Kentucky Armory Club

To get from PA to TX in one shot, I am planning on pulling my one vehicle with my other one. Having not really towed anything outside of a motorcycle on a small trailer with my GTO for any long distance just running it by some other people to get recommendations or anything I should think about in addition to what I have already though about.

Tow vehicle:
2006 Ford Ranger FX4
4.0 V6
good tires, all maintenance is current

Vehicle being towed on a U-Haul dolly:
2010 Jetta sedan
new tires
current inspection and tags

Other than hooking it up and rolling, what else do I need to think about. I believe there are lights on the dolly that plugs into an electrical port on the back where my hitch is.

I think a trailer will be much easier to pull. That ranger probably won't be that happy pulling the jetta anyways. Tongue weight and brakes will be the main concerns IMHO.

Renting a trailer is double what renting a dolly is and I don't think my truck can handle a full size car trailer with a car on it.

Your jetta weighs 3300lbs which might be approaching the limit of the Ranger's tow rating, especially adding a trailer or dolly.

Maximum recommended trailer weight for your model truck is just under 2800lbs.

Ranger towing capacity
http://www.cars.com/go/compare/trimComp ... 60FOT148D0

Jetta curb weight
http://www.edmunds.com/volkswagen/jetta ... =101201467

Yeah, numbers don't add up.

That's a long way to pull that car with Ranger...

If that Ranger is an automatic you'll need a new transmission if you make it. I'd be more afraid of an emergency stop than anything.

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baknblack wrote:If that Ranger is an automatic you'll need a new transmission if you make it. I'd be more afraid of an emergency stop than anything.

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its a 5 speed manual

so I am gathering prob not a good idea unless I had a full size truck

I wouldn't do it, pay a car hauler to do it. what is it maybe 600 to 800 dollars. Much safer and easier (yes it costs more)

shelbygoat wrote:

baknblack wrote:If that Ranger is an automatic you'll need a new transmission if you make it. I'd be more afraid of an emergency stop than anything.

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its a 5 speed manual

so I am gathering prob not a good idea unless I had a full size truck

If it was 20 miles I'd do it in a minute.
That far,, I'd probably still do it but, it would be a car trailer with a load distribution hitch and Sway control. Plus electric brakes.
It can be done with relative safety using the above setup. But, Ford wouldn't recommend it, lol.

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The Uhaul car haulers have tongue actuated trailer brakes (that work fantastic!) and you don't need a brake controller. That would be much safer behind the Ranger. You can control how gentile you take off in a 5sp. You can't control going down a big hill with too much weight behind you, the car hauler will help your Ranger do the stopping. I would do it with a car hauler, I would take my time and go easy with it for sure. I wouldn't do it with a car dolly. Not now, probably would 15-20 years ago though...haha

you don't have enough weight in the tow vehicle

Dave1965 wrote:I wouldn't do it, pay a car hauler to do it. what is it maybe 600 to 800 dollars. Much safer and easier (yes it costs more)

just a quick search on good yields $1200 for a shipping company to haul it out there

I will have a friend drive with me or my dad before I do it like that

shelbygoat wrote:

Dave1965 wrote:I wouldn't do it, pay a car hauler to do it. what is it maybe 600 to 800 dollars. Much safer and easier (yes it costs more)

just a quick search on good yields $1200 for a shipping company to haul it out there

I will have a friend drive with me or my dad before I do it like that

$1200 is insane! The last time I shipped a car it was from Florida to Virginia and it cost me around $600. Not quite the same distance, but I guarantee you can find a cheaper price. Also, check on Pirate4x4, lots of guys there offer trailer space when they're traveling.

I was quoting the shipping rates I see on cars I have looked to buy on ebay and their shipping quotes. A lot of these online companies want you to give them your email addy to get a quote.

Probably be better to have someone drive it with you and fly them home if that is an option. Gas would probably be close to tow package price and you get some help when there and tickets could be reasonable when you book well in advance.

I am guessing you would come thru WV and KY with the trailer but those hills can be a little rough. Plus I wouldn't want to pull that with the truck thru any major cities at peak hours or anything or through construction work.

You can minimize the hill problem by coming through Ohio, KY, middle & western TN, across AR, then down the east side of TX. Most of that route is flat as a promise (I have driven it many, many times). Stay the hell out of W. VA & eastern PA if you need to avoid hills & mountains!

From the Wyldphone

Wyldman wrote:You can minimize the hill problem by coming through Ohio, KY, middle & western TN, across AR, then down the east side of TX. Most of that route is flat as a promise (I have driven it many, many times). Stay the hell out of W. VA & eastern PA if you need to avoid hills & mountains!

From the Wyldphone

I 2nd this. Flat and boring as FUUUUUCK! haha But flat and boring is what you need hauling your max (or maybe a little more...haha) weight limit. I still vote do it with the car hauler. I hauled my 91 Mustang GT 500+ miles with my lifted on 90 5sp 3.0 4Runner on 33's and it wasn't scary feeling at all.

If I'm honest, I'd do it too.

I don't think it's dangerous...

Just gonna b hard on the truck...

If it were 200 miles...but it's much more than that...

I dunno.... good chance I'd do it too I guess, lol

If a lifted 290,000 mile 4Runner can do it with a similar weight car, that newer Ranger can do it...Don't be skeert! haha

Just a bunch of rule breaking rebels we are, lol.

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Marcus wrote:If I'm honest, I'd do it too.

From what I am gathering off the Ranger specific boards, automatics suck for towing, the 4.0 V6 is capable of pulling the load, stay back and give extra room for braking, and your MPG will suck.