Nice, thanks!

Daniel
On 5/8/2013 10:04 AM, W David Scobie wrote:
> Steve:
>
> i do like my 4L V6.  lots of HP and in the last two years towed boats about 45,000 from coast to coast.  all of this is with a small camper on the truck.
>
> i've attached a picture showing my setup.  i no longer own the M15 pictured (photo from June '08).  for 'current' status just imagine a M17 or Sage 17 behind the truck.
>
>
> :: Dave Scobie
>
> --- On Wed, 5/8/13, stevetrapp <stevetrapp@q.com> wrote:
>
>> Dave,
>>      Get the V-6, not the smaller 4 cylinder.
>> The folks who compiled the specs or wrote the advertising
>> brochures have probably never tried to tow a boat over a
>> hill or on a highway.
>> Steve
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "W David Scobie" <wdscobie@yahoo.com>
>> Sent: Wednesday, May 08, 2013 9:40 AM
>>
>>
>>>> ... 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