In the interest of full-disclosure, our first shake-down trip in our travel trailer did not go according to play.
Mind you, we had a great time, but while on our one-day travel trailer test-run, we discovered the meaning behind the old joke, which goes something like this: If you want to make God laugh, tell Him about your plans.”
Let me explain!
Allow me to introduce our pickup truck
A couple years ago we purchased, used from a friend, a 2000 Ford Ranger pickup truck. She was only selling it for $3,000, it had a tow package on it, a bed-liner, low mileage, and I love Ford Rangers, having had two already. It was a match made in heaven, and for two years that truck has been everything I could ever hope for, especially at such a low price.
Here are the facts about towing, as Ford Motor Company would have you believe them: The Ford Ranger has a maximum towing capacity of somewhere in the neighborhood of 7,000 pounds. It should probably be stated here that figures like that are the high-end, the absolute maximum a truck can tow without ruining a transmission. It does not necessarily mean the truck can easily tow 7,000 pounds, and the old adage “just because you can doesn’t necessarily mean you should” comes into play with this particular story.
There was only one problem with our plan
The Ford Ranger is fine towing our trailer around town. Tows like a champ! But on the freeway, trying to do sixty, or seventy mph, it’s another story all together. To make a long story short, my pickup truck did not do well towing the trailer thirty miles on the freeway. Oh, we made it, but doing fifty in a seventy-mph zone is not ideal, and I white-knuckled the trip all the way.
Not good for our travel plans!
Something had to change!
It’s time to move on to Plan B
You can take this statement to the bank and deposit it: we are keeping the trailer and we will have, this summer, an RV life with RV adventures. But it won’t be with this truck, so this past weekend I gave my old Ranger friend a bath, put an ad on Craigslist, and the selling process has begun.
Once I sell the Ranger, I will then turn around and purchase a Ford Expedition, a proven SUV winner when it comes to towing a travel trailer, and a vehicle loaded with interior space for the two dogs plus their human owners. It will basically be an even financial swap, the money I get for the Ranger enough to pay for a reliable, used Expedition.
All of these transactions should only take me a week or two, since Ford Rangers being in high-demand.
The Bottom Line: It’s all good!
It’s funny, really. I spent close to a year researching trailers and finally choosing the one which was just right for us, only to find out I didn’t spent nearly enough time researching the truck towing the trailer.
Duh!
But it’s all good. Our quality of life will be improved this summer, with our trailer, with our Expedition, and we will dazzle you about our travels and the wonder of it all.
Stay tuned, and I’ll catch you down the road of life.
Zulma, it’s great to hear from you. I miss certain people on HP; you and Ann in particular. I hope this finds you well. I don’t know about me being smarter than most, but I do eventually learn. I think I have the truck sold. I will know for sure this weekend. Then we move on to the next step in our recovery plan. lol
Hi Bill.
You are smarter than most. You did a test run, discovered the deficiencies and are in the process of correcting them. Most people would just set out on their cross-country odyssey with a ‘what could go wrong’ mentality and well, you know, anything and everything will go wrong. lol
Hoping your next road trip is more successful. If not, well, I’m sure you’ll get there in the end.
Have a great day, Bill.
All in all, Liz, it’s not a bad problem to have. I Know a lot of people who would be happy to have my problems. 🙂 Thanks so much for taking the time to visit me.
It’s a shame about the truck, but good that you found out sooner rather than later. Hope you find a new one soon and can get travelling again.
We considered one, Lil Sis, but they are too expensive, even used. Fortunately a used Expedition is in our price range. The best of our options, and the dogs like it because they will have lots of room to roam while I’m driving. 🙂 Gotta think of the doggies. Hugs, Lil Sis!
Graham, thanks for the reference to the Lone Ranger. That made me laugh. As for dangers, we have thought about that, and precautions we can take to be protected. I’m sure we will take some steps in that direction before we head out in earnestness. Thank you sir!
I’ve been living and learning now for seventy-three years, Bill. No sense stopping now. I don’t like the alternative.
Thanks, John! It’s all good, and we are about a week away from solving this particular problem.
Unfortunately you don’t find the bugs in your plans until you start putting them to the test. Good luck with the change over in trucks, Bill.
I’ve also heard the phrase “Live and learn.” Kind of fits, don’t you think, Bill?
Hi Bill and Bev. Well you realised you had made the wrong decision early on. You are correcting things and the show goes on. I know it will be a great adventure. Take great care danger and difficulties are around many a corner. Good Luck to you Hi Ho Silver away……..
We towed a trailer with my Ford Escape. And nope, it would not go over 55, and 45 up a hill. But tow it across the country we did. 🙂 But we had to take it slow. The Expedition will help, but an F250 would be even better if you can get your hands on one (and if you want lol): those things are *made* to tow. 🙂