2003 Ford Ranger towing capacity
The 2003 Ford Ranger is published in 25 configurations, with tow ratings ranging from 2,240 to 5,860 lb depending on cab, bed, drivetrain, and hitch class. The peak figure (5,860 lb) sits in mid-size SUV / pickup territory.
The table below lists every trim of the 2003 Ford Ranger with the engine, drivetrain, axle ratio, horsepower, torque, GVWR, curb weight, and payload that go with that trim's headline tow rating. Manufacturers often publish more than one tow figure per truck — a conventional bumper-hitch rating, a weight-distributing rating, and a gooseneck or fifth-wheel rating — so the highest number here is the maximum across all hitch classes the source carries for the trim.
Per-trim breakdown
| Configuration | Engine | HP | Torque | Axle | Tow (lb) | GVWR | Curb | Payload |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XL 2.3L Standard 2dr 4x2 Regular Cab Styleside 5.75 ft. box 111.6 in. WB | — | 143 | 154 | 3.73 | 2,240 | 4,360 | 3,030 | 1,330 |
| XL 3.0L Standard 2dr 4x2 Regular Cab Styleside 5.75 ft. box 111.6 in. WB | — | 154 | 180 | 3.73 | 4,100 | 4,360 | 3,030 | 1,330 |
| Edge 3.0L Standard 2dr 4x2 Regular Cab Styleside 5.75 ft. box 111.6 in. WB | — | 154 | 180 | 4.1 | 4,100 | 4,700 | 3,030 | 1,670 |
| XLT 2.3L Standard 2dr 4x2 Regular Cab Styleside 5.75 ft. box 111.6 in. WB | — | 143 | 154 | 3.73 | 2,240 | 4,360 | 3,030 | 1,330 |
| XLT 3.0L Standard 2dr 4x2 Regular Cab Styleside 5.75 ft. box 111.6 in. WB | — | 154 | 180 | 3.73 | 4,100 | 4,360 | 3,030 | 1,330 |
| Edge 3.0L Plus 2dr 4x4 Regular Cab Styleside 5.75 ft. box 111.6 in. WB | — | 154 | 180 | 4.1 | 3,820 | 4,740 | 3,445 | 1,295 |
| XL 3.0L Standard 2dr 4x2 Regular Cab Styleside 6.75 ft. box 117.5 in. WB | — | 154 | 180 | 3.73 | 4,040 | 4,360 | 3,086 | 1,274 |
| XLT 3.0L Standard 2dr 4x2 Regular Cab Styleside 6.75 ft. box 117.5 in. WB | — | 154 | 180 | 3.73 | 4,040 | 4,360 | 3,086 | 1,274 |
| XL 3.0L Standard 2dr 4x2 Super Cab Styleside 5.75 ft. box 125.7 in. WB | — | 154 | 180 | 3.73 | 3,940 | 4,600 | 3,210 | 1,390 |
| Edge 3.0L Standard 2dr 4x2 Super Cab Styleside 5.75 ft. box 125.7 in. WB | — | 154 | 180 | 4.1 | 3,940 | 4,800 | 3,210 | 1,590 |
| Edge 4.0L Standard 2dr 4x2 Super Cab Styleside 5.75 ft. box 125.7 in. WB | — | 207 | 238 | 3.55 | 5,860 | 4,800 | 3,210 | 1,590 |
| XLT 3.0L Standard 2dr 4x2 Super Cab Styleside 5.75 ft. box 125.7 in. WB | — | 154 | 180 | 3.73 | 3,940 | 4,600 | 3,210 | 1,390 |
| XLT 3.0L Appearance 2dr 4x2 Super Cab Styleside 5.75 ft. box 125.7 in. WB | — | 154 | 180 | 3.73 | 3,940 | 4,740 | 3,210 | 1,530 |
| Tremor 3.0L Standard 2dr 4x2 Super Cab Styleside 5.75 ft. box 125.7 in. WB | — | 154 | 180 | 4.1 | 3,940 | 4,800 | 3,210 | 1,590 |
