Towing a caravan with a Ranger?

[clay5871]

Hi everyone,
Looking for some feedback from those who have used their Ranger as a caravan tower. Particularly anyone who has done the lap of Aus with one.
Some facts such as van weight and upgrades to the Ranger to make the tow better would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance

[Trublu]

Done 12,000k's up to Northern Territory, Gulf of Carpentaria & North Queensland with stock standard XLT Hi Rider model pulling 1.8 ton van.
Ranger went quite well, only aid at the time was a WDH in which I do not use anymore since I have now fitted some Iron Man Helper springs.

Cheers.

[Dkcranger]

Hi mate
Have a 2017 XLT 4x4 auto dual cab, only mods arb ascent canopy and aux battery in the tub, Redarc towpro elite electric brake controller, catch can and pre fuel filter. did a 5500k trip last year from mid north coast nsw to Townsville and return via Rockhampton over mountains to Chinchilla, Toowoomba, Lismore and back to the coast. so a mix of flat and steep country.
Caravan is 21.5 ft, 2300kg tare, 140kg ball weight has ESC and use a Hayman Reese WDH.
Ranger has ample power and average fuel use 12 to 16 litres per 100klm.
We drove from Rockhampton via mount Morgan which is a fairly steep climb ambient temperature on the day was 35 degrees Celsius no issue with engine or transmission overheating.
We found the Ranger was very comfortable, safe and a very capable tow vehicle.
Previous tow vehicle was a ML Triton glxr which was a very good vehicle but the ranger is much more.
Our Ranger has travelled 22000klm and has been trouble free.
Very happy with our choice

[Grant L1]

All states of Australia with 2012 XLT with 2.5T loaded van and vehicle weight at 3T. We don't do laps as you miss to much so we just go on trips that we try and plan.

Have had no problems but stick to these things. Oil changes at 7500K when towing which is virtually all the time as I park the vehicle up between trips. Change and flush trans fluid every 50,000K. Fitted an aftermarket trans cooler when vehicle was nearly new. Leave box in sports mode when towing and only downshift on steep declines and predictive down shift for steep hills.

I recommend fitting a plugin scan gauge or the like to monitor your auto trans temps and see real engine temps. I don't flog the vehicle when towing, that doesn't mean I go slow, I just don't hammer that pedal on the floor. So far this vehicle as done over 80,000K of towing without any problems.

Only other thing is I would try and stick with is realistic van weights up to 2.8 tonne. Less is better.

[Ducfat]

We tow our 2500ATM van with a 2017 Wildtrak. I've never used a WDH as it tows like a dream. Sits level and never any sway from passing B doubles etc. I fitted some helper springs and they made all the difference in keeping the rear at the right height.
Mods to the Wildtrak.........Scanguage to monitor ATF temp, ECB alloy bar, UHF radio, LED light bar, Whispbar bike racks over the roller shutter to carry a couple of electric bikes, Hema HX1, 45 L fridge in the tub and all the caravan related stuff, power cables, hoses, some tools. Recently ran the thing over the weigh bridge and fully fuelled, 2 people, the 2 bikes on board and all our caravan stuff, the weight was 2700kgs. So happy with that.
That makes the van at maximum weight of 2500 + W/trak 2700 = GCM of around 5200kgs. Well under the maximum of 6000GCM.
Thoroughly recommend a Ranger as a caravan tug. Safe, comfortable and more than enough grunt.

[Wayno23]

Hey Ducfat - do mind telling what the Trans temp is on your Scangauge please? I just fitted one, without van runs at 95 - 98 degrees - hooked the van up today and running 103-105. Thanks

[Craig001]

Hi Wayn023
I have a scanguage and get the same readings as you. With an ambient of 38 deg and the A/C on it will hit 110 briefly. I have a heavy Supercab on 32's and the van weighs 2.5 t. 95-98 around town on 25 deg days is what temps i get.
towing in Man or leaving it in Auto will make little difference. I use a combination of the 2, Hill approaching over into sports mode the down the other side manually shift into highest gear. Back onto the flats and back into Auto.
This works for me

hope this helps

[Pompey]

I recently purchased a scan gauge. Can you please tell me the codes, preferably in Celsius, to read the transmission temperature?

[Rosspat]

I recently purchased a scan gauge. Can you please tell me the codes, preferably in Celsius, to read the transmission temperature?

All that info plus much more is here.... https://www.saeb.net/

[CC Steve]

Can you please tell me the codes, preferably in Celsius, to read the transmission temperature?

TXD: 07E1221E1C
RXF: 0462851E061C
RXD: 3010
MTH: 000A00100000
NAM: TFT

[Pompey]

Thanks

[IGNITE1]

Done 12,000k's up to Northern Territory, Gulf of Carpentaria & North Queensland with stock standard XLT Hi Rider model pulling 1.8 ton van.
Ranger went quite well, only aid at the time was a WDH in which I do not use anymore since I have now fitted some Iron Man Helper springs.
Cheers.

How do u like the iron man helper springs.

[Trublu]

Done 12,000k's up to Northern Territory, Gulf of Carpentaria & North Queensland with stock standard XLT Hi Rider model pulling 1.8 ton van.
Ranger went quite well, only aid at the time was a WDH in which I do not use anymore since I have now fitted some Iron Man Helper springs.
Cheers.

How do u like the iron man helper springs.

The springs are doing the job as intended, they made my suspension a bit stiff when not towing or carrying a load at first but soon loosened up after a trip around Oz.
I drive a Hi Rider model so not sure these would be suitable for extreme 4wd driving when navigating the really rough tracks.
I think they are worth trying for the cost of $130.

