Buying a Grand Design 2025 23lde, towing with 2024 Ranger 2.3

[gwylie]

Newbie here. I have a 2024 Ranger XL 2.3 with the tow package.

i am looking at buying a 2025 Grand Design 23lde. The uvw is 5800. Tongue weight of 618.

We will be traveling fairly light with about 700lbs of gear added bringing it to about 6500 lbs. which would be about 85% of max tow.

The trailer is 28’6 long from tip to tail with a 23’ box.

I will be using a wd hitch with sway control. We are mainly east coasters but kids are moving to colorado so i may have to make some west coasters runs. I’ll be using a Curt Echo wireless brake controller.

Does this sound safe or am I pushing too close to the limits?

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[Tommy]

My two cents, for me it is to long and two heavy. My basic rule is GVRW should be less then 80 percent of the trucks towing capacity to ensue a comfortable tow. That means for me no trailer should be over 6,000 lbs. This also works for trailer tongue weight, if you take 10 percent of the GVRW of the trailer it should be less then the 750 max tongue weight listed by Ford for the ranger, and once again my ideal is the tongue weight should fall somewhere around 80 percent of the rate 750 lbs. I always like that 20 percent cushion in tow ratings.

The length is also subjective, my person taste would see no longer then 26 feet, and I would rather tow under 25 feet.

But please understand these are the numbers I would look for in my personal towing requirements. that would make me feel safe towing.

 

[DirtDerrick]

Highly recommend these Timbren
I’ve ran them on 6-7 different vehicles, as well as most air bag setups. You’re gonna squat, a lot. These are inexpensive, will level you out, much safer stable driver, less body roll. Makes your towing experience safer for everyone.
Video in the link also.

im running them on a f150 Raptor3.5 and F250 6.7HO. Waiting for them to release ones for the Ranger Raptor.

 

[LLCCPA]

I tow a Salem FSX 178BHSK with my 2024 ranger. Dry weight about 4,300, 22'11" long. Personally I wouldn't want to tow anything larger than this with my Ranger.

 

[Morningpride]

We tow a 20’ Gulfstream with our Ranger. Fully loaded, she can weight about 3500lbs. Even with the weight control hitch, sometimes it feels a little big.

 

[John E Davies]

That trailer is way too big for a Ranger to safely tow, with any engine. The base empty weight is 5800 pounds, the max weight is 6995, so you only have a payload of less than 1200 pounds. Add options and your empty weight will increase by maybe 300 to 400 pounds, that trailer has no useful payload!

https://www.granddesignrv.com/travel-trailers/imagine-xls/23lde#tabs-5eb04bba5d-item-9eaacb01f7-tab

You need at least an F150 for that trailer.

John Davies
Spokane WA

 

[Kelly L]

I wouldn’t be so worried about the weight, but the length would concern me. The sides of that trailer are going to act like a big sail in the wind and push you all over the place, especially if you‘re travelling across the country.

 

[FreezingFlatlander]

I myself wouldn't think of towing a trailer of that size and weight. Maybe you could ask the RV dealer to let you hook it up and try towing. That would be with an empty trailer but should give you an idea of how things will go. I have owned 5 different travel trailers all smaller than the one you are considering and towed them with half ton Ford or Chevys over many thousands of miles and wouldn't dream of towing any of them with the Ranger. Just my opinion.

 

[Tommy]

A little bit lighter and a tad shorter, with a similar though clearly different floorplan is the Forest River Rpod 198 https://forestriverinc.com/rvs/print/r-pod/RP-198/9916

I think this is a better match for the truck and one of two Rpods I am considering, the other is the rpod 197 https://forestriverinc.com/rvs/r-pod/RP-197/11751

 

[superj]

that layout in that rv is pretty dang good though. i had a nice 19 footer with full bathroom and i like that layout even better. mine was only 3200 empty and i bet it would have pulled fine with this ranger. full length was only about 24 foot. yours is almost 30 foot, which is long and tall. i think the crosswinds would be terrible with that. ifi t was a lower pop up type trailer, i bet it would be ok

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