Parts Needed For Flat Towing a 2000 Ford Ranger Behind a Motorhome/RV

Published 08/27/2021

Products Featured in This Question

Curt Adjustable Tow Bar - Coupler Style for 2" Ball - 5,000 lbs

(148)

$81.89

Roadmaster Crossbar-Style Base Plate Kit - Removable Arms

(2125)

$575.00

Blue Ox Patriot Portable Flat Tow Brake System - Proportional

(396)

$1505.17

Roadmaster High-Low Adapter for Tow Bars - 2" Hitches - 4" Rise/Drop - 10K GTW, 400 lbs TW

(1570)

$195.28

Roadmaster High-Low Adapter for Tow Bars - 2" Hitches - 6" Rise/Drop - 10K GTW, 400 lbs TW

(1571)

$201.72

Roadmaster Accessory Kit for Falcon Tow Bars - Tail Light Wiring - Safety Cables - Lock Set

(73)

$317.68

Question:

I need to flat tow a 2000 Ford Ranger, 3.0 V6, 4x4 w/ auto transmission electronic which has 2 wd, 4 wd low and 4wd high settings will the Curt 19745 fit a 2000 Ranger? I need to know what needs to be done to assure transmission is in neutral while towing. I will be towing with an RV. Thanks

asked by: Scott P

Expert Reply:

The Curt Tow Bar # C19745 is a universal fit tow bar that is designed to work with vehicles that have a heavy duty front bumper that is rated for towing. If you have this type of aftermarket bumper then you can use it on your 2000 Ford Ranger.

I verified the information for towing in the owners manual for your Ranger. For both 2wd and 4x4 models with the automatic transmission if you plan on towing your Ranger further than 50 miles or at a speed greater than 35mph you will need to remove your driveshafts. If you are driving less than 50 miles at speeds under 35mph then you will need to place the Ranger in neutral, place the ignition in the off position and release the parking brake after you have it connected to your RV.

If you do not have a heavy duty bumper to mount the other tow bar on then I recommend the Roadmaster Crossbar-Style Base Plate Kit # 483-1. It has removable arms that can be removed when you are not flat towing.

For a tow bar I recommend the Roadmaster Falcon All Terrain # RM-522. This non binding tow bar is easier to remove than many standard tow bars and the self aligning design makes hookups much faster. You will need the RoadMaster Falcon All-Terrain Combo Towing Kit # RM-9243-1 as it contains the safety cables, locks and wiring needed to operate your tail lights on the Ranger when towing.

With the weight of the Ranger you are required to have a braking system, which I suggest the Blue Ox Patriot # BLU37TR. This system can easily be installed on your Ranger and can also be used with multiple vehicles if you have another vehicle you want to tow or change vehicles over time. You will be able to control and adjust the braking system from inside your RV with the separate controller.

Lastly the tow bars are allowed to have up to 3 inches of vertical height difference from the RV to your Ranger. If you have more than 3" difference you will need a High-Low Adapter. They come in different sizes allowing you to best match your setup.

4" High-Low Adapter # RM-048-4
6" High-Low Adapter # RM-048-6