Kind of a silly question, but that's what these forums are for aren't they? I've had my Catalina 22 since February, and the weather is finally decent here in Seattle so I've been doing a lot of sailing now (it's addictive!). I have had my boat out about 12 times now since about May. I tow with a V6 Ford Ranger 2WD and only tow about 2 miles to the lake. The boat is a 1971 model and is about 1850lbs (one of the early lighter models). I'm estimating I'm towing about ~2600lbs with the boat/trailer and gear (plus or minus). The truck does fine, I just keep it in low gear all the way home (1st or 2nd gear) and no freeway, so I just slowly crawl home up a somewhat long hill, but not too steep. The truck is doing fine with the load as long as I go easy on it. So, now I notice that my truck is making a lot of new squeaking noise. When I turn, it squeaks, when I go over small bumps there are squeaks....and any small motion that used to be quiet now squeaks. It seems to come from the suspension, but the front brakes make kind of a small clunk when I come to a stop. (I do need to get those redone soon anyway). Just wondering if anyone else has had a similar thing with their tow vehicle? Tom
My Ford Ranger squeaks after towing.
- Thread starter tegwilym
- Start date
- Status
Ford
How old is this Ranger? It very well could be a worn bushing in the suspension. Is the squeek coming from the front or the back? You mentioned the brakes making a clunk and that to me would be a bit more of a concerning sound. Check your brake pads and make sure you are not worn out. That could also be the source of the sound if it is more of a squeel than a squeek but not having heard it, I couldn't tell you. My bet is the squeek is just a nuisance noise coming from the suspension though. If really in doubt, have it checked out.
How old is this Ranger? It very well could be a worn bushing in the suspension. Is the squeek coming from the front or the back? You mentioned the brakes making a clunk and that to me would be a bit more of a concerning sound. Check your brake pads and make sure you are not worn out. That could also be the source of the sound if it is more of a squeel than a squeek but not having heard it, I couldn't tell you. My bet is the squeek is just a nuisance noise coming from the suspension though. If really in doubt, have it checked out.
squeaks
I'm pretty sure it's just now noises from the suspension that has suddenly had more load on it and never been "flexed" to this point that I kind of broke it in. The truck is a 1998 model and has maybe 130k on it. Transmission was re-built just over a year ago and only has about 5,000 on it. I don't drive to work (take the bus) so I really don't drive it a whole lot other than personal use....or towing my boat lately! I probably have about 5,000 left on the front disk pads, they are getting low, and the rear drums are in good shape though. I'm sure some of the noise could be related to the worn front brakes. I'll probably get them done later this summer or early fall. It is my second Ranger and really like these trucks. My next truck will have to have a little more than a 3 liter engine though. I'm sure I'm maxed on my towing ablities with this truck, so I take it VERY slow, low gear, shallow hill, and over drive off (not that I need to off the freeway). Just squeaks more now that I've been towing. I guess I'm paranoid about new noises from under my truck! Tom
I'm pretty sure it's just now noises from the suspension that has suddenly had more load on it and never been "flexed" to this point that I kind of broke it in. The truck is a 1998 model and has maybe 130k on it. Transmission was re-built just over a year ago and only has about 5,000 on it. I don't drive to work (take the bus) so I really don't drive it a whole lot other than personal use....or towing my boat lately! I probably have about 5,000 left on the front disk pads, they are getting low, and the rear drums are in good shape though. I'm sure some of the noise could be related to the worn front brakes. I'll probably get them done later this summer or early fall. It is my second Ranger and really like these trucks. My next truck will have to have a little more than a 3 liter engine though. I'm sure I'm maxed on my towing ablities with this truck, so I take it VERY slow, low gear, shallow hill, and over drive off (not that I need to off the freeway). Just squeaks more now that I've been towing. I guess I'm paranoid about new noises from under my truck! Tom
- Status