also, you say you get 18mpg while doing 60-65mph. That’s while towing the RV? I wouldn’t expect to get near that high or mpg. We just bought a new 2020 Ranger and are buying a Jayco 264BH with dry weight of about 4800. Trying to get the Ranger ready and just looking for insight from someone who’s been further down the road. Thanks for a great video.
Any brake controller with good ratings for towing a trailer will work fine but installing it was a bit challenging. I first took the Ranger to my Ford Dealer first who had never installed a brake controller on a Ranger and wanted $850 for the controller and installation. I said “ no way” to that. Ended up with a Curtis Brake Controller but had to watch a few videos on You Tube to see how to wire it. The factory installed wire harness is on the left side of the steering column, way in the back just above the floor under the instrument panel. I was not able to get this old body down there to wire snd soldier so I had one of my sons do it for me. The wires are color coded which really helped. My gas mileage was measured one way heading east with a bit of a tail wind. I only checked it one time and was getting around 17 mpg at 60 mph. I suspect I was getting help from the tail wind and am going to recheck this again once we get the Surveyor out of winter storage in April. Good luck and let me know how it goes for you.
We use Premium which gives us better gas mileage but you can use Regular. We get around 17 mpg with the higher Octane gas pulling our trailer at 60 mph.
A very informative video.I have heard great things about the new Ford Rangers. Sounds like you know how to spec your truck and know its capabilities. I have no doubt that you will have no issues on your travels.
Could you share what is your average gas mileage pulling your trailer? Perhaps if you are not traveling far or fast the MPG is not an issue comparing it to an F-150. Thank you
@@hookzsettv4842 We got 21 mpg on our trip to Florida without towing the trailer. With the trailer at around 60mph, we got between 17 and 18 depending on the winds here in the Midwest. When the wind is directly behind us, we get a nice pick up in mpg. I will be doing more mpg checks this Spring with the trailer and will post those results.
I love Rangers over F150's but in this comparison, there is something that is missed. Reliability. Turbo charged engines (esp ecoboosts) ( I work at a Ford dealer) are far less reliable than their naturally aspirated counterparts. I was hoping Ford would put the 3.3 v6 with the reliable 6 speed in the Ranger but no dice. The 3.3, 3.5, & 3.7 v6 engines by Ford have been very reliable. Would pick that engine over any ecoboost any day.
@@EagleXYZLibertarianForChrist Makes sense, since I have another Ford model with a naturally aspirated 3.5. I just never knew that that type engine, minus the turbos, was put into the F150. Cheers.
Yes, my Amateur Radio call is WA8LIS. I was licensed in 1963 as a teenager. I am still very active on the airwaves and enjoy the hobby very much to this day.
We are getting 15 MPG with a fuel tank size of 18 GAL. We fill up after driving about 250 miles. With a tail wind we once got 18 MPG which was remarkable. We drive between 55 to 60 MPH and that makes a huge difference in our gas mileage.
We are pulling a trailer 28 ft long and weighing 5500 pounds with a tongue weight of 600 pounds. The key for us is that we take relatively short trips with the trailer and drive 60 to 65 mph. If we took longer trips we would have purchased a F150. But using the Ford Ranger as we do, we have had no issues. I am admittedly at the top limit for towing purposes but the Ranger has been up to the task. Keep in mind too that we have the tow package which is critical for this type of use. I will be posting videos of us towing over the next couple of weeks when we take the trailer out of winter storage so please look for those. As they say, the proof is in the pudding. Good luck and thanks for the question.
I pull a 4000 lb 22 ft. trailer with a 2022 two wheel drive Ranger that I bought in Jan. '02. So far no problems at all. I got the FX2 package which includes an electronic rear axle locker, among other things (for around $500). You may want to save yourself some gas, $5000, skip the 4WD and get the rear locker, unless you plan on driving a lot in the snow. Haven't needed the rear locker yet. It is basically for use just if you get stuck.
Just the video I was looking for as I will be updating my 09 Avalanche that pulls my 20ft Forest River BH a few weekends and 1 week a year about 100 miles 1 way. Great review and the Ranger wasn’t even on my radar with a 4cyl. Would love to see a video of your Ranger hooked up to the TT.
