Blog / Ford

Comparison: 2021 Ford Ranger Towing Capacity vs Rival Midsize Trucks

ford ranger towing capacity
If the 2021 Ford Ranger was built with the idea that every buyer could have the power they need. What does that mean? Well, the Ford Ranger towing capacity is the same, regardless of whether you buy the least expensive model or one of the higher trims. How does Ford do that? Offer the best towing capacity at the lowest price? Here’s the story.

Midsize Truck Towing Capability

The Ford Ranger towing capacity is 7,500 pounds. You can look at each trim level and see the same figure. It is true for the XL, XLT, and Lariat. It’s true whether you choose the SuperCrew or SuperCab. It’s even true if you stick with front-wheel rather than four-wheel drive. Next let’s take the Nissan Frontier. This truck comes with a four-cylinder engine that can pull up to 3,500 pounds. You can step up to the V6, paying more, and pull up to 6,720 pounds. Interestingly enough, the 2022 Frontier, an updated model, is said to have the same tow ratings as the current model. Next up is the Toyota Tacoma. Its towing capacity is 3,500 pounds. Again you can step up to a V6, paying more to boost the tow ratings to 6,800 pounds. The Honda Ridgeline only has a V6, but its towing capacity is either 3,500 (FWD) or 5,000 pounds (AWD). Now compare that to the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon. These two midsize relatives offer 3,500-pound towing capacity at the base level. That climbs to 7,000 pounds when you spend more and buy the available V6. If you spend even more, you can get the turbodiesel. At that point, you can edge past the Ranger and tow a maximum of 7,700 pounds. Lastly, the Jeep Gladiator has a number of engine/transmission choices. The tow ratings are 4,000 pounds, 4,500 pounds, 6,000 pounds or 7,650 pounds. Once again, you will be paying more to be able to tow slightly more than the entry level Ranger.

How does Ford achieve such high tow ratings?

By now you may be asking how does Ford achieve such high tow ratings without demanding a ridiculously high entry level price? It’s simple. The manufacturer used engineering to outsmart the competition. Every Ranger comes with a turbo four engine that is capable of 270 horsepower. That turbo power adds a torque boost, allowing the truck to generate up to 310 pound-feet. The other four-cylinder trucks don’t come close. The Tacoma and Frontier don’t break 200 horsepower. The Colorado and Canyon claim 200 horsepower, but they can’t compete with the Ranger. To get the towing capacity that most truck buyers want, you’ll pay more for the V6 of these different models. Then the horsepower rises to a competitive level. Still, the Ranger remains ahead of all of these rivals in terms of torque. Gladiators have a number of configurations as stated earlier. You can get more torque than the Ranger, but only if you purchase the Ecodiesel. Interestingly, this drops the towing capacity of the Gladiator to below the Ranger’s top level. So, in conclusion, if you want the best midsize towing capacity, there’s really only one smart choice. The Ford Ranger runs circles around the competition when it comes to the best ratio of power to cost.
Posted in:

Related Posts

2022 Ford Lightning

2022 Ford Lightning Suggests It’s Time to Trade Your Truck

This is an exciting time for pickup truck lovers.  The 2022 Ford Lightning is coming, and with it, the best reason ever to trade your truck. more If you want to sell your truck, but you don’t want to buy anything new, that’s no problem at Earnhardt Ford.  Your truck trade-in value is sure to put some cash in your pocket for the things you need now. Keep reading to get the scoop on the incredible new electric truck from Ford. How the 2022 Ford Lightning Earns Its Spot in the Lineup To earn a spot in the F150 lineup, the 2022 Ford Lightning has to be plenty tough and plenty capable. It does that by producing more torque than the F150 Raptor and handling bigger tows than the entry level F150. Rather than be a one-size-fits-all, the F150 Lightning comes in Pro, XLT, Lariat and Platinum editions.  Furthermore, it has two battery ranges. One can go up to 230 miles while the other can go up to 300 miles.  Horsepower is rated at 426 or 563 while the high torque rate is universal. How Does a Ford Electric Truck Reduce Costs Adding to its competitiveness, the electric vehicle may qualify you for federal energy tax credits.  Furthermore, the special electric build will lower maintenance costs by about 40 percent over eight years. The pricetag on the F150 Lightning Pro is so low, especially with the tax credit, that it is competitive with many trucks of similar capability.  With so many reasons to go electric, it’s hard to think of a reason not to. When you think about the fact that the typical truck’s fuel economy goes down when towing or carrying a heavy load, you start to realize just how much gas that a Ford electric truck can save! This F150 is tough and sturdy. It can pull a load of 7,700 pounds with the regular battery or 10,000 pounds with the stronger battery.  Many businesses individuals will be able to do everything they need to do with tow ratings like that.  Payload is 1,500 pounds. Plus, there’s a compartment under the hood of the truck.  This Mega Power Frunk can handle up to 400 pounds of gear or luggage. No other truck can do that. Check out the 2022 Ford Lightning at Earnhardt Ford You can get all the details about the 2022 Ford Lightning from the experts at Earnhardt Ford. The truck will be offered in four trim levels including the XLT, Lariat and Platinum. All of the standard F150 gear is offered on these trucks, making it possible for you to get the complete suite of driver assistance systems and the long list of Ford-exclusive trailering assistance. What’s not to love about this truck?  Make a reservation now and be the first in your crowd to drive this remarkable pickup.

