If you have a 2011 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 2011 Ford Ranger eBrochure and the 2011 Ford Trailer Towing Guide.
The 2011 Ford Ranger has a max trailer towing capacity of 5,800 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 3 trims in the 2011 Ranger series.
- XL
- XLT
- Sport
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 SuperCab.
The Regular Cab and the Super Cab can support two different rows of passengers.
Bed Sizes
There is only one length available in the 2011 Ford Ranger. This is the 6-ft bed.
Packages
The Ford Ranger has one towing trailer package available. This is the Trailer Tow Package. This package is required for towing trailers, weighing over 3,500 lbs and up to 7,500 lbs.
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 4.0L engine only)
Towing Capacity by Engine
There are two engines available on the 2011 Ford Ranger. This is the 2.3 L I4 engine with 270 hp and 310 lb.-ft of torque and the 4.0L V6 Engine with 207 hp @ 5,250 rpm, as well as a torque of 238 @ 3,000 rpm.
2.3L DOCH L4
The 2.3 L DOHC L4 engine has 143 hp @ 5,250 rpm, as well as a torque of 154 @ 3,750 rpm. Its towing capacity ranges from 1,340 – 2,160 lbs.
| Towing Capacity | GCWR | |
| Regular Cab 4×2 6-ft Automatic Transmission | 2,160 | 5,500 |
| Supercab 4×2 6-ft bed Automatic Transmission | 2,000 | 5,500 |
| Regular Cab 4×2 6-ft/7-ft bed Manual Transmission | 1,500/1,480 | 4,800 |
| Supercab 4×2 6-ft bed Manual Transmission | 1,340 | 4,800 |
4.0L SOHC V6 L4
The 4.0 L SOHC V6 is a 10-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 3,100 – 5,960 lbs.
| Axle Ratio | Towing Capacity | GCWR | |
| Supercab 4×2 6-ft bed Automatic Transmission | 3.55 | 5,800 | 9,500 |
| Supercab 4×2 6-ft bed Automatic Transmission | 3.55 | 5,740 | 9,500 |
| Supercab 4×4 6-ft bed Automatic Transmission | 3.73/4.10 | 5,560 | 9,500 |
| Super Cab 4×2 6-ft box Manual Transmission | 3.55 | 3,340/3,280 | 7,000 |
| Super Cab 4×4 6-ft box Manual Transmission | 3.73/4.10 | 3,100 | 7,000 |
2011 Ford Ranger Towing Capacity Chart
The following chart is from the trailer tow guide from the Ford brochure. The maximum towing capacity for the 2011 Ford Ranger is 5,800 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 2011 Ford Ranger with the 2.3l DOHC Engine ranges from 1,130 lbs to 1,420 lbs.
| Bed Size | Payload Capacity | GVWR | |
| Regular Cab 4×2 | 6-ft | 1,130 | 4,300 |
| Super Cab 4×2 | 6-ft | 1,420 | 4,760 |
4.0L V6
The maximum payload capacity for the 2011 Ford Ranger with the 4.0L V6 Engine ranges from 1,220 lbs to 1,560 lbs.
| Bed Size | Payload Capacity | GVWR | |
| Super Cab 4×2 | 6-ft | 1,220 | 4,760 |
| Super Cab 4×2 | 6-ft | 1,370 | 5,150 |
| Super Cab 4×2/4×4 With Payload Package 2 | 6-ft | 1,560/1,500 | 5,100/5,280 |
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, however, tow with the 2011 Ford Ranger through a 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 2011 Ford Ranger has a max towing capacity of 1,340 to 5,800 lbs.
Though this guide provides good guidance on how much you can tow with your 2011 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.