[BT Lee]

Gday all
Was making the 400 Kay trek home from the beach yesterday with our Jayco Starcraft in tow and had trouble pushing past 80kph without the water temp climbing rapidly?
Admittedly it was 42 degrees outside and a horrible head wind.
The van is full height and weighs about 2.7 tonne.
The vehicle is a 2015 BT auto.
It didn’t overheat but was easily pushed below the red.
I’m thinking combination of high ambient temp, headwind and drag from the van, had me a bit concerned
Cheers Lee

[robbo mcs]

Gday all
Was making the 400 Kay trek home from the beach yesterday with our Jayco Starcraft in tow and had trouble pushing past 80kph without the water temp climbing rapidly?
Admittedly it was 42 degrees outside and a horrible head wind.
The van is full height and weighs about 2.7 tonne.
The vehicle is a 2015 BT auto.
It didn’t overheat but was easily pushed below the red.
I’m thinking combination of high ambient temp, headwind and drag from the van, had me a bit concerned
Cheers Lee

That doesn’t sound right. I had to tow a 2.5T car trailer in 46C heat once. Admittedly that is a little more aero, but the temp guage did not move at all, cruising 100kmh on the highway. Do you have anything on the front that might be restricting airflow, eg bars,lights, winch etc?

[BT Lee]

I have an arb bar and winch, arb bash plates and a pair of spotties, no different to anyone else?
Thinking viscous hub maybe?
But your right, it should be able to do it, the only time I got some relief is when I asked a truckie to sit in his slip stream.
I bought it second hand about 6 months ago with everything and the previous owner towed a boat long distance regularly.
The head wind was extremely strong.
And the aircon didn’t seem as cool ?
Will they limp or throw a code if it gets to hot? Because that didn’t happen.

[BT Lee]

Today I had a look at my viscous hub.
Took the BT for a drive to get up to operating temp, pulled over and held the revs 3000 to see if I could hear the fan cut in, held it there for a fair while and nothing from the fan, popped the bonnet I could stop the fan by hand? ( yes I know not good practice )
Made the decision to purchase a new viscous hub.
Genuine Mazda $760, only available with hub and Fan, and none in Kalgoorlie, let alone WA.
Cov’s parts Kalgoorlie had a Dayco Hub, no fan for $395, in stock.
Removed and replaced in under 30 mins.
Tested it the same as the original and within a few minutes at 3000 rpm fan cut in and was really roaring and ( bad practice again I know ) had no way of stopping fan.
So fingers crossed it sorted it.
Can anyone confirm if a light/code/limp will come up if engine is to hot ?
Thanks Lee

[ab67]

Must of been hot getting near the red, had mine at 112c on a 43c day towing up a hill with a head wind, the factory guage was just a little more than usual spot.
Check bottom hose, if it's the older two piece design with a metal centre piece of poor design.
Fitted 48mm HD radiator for towing. And one piece bottom radiator hose

[BT Lee]

I’ll check out the bottom hose thanks, where did you get your radiator from ? Emailed Aussie desert coolers and pwr and have not yet had a response.
I’d have thought if it got to hot it would de-rate or limp ?
I won’t be towing anything heavy for a while, sold the van over the weekend, kids aren’t interested in traveling with mum and dad anymore, so mum and dad might start overseas travels, we’ll re-join the not so grey nomads in a few years
Cheers

[ab67]

I’ll check out the bottom hose thanks, where did you get your radiator from ? Emailed Aussie desert coolers and pwr and have not yet had a response.
I’d have thought if it got to hot it would de-rate or limp ?
I won’t be towing anything heavy for a while, sold the van over the weekend, kids aren’t interested in traveling with mum and dad anymore, so mum and dad might start overseas travels, we’ll re-join the not so grey nomads in a few years
Cheers

https://www.adradperformance.com.au/products/FD2981AL

[PTnLinda]

https://www.adradperformance.com.au/products/FD2981AL[/quote]
Ab67 Do you know how much this radiator increases the volume of coolant over the OEM radiator or this new radiator just a more efficient design that gives you greater cooling?
Thanks.

[lame2]

Member ianboyd measured capacity as an extra 3/4 litre in an earlier thread. 40mm deep Vs OEM 25mm.

A list of people on both sides of the fence discussing if it is worth the cost but it seems to help stabilise my temps during towing.

http://www.newranger.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10805

[ab67]

https://www.adradperformance.com.au/products/FD2981AL

Ab67 Do you know how much this radiator increases the volume of coolant over the OEM radiator or this new radiator just a more efficient design that gives you greater cooling?
Thanks.[/quote]

This is 48mm vs the factory 26mm, plus full alloy with no plastic tanks, mine was 6 years old with towing and do travel very remotely.
Yes, would hold more fluid but more efficient

[BT Lee]

Gday all
Thought I’d sorted my overheating issue with the fitment of a new viscous hub?
But I was coming home from Kalgoorlie to Kambalda, 60 Kay trip, towing my tandem trailer with about a tonne in it, got to a short hilly section, ambient temperature was in the high 30’s maybe 40, and the temp gauge started to rise again, backed off slightly and it came straight back down.
Had a bit of a think about it overnight and decided to hose out the coolers, started with just the garden hose on the bottom half of the radiator, and man the amount of mud that came out was unbelievable???
Went to the shed and found some 1/2” copper pipe, crimped the end and drilled a hole in the side to make a bit of a right angle sprayer that could fit between radiator, condenser and intercooler.
Radiator was chockers, condenser chockers, intercooler not so chockers.
In all I reckon half a 9 litre bucket of mud.
Guessing from the previous owners adventures?
We had a 43 degree day today, took the trailer out, empty, locked the cruise on 120 and the gauge didn’t move for a 40 Kay round trip.
Hopefully sorted.
Traveling to Perth on Sunday to pick up a tonne and a bit of stuff so we’ll see how she goes.