towing problems with 4wd ranger

jlgizee · 05-17-2007, 05:41 PM

hey all. i have an 1986 ranger 2.9 2wd automatic that i used to pull my boat ( weighs approx. 3000lbs.) ball on the bumper up and down the mountain i live on to lake guntersville. i could pull the steepest part of the mountain at around 45-50mph. the engine finally blew on that truck with 212,000 miles. so i went and bought a new truck a 1987 ranger 2.9 4wd manual for $500 it had a bad input bearing on the transmission took it to a shop had it fixed. put a reese towing hitch on the frame. pulled my boat with it yesterday and struggled to pull the mountain at 30mph. i figured a newer 4wd truck with less miles, a towing hitch, slightly bigger tires, and manual transmission would tow far superior to my old 2wd. what could be the problem any help would be greatly appreciated. other than towing the truck seems to run fine. but what good is a truck that can't tow.

Phager · 05-19-2007, 12:44 AM

The larger tires are going to raise your overall gear ratio, thereby reducing torque and HP. The transfer case is also going to add parasitic losses to you power output. Both of those could easily add up to a noticable decrease in power.

I know my '91 X has some issue on long grades towing my ~2000 lbs Pop up trailer and it has the 4.0 and 5 speed w/4wd. Now I know part of that is due to it needing a tune up, and I need to diagnose some of the sensors.

Pat

*Byrd91* · 05-27-2007, 07:16 AM

These days automatics are almost always rated to tow more than manuals. Probably related to the clutch. If your clutch wasn't slipping that probably wasn't an issue for you, but something to keep an eye on. Bigger tires don't help and it sounds like your new truck has higher gears.

*jds3403* · 10-18-2007, 10:45 PM

man you are using something that is over 20 years old there is no telling the variances between this truck and your old there might be 20 pounds compression difference between the new 2.9 and the old who knows their are way too many variables have you done the basic tests? compression, timing, mixture rich lean, brakes dragging tranny case hanging if not then why the #### are you posting?

05-17-2007, 05:41 PM	#1
jlgizee Wannabe Elite Explorer Alabama 1987 Ranger 4x4 Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 3 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	towing problems with 4wd ranger hey all. i have an 1986 ranger 2.9 2wd automatic that i used to pull my boat ( weighs approx. 3000lbs.) ball on the bumper up and down the mountain i live on to lake guntersville. i could pull the steepest part of the mountain at around 45-50mph. the engine finally blew on that truck with 212,000 miles. so i went and bought a new truck a 1987 ranger 2.9 4wd manual for $500 it had a bad input bearing on the transmission took it to a shop had it fixed. put a reese towing hitch on the frame. pulled my boat with it yesterday and struggled to pull the mountain at 30mph. i figured a newer 4wd truck with less miles, a towing hitch, slightly bigger tires, and manual transmission would tow far superior to my old 2wd. what could be the problem any help would be greatly appreciated. other than towing the truck seems to run fine. but what good is a truck that can't tow.

05-27-2007, 07:16 AM	#3
Byrd91 Elite Explorer Penobscot, Maine '92 XLT Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 1,013 Vehicle Specs	These days automatics are almost always rated to tow more than manuals. Probably related to the clutch. If your clutch wasn't slipping that probably wasn't an issue for you, but something to keep an eye on. Bigger tires don't help and it sounds like your new truck has higher gears. __________________ '99 Mazda B4000 SE 4x4 "new" '92 XLT 4x4 4.0L V6 KKM True Rev Induction ~ Flowmaster Force II Cat-back w/ 40 Series non-Delta 4" hybrid lift with extended radius arms ~ SOA rear ~ 33x10.5" BFG All Terrian

05-19-2007, 12:44 AM	#2
Phager Wannabe Elite Explorer Corvallis, OR 1991 XL Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 181 Vehicle Specs	The larger tires are going to raise your overall gear ratio, thereby reducing torque and HP. The transfer case is also going to add parasitic losses to you power output. Both of those could easily add up to a noticable decrease in power. I know my '91 X has some issue on long grades towing my ~2000 lbs Pop up trailer and it has the 4.0 and 5 speed w/4wd. Now I know part of that is due to it needing a tune up, and I need to diagnose some of the sensors. Pat

10-18-2007, 10:45 PM	#4
jds3403 Ex Beater new bern '99 5.0 Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 91 Vehicle Specs	man you are using something that is over 20 years old there is no telling the variances between this truck and your old there might be 20 pounds compression difference between the new 2.9 and the old who knows their are way too many variables have you done the basic tests? compression, timing, mixture rich lean, brakes dragging tranny case hanging if not then why the #### are you posting?