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Old 03-22-2023, 09:27 PM   #1
Leo037
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2020 ford ranger and 2022 243bhswe

I have a 2020 ford ranger with tow package and I want to get a 243bhswe. I need some advice on this decision. I have 3 kids and 2 dogs. Thank you in advance
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Old 03-22-2023, 09:41 PM   #2
Leo037
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2020 ford ranger and 2022 243bhswe

I have a 2020 ford ranger with tow package and I want to get a 243bhswe. I need some advice on this decision. I have 3 kids and 2 dogs. Thank you in advance
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Old 03-22-2023, 11:30 PM   #3
fjr vfr
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I'm sure you're going to hear this over again, you need a bigger truck. A trailer that size and family with 3 kids needs at leased a 1/2 ton with a tow package.
If it were me I'd even skip right over to a 3/4 ton an the peace of mind knowing you have room to grow.
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Old 03-23-2023, 03:58 AM   #4
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I towed my 240BH with an F150 with the Max Tow package and rated cargo capacity of 2,225 lbs on the truck. The trailer was way too much for that truck, even with tire and suspension upgrades.

You are looking at about 1,100 lbs for tongue weight and weight distribution hitch eating into your cargo capacity. Whatever capacity that is left (if any) has to cover the combined weight of all passengers, pets and gear. Then we need to think about the 2.7L engine, and the very short wheelbase. Unfortunately, all the cards are stacked against you in this scenario. Yes, you are under towing capacity, but towing capacity is simply the ability to move a load forward and is pretty much irrelevant in this discussion.

About the only trailer you can safely tow with that truck is a pop-up. It isn’t a bad thing, it’s a good place to start when just getting into camping. Make sure it’s right for the family and after a year or two upgrade the truck and you have other options available for different campers. We started with a used pop-up (Starcraft Starmaster 8), then moved to a new pop-up (Coleman Bayside Elite) after a few years, then to a hybrid (Jayco Kiwi 23B) a few years later, then to our current unit 4 years ago and we are now looking at 5th wheels for sometime in the next year or so.
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Old 03-23-2023, 04:50 AM   #5
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Originally Posted by Leo037 View Post
I have a 2020 ford ranger with tow package and I want to get a 243bhswe. I need some advice on this decision. I have 3 kids and 2 dogs. Thank you in advance
Ditto what FJR VFR said. I saw the post title and knew right away this was gonna be an issue. A pop up camper maybe your best bet.
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Old 03-23-2023, 05:01 AM   #6
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Ditto what FJR VFR said. I saw the post title and knew right away this was gonna be an issue. A pop up camper maybe your best bet.
Ditto again, 1/2 ton full size would be minimum, 3/4 ton would up your weight limits to a comfortable area of safety, peace of mind and ability to take along/haul whatever accessories you chose along with that family. Wishing u the best on your decisions, hard ones to make.
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Old 03-23-2023, 05:33 AM   #7
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I have a 2020 ford ranger with tow package and I want to get a 243bhswe. I need some advice on this decision. I have 3 kids and 2 dogs. Thank you in advance
That's a lot of trailer for a mid size pickup. What king of Ranger do you have; size of bed, crew cab, trim level, 4x4 or 4x2 etc. Does it have the tow package which will mean a LOT in determining what you can tow. Most importantly what does the little yellow/white/black sticker in the driver door say the payload (carrying capacity) is? You need to know that before you begin to answer if it can carry (the most important part) or handle a 6500lb. 29' trailer. Having owned a 2.3L turbocharged Ford I wouldn't do it but that's me. Let us know.
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Old 03-23-2023, 05:41 AM   #8
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I have a 2020 ford ranger with tow package and I want to get a 243bhswe. I need some advice on this decision. I have 3 kids and 2 dogs. Thank you in advance
three kids and two dogs would be too much for that truck imo without a trailer even attached…good luck but the safety of your family should come first ..i’d upgrade trucks or downgrade trailers
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Old 03-23-2023, 06:02 AM   #9
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That's a lot of trailer for a mid size pickup. What king of Ranger do you have; size of bed, crew cab, trim level, 4x4 or 4x2 etc. Does it have the tow package which will mean a LOT in determining what you can tow. Most importantly what does the little yellow/white/black sticker in the driver door say the payload (carrying capacity) is? You need to know that before you begin to answer if it can carry (the most important part) or handle a 6500lb. 29' trailer. Having owned a 2.3L turbocharged Ford I wouldn't do it but that's me. Let us know.
Edit: Did not see that OP had the tow pkg. initially.
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Old 03-23-2023, 06:07 AM   #10
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I have a friend who had a Ranger and wanted me to advise him on which TT to get. I advised him to upgrade his truck. He listened to all my reasoning and explanations about weights and bought a nice crew cab F150. We then looked at trailers that would safely work. He went with the 221 RBS. Much smaller and lighter than the one you are proposing. The trailer you are thinking about is really just in 3/4 tom territory. I wouldn't tow it with a half ton. JMHO
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Old 03-23-2023, 06:23 AM   #11
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Let me pile on! What was the issue again? I think the OP has his answer and we shall see if the answer is digested or spit out.
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Old 03-23-2023, 07:19 AM   #12
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I posted this somewhere a year or two ago.....

They've jacked up the GVWR on the new Rangers to the 6500-6800 range on some models. This is giving payload capacities well over what you'd expect - very comparable to F150 models, since the Rangers weigh less.

What this does is make it seem reasonable, if following the conventional rules of thumb, (adding weights of occupants, hitch, gear, etc. together and see if you exceed payload) that you can tow a 6500 lb trailer.

I am in NO WAY saying this is a good idea, as I don't agree with it, just putting it out there. We always say 'tow capacity as it relates to a TT is myth'....may have to say the same for payload caps on certain trucks...
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Old 03-23-2023, 09:07 AM   #13
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The simple answer to this is NO NO NO!
You need much more truck or less rv.....
Will that Ranger "pull" it? Of course it will, right up til parts start falling out from under it because it can't safely "carry" that much weight within the limits of the little wannabe truck.
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Old 03-23-2023, 10:11 AM   #14
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Ford Ranger has a maximum hitch weight of 750 lbs. Trailer will be heavier than that.
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Old 03-23-2023, 10:21 AM   #15
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I own a Ford Ranger with rated to tow up to 7500 lbs. 1480 lb payload available. To tow a trailer and stay within all specs trailer would have to be 6000 max weight. It payload and hitch ratings are the limiting factors. Besides it short wheel base that would make it scary with crosswinds.
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Old 03-23-2023, 10:44 AM   #16
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I own a Ford Ranger with rated to tow up to 7500 lbs. 1480 lb payload available. To tow a trailer and stay within all specs trailer would have to be 6000 max weight. It payload and hitch ratings are the limiting factors. Besides it short wheel base that would make it scary with crosswinds.


Now you have heard it from the horse’s mouth. Answers don’t get better than that.
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Old 03-23-2023, 11:05 AM   #17
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Now you have heard it from the horse’s mouth. Answers don’t get better than that.
Now don't you wish every potential RV'er consulted with the masses first before buying wrong and going out doing something potentially dangerous.
I started watching YouTube vids before I moved up in size and weight. I'm totally grateful for a forum like this one.
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Old 03-30-2023, 07:18 AM   #18
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Pulling it is the easiest. You will never be able stop it. Listen to the folks on this page.
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Old 03-30-2023, 08:13 PM   #19
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Pulling it is the easiest. You will never be able stop it. Listen to the folks on this page.
You are absolutely 100% correct. Even if you put a good trailer brake on it, the trailer will overpower the truck.
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