Ford Ranger 2.0 10 speed auto for towing

[Benr]

Looking to change our 3.2 Ranger and someone said the 10 speed isn’t good towing as it spends its whole time hunting for gears. Anyone know if this is the case?

 

[Pistonbroke]

Think the new ones have a "towing mode" for the gearbox. @Cowabunga will know

 

[drashon]

I have a 21 reg 2.0 wildrack auto and it has done 50000 miles of towing 3.5t towing all over the country. Its not a discovery but I would neve go back to the 3.2 after having it. Although I think the new model seems a bit bloated we have one of the new 2.0 ones and it seems fine so far.

 

[Cowabunga]

Looking to change our 3.2 Ranger and someone said the 10 speed isn’t good towing as it spends its whole time hunting for gears. Anyone know if this is the case?

Whoever told you that has not a clue or if their experience, not a clue how to drive an automatic. The Ranger 10 speed has a ‘Tow/Haul’ mode that changes the transmission mapping and various other parameters, including on the models that have it, switching to full time 4wd if not already engaged.
The transmission has VERY clever controls on the electronic selector lever [lower spec models don’t have this, being fitted with a conventional stick].

1. Pressing the front button on the stick, marked +, brings up a display in the dash which shows the gear engaged at the time.

2. A press of the middle button, marked -, will progressively limit the top gear attainable, down with every subsequent press from 10 down to 1 or 2. For towing 3.5 tons on local roads I generally limit the gearbox to change only between 1 and 6th, or 1 and 7th gear. Depending on load and forward speed the gearbox will not shift higher anyway even if not limited as described.

3. The rearmost button is marked M and switches the gearbox to manual mode, which is not really useful for towing in my experience, but a press will freeze the box in the currently selected gear and this can be changed by using the two buttons in front of it, + and -. If the forward speed becomes too low, the box will change down if it feels it must, certainly in high transfer box range. To cancel manual mode, just press the rear, M, button again.

This may sound complicated but it is very very simple in practice. It just depends on how much control the driver feels they need to use. In fact, as long as you switch TOW/HAUL mode on using the rotary driving mode selector behind the gear lever, there is no real need for any of the above driver input. It will look after itself perfectly well apart from very occasionally selecting too high a gear when not under load

 

[Pistonbroke]

Whoever told you that has not a clue or if their experience, not a clue how