I have a couple of videos with my Forest River 25 FKS Surveyor hooked up to our Ranger on my YouRube channel RV tips from Jan. Check those out. One is actually of us towing the TT. Love the truck.
@@rvtipsfromjan4933 I found the rest of your Video's after my comment and I really want to test drive one! Moving soon and my wife wants me to go to one vehicle (I also Drive a 2012 Sonic 6 speed) and the Ranger might just fit the bill. Not Brand loyal, just looking for something that will pull occasionally and be my daily driver.
I like your presentation on the Ranger but you are overloaded, period. Not on weight but on frontal surface area. Ranger maxed out is 50sqft. And you don’t tow with the 3.3L F-150 other than a small boat or a couple of motor cycle. You always want more truck not less. Take that Ranger on Highway with a 15 mph headwind pulling your RV and that truck isn’t going to hit 65 MPH. Peace
I wondered about the concerns you bring up too but I watch the RUclips review by “BigTruck, Big RV” on their test drive of the Ford Ranger pulling a good size RV Trailer and that changed my mind. It is surprising how well it did and as I remember the Ranger’s curb weight is just about 600 pounds less than the F-150. I agree with you that bigger is always better but the F-15O won’t fit in our garage and with the winter heavy snow we get here in the Upper Midwest, I did not want our truck setting outdoors. We are also weekend. local camp ground campers as I am still working full time so that was a factor in our decision too. In April I will be posting a video of the Ranger pulling our RV under various highway conditions. I would like to hear how you feel after you view that video. Thanks for your comments as these are appreciated. You do make some excellent points.
Jeff, you forget that the Ranger has 310 LbsFT of torque and I can tell you, as an owner of the Ranger, it has more than enough power. Now I will be hooking up our trailer in June and, as we live near the mountains, the winds here can be very unpredictable and can kick up at any time so I will update on how the towing experience is with mine. Peace..Out...
@@NateMoore92 It pulled very well. Trailer loaded w/ no water is approx 4300lbs. The truck maintained speed up hills topping at at 3000 rpm, which is the max torque range, on the longest and steepest hills. Maintained 65 mph on the flat @1900 rpm effortlessly. Sway control worked very well but could feel the trailer moving with the ruts on the road which can be expected as the Ranger is not as wide as a full size 1/2 ton. I would have no issues pulling up to a 5300 lb travel trailer with it. TFL truck did a tow test with a 5000 lb load up a long and steep grade with the ranger against the Toyota Taco which you can look up. Opinions on how this vehicle can tow and how much are 1 thing, real world is a different story. Truck has a 7500 lb towing capacity. Would I tow that much? Maybe a flatbed but not a travel trailer. Consider a couple of things here. A full size F150 with the max towing package can tow 11000 lbs and has a payload capacity of 1450 lbs. The Ranger can tow 7500 lbs and has a payload capacity of 1650 lbs. Pretty impressive for a mid size truck IMHO. This was a 1300 mile round trip.
I did the same thing. I got the Ranger to tow a Jay 174BH and later upgraded to a 264BH. 25' box, 29.5' overall. 4800 lbs with nothing but propane, up to 6000 lbs loaded. There's been no regrets. I use an Andersen No-Sway hitch and everything is as smooth as could be. No lack of power. No scary moments on the highway. Just works!
Hi thanks for your input regarding towing with the Ranger. Just wondering , now that you are 2 years in, are you still towing with the ranger and how is working out? Any issues? Again Thank you.
@@pauls477 it's been great other than minor issues with the Andersen anti-sway hitch.
It's a good hitch but it's possible to greatly reduce anti-sway on it if the ball gets pulled upwards 2-3mm (which can happen during hookup/unhooking if not loosening chains first). When the ball gets lifted or pushed back in, bits of friction material become dislodged and the ball can't fully settle into the friction material.
When the hitch was working properly it was a dream. When it wasn't, it was still okay, but windy days or gusts from semis would become annoying.
@@technicallyreal Thank you for the prompt reply - that is fantastic (aside from the hitch issue which does not seem to serious) There are a few RV shows here (mid Canada) in the next couple of weeks. I have a 2020 ranger towing a 20 foot GVRW 3500 lbs without issue. I have a 2024 Ranger on order and am considering a Grand Design Imagine 21 BHE - empty 4600 lbs - GVWR 6300 (which i will never reach) and tongue weight of 456 lbs. Your commentary has provided insight and relief i suppose. Thank you.
