... a base model Ranger or Tacoma with the small engine? Aren't they still rated higher for towing?
the 'base' ranger with the small 4-cylinder engine looks like a truck ... but it is really underpowered. i don't know specifics for the much older trucks. my 2005 ranger owners manual says that the 2.3L 4-cyclinder ranger 2-wheel drive, standard cab with a 6' bed can handle a trailer 1600 lbs. now the BUT the GCWR is 4800. 7' bed trailer weight 1520 lbs, GCWR 4800. extended 'super' cab with 6' bed 1420 lbs and GCWR 4800. go to an automatic and gain an extra 600 lbs of towing capacity and 700 lbs GCWR. the 'dry' curb weight for the standard ranger is 3050 lbs (no passengers, no gas, no cooler of beer). my bet, as the listed weight is 'stripped' truck, is the real curb weight is around 3500 lbs and then add your weight + your stuff. after showing the numbers i'll say way i said 'no' to the 'little engined' ranger - the 2.3L is REALLY REALLY underpowered. when i worked for Univ. of Minnesota in the mid-90s the department truck was a late 80s standard ranger with the little engine. OK for driving around town ... but it had difficulty keeping highway speed when going into a headwind or climbing the small Minnesota hills. yes a newer ranger will have more horsepower ... but not that much more. i owned a 3.0L ranger for 11 years. the 3.0L also also had difficulty going into a Minnesota headwind and wasn't the best climber (it was a slow drive up the Cascades, Olympics and Rockies when i moved to Washington and spent many a weekend and week camping and driving in these mountains). i towed some utility trailers with this truck and it was a slug when you attempted to get up to highway speeds and even slower when climbing hills. based on the above you will be at the max weight for a 2.3L ranger. i don't recommend towing at the max weight for a vehicle. hard on the vehicle's parts and hard on you as the vehicle is at the max and you will be working harder to control the load (braking, climbing hills, going down hills, turns, etc). ultimately the choice is yours ... just my 2-cents and comments from the peanut gallery :-) have no idea on the 'toyo' small truck. last time i drove one was back in the the 80s (a friend's, not my truck). good hunting Daniel. :: Dave Scobie --- On Wed, 5/8/13, Daniel Rich <danielgrich@gmail.com> wrote:
I have been able to tow my M15 with my Honda Accord. But, the Accord is only rated to 1000 pounds. It tows the boat with ease, but as I say, my boat and trailer weigh 1600 pounds. So, it seems to me getting something rated higher would make some sense, especially since with the Leaf I don't need another sedan. So a small truck seems like a good idea. What about a base model Ranger or Tacoma with the small engine? Aren't they still rated higher for towing?
Daniel