If you have a 2008 Ford Ranger and need to know your truck’s towing capacity, you have come to the right place.
Here you will find all the GCWRs and max trailer towing weights suggested by Ford. The information is combined with the 2008 Ford Ranger eBrochure and the 2008 Ford Trailer Towing Guide.
The 2008 Ford Ranger has a max trailer towing capacity of 6,000 lbs. This is for properly equipped vehicles with no cargo.
Ford says that the tongue weight for any towing should be no more than 10% of the trailer weight. So this should be taken into account when setting up your trailer.
Though I tried to make this information as accurate as possible, you should always check your manual or contact your local dealer to determine the appropriate towing capacity of your vehicle and necessary equipment.
Trims
There are 4 trims in the 2008 Ranger series.
- XL
- XLT
- Sport
- FX4 Off-Road
The main differences between these trims are the mechanical features, appearance options, and packages.
All the differences can be seen in the e-brochure.
Cab and Bed Sizes
The cab can either be a Regular Cab or a Super Cab.
The Regular Cab and the Super Cab can support two different rows of passengers.
Bed Sizes
There is are two lengths available in the 2008 Ford Ranger. This is the 6-ft bed and the 7-ft bed. Do note that the 7-ft bed is available only for the Regular Cab.
Packages
The Ford Ranger has one towing trailer package available. This is the Trailer Tow Package. It is recommended for all light trucks that will be used for towing to help ensure easy and proper connection of trailer lights.
Trailer Tow Package
The Ford Ranger Trailer Tow Package comes with:
- 4-pin Trailer Wiring Harness
- Standard Trailer Hitch Receiver
- Aux Auto Trans. Oil Cooler (Standard with the 3.0L/4.0L engine only)
Towing Capacity by Engine
There are three engines available on the 2008 Ford Ranger. This is the 2.3 L DOHC L4, the 3.0 OHV V6, and the 4.0L SOHC V6 Engine.
2.3L DOHC L4
The 2.3 L DOHC L4 engine is a 5-speed automatic transmission engine with 143 hp @ 5,250 rpm, as well as a torque of 154 @ 3,750 rpm. Its towing capacity ranges from 1,420 – 2,240 lbs.
| Axle Ratio | Towing Capacity | GCWR | |
| Regular Cab 4×2 6-ft/7-ft bed Automatic Transmission | 4.10 | 2,240/2,220 | 5,500 |
| Regular Cab 4×2 6-ft Automatic Transmission Sport Vehicle | 4.10 | 1,960 | 5,500 |
| Supercab 4×2 6-ft bed Automatic Transmission | 4.10 | 2,080 | 5,500 |
| Regular Cab 4×2 6-ft/7-ft bed Manual Transmission | 3.73/4.10 | 1,580/1,540 | 4,800 |
| Regular Cab 4×2 6-ft Manual Transmission Sport Vehicle | 4.10 | 1,520 | 4,800 |
| Supercab 4×2 6-ft bed Manual Transmission | 3.73/4.10 | 1,420 | 4,800 |
3.0L OHV V6
The 3.0L OHV V6 engine is a 5-speed automatic transmission engine with 148 hp @ 4,900 rpm and a 180 @ 3,950 rpm torque. Its towing capacity ranges from 2,240 – 2,640 lbs.
| Axle Ratio | Towing Capacity | GCWR | |
| Regular Cab 4×2 6-ft/7-ft bed Automatic Transmission | 3.73 | 2,560/2,320 | 6,000 |
| Regular Cab 4×4 6-ft/7-ft bed Automatic Transmission Sport Vehicle | 3.73 | 2,320/2,260 | 6,000 |
| Supercab 4×2 6-ft bed Automatic Transmission | 3.73 | 2,420 | 6,000 |
| Regular Cab 4×2 6-ft Automatic Transmission Ranger Sport | 4.10 | 2,520 | 6,000 |
| Regular Cab 4×4 6-ft Automatic Transmission | 4.10 | 2,320/2,260 | 6,000 |
| Supercab 4×2 6-ft bed Automatic Transmission Ranger Sport | 4.10 | 2,240 | 6,000 |
| Regular Cab 4×2 6-ft/7-ft bed Manual Transmission | 3.73 | 2,640/2,600 | 6,000 |
| Regular Cab 4×2 6-ft Manual Transmission Sport Vehicle Ranger Sport | 4.10 | 2,580 | 6,000 |
| Regular Cab 4×4 6-ft/7-ft bed Manual Transmission | 3.73/4.10 | 2,360/2,300 | 6,000 |
| Supercab 4×2 6-ft bed Manual Transmission | 3.73/4.10 | 2,460 | 6,000 |
| Supercab 4×2 6-ft bed Manual Transmission Ranger Sport | 4.10 | 2,280 | 6,000 |
4.0L SOHC V6 L4
The 4.0 L SOHC V6 is a 5-speed automatic transmission engine with 207 hp @ 5,250 rpm, as well as a torque of 238 @ 3,000 rpm. Its towing capacity ranges from 3,140 – 6,000 lbs.