Thank you for this good information. I have a 2019 Ford Ranger with the tow package and upgraded from a Forest River 171RBXL to a larger Forest River 24RLXL. The new camper has a hitch weight of 550 lbs with a UVW of 5063 lbs. I added an electric brake and have the weight distribution sway control hitch too. I have no issues pulling my trailer through the Pennsylvania mountains. I'm happy to see someone else is using their truck the same as me. I'll be subscribing to see how your making out in the future.
I did the exact same comparisons for hauling our motorcycle trailers with 3 bikes and the ranger checks all of our boxes. It’s incredible how far along these new rangers have come. Very happy with my 2021. Great video for those who haven’t compared the numbers 👍🏻
Thanks for your comments. Much appreciated.
We bought the ranger lariat tremor. Number one concern , will it fit in the garage. It does.
The 4cyl has a good punch, great little engine. And has the tow capability for a small trailer. We love our truck.
Excellent breakdown!
I just bought the 2021 Ranger XLT and my dad bought a 2020 F150 XLT.
We were talking tow capacity, and I had no idea the capacity was so close.
They are only close because it was compared to the base model 3.3L v6 in the f150. While that is a great engine for everyday driving and reliability its the least tow worthy engine of the lineup. The apples to apples comparison would have at least been with the 2.7L turbo in the f150 which starts at around 10K tow capacity.
I think you made the right choice. I've found the Ranger to be extremely capable while towing a very similar trailer to yours. And I had to trade in my full size for a Ranger because my full size wouldn't fit in the garage of our new house. Ranger sits in my garage or is empty 99% of the time. Tows 1% of the time. I was concerned about lost capability at first but 2.5 years later I have no more concerns.
Great video. I just got a 2021 Ford Ranger and I love it.
I currently own a sport track and I'm looking to upgrade. I am comparing all the standard full size and mid size trucks. I think this is a great comparison. Thanks for taking the time to do so.
Thank you. This video helped a lot. We have a 2019 Ford Ranger and are looking at getting a Bullet 243bhswe. Dry weight of 5082 lbs. I was a little uncertain about pulling it. My husband was not. After watching your videos, I feel better.
Glad you found this to be helpful. Suggest you also watch our video on the top ten causes of RV accidents. This is a list published by the RV industry which is a great overview of things to watch for when towing our trailers. Happy RVing...Jan
Thank you for this video. I am trying to decide between midsize and full size for towing my 23’ forest river and full size trucks are too expensive. I drive an older full size now and am sick of parking and driving around town. I think I am going with the 23 canyon
Thanks for the comments. Just be sure to match the gross weigh of your loaded trailer with the maximum towing capacity of the Canyon.
Our only issue with the Ranger has been towing in high cross winds as we find we need to keep our speed around 60 mph.
I also added weight to the truck bed using patio blocks stacked at the bulk head in order to put more weight over the center of the truck. This helps keep the front end more stable on the highway especially on those bumpy roads where you get front to back bounce.
Good luck and happy RVing. Jan
Just got a 2021 Ranger w/off road package, tow package, black appearance package for 42K. Beautiful truck. Drives like a mid-size SUV. We are in Portland OR and I previously had a 2019 RAM that was a PITA for city driving/parking. The Ranger is comparable to our Subaru Ascent on drive ability. Really ecstatic you shared this video as we just bought a Airstream Basecamp 20x(picking it up tomorrow) and we’re a bit concerned what the towing dynamics would be like. But sounds like it will be just fine.
Also great. Our Ranger has been getting 20mpg on regular gas, for more torque and capability than the Ascent that needs premium gas. Go eco boost!
Great post. Thanks for sharing.
I just picked up a ford ranger XLT I'm super excited about towing my little airstream
Have fun. It will tow fine. I will be posting a video of us towing our 28 ft Forest River Surveyor 25 FKS with our Ford Ranger later this week. We did this all last summer and had no issues. The Ranger towing package and Curt hitch with self-leveling and sway control made all the difference. I will add that with the trailer I drive between 60 to 65 mph on the highway.
I’d like to see your payload capacity sticker for the truck and trailer. I assume caution is needed to ensure nothing is overloaded.
Will post once I get the trailer out of storage.