2022 Ford Maverick Ford Ranger

2022 Ford Maverick vs the Ford Ranger Comparison

The 2022 Ford Maverick Phoenix is coming soon, and pickup truck enthusiasts are wondering how it differs from the Ford Ranger.  Here’s what we know so far.  Feel free to contact us with your questions. more What’s the Difference Between the 2022 Ford Maverick and the Ford Ranger? First, let’s answer the questions on every person’s mind who hears about the new smaller Ford truck.  Is it just the pricetag?  No, there are other differences.  However, the Maverick’s MSRP is just under $20,000 while the Ranger’s MSRP starts off just over $25,000. Second, is the Maverick really Built Ford Tough?  Absolutely. The Maverick may be compact, but it has a sturdy unibody construction.  Compact, it has the tightest turning diameter of any midsize truck. If you are regularly darting in and out of busy Phoenix streets, you’ll find this truck is easier to maneuver. Maverick vs Ranger Truck Engine Output The 2022 Phoenix Maverick will be the first pickup truck in America to have a STANDARD hybrid powertrain. The 2021 Ford Ranger comes with one of the most powerful engines in a midsize truck today, but it is still remarkably fuel efficient. So you can definitely say that they have efficiency in common. The Ranger boasts one of the lowest, if not the lowest, ownership costs among midsize trucks.  That’s due to its money-saving fuel economy.  It earns 21 mpg city and 26 mpg highway.  Now the Maverick hybrid can claim the best ownership costs with its 40-mpg fuel economy.  That’s a 500-mile range for the 2022 Ford Maverick Phoenix owner. The standard Ranger engine generates 270 horsepower whereas the Maverick will be offering a hybrid powertrain that generates 191 horsepower.  If you make some comparisons, you'll find that the new truck’s horsepower surpasses some gas-powered midsize trucks by other manufacturers. Find out more about Ranger pricing. For the Maverick, you can also choose a standard EcoBoost engine that generates 250 horsepower. While the Ranger’s torque rate is 310 pound-feet, the Maverick’s will be 277 pound-feet as its most capable. Ford is making it possible for you to reserve a Maverick now. Maverick vs Ranger Pickup Truck Capability The Ranger tows up to 7,500 pounds while the Maverick can tow either 2,000 pounds or 4,000 pounds depending on the powertrain. Either truck would need the Trailer Tow Package to get maximum capability. The standard payload limit is 1,500 pounds. The Maverick’s 4.5-foot bed is smaller than the Ranger’s standard 5-foot bed.  To make the most of the space, the Flexbed system comes with six or ten tie-down spots, depending on the trim level. Find out more about the Maverick price. Maverick vs Ranger Pickup Truck Trim Levels Both trucks will come in XL, XLT and Lariat trim levels, but this does not mean that the standard lists are the same.  Safe to say, there will be plenty of high tech infotainment on both vehicles, and many amenities will be the same or similar.  However, the Maverick price point rules out some amenities.  For instance, the Ranger Lariat comes with leather seats whereas the ActiveX Desert Brown seats in the Maverick Lariat are made of  premium vinyl. With all of this in mind, we can heartily recommend the 2022 Ford Maverick.  It represents a new way to drive Ford Tough.  Just as the Ranger made waves a few years ago, we expect the Maverick to set new standards of what a smaller truck can do.  When will the Maverick be available? Click Here.

Ford Explorer towing capacity

Ford Explorer Towing Capacity Increases with Rear-Wheel Drive

With all the new feature additions for 2021, it’s no wonder Ford Explorer remains a best-seller in the fast-growing market for performance SUVs. What many shoppers don’t know is that a redesign has allowed the Ford Explorer towing capacity is essential to its new design. After all, this family ride might need to bring some big toys along. more Get the Facts on Ford Explorer Towing Capability The incorporation of a new rear-wheel-drive architecture not only lends itself to the 2021 Explorer’s sporty, muscular exterior design, but piles on an extra 600 pounds in maximum towing capability over its previous iterations. This makes the regular rear-wheel Explorer more capable than the front-wheel drive Explorers before it. Is Ford financing right for you? When equipped with the 2.3-liter EcoBoost® engine and Class III Trailer Tow package, the Ford Explorer’s towing capacity clocks in at an impressive 5,300 pounds. That's 300 pounds more than previous front-wheel Explorers. Pulling a 20-ft travel trailer, 4-place jet ski trailer, or 22-ft ski boat is just another day on the job for the 2.3-liter Explorer. Drivers command 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. A test drive is the next logical step to decide which engine is for you. Equipped with the Class III Trailer Tow package, the 3.0-liter EcoBoost® engine raises the Ford Explorer towing capacity to a formidable 5,600 pounds — more than enough to pull your favorite toys. Tow up to a 25’ sailboat, 22-ft travel trailer, 2-horse trailer, or 20-ft wakeboard boat with ease and confidence. The celebrated Ford EcoBoost® engine delivers 400 horsepower and 415 lb.-ft. torque that drivers will love. If you choose the Explorer V6, top towing capacity is still 5,000 pounds. All three engine configurations require the Class III Trailer Tow package to achieve the top towing specifications. Without this factory package, the towing capability is 3,000 pounds. Every 2021 Explorer is Made for Extra Adventure Towing capacity is enhanced by a 10-speed automatic transmission that gives you more help across the speed spectrum. A Terrain Management System with seven drive modes adds to the excitement and certainty when the Explorer leaves the pavement. Whatever load you’ve got in mind, Ford’s proprietary trailer blind spot system makes towing easy and worry-free. A power liftgate, standard on every Ford Explorer, reveals a re-designed cargo system to keep your gear and accessories organized for the trip. The sport-tuned suspension delivers an exquisite ride and passengers will appreciate the spacious 152.7 cu. ft. interior that offers extended knee and shoulder room in the second and third-row seats. Why not get pre-approved for your loan? You can get more information about Explorer towing specifications when you chat with the staff at Earnhardt Ford. You’ll find a big selection of Explorers in our inventory.