Towing a UHaul CT13

[Mitch Scott]

Hello: I'm the proud new owner of a UHAUL CT 13. I currently drive a 2000 Subaru Forester 4cyl. Automatic and also have access to a 1999 Ford Ranger 4cylinder with rear wheel drive. I was wondering if I could safely tow my UHaul with either or both of these? I travel light, and the water storage tank has been removed, as well as the swamp cooler, furnace and top bunk inside the trailer.

Also, the Ranger currently has a bumper hitch, and the Subaru has no hitch at all.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[DonDeutsch]

I can't speak to power of the 4 cyl Ranger, but I bent the rear bumper of a 2001 ford ranger (v6) to the ground last week, pulling a light (1000lbs?) trailer with 100lbs tounge weight, using a bumper hitch. I immediately installed a frame hitch.

[Raya]

Hi Mitch,

I would recommend that you look in your owner's manual for each vehicle and see what the towing specs are. They will list a towing rating.

Couple of things to watch for:

1) Sometimes there are two different figures; one for a trailer with brakes and one without (a CT-13 will not have brakes unless it has had a new axle and brakes put on - and then they have to be mated to a brake controller in your tow vehicle).

2) Sometimes you will be supposed to subtract the weight of passengers or gear (in the tow vehicle) from your towing capacity.

Once you have the figures, perhaps you could post them here and then we will have some facts/numbers to work with. (Then of course it depends on condition, maintenance, etc.)

A handy place to check out hitches/availability online is www.hitch-web.com. I used it as a quickie go-to when I was vehicle shopping and wanted to get a ballpark idea of tow capacity (but with owning your vehicles the manual trumps that).

Raya

[Darnelle]

I can't speak to power of the 4 cyl Ranger, but I bent the rear bumper of a 2001 ford ranger (v6) to the ground last week, pulling a light (1000lbs?) trailer with 100lbs tounge weight, using a bumper hitch. I immediately installed a frame hitch.

I love my 4x4 Ranger. I wanted 4WD because of where we live, not because of our camper. Remember you are always hauling the extra weight whether you are using it or not. I use 4WD only a handfull of times per year, so far never with the camper.

Always use a frame hitch. My truck is the 6 cyl. 4.0 with the heavy-duty tow package, but I didn't even try to pull the camper on the bumper. Better to be over-built than under. This truck is a work dog compared to my former 2WD Ranger. I pay for it big time in loss of MPG, but it's worth it.

Also, we're planning to upgrade to a 16-footer and that is possible without having to buy a heftier TV.

[Herb Sutton]

Bumper hitch is grief on its to happen. Use a frame hitch.

Good advice about weight.

[Roy in TO]

Check the owners manuals for towing capacities. My 94 Ranger has 60 some odd towing capacities listed for the various models and drive trains.