I'm pretty sure the payload for the Ranger is closer to 1800 lbs, at least that's what my sats said when I bought mine.
Ranger supercab 4X2: 1860 but the Ranger Supercrew 4X4 : 1560
Overseas they are more like 1100kgs. I don't know why ford usa derates them so much.
Great video, I'm doing the same. Got a Frontier instead of a Titan. I am looking to buy a surveyor 19 model.
Glad you liked the video. Thanks for responding to it. Enjoy your Surveyor.
This is an excellent video! Answered all my questions and was very informative. Thank you for making such great content!
You rationale makes sense, the only thing is because the Ranger has a shorter/thinner wheelbase and less weight thus less mass, in a condition of high wind the RV could theoretically overpower the truck and make it sway
Just what I needed. GREAT info! Especially on full time vs part time.
Thanks for the great video you went over everything very well
Nicely done, clear and giving info within a context. Very helpful. Thanks for posting.
Great information👍
All the best to you and yours.
Cheers
so... food for thought I used a ranger to tow a 28ft 6000lbs camper on a 2000 miles round trip adventure plenty of power it was never ever under powered 9mpg with the peanut gas tank meant gas about every 100 miles Dont even think about interstate speeds 55mph is a good limit even though the speed limit is often 70 mph you will fill your pants with fecal matter the first time a semi truck blows past you. it is WHITE KNUCKLE at 70 mph in traffic and wind the truck does NOT have enough weight not even close
IT needs another 1000 lbs to be safer at speed and yes i use a weight distribution hitch set up properly actually used 2 different hitches same result Buy a full size truck for full size work
Yes, I agree. If we were traveling any further than just to local campgrounds, we would have purchased a F 150. Our camping is typically an hour or two from our home and we often take the sight seeing routes. When we do travel on the highway we stay between 55 and 60 mph. The big negative concerning the F 150 was that it won’t fit in our garage and we get lots of snow here in the winter which was a major factor in our truck selection process. We had to make some compromises to make everything work for us and the shorter trips we make pulling the trailer made it an easier decision.
The ranger is an awesome truck. Plenty of zip. As long as you know the limitations of the size. If all I did was local camping it would still be in my garage. 2 weeks after my big trip. I traded it in on a full size truck
I wish it would have done better for me but I needed a highway truck also.
Looking forward to the plug in version that is rumored to come.
Hi Jan. I also have a 2020 Ranger with the tow package and I’m thinking of getting a Grand Design - Imagine XLS 22RBE. Like your Surveyor, it’s larger than what I sometimes hear should be towed with a Ranger but within the limits. I’m wondering if you have continued to find the Ranger to be a good tow vehicle for your Surveyor.
Thanks for the question and yes, we are very happy with the Ford Ranger towing our Forest River Surveyor 25FKS. I will add, though, that I tyically do not drive over 60 mph while towing as this not only maximizes our mpg at around 18 mpg but also allows me to drive more comfortably when dealing with cross winds. I hope this feedback is helpful. Thanks, Jan
@@rvtipsfromjan4933 very helpful- thank you. 60mph seems reasonable when towing a trailer and 18mpg is great. Thanks Jan!
Very good video on why the Ranger was better for you. I like that the Ranger can get to its max towing numbers without a lot of options being added on. The only thing you didn't really talk about in the video though was the comfort and size in the cab of the truck. I am not sure how tall or big you are but I imagine that for people over 6 feet or a bit heavier, the F150 would feel more comfortable to them on long trips.
On long trips, yes. The F150 is more comfortable. I’m 6’ 1’ and 235lbs and I prefer my Ranger as a daily driver.
I just bought a 2021 ranger lariat, tow package, 4x4 and I tow a 26’ Cruiser MPG and so far so good. I’m 6’4 220 pounds and I fit in my ranger just fine. I have a great hitch hook up with sway bars, and things seem good. Thanks for the video. Please keep sharing your Ranger and RV stories. The more I learn the more comfortable I am .
Watching this again after looking at trucks online and recently drove 2 f150’s and wish Ford would add an integrated brake controller! Going to test drive the Ranger at the Cleveland auto show next month
Good luck. We really love our Ranger.
You really don't get a whole lot extra tow capacity for that extra 10K price tag on the larger truck.
