Ford Ranger Wildtrack

rich 81
rich 81 Forum Participant Posts: 189
edited October 2019 in Towcars & Towing #1

I've just replaced my 2018 BMW X1 with a 2019 Ford Ranger Wildtrack Auto. Is anybody towing with a pick up ? I'm sure it will be more than capable of towing our Bailey Pegasus gt65 twin axle 

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  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2019 #2

    What suspension has it on the rear as some caravan manufacturers I believe don't recommend towing with a vehicle fitted with leaf springs.

  • rich 81
    rich 81 Forum Participant Posts: 189
    edited October 2019 #3

    It is leaf springs on the back

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2019 #4

    WIthout ....... something that I have forgotten the name of! Was it a shock link? embarassed

    Its my age you know!

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2019 #5

    Most caravan chassis are not designed to take the "hard ride" given by leaf springs ,and need something like a"shock link" fitted to the tow vehicle

  • rich 81
    rich 81 Forum Participant Posts: 189
    edited October 2019 #6

    I will look into it. We still have the wife's 17 plate X3 Auto to tow with if the ranger isn't suitable. The ranger is mine for work really but I would like to use it for towing in th UK. All of our Euro trips will be with the X3 as its far more economical 

  • rich 81
    rich 81 Forum Participant Posts: 189
    edited October 2019 #7

    I have just emailed Bailey and asked the question. I will see what they recommend 

  • Supreme840
    Supreme840 Forum Participant Posts: 18
    edited October 2019 #8

    Yes I’m on my third Wildtrack, did you go for the 3.2 or the 2.0 twin turbo? excellent tow car & with a hard top on very practical for caravaning, 

    PS i got it in writing from Elddis that using the ranger as a tow car would not cause any issues with warranty 

  • rich 81
    rich 81 Forum Participant Posts: 189
    edited October 2019 #9

    Hi Supreme840. I got the 3.2 Auto in Shadow Black with the Truckman Grand Hard top which has remote central locking.

    I thought it would be good for towing and Bailey have confirmed it is perfectly okay to tow with it.  

  • rich 81
    rich 81 Forum Participant Posts: 189
    edited October 2019 #10

    I cant find any evidence at all that backs up the leaf spring theory. I guess its just scaremongering as usual 

  • ocsid
    ocsid Forum Participant Posts: 1,395
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2019 #11

    Throughout the 90s I used a "Shocklink" on our LR 110s to best protect the caravan we had.

    It is self evident that adding some compliance between the hitch and the towbar reduces the peak shock levels particularly into the caravan's chassis "A" frame.

    Whether a particular caravan needs any protection when towed by a stiff suspension vehicle, only time can tell, but breaking away of the van's bodywork from the floor was far from unknown. Ours over its 13 years ownership, every one of its 42 K miles used with a Shocklink, did not.

    https://www.towingandtrailers.com/product/uncategorized/dixon-bate-db202004-shocklink-mk2-80kg-nose-weight-needs-adaptor-plate-2/

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2019 #12

    It seems that these ‘don’t tow with it’ alerts crop up a lot on CT, I have an Isuzu Dmax pickup I towed C’van with for 3years without a single issue, yes I got the same alerts from folk too🙄🙄. It is a great vehicle to use, no worries re overloading due to the huge amount of room in the back there’s a good reason the Aussies call them ‘utes’👍🏻. I also had the Ranger Thunder pre 2012 it was also excellent. Rich 81-good choice enjoy.

  • Freedom a whitebox
    Freedom a whitebox Club Member Posts: 296 ✭✭✭
    100 Comments
    edited October 2019 #13

    I think that the fear about pickups suspension being rock hard goes back a long way, but anyone that’s actually driven a recent pickup can tell you that they have come a long way and that the ride is far superior to some of the mid range cars on the market. 
    The suspension on my Navara 3.0 Outlaw is very progressive and gives a softer ride compared to my daughters Volvo V40.

     

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2019 #14

    One thing that those who in the past towed with cart spring fitted land rovers and pickup vehicles to remember is that most caravans these days are now built on the alko lightweight chassis undecided

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2019 #15

    Most of the naysayers I’ve encountered have never owned the vehicle they are offering alerts about🤷🏻‍♂️. When I see folk asking about a vehicle before they buy it-I’m alarmed at the-‘I don’t own one but I heard’ or ‘I don’t own one but my mate said’, types😕, those folk I ignore straight away👍🏻 

  • SPCLTD
    SPCLTD Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited July 2020 #16

    Hi

    I also tow my elddis crusader with a wildtrack 3.2.

    I have had verbal  reassurances from Elddis that it is not an issue.

    The but comes after fitting self levelling the workshop tried to sell an air bag system stating the leaf spring issue. 

    This has really rattled me, so could I as a favour. Can you email me a copy of your letter from Elddis so I can show the workshop. I did tell him at the time about the assurances from Elddis. 

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