Test drove a Ford Ranger for more hitch weight

[colinl]

Ranger definitely gets around 19-20 combined mpg with the 2.3 and about 1 mpg less with the 2.7, and while that's vastly different than the 12 mpg reported, it's also not comparable to a Maverick hybrid or even ecoboost.

I would go Ranger 2.7 in a heartbeat if you're regularly towing 3500+. Plus, if you have a trailer that heavy, you'll probably be over the GVWR with passengers in the Mav and anything in the bed.

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[SLJ]

Any chance it was the 2.7L V6, and not the 2.3L 4 cylinder?

HRG

No, it was the 2.3. Kind of disappointed that the MPG was that low with no hills.

 

[colinl]

No, it was the 2.3. Kind of disappointed that the MPG was that low with no hills.

it's not representative or in my opinion, valid. rangers do not get 12 without a load. my sister has one and obviously it's not going to get the EPA mpg sticker that it has if a routine jaunt yielded 12 mpg. perhaps you were eager with the throttle? who knows. still, no.

 

[SLJ]

it's not representative or in my opinion, valid. rangers do not get 12 without a load. my sister has one and obviously it's not going to get the EPA mpg sticker that it has if a routine jaunt yielded 12 mpg. perhaps you were eager with the throttle? who knows. still, no.

Nope. Normal driving. Reset and tried to baby it and get it higher. Just wouldn't do it. Very dissipointed.

 

[colinl]

Nope. Normal driving. Reset and tried to baby it and get it higher. Just wouldn't do it. Very dissipointed.

I have no idea why you were disappointed or stubbornly still believe that's a normal mpg for a current gen Ranger. But, sure.

 

[Maverick123]

I am getting in the 20's towing this. At about 3500 pounds.

It's all about frontal area and wind drag. My friend gets 6-7 MPG towing his race car in a 24' enclosed trailer, but 14 MPG hauling it on a low open trailer.

 

[Maverick123]

That's an alternative. Will also prevent my wife from making me get an even bigger camper.
I liked the smaller one we had but she didn't.

I'm trying to figure out why your truck looks so good. Is it lowered? I don't know if it's the wheels or what but it looks great for some reason

 

[cyberdog]

That's an alternative. Will also prevent my wife from making me get an even bigger camper.
I liked the smaller one we had but she didn't.

Out of curiosity, what was the weight on the teardrop you previously had? I know some of the 'tiny' teardrops come in well under the 2000 lb limit for us non-4k owners, and just curious what those weigh.

 

[Maverick123]

The problem is the water tank is up front and not over the axle. filling it for boondocking adds almost 160 pounds forward of the axle and puts me close to the hitch limit of the Mav. For now we carry the water in the Mav if we can't fill with fresh water at our spot. Was just hoping the Ranger would be the answer but at that low MPG no way.

Get a 10 gallon water bladder and pack it in the back of your trailer? Fill your freshwater half full for the road and transfer the 10 gallons into it when you get to the campsite

That'll shift about 80 pounds from the front to the back and should give you a more manageable tongue weight

I use a weight distribution hitch to reduce sag and transfer weight to the front, but that's another debate

 

[Cancunbadlands]

The Ford Ranger Wildtrack is nice indeed

 

[SLJ]

Out of curiosity, what was the weight on the teardrop you previously had? I know some of the 'tiny' teardrops come in well under the 2000 lb limit for us non-4k owners, and just curious what those weigh.

2,200 Lbs dry.

 

[SLJ]

Get a 10 gallon water bladder and pack it in the back of your trailer? Fill your freshwater half full for the road and transfer the 10 gallons into it when you get to the campsite

That'll shift about 80 pounds from the front to the back and should give you a more manageable tongue weight

I use a weight distribution hitch to reduce sag and transfer weight to the front, but that's another debate

Already do that but would like to avoid carrying extra containers and putting more stress on the rear floor and frame frame of the camper where most of the bounce is. Already moved the battery from the front tongue to the back (installed 3 100ah in the back).

 

[Chuck5874]

I'm trying to figure out why your truck looks so good. Is it lowered? I don't know if it's the wheels or what but it looks great for some reason

It's the canoe!

 

[Bic]

Most Les Schwab tire stores have facilities for filling RV water tanks, for free. Maybe drive 99% of the way to your campsite then fill the water tank?

Also a lot of state campgrounds have "dry camp" or "unserviced" sites but also have a place to fill the water tank near those sites.

 

[basicUse]

ford would tell you the Running in/ break in period affects the MPG, 1000 on ranger and eco boost, 4000 on a hybrid Mave

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