I did a similar comparison between the Tacoma and the Tundra. I bought the Tacoma but I think I should have bought the Ranger like you did.
Does Ford offer a 6 year 150k extented warranty on the ranger like Toyota does on the tacoma? I took the extended warranty because I plan to be Towing close to its Max Capacity.
I don’t believe Ford offers that long of an extender warranty. Thanks for the comments.
Those 2021 prices. These days that $48k F150 will cost about $60K.
Thank you for your comments. My wife and I are going through the same reflection right now but sit on different sides for the choice as she thinks the Ranger will be borderline and limit us in the long run... I prefer the smaller truck as it will be my daily... We also have a very similar travel trailer to yours (a 25ft Jayco with a slide) so I am comforted by your comments. The Ford salesman is pushing the F-150....
Good luck. It is not an easy decision. We stay right around 60 to 65 mph when pulling the trailer and are comfortable at those speeds. The longest trip we have taken so far with the trailer was a 250 mile drive one-way to upper Michigan and we had no issues. .
Nice overview, also you can't beat the toque at 310 ft-lb. Good combo with the 3:73 rear gear. Just got a 2021 XLT 4X4 as a toad. Love it.
Ford has a TSB coming for flat towing a Ranger. Many, thousands of people have destroyed their transmissions flat towing. I know Ford says you can flat tow but transmissions are saying no. Even with full neutral it’s burning them up. Might want to call Ford for direction, dealer will say yes you can. Peace
@@jefftalbot8371 There are no TSB's in the PTS system, with regards trans or transfer case issues being flat towed. I also don't see warranty issues of " Many, thousands of people have destroyed their transmissions flat towing" Please supply the is the TSB number.
Thanks for creating such a sensible and wise statement to help others deduce what will work best for their needs. Well done!
This is extremely interesting
Thanks for the info, well done. What brand of hitch did you go with? Did you consider installing airbags?
Thanks for any info,
Safe travels!
very informative vid am looking to choose between the 2 thanks
Good luck. Both are great trucks. Happy Camping and thanks for the comments.
It sounds like you made a great choice and I hope that you will get lots of enjoyment from your truck and trailer.
Thanks. We love the truck and have made many trips towing our Surveyor 25FKS RV. Appreciate your comments.
My boat specs out the same as your RV. I chose the Ford ranger for the exact same reasons that you do. It is cheaper it fits the garage which is absolute mandatory it does get better gas mileage empty cuz it's my primary vehicle for getting around, and I only do 65 also.
Thank you for your comments. We absolutely love our Ford Ranger and after hearing how much car and truck insurance has gone up on those expensive F150s, we are really glad that we went with the Ranger:)
W4SAG here. I have the 2021 Ford Ranger and tow a Jayco Light Feather 24 RL. I don't think the dealer setup my hitch correctly and had a bit of a sway problem. The truck tows the trailer great and stops great too. I'm going to raise the ball about 2 more inches and have 4 more links to the hang (adding more tension) to the load bars. I'm using the Blue Ox Tension and sway bars. Do you think this will solve my sway problem?
Yes, it sounds like you are in the right track. More tension should reduce your sway. Let me know how this works for you. Good luck.
@@rvtipsfromjan4933 Will do. Thanks!
After all this time, do you still feel that the Ranger is suitable for towing something as big as your 250FKS?
Hi and thanks for the questions. Yes, we are absolutely delighted with the way the Ford Ranger handles our Surveyor 25 FKS. We are now in our third season with this and have taken more that 25 trips with the Ranger and Surveyor. We have had no issues.
I will share too that I drive no faster than 60 mph and at the maximum speed I have no issues with the trailer swaying in cross winds plus I get a fantastic 16 mpg. We are very happy with this set up.
One comment that is very imporant to be mindful of is the importance of the proper trailer hitch height and positiong of the anti-sway bars. We initally had this done by a realtively new technician at our RV dealer and as a result, we had a disasterous experience on our first camping trip. The fastest I was able to drive was 50 mph with the trailer and even at that speed, I felt considerable sway. We took the truck and trailer right back to the RV dealer the next week and the supervisor of the technicians reset up the hitch and sway bars. He spent about an 1 1/2 hours doing this and stressed to me that the initial set up can be very tricky. After he got done, we had no issues with any sway. We were so worried that the problem was due to the Ranger but is was not.
