Towing with a Ford Ranger

[AuthorSP]

Good info, Tom, thanks!

Centex, that is really handy, thanks!
I've been trying to find the 2020 on the first link, but it isn't showing anything. So I'm trying to register with Ford to get that 72 hour thing, and it won't let me create an account. Ugh... I'll try again later.

[Centex]

Originally Posted by AuthorSP

... I've been trying to find the 2020 on the first link, but it isn't showing anything. ....

Start here https://fordbbas.com/publications

• Click "+" at Body Builders Layout Book
• Scroll down and click "Show More" for additional years
• You'll see there's a BBLB for the Ranger in the 2020 documents group

With regard to the Service Manuals, be sure to read system requirements FAQ under the Help tab at the bottom of the screens, it only runs under Windows on a PC, I don't know if that includes a Windows emulator (or whatever they're called) on a MAC.

IIRC the registration and then use requires that you defeat most cookie and content/popup blockers for that site.

https://www.motorcraftservice.com/Home/faq

[AuthorSP]

Hey, thanks for the direct link Centex!
When I went to the page, nothing would show under the + link. This helps a lot. Much appreciated!

[Centex]

Originally Posted by AuthorSP

... When I went to the page, nothing would show under the + link....

IMO that's a good indication you have a content / cookie / popup blocker interfering with this site's function and that might also be the reason for your failed registration attempts on the Service Manual site.

Try defeating those and "trusting" these specific Ford sites in your browser's site-specific security and/or privacy settings. Note compatible browsers in the Help/FAQ I linked.

Good Luck!

[Tom&Joan]

Originally Posted by Centex

Perhaps of interest to folks considering a custom in-bed hitch install on a Ford pickup ...

• Ford offers free download of the "Body Builder Layout Book" for many years of trucks (2022 Ranger here, for example). These contain a wealth of body, bed, and frame dimensional data and diagrams. Note these are year-specific, updated annually with each new model year.

• For a mere $22USD subscription fee Ford offers 72-hour access to the complete Workshop Manual for any recent Ford VIN. In most cases this includes sections detailing chassis drilling (acceptable hole size and location guidance and cautions), component-specific chassis material characteristics, etc, etc. Any or all of the data can be printed or saved to PDF using appropriate Windows-system printer drivers for later reference (diagrams / figures are not 'split' across pages). IME one can download and save a huge amount of information in the 72-hour subscription period.
  
  The subscription also provides access to a large amount of VIN-specific vehicle detail from Ford's "OASIS" database such as "As-Built" info (all factory installed options, spring codes, etc), module programming data and installed module version numbers, etc, etc.
  
  This is the same data and procedures manuals that a Dealer accesses (absent certain security and key-code data which requires additional passwords to access) when your vehicle is serviced / repaired, it's 'constantly' updated and current (the latest revision date of each section is displayed in the section header).

Just FYI.

Centex, Thanks much. I have one for a previously owned 2017 F450, which I don't recall how I obtained!. It was useful to the extent was able to show our body builder they violated some of the parameters.
Tom

[Tom&Joan]

Here are a few pics of our 2022 Ranger and 2017 5.0 TA at max turning angle. We are about 90*. Approx one inch clearance between nose of trailer and cab. Adequate clearance exists between hitch and siderails. I am aware that off camber situations can affect both. It does take some cranking to get truck and trailer this tight.
Tom

[AuthorSP]

Thanks, Tom!
I've never towed a 5th wheel, but that looks like plenty more radius than I would ever need.

[jkuang]

Originally Posted by Jesse

I had the Anderson hitch and rails installed by Trademasters just up the road from the Escape Trailers factory. Escape recommends them for the Anderson hitch installation. They did a good job and I’ve not had any problems with the 5th wheel hitch.
You might try YouTube for a video of 5th wheel rail installation on the Ranger and the F150 as they are very much the same. Cheers

Do you also buy the rails and Anderson hitch from Trademasters?

[AuthorSP]

Originally Posted by Tom&Joan

Here are a few pics of our 2022 Ranger and 2017 5.0 TA at max turning angle. We are about 90*. Approx one inch clearance between nose of trailer and cab. Adequate clearance exists between hitch and siderails. I am aware that off camber situations can affect both. It does take some cranking to get truck and trailer this tight.
Tom

Tom, what do you mean by off camber and some cranking?

Also, it looks like you don't have the lift package on your 5.0. Is that correct? Do you think lifting the trailer would help or hinder anything?

[AuthorSP]

So after driving from Sumas to Northern California and back to Maine pulling our new 5.0 with our 2020 Ford Ranger, I can confirm that the Ranger handles the trailer with ease! About 14 miles to the gallon, no trouble getting up and down the mountains, even went through some pretty dodgy muddy, hilly roads. Ran like a champ.

[mfschu]

Awesome and looks like a great package! This makes me wonder, does pulling the 5.0 tend to get you better gas mileage compared to a comparable bumper pull trailer?

[AuthorSP]

I couldn't speak to that, but I was surprised at how much better our mileage is compared to people hauling a 5.0 with an F150.

[brroberts]

We average 15 pulling a 2021 E19 with a 2021 Ranger.

[BillDavis9663]

15.04 Sumas to Dayton OH, 15.69 Dayton to Austin TX round trip. 2021 17B, 2020 Ranger XLT 4x4. I use Road Trip for calculations, not truck computer.

[Radar1]

Originally Posted by mfschu

Awesome and looks like a great package! This makes me wonder, does pulling the 5.0 tend to get you better gas mileage compared to a comparable bumper pull trailer?

Here's a comparison with our 2019 Ford Ranger SuperCrew hauling our 19' Escape.
Ignore the one's in the 20's, they were combined towing and solo.
The others are strictly towing cross country back and forth between GA and TX and are computed using the fuelly app, odometer, and gas pump reading rather than the optomistic Ranger MPG indicator. MPH is normally 65 or less.
There is a way to adjust your Ranger's MPG readout if it is reading too high. We did it and now it provides the correct MPG compared to computed values.