06-04-2011, 02:23 PM
beeohflat towing ford ranger?
need to know if anyone has flat towed a '99 ford ranger 4x4 with auto trans? Looking to buy one but want to tow it. thanks
06-04-2011, 02:54 PM
bill hBest info is from Ford's owners' manual.
Next best is from Motor Home magazine's yearly guide to towing, which is a compilation of factory information. Perhaps a library or MH would have a back issue.
If you can't find the particular issue you need, maybe I can find it in El Lay. I have cards to a lot of libraries.
I have a 2004 Ford Ranger 4x4 standard and tow with no issues. The Auto version needs a kit installed (not much money) to make the 4x4 shift to neutral. The kit is electronic and is activated by doing a dance of sorts in the drivers compartment. The Ford dealer should have the information as to what kit is available for the truck you are interested in.
06-04-2011, 10:32 PM
Mogan DavidJack, the 'KIT' is no longer available for 2001-2007 Explorers. After existing stocks were sold, dealers could not restock it because the vendor had gone out of business. The 'KIT' was essentially an LED connected to the under-dash harness to indicate when you had done the 'dance' correctly. In order for the dance (as you call it) to do the trick, a tech. must first have accessed the vehicle's computer to enable “NEUTRAL TOW FUNCTION”. My third link, above, is the official Ford documentation in that regard.
06-05-2011, 10:18 AM
Shadow manNo matter who, or how many people tell you that you can do it. GET THE OWNERS MANUAL FOR THAT TRUCK!!!! Not one for the year before or the year after....but that years manual. That is the only way to know for sure if, and how, you can tow it! Unless of course you can afford thousands of dollars in repairs to a tranny and transfer case, in that case, sure just go for it and let us know how that turns out for you.