Thanks again for reaching out.
@@rvtipsfromjan4933 The Ford Ranger has a hitch weight limit of 750 lbs but the 25FKS has a hitch weight of 814 lbs before propane and batteries. Is this not a problem?
@@jessenovotny4183
@@jessenovotny4183 Hi and thanks for the comment. We did a physical check of our hitch weight and it is 655 pounds. This is due to the way we load the trailer plus the load we carry on the rear mounted carrier of the trailer. This puts the actual hitch weight within the specification limits of the Ranger. I hope this helps anwer your question and thanks again for reaching out.
@@rvtipsfromjan4933 how that's incredible how did you physically check the tongue weight?
Serious question. I’m looking to buy a new vehicle. It will be used every day to do deliveries putting in around 40 miles on freeway and 60 miles doing frequent stops, equaling about 100 every single day. Deliveries are no hauling or nothing heavy. Kinda like food delivery. Today. April 2021. F-150 XLT or Ranger XLT? Which one to buy and why? Thanks.
The Ranger will be more agile in traffic and very easy to maneuver in city traffic. It also will easily fit in virtually any garage.
The F150 is longer and wider and will handle heavier loads. It will also cost $10,000 more when comparably equipped to the Ranger and won’t fit in most garages.
Both are great trucks. So the final decision is really one of personal preference.
Good luck and thanks for asking.
I’ve had both vehicles and prefer my Ranger. I like the smaller size and can take it anywhere. The F150 was kind of a beast when I had to take it into the city.
Yes, I agree and thanks for your comments.
For what you just said - Ford Maverick hybrid. $22,000 sticker and 40mpg city. That would be perfect for you.
@@ericneal1872
I like that recommendation. I was looking at that as an option too. I gotta check if they will be the type of hybrid that doesn’t need to be plugged in. You know, like the ones that charges itself as it drives. Thanks.
Thanks for the video!
Great video! I Love my 2021 Ranger 4×4!!!!
What brake controller do you use and how difficult was it to install? Been seeing several different videos with the redarc Tow-Pro elite or others, but not much on the dealer installed tow package (which uses the Tow-Pro Elite but ties into the 3rd brake light and works with the Automatic Emergency Braking feature). Also heard some horrors about trying to install an aftermarket brake controller since there is no plug for the brake controller.
Also, you say you get 18mpg while doing 60-65mph. That’s while towing the RV? I wouldn’t expect to get near that high or mpg. We just bought a new 2020 Ranger and are buying a Jayco 264BH with dry weight of about 4800. Trying to get the Ranger ready and just looking for insight from someone who’s been further down the road.
Thanks for a great video.
Any brake controller with good ratings for towing a trailer will work fine but installing it was a bit challenging. I first took the Ranger to my Ford Dealer first who had never installed a brake controller on a Ranger and wanted $850 for the controller and installation. I said “ no way” to that. Ended up with a Curtis Brake Controller but had to watch a few videos on You Tube to see how to wire it. The factory installed wire harness is on the left side of the steering column, way in the back just above the floor under the instrument panel. I was not able to get this old body down there to wire snd soldier so I had one of my sons do it for me. The wires are color coded which really helped.
My gas mileage was measured one way heading east with a bit of a tail wind. I only checked it one time and was getting around 17 mpg at 60 mph. I suspect I was getting help from the tail wind and am going to recheck this again once we get the Surveyor out of winter storage in April.
Good luck and let me know how it goes for you.
3.3L 6cyl is only on fleet vehicles I thought?
You can buy a good used travel trailer with the price difference (almost)!
We just bought a Ranger Lariat Tremor and will be pulling a Jayco 166fbs (5000pds), what type of gas do you use.
We use Premium which gives us better gas mileage but you can use Regular. We get around 17 mpg with the higher Octane gas pulling our trailer at 60 mph.
@@rvtipsfromjan4933 thanks, also did you install the Ford electric brake command
@@jacquescarriere5317 Yes, we installed a brake controller but it was not the one from Ford. We installed the brake controller from Curtis.
Can you share what brand the the self leveling hitch is?
Very informative video. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for your comments. I have a video of us towing our Forest River Surveyor 25 FKS with Ford Ranger that you may enjoy watching.