| Axle Ratio | Towing Capacity | GCWR | |
| Regular Cab 4×2 7-ft bed Automatic Transmission | 3.55 | 6,000 | 9,500 |
| Regular Cab 4×4 6-ft7-ft bed Automatic Transmission | 3.73/4.10 | 5,740/5,680 | 9,500 |
| Supercab 4×2 6-ft bed Automatic Transmission | 3.55 | 5,860 | 9,500 |
| Supercab 4×2 6-ft bed Automatic Transmission Sport Vehicle | 3.55 | 5,680 | 9,500 |
| Supercab 4×4 6-ft bed Automatic Transmission Ranger Sport | 3.73/4.10 | 5,600 | 9,500 |
| Regular Cab 4×4 6-ft/7-ft bed Manual Transmission | 3.55 | 3,280/3,240 | 7,000 |
| Super Cab 4×2 6-ft box Manual Transmission Ranger Sport | 3.55 | 3,400/3,220 | 7,000 |
| Super Cab 4×4 6-ft box Manual Transmission | 3.73/4.10 | 3,140 | 7,000 |
2008 Ford Ranger Towing Capacity Chart
The following chart is from the trailer tow guide from the Ford brochure. The maximum towing capacity for the 2008 Ford Ranger is 6,000 lbs.
Payload Capacity
The best way to check the payload capacity is to find the GVWR listed on the certification sticker inside the driver’s side door. But they are mentioned in the e-brochure and trailering guide.
2.3L DOHC I-4
The maximum payload capacity for the 2008 Ford Ranger with the 2.3l DOHC Engine is 1,260 lbs.
| Bed Size | Payload Capacity | GVWR | |
| Regular Cab 4×2 | 6-ft | 1,260 | 4,380 |
| Super Cab 4×2 | 6-ft | 1,260 | 4,760 |
3.0l ohv v6
The maximum payload capacity for the 2008 Ford Ranger with the 3.0L OHV V6 Engine ranges from 1,260 lbs to 1,620 lbs.
| Bed Size | Payload Capacity | GVWR | |
| Regular Cab 4×2 | 6-ft | 1,260 | 4,380 |
| Regular Cab 4×2 Ranger Sport | 6-ft | 1,260 | 4,540 |
| Regular Cab 4×2 Payload Package 2 | 6-ft | 1,620 | 4,700 |
| Regular Cab 4×2 Ranger Sport Payload Package 2 | 6-ft | 1,540 | 4,840 |
| Super Cab 4×4 | 6-ft | 1,260 | 4,780 |
| Super Cab 4×2 | 6-ft | 1,260 | 4,760 |
4.0L SOHC V6
The maximum payload capacity for the 2008 Ford Ranger with the 4.0L SOHC V6 Engine ranges from 1,260 lbs to 1,660 lbs.
| Bed Size | Payload Capacity | GVWR | |
| Regular Cab 4×2/4×4 | 6-ft | 1,260 | 4,420/4,840 |
| Regular Cab 4×2/4×4 Payload Package 2 | 6-ft | 1,620/1,500 | 4,720/5,040 |
| Super Cab 4×2/4×4 | 6-ft | 1,260 | 4,840/5,140 |
| Super Cab 4×2/4×4 With Payload Package 2 | 6-ft | 1,660/1,560 | 5,040/5,280 |
Rear Step Bumper Towing vs. Hitch Receiver Towing
However, even if you have a hitch receiver, this does not mean you can tow the above capacities. You first need a proper hitch receiver (standard) and a weight-distributing trailer hitch if towing above 5,000 lbs.
You can tow with the 2008 Ford Ranger through a rear step bumper ball hitch. This can hold up to 2,000 lbs (with a weight-carrying trailer).
In either case with a weight-carrying trailer or weight-distributing trailer, the tongue weight should not exceed 10% of the total trailer weight (according to the Trailer Tow Guide).
| Weight Carrying Trailer Capacity (Max Tongue Load) | |
| Rear bumper | 2,000 lbs (200 lbs) |
| Hitch Receiver | 3,500 lbs (350 lbs) |
Additional Resources
Conclusion
Ford states that the 2008 Ford Ranger has a max towing capacity of 1,420 to 6,000 lbs.
Though this guide provides good guidance on how much you can tow with your 2008 Ford Ranger, you should always calculate your own towing capacity.
Not sure how? Read: How is Towing Capacity Calculated? Here you will find a helpful calculator as well.
I have a 2008 Ford Ranger 4.0L with manual transmission. Why is the towing capacity so much lower than the auto (3220 lbs vs 5680 lbs)?