Towing - HP vs. torque

[Olebiker]

I do not have an engineering mind so I thought you guys might help me out with some understanding of horsepower and torque.  

In about six months I am going to get a new truck.  It will be a Ford Ranger.  I am currently driving a 1999 Mazda pickup with a four cylinder engine.  I tow a 17 foot Bass Tracker and the four cylinder truck does OK except that it is awfully lethargic getting up to speed when getting on the interstate.

The Ranger comes with a four cylinder which makes 143 HP and 154 foot pounds of torque.  The 3.0 liter 6 has only 5 more hp, but 180 foot pounds of touque.  Is that increase in torque going to help me get on the interstate quicker?  I don't want to go to the 4.0 liter 6 cylinder if I can avoid it.

[Newman12Fan]

Yes the increased torque will assist in the getting up to speed on the interstate.  I sell RV's and we describe it to people with the pickle jar story.  When you twist open a pickle jar open it is the torque that gets the lid to start moving, and it is the HP that keeps it moving until it is open.

[Team_Dougherty]

Yes the increased torque will assist in the getting up to speed on the interstate. I sell RV's and we describe it to people with the pickle jar story. When you twist open a pickle jar open it is the torque that gets the lid to start moving, and it is the HP that keeps it moving until it is open.

I like that analogy.

[Cory20]

Does the 4 cylinder come in 4x4?  Do you need 4x4 drive?

[Olebiker]

I really don't need the 4X4.  I think that the 4X4 requires the six cylinder.

[st00pid]

just go look at the stats of diesal trucks. 300hp 600tq haha.

My old hot rod on a 150shot made 562tq and 418 at wheel hp. The tq is what won my races.

We just picked up a v8 denali envoy and we really like it 20mpg highway and 16 in town so far. And it has 320tq i belive. but it has the 5.3 with the cylinder shut off. If at a constant speed it will shot off half and run off 4 unless it needs to get up a hill or something. Good idea but its gunna be a pain down the road when it starts missing.

[NBR]

Check the GVW on the truck and see if it is capable of pulling the load. The dealer can assist you.

[gatorblazer]

explorerforum.com can help with this.  They are, by far, the experts in the ford explorer/ranger field.

As for the 4.0, why not go with it?  I have 250K on mine, no leaks, tows great, and is good on the gas at 22mpg hwy.  Not bad for an Explorer.  The only issue that I forsee with the Ranger will be your choice of auto/manual.  Some of the transmissions on the 3.0's in auto really really stunk.  If your going to go 4cyl, then you really have no choice but to go manual as the auto's just dont have enough umph.

[Olebiker]

I have a four cylinder now and need need more power.  I'm going to get a six.  I am just trying to determine if the 3.0 liter six is enough.  

This will be my daily driver and most of my driving is in town, so gas mileage will be a concern otherwise the 4.0 would be a no-brainer.

[Bass_junky]

It may be able to pull the gross weight, but don't forget about the toungue weight & suspension...or your front end will float...

[Olebiker]

It may be able to pull the gross weight, but don't forget about the toungue weight & suspension...or your front end will float...

The tongue weight is no more than about 75 pounds.  My 1999 Mazda truck with regular suspension handles it just fine so I have no doubt that the new Ranger can handle it.

[gatorblazer]

3.0 is 16/21 mpg  180 torque

4.0 is 15/20 mpg  238 torque

4.0 is only required on a 4x4 supercab model, however you cannot get it in a short cab, short box ranger.  So if you want just a 2wd supercab, your ok.

If you want just a plain short cab ranger, you can only get the 3.0.

There are a few tricks to getting the 4.0 much better mileage, but i would have to kill you if I told you