A very informative video.I have heard great things about the new Ford Rangers. Sounds like you know how to spec your truck and know its capabilities. I have no doubt that you will have no issues on your travels.
Trailer Hauling speeds in CA 55MPH Max I got ticket for doing 66
Could you share what is your average gas mileage pulling your trailer? Perhaps if you are not traveling far or fast the MPG is not an issue comparing it to an F-150. Thank you
At a speed of 65 mph we average around 18 mpg with the Ranger.
@@rvtipsfromjan4933 Wow, 18 mpg that is sweet. Not sure it can get any better with an F-150
@@rvtipsfromjan4933 wow 18 towing? That’s crazy. I got mine have not towed with it yet, still breaking it in. Love mine
@@hookzsettv4842
We got 21 mpg on our trip to Florida without towing the trailer. With the trailer at around 60mph, we got between 17 and 18 depending on the winds here in the Midwest. When the wind is directly behind us, we get a nice pick up in mpg. I will be doing more mpg checks this Spring with the trailer and will post those results.
@@rvtipsfromjan4933 nice man, i just did my first oil change used penzoil platinum and my mpg has gone up considerably now that I’m at 1k Miles
Well done video! What weight distribution anti sway hitch are you using?
Curt 17500 TruTrack 10,000 pound weight distribution, stay control hitch. It really does the job.
I love Rangers over F150's but in this comparison, there is something that is missed. Reliability. Turbo charged engines (esp ecoboosts) ( I work at a Ford dealer) are far less reliable than their naturally aspirated counterparts. I was hoping Ford would put the 3.3 v6 with the reliable 6 speed in the Ranger but no dice. The 3.3, 3.5, & 3.7 v6 engines by Ford have been very reliable. Would pick that engine over any ecoboost any day.
Ford's 3.5 IS an Eco Boost engine.
@@watchmanonthewall14
There was a 3.5 NA and a 3.5 Ecoboost. The NA 3.5 existed before the ecoboost.
@@EagleXYZLibertarianForChrist Makes sense, since I have another Ford model with a naturally aspirated 3.5. I just never knew that that type engine, minus the turbos, was put into the F150. Cheers.
Does you Ranger have the Traction Management system?
Yes, it does and thanks for the question.
What are you using for side mirrors? Are the stock mirrors sufficient or are you using clip on mirrors?
Not using anything other that the Ranger’s side mirrors.
@@rvtipsfromjan4933 Thank you, your trailer is larger than mine so that makes me feel confident that my mirrors will be fine.
BTW are you a Ham Guy ?
Yes, my Amateur Radio call is WA8LIS. I was licensed in 1963 as a teenager. I am still very active on the airwaves and enjoy the hobby very much to this day.
@@rvtipsfromjan4933 Fantastic .Visited your page on QRZ. My call is KT7CA. Meet you in the air one of these days...
how about the MPG and fuel tank size?
We are getting 15 MPG with a fuel tank size of 18 GAL. We fill up after driving about 250 miles. With a tail wind we once got 18 MPG which was remarkable. We drive between 55 to 60 MPH and that makes a huge difference in our gas mileage.
@@rvtipsfromjan4933 thanks. I had seen here on you tube where a guy has an auxiliary 18 gal. tank in the bed because the mileage wasn't that great...
@@mrjimmy48 I think driving between 55 and 60 MPH has really helped our gas mileage.
So do you think a Ranger could pull a trailer that weighs 4000 lbs (including tongue weight) and is 23 feet long?
We are pulling a trailer 28 ft long and weighing 5500 pounds with a tongue weight of 600 pounds. The key for us is that we take relatively short trips with the trailer and drive 60 to 65 mph. If we took longer trips we would have purchased a F150. But using the Ford Ranger as we do, we have had no issues. I am admittedly at the top limit for towing purposes but the Ranger has been up to the task. Keep in mind too that we have the tow package which is critical for this type of use. I will be posting videos of us towing over the next couple of weeks when we take the trailer out of winter storage so please look for those. As they say, the proof is in the pudding. Good luck and thanks for the question.
I’m pulling 26’ Cruiser MPG RB 2100. It’s 5300 pounds with 700 tongue weight and I have no issues. Pulling with 2021 Ranger tow package.
As a potential trailer owner do why do you need 4WD as a tow vehicle, unless you are going off road
Like having the security of extra traction in slippery conditions. Thanks for the question.