| XLT 4.0L Standard 2dr 4x4 Super Cab Styleside 5.75 ft. box 125.7 in. WB | — | 207 | 238 | 4.1 | 5,580 | 4,980 | 3,606 | 1,374 |
| XLT 4.0L Value 2dr 4x4 Super Cab Styleside 5.75 ft. box 125.7 in. WB | — | 207 | 238 | 4.1 | 5,580 | 4,980 | 3,606 | 1,374 |
| Edge 3.0L Plus 4dr 4x2 Super Cab Styleside 5.75 ft. box 125.7 in. WB | — | 154 | 180 | 4.1 | 3,940 | 4,940 | 3,210 | 1,730 |
| XLT 3.0L Appearance 4dr 4x2 Super Cab Styleside 5.75 ft. box 125.7 in. WB | — | 154 | 180 | 3.73 | 3,940 | 4,740 | 3,210 | 1,530 |
| XLT 4.0L Appearance 4dr 4x2 Super Cab Styleside 5.75 ft. box 125.7 in. WB | — | 207 | 238 | 3.55 | 5,860 | 4,740 | 3,210 | 1,530 |
| Tremor 3.0L Plus 4dr 4x2 Super Cab Styleside 5.75 ft. box 125.7 in. WB | — | 154 | 180 | 4.1 | 3,940 | 4,800 | 3,210 | 1,590 |
| Edge 4.0L Standard 4dr 4x4 Super Cab Styleside 5.75 ft. box 125.7 in. WB | — | 207 | 238 | 4.1 | 5,580 | 5,120 | 3,606 | 1,514 |
| Edge 4.0L Plus 4dr 4x4 Super Cab Styleside 5.75 ft. box 125.7 in. WB | — | 207 | 238 | 4.1 | 5,580 | 5,120 | 3,606 | 1,514 |
| XLT 4.0L Standard 4dr 4x4 Super Cab Styleside 5.75 ft. box 125.7 in. WB | — | 207 | 238 | 4.1 | 5,580 | 5,120 | 3,606 | 1,514 |
| XLT 4.0L FX4/Off-Road 4dr 4x4 Super Cab Styleside 5.75 ft. box 125.7 in. WB | — | 207 | 238 | 4.1 | 5,580 | 5,120 | 3,606 | 1,514 |
| XLT 4.0L FX4/Level II 4dr 4x4 Super Cab Styleside 5.75 ft. box 125.7 in. WB | — | 207 | 238 | 4.1 | 5,160 | 5,440 | 3,606 | 1,834 |
How to interpret the headline tow figure
Tow ratings at this level are normally achievable with a conventional Class II or Class III receiver hitch. Always verify your vehicle has the manufacturer's tow package installed if you intend to tow at the upper end of the rating, and inspect the door-jamb sticker for the actual maximum permitted on your specific configuration.
How this year compares to 2002
The 2002 Ford Ranger carried a maximum tow rating of 6,060 lb. The 2003 model is rated 200 lb lower — sometimes a real spec change, sometimes a re-test under a stricter standard like SAE J2807. See the 2002 Ford Ranger page for the full per-trim breakdown of the prior year.
Other 2003 Ford models
The rest of Ford's 2003 lineup, ranked by maximum tow rating. Click through for the per-trim breakdown of any of these.
| Model | Max tow (lb) |
|---|---|
| 2003 Ford F 350 | 13,900 |
| 2003 Ford F-350 Super Duty 2WD Reg. Cab, DRW | 13,400 |
| 2003 Ford F-350 Super Duty 4WD Reg. Cab, DRW | 13,000 |
| 2003 Ford F-350 Super Duty 2WD SuperCab, DRW | 13,000 |
| 2003 Ford F-350 Super Duty 2WD Crew Cab, DRW | 12,800 |
| 2003 Ford F-350 Super Duty 4WD Super Cab, DRW | 12,600 |
All figures sourced from manufacturer documentation. See our methodology for how the dataset is compiled. Always confirm against your vehicle's door-jamb sticker before towing.