Thread: Ford Ranger

Originally Posted by LandyAndy

DO NOT consider a DMax.
Was driving the bosses new one for a couple of days this week.
All the boys rave about it,Im spoilt having a new D4 which I guess Im comparing it to,an unfair comparison.
DMax auto is harsh,only 5 speed,lots of engine noise,wind noise.Ride and handling isnt too bad for a dualcab.Not big on the HP front,not gutless just not willing to fly.Apparently its turning very good fuel numbers,less than 9.0/100km.I rekon the traded PJ Ranger was much better to drive/punish etc.Auto gearbox was much better suited to the motor too.
Enjoyed it so much its sitting in the workshop,still driving my ancient POS Rodeo.Boss is away in NZ hunting sheep so Im the boss at the moment,can have the ute if I see fit.Only sticking with mine as it has my grader fuel supply onboard,cant be bothered swapping anything around.
Andrew

Isuzu's big marketing point is fuel consumption so they focus on this and sacrifice power.

Originally Posted by TerryO

Before buying a Ranger for heavy towing duties have a read of the following information that is cut and pasted from the Statewide4x4.com.au website. It makes for interesting reading and shows that some times manufacturers claims don't always add up.



How Much Can I Really Tow?
What a lot of vehicle manufacturers will not tell you is that towing up to your maximum towing capability can sometimes (but not always) affect the amount of weight you can carry in your vehicle.

For Example:

Ford PX Ranger: GVM 3,200kg / GCM 6,000kg

Ford advertises that the vehicle has the ability to tow 3.5T which it does, however if you take a closer look at the vehicles specifications you will see that the GCM cannot exceed 6000kg. If you take 3500kg max towing capacity from the GCM that leaves you a maximum allowable vehicle weight of only 2,500kg.

GCM: 6000kg - 3500kg (max towing) = 2,500kg

To be able to tow, 3.5T with the PX Ranger you need to take 700kg out of your maximum allowed GVM figure of 3,200kg. If you then look even further into the vehicle specifications it is even more of an eye-opener. Lets assume that you are still towing the maximum amount of 3.5T with the PX Ranger which we will say is a Dual Cab XLT.

GVM (with max towing): 2,500kg - Vehicle Tare Weight: 2,159kg = 341kg

So you are now left with a payload of 341kg. Lets take out a couple more essential items from that figure.

Payload: 341kg - Tow Ball Down Force Approx: 280kg - Fuel approx 70kg = - 9kg

So on a Ford PX Ranger XLT towing 3.5T with a full tank of fuel and approx 280kg of ball weight you are already over your GCM. Now try to add a driver, additional passengers, any luggage, a fridge, bull bar, winch etc and you will be well over your allowable limit. This makes your vehicle unroadworthy and in the case of an accident you risk voiding your insurance payout. As you can understand it is important information that the consumer really should be made aware of.

Not sure about the current model Isuzu Dmax but the old one was the only one on the market that the GCM was the GVM plus towing. I'd hazard a guess that since they upgraded the towing capacity on the new one that you lose 500kg in the tray if your towing a full load.

Terry, the maths is incorrect.

You're double counting if ball weight is part of GCM, so this article is flawed. 3500kg trailer can't add 280kg to the car and still be 3500kg.

If you have a 2500kg car, and hook it up to a 3500kg trailer, you don't need to toss out 280kg of payload. That would equal 5720kg.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using AULRO mobile app

Now I'm confused

Would not touch a Ranger. Big history of popping engines sub 40,000 kms. We had a small module ambulance popped the engine at 19,000kms. Was a shocking ride and while nice new became very uncomfortable to drive very quickly. The Hilux was only marginally better.
My pick would be Colorado, Nissan wide body version (actually very nice my FIL has one and much better than the narrow body version my BIL has), The DMax and then the VW Amorak (mainly due to price). Then maybe the BT50, Hilux and Ranger last.
Just my thoughts.

Even if the formula used in that article is incorrect which I don't know if it is or not, let's say it is and they shouldn't have counted the ball weight as part of the vehicle the 280 kg they counted as the ball weight starts to disappear real quick when you put in a average weight Australian driver and passenger.

The Ford Rangers GCM is 6 ton which is low for a vehicle with a 3.5 ton towing capacity and weighs over 2 ton itself. How does the Rangers GCM compare to the other crew cabs?

Anyway here is another article on the Ranger and its new increased tow limit. http://www.l2sfbc.com/rmp/blog/Ford-...upgrade-3500kg

In this article there is an actual comparison of the Rangers GCM to a D4's.

Correct me if I am wrong, the ball weight should not be added to the weight of the towing trailer but it should be deducted of the payload capacity of the vehicle.
I think that the fuel weight on the factory installed tank should not be deducted from the payload capacity.
Is that correct?

Just for interest............ 74 RRC, from original owner's handbook.

Kerb weight inc 22.5l fuel 1724 kg

Max payload 680 kg

Max towing weight (braked trailer) 4000 kg

Trailer plus max loaded vehicle 6504 kg

cheers, DL