anyone else haul wood in a Ford ranger?

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IMO a 1/3 cord load of wood on a ranger is a lot.....not for the weight aspect, but for the volume. My buddy has like a 96' tacoma ext cab and without sideboards he can not haul a 1/3 cord of wood with it.
 
Wellsco

I have a 97 Mazda B 2300/Ford Ranger, it has the 2.3 L four-cylinder engine, and is a five speed clutch. I have used it to pull firewood for the last 10 years. Notice that I say pull. I have a homemade trailer that I built that will hold three quarters of a cord when you stack the wood into the trailer. You did good by buying a frame mount hitch. That is what I use as well. The truck has 185,000 miles on it, and is still the original clutch. I have hauled on average 30 cords of firewood per year, that does not count dirt, gravel, mulch, and all the other things that have pulled with this truck. The main thing you will have to watch for is any major hills that you will have to go up or down. When you pull a lot of weight with the small truck route planning is key. You will not break any land speed records, and you will have to focus on handling but it will without a doubt pull the load and it will stop the load. The trick I have found is all about how well you maintain your vehicle, and the trailer centerline to the vehicle frame when loaded. (Example does the trailer set level with the frame when loaded or does it sag the back of the truck and trailer to look like a v?) What I also did was I put helper springs on the back axle. You'd be really surprised what these little trucks will do. You really need to learn the limits on your truck, and your driving/hauling experience, it's all about what you're comfortable with.
 
Hello,
The only truck that I've ever owned (and still do) is a 1990 Ford Ranger 4X4, with the 7' long bed. It has a V-6, 5-speed and has about 130,000 miles on the clock, I bought it new !!! It's name is "Brownie", he is really black, but I usually don't keep it very clean outside....so all my friends says it looks brown, hence the name !!!!! He is a hauling fool.......he is the happiest when he has a load on !!!! I have hauled a lot of firewood with Brownie and he has never let me down. Besides firewood, Brownie has hauled tons of construction lumber for all of my building over the years. He is 23 years old now and is part of the family.....I don't think that I will ever get rid of him.....if the engine ever goes, I think I'll put another one in !!!! He and I have been through a lot together in the different aspects of my life and I have a lot of fond memories !!!!! Well if you think I'm a little nutty, that's because I am......but I really love ole' Brownie !!!!!!!!



Henry and Wanda
 
I use a 1990 Mazda 4 banger auto trany with over 200 k for going back and fourth to cut wood you can not carry much in it that's what bigger trucks and trailers are for

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I just carry what ever if left after the full size truck trailer cant haul
 
When the bumper hits the road you have reached your limit. Thats why they call it a truck.

When I first started logging and doing tree work, I used to haul logs one or two at a time to the saw mill in my 1991 Ford Ranger. That made her squat. I was 19 or 20 though and would do anything for some lumber. (Especially figured Maple.)
 
Wow alot of people have rangers!!

I found a hitch at work it's a Ford brand but not sure what it fits. Anyway to tell without trying to put it on?
 
4 door S10

We are using a 2004 S10 4x4 4 door with the squatty 4.5ft box. There is a cab high 'glass topper on it as well. We are cutting just for our own use in the National forest so I go after standing dead maple for the most part 6-10" diameterish. I can fit about 1/3 face cord in at a time to completely fill it to the very top front to back. It has gotten a little iffy when we are 2 miles back on a muddy 2 track at about dark:30 I would like to do wood hauling with a bigger truck but for now this is a great little work horse! Forgot to mention, it has 248,000 miles on it and I drive it 39 miles to work and 39 home every day as well !

Bill
 
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Wellsco

Wow alot of people have rangers!!

I found a hitch at work it's a Ford brand but not sure what it fits. Anyway to tell without trying to put it on?



I'm assuming you found one off of something like craigslist or on the web. If you're looking at something where you where unsure if it fits, the only way to make sure it fits is to take measurements on it. You will want to measure the width of the mounts, and the width of your frame to ensure that the mounts on the hitch are the same as your frame. The other thing you want to be aware of is the drop of the hitch to make sure that it clears your back bumper, but does not drop so far that it comes close to the ground. I purchased mine from a buddy, it is a Rease, and it was made to fit rangers and Chevy S 10's. The only other option I would have had if he would not have had one, would have been tractor supply, or buying one from U-Haul. The one I have is a class IV 2 inch receiver, it is overkill for the truck but I do not have to worry about it. It was adjustable in width, and already had the correct drop for those trucks. If you do get the Ford one, and it measures out correctly, make sure that you use grade 8 bolts, with metal plates on the top part of the frame side so that you have more surface area pinching the frame. The metal plates that came with mine were 3/16" to a 1/4" thick.