We use the 4 wheel drive in slippery conditions. It just feels more secure than 2 wheel drive.
I pull a 4000 lb 22 ft. trailer with a 2022 two wheel drive Ranger that I bought in Jan. '02. So far no problems at all. I got the FX2 package which includes an electronic rear axle locker, among other things (for around $500). You may want to save yourself some gas, $5000, skip the 4WD and get the rear locker, unless you plan on driving a lot in the snow. Haven't needed the rear locker yet. It is basically for use just if you get stuck.
Don't drive fast when pulling a big trailer, the wind from a semi truck will make you sh!t your pants!!!
Totally agree!
Just the video I was looking for as I will be updating my 09 Avalanche that pulls my 20ft Forest River BH a few weekends and 1 week a year about 100 miles 1 way. Great review and the Ranger wasn’t even on my radar with a 4cyl. Would love to see a video of your Ranger hooked up to the TT.
I have a couple of videos with my Forest River 25 FKS Surveyor hooked up to our Ranger on my YouRube channel RV tips from Jan. Check those out. One is actually of us towing the TT. Love the truck.
@@rvtipsfromjan4933 I found the rest of your Video's after my comment and I really want to test drive one! Moving soon and my wife wants me to go to one vehicle (I also Drive a 2012 Sonic 6 speed) and the Ranger might just fit the bill. Not Brand loyal, just looking for something that will pull occasionally and be my daily driver.
Eco= economy = cheap engine. Hope you don’t keep it long.
No no you have it wrong. Have had no issues and are now in our third summer towing our Surveyor 25 FKS. As they say don’t judge a book by its cover.
Cross winds could cause the trailer to overpower the truck.
I like your presentation on the Ranger but you are overloaded, period. Not on weight but on frontal surface area. Ranger maxed out is 50sqft. And you don’t tow with the 3.3L F-150 other than a small boat or a couple of motor cycle. You always want more truck not less. Take that Ranger on Highway with a 15 mph headwind pulling your RV and that truck isn’t going to hit 65 MPH. Peace
I wondered about the concerns you bring up too but I watch the RUclips review by “BigTruck, Big RV” on their test drive of the Ford Ranger pulling a good size RV Trailer and that changed my mind. It is surprising how well it did and as I remember the Ranger’s curb weight is just about 600 pounds less than the F-150. I agree with you that bigger is always better but the F-15O won’t fit in our garage and with the winter heavy snow we get here in the Upper Midwest, I did not want our truck setting outdoors. We are also weekend. local camp ground campers as I am still working full time so that was a factor in our decision too. In April I will be posting a video of the Ranger pulling our RV under various highway conditions. I would like to hear how you feel after you view that video. Thanks for your comments as these are appreciated. You do make some excellent points.
Jeff, you forget that the Ranger has 310 LbsFT of torque and I can tell you, as an owner of the Ranger, it has more than enough power. Now I will be hooking up our trailer in June and, as we live near the mountains, the winds here can be very unpredictable and can kick up at any time so I will update on how the towing experience is with mine. Peace..Out...
@@devolution1310 would love to hear how your pulled.
@@NateMoore92 It pulled very well. Trailer loaded w/ no water is approx 4300lbs. The truck maintained speed up hills topping at at 3000 rpm, which is the max torque range, on the longest and steepest hills. Maintained 65 mph on the flat @1900 rpm effortlessly. Sway control worked very well but could feel the trailer moving with the ruts on the road which can be expected as the Ranger is not as wide as a full size 1/2 ton. I would have no issues pulling up to a 5300 lb travel trailer with it. TFL truck did a tow test with a 5000 lb load up a long and steep grade with the ranger against the Toyota Taco which you can look up. Opinions on how this vehicle can tow and how much are 1 thing, real world is a different story. Truck has a 7500 lb towing capacity. Would I tow that much? Maybe a flatbed but not a travel trailer. Consider a couple of things here. A full size F150 with the max towing package can tow 11000 lbs and has a payload capacity of 1450 lbs. The Ranger can tow 7500 lbs and has a payload capacity of 1650 lbs. Pretty impressive for a mid size truck IMHO. This was a 1300 mile round trip.
Yeah sorry, WRONG. Read my reply to Nate down below.