I am accumulating small sail boats and without really meaning to, sold everything I had with a hitch on it, so I was in the market for a small truck to do short local tows of small boats (less than 24 ft). I bought a 1996 Ranger XL extended cab 2wd today for a cheap tow vehicle. 3.0L Vulcan V6, automatic. According to stuff I found online, it is rated to tow 5250 Lb's which should be plenty for what I plan to do. Anybody had any experience with Rangers as tow vehicles, or just as daily drivers? Reliability, weak spots, etc?

__________________
2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics

Aw shoot, I meant to type "TOW" vehicle and can't seem to change the title...sorry for any confusion.

__________________
2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics

My brother has a '94 or '95 I think it is, with that V-6. Has waaay over 200K on it. So far, has had the trannie rebuilt(just before 200K), something went out in the transfer case after that, mass-air flow sensor replaced, and the heater core. A few other minor issues, but overall he's been very happy with it. It's burning a little oil, and I think every oil seal on the engine leaks, but figures he's gotten his monies worth. He drives his vehicles VERY hard, too BTW. Figures the throttle is there to be used.
I know he's towed a few trailers, and only has wished they came with a V-8 instead of the V-6. I have a 16' double axle car trailer, and he's towed that a couple times a short distance with some pretty heavy loads on it.
You could do way worse than one of those Rangers!

__________________
past MB rides:
'68 220D
'68 220D(another one)
'67 230
'84 SD
Current rides:
'06 Lexus RX330
'93 Ford F-250
'96 Corvette
'99 Polaris 700 RMK sled
2011 Polaris Assault
'86 Yamaha TT350(good 'ol thumper)

My friend has one with the 3.0 Vulcan with the stick shift with 60K or so. The gas mileage is pretty crappy he says but he uses it like a car around town.

It's the roughest six cylinder engine I've ever seen. It has a lumpy kind of rough idle. I guess it's common. The motors are supposed to last forever though.

__________________
1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

you should be ok if you keep your trips short.

if automatic you may need a tranny cooler.

tom w

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

This is not a Ranger specific observation, but applies to any fairly lightweight vehicle towing a heavy trailer. Be very careful on your braking, and use a trailer brake if possible. The weight of the boat / trailer can very easily push the back end of your truck sideways then you are just along for the ride.

Also if your truck is 2wd, watch out trying to pull a heavy boat up a launch ramp. You may have the HP but not the traction. Add a bunch of sandbags over the rear wheels. 4WD works much better with low range and traction over the front wheels on launch ramps.

Chuck

I specifically bought the auto because the Mazda-supplied manual is the weak link, and cuts tow capacity to 2200 lbs. I would have loved a 4wd truck, but the price difference is staggering. The particular ramp I use doesn't tend to be too slimy and there are always people around I know who can tie on another truck to me if need be and yank my truck and boat both off the ramp. My house is 1/2 mile from the little ramp where the sunfish goes, and a little over a mile from the big ramp where the bigger boats go, so I wasn't kidding about short distances.

__________________
2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics

the rangers are great little trucks and just fine for towing with the auto transmission... the vulcan engines will last forever my old 92 ranger had 350,000 miles when i sold it for my 02