Rigid Class IV, 2 inch Receiver Hitch R3-0471

here is one that was similar to what I have. The receiver I turned upside down when I place it into the hitch to match the correct height for my trailer. This was listed for 146.00 but there are ones that you can find cheaper to fit your truck. For the electrical harness wiring, I went to advance auto parts and picked up a trailer wiring harness adapter that plugs straight in to my taillight harness, and gives me a four pin flat connector for the trailer. Hope this helps some.
 
Wow alot of people have rangers!!

I found a hitch at work it's a Ford brand but not sure what it fits. Anyway to tell without trying to put it on?

Is it adjustable width?

Reason I ask is years ago I took a hitch off an 80's dodge ram charger and installed it on a 1990 F-150. Sold the F-150 and installed the hitch on a 1991 Ranger. Now the hitch is on a 1994 Ranger. No cutting or drilling involved, holes lined up every time.
 
Is it adjustable width?

Reason I ask is years ago I took a hitch off an 80's dodge ram charger and installed it on a 1990 F-150. Sold the F-150 and installed the hitch on a 1991 Ranger. Now the hitch is on a 1994 Ranger. No cutting or drilling involved, holes lined up every time.

I guess it could be with a torch and welder :)

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2
 
I'm assuming you found one off of something like craigslist or on the web. If you're looking at something where you where unsure if it fits, the only way to make sure it fits is to take measurements on it. You will want to measure the width of the mounts, and the width of your frame to ensure that the mounts on the hitch are the same as your frame. The other thing you want to be aware of is the drop of the hitch to make sure that it clears your back bumper, but does not drop so far that it comes close to the ground. I purchased mine from a buddy, it is a Rease, and it was made to fit rangers and Chevy S 10's. The only other option I would have had if he would not have had one, would have been tractor supply, or buying one from U-Haul. The one I have is a class IV 2 inch receiver, it is overkill for the truck but I do not have to worry about it. It was adjustable in width, and already had the correct drop for those trucks. If you do get the Ford one, and it measures out correctly, make sure that you use grade 8 bolts, with metal plates on the top part of the frame side so that you have more surface area pinching the frame. The metal plates that came with mine were 3/16" to a 1/4" thick.

Rigid Class IV, 2 inch Receiver Hitch R3-0471

here is one that was similar to what I have. The receiver I turned upside down when I place it into the hitch to match the correct height for my trailer. This was listed for 146.00 but there are ones that you can find cheaper to fit your truck. For the electrical harness wiring, I went to advance auto parts and picked up a trailer wiring harness adapter that plugs straight in to my taillight harness, and gives me a four pin flat connector for the trailer. Hope this helps some.

Hey thanks! I may just buy new.

I also found a nice 12ft trailer for $650!

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2
 
Used to haul wood with an old rusted out 1969 Barracuda when we lived in the Northwoods.

It was a great car to drive out on the lake, drill hole, situate, lift out passenger floorpan, commence fishin'.
 
We'll if you look at my picture it shows my 96 Mazda b2300 5 spd manual. Heaped full of locust. The rear leaf spring hangers are no longer attached to the frame rails but it doesn't see the road much


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I use my s10 2WD 4 banger to cut wood with all the time. I fure it gets about 1/4 cord in there before I worry about the thing. Just go nice and easy and no where on a "big" road. I have beefed up shocks on it. perhaps I should add another spring. Great little truck and a much lighter foot print than my big 3500. The extra trips give me a moment to snack and drink fluids and check my marriage remote control (smartphone).
 
I can't haul much in my Ranger...

They say on a lonely, quiet night, you can hear a Ford rust.

I think I can hear mine in the middle of a six lane interstate.... :-/




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this thread may be old but i still want to show off, i figure i have close to a cord between the truck and 4x8 trailer loaded. thats my old 2x4 3.0 ranger, my diesel F350 can do better now.
 

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I can't haul much in my Ranger...

They say on a lonely, quiet night, you can hear a Ford rust.

I think I can hear mine in the middle of a six lane interstate.... :-/
Sent from my iPhone 5 using Tapatalk

I just got rid of my 1996 Ford Ranger because the frame was rusting away.
Got a Mazda Tribute. Basically....another Ford. But I like it.:cool:



Kevin
 
Had racks on my 06 ranger, would load it cab high and fill my 4*8*4 trailer up. Pulled it pretty well but did squat a little. Started using the 250 when I started selling wood.
 

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