Ford: 2009 Ranger load shock absorbers, low beams, tongue weight

Question
Hello, and thank you for taking my question.

I have a 2009 4-cyl Ranger that sometimes tows a very small trailer; the GVW is inside of the manufacturer's specification; I'm fussy about that.  While the load is significant, I'm not "pushing the envelope" with it... I probably have around 800 lb of payload (including the trailer) on the rear axle.

The rear end of the vehicle rides lower than I think it should... oncoming drivers apparently think my low-beams are higher than they should be because they frequently tell me about it!

The vehicle came with a receiver-type hitch and wiring. What are my options WRT after-market towing equipment to address that issue?

SWS


Answer
Hello.

A couple of things to consider:
1. What percentage of time is the vehicle towing? If it is 60% or more, you may want to look into load assist shocks or helper springs on the rear.

You may also want to adjust your headlights while vehicle is loaded.

2. What is the tongue weight of the loaded trailer. If it is a well balanced trailer and load, the tongue weight should be almost nothing.  Too much weight will push the rear of the truck down, possibly even lifting the front off the ground on bounces. Or if the trailer is too "back heavy", it can lift the rear wheels off the ground  on bounces.

3. another towing option is an "equalizer hitch assembly". But ultimately, 800 pounds should not be that noticeable if the weight is distributed correctly on the trailer.