Joseph Moore
Carson City, NV
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Joined: 02/09/2002
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Hi!
I bought a 2000 Ford Ranger V6 5sp 4x4 that was supposed to be towable 4 down. But!!!!!!, when I read the owners manual it said that the rear drive shaft had to be removed. Is this true? Any ideas? I thought that I had read about a gadget from the dealer that would fix this but no one seems to know what I am talking about.
Thanks
Joe
Joe Moore
87 Bounder
Carson City NV
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John Wayne
Long Beach, Ca
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Joined: 02/13/2001
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Give Remco a call and ask them they are very helpful. Do you have a manual transfer case? I was looking for a Ford to tow but manual cases are hard to find. If all else fails remco makes a sliding driveshaft disconnect that you engage from the drives seat, easier then unbolting the drive shaft.
John & Carol
01 31'Sea View single slide, F53 V-10
96 Toyota 4-Runner auto 4x4 (Remco, M&G brake system)
KF6HCH
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rclarke
Fernley, NV
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Joined: 03/29/2003
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The 2000 Ford towing guide says all manual transmissions can be towed 4 wheels down.
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Iwannabe
Michigan
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I have a 1990 Ford Ranger with a automatic and went through the same thing as you're going through. Give Al a call at Remco. I put the drive shaft in and have gone on two trips with it and it is great.
Tom
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Joseph Moore
Carson City, NV
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Joined: 02/09/2002
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Hi, Gang!
Thanks for the comments. I have an email in to Remco. Part of my problem is that I have the Electronic Shift 4WD System - no neutral. The local Ford dealer says that there is no "dealer installed neutral tow kit" available for the 2000. 01, 02, 03, yes but not 00.
My paper manual says not towable 4 down but one I downloaded from Ford says all manual transmissions are towable. Boy am I confused.
Joe
* This post was
edited 08/08/03 07:18am by Joseph Moore *
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newlee
Ca USA
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Joined: 07/06/2003
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You will need the neutral T Case setup from ford or the drive shaft disconect from remco. Or you could swap in the manual shift T Case this is waht I have in my 95 Ranger. I think it is much more reliable beacuse you know what gear you are in. It also came with manual Hubs. No guessing if they are in or out. These are not easy to find. Had to do a factory order back in 95 don't know if they are still available.
Dan & Pat Newhall
Central California
2003 Newmar Kountry Star DP 3353
2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee Toad
1995 Ford Ranger STX 4X4 Toad
1995 Jeep Wrangler Toad (KISA RCK}
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tandkj
Full timer
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Suggest you log onto the FMCA home page and look for past editions of the magazine. They have listed all toads and what it takes to make them 4-wheels down. I have a 00 ranger and contacted REMCO for parts availability. In addition I went to the local Camping World store and had them install the REMCO part, brackets, tow arms (motorhome mounted vice 2-inch ball) and buddy braking system. It's expensive, about $3000.00 but its that or a new vehicle. A tow trailer, of good steel is about $4000.00. Good luck.
08 Camelot
07 Ranger Toad
One Golden Retriever at the Rainbow Bridge
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Joseph Moore
Carson City, NV
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Well, six out of eight sources say it is towable, Remco included. They told me to tow it. They said "Just tow it. We aren't making any money on this call." FOrd Towing website, One of two Ford owners manuals, Motorhome Magazine, and several owners have all said it is towable 4-down. Put it in 2WD and tranny in neutral. Sure hope they are right.
Joe
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nitescan
Midwest Ill.
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Joined: 08/21/2001
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Joe.....have you towed your ranger 4x4 yet, I was checking in to find out if you had any problems. I tow a ranger myself, but need to make a trade here real soon. Anybody out there towing an "03" model 4x4?
Thanks in advance!
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Joseph Moore
Carson City, NV
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Hi, Gang!
Nope, haven't finished setting it up yet but I don't expect any trouble. Found several official Ford references that say it is towable 4-down. Got a shop manual that says it will lubricate the transfer case while towing, so tow at "legal speeds".
I have added overload springs to the rear, good ride must equal no load carrying capacity. With a camper shell, camping gear, tools, water, and a book it sat an inch and a half low in the rear. The overloads leveled it out.
Roadmaster makes a tow bar base plate that bolts on to the tow hooks and fits my EazLift tow bar. I have an Autostop brake system but needed to replace the brake cable. It is in the mail.
Now all I need to do is figure out where to go and for how long.
By the way - I am pleasantly surprized at how well this truck preforms off road. We have had a batch of thunderstorms that have washed out many back roads. I drove the truck around an Explorer that was stuck in mud on the road to the Elbow on the Walker River. Dead Ox Pitch was completely washed away and I had to crawl over boulders to get down (either that, or back through the mud). These and a couple of other adventures make me think that someone did their homework designing the off road package.
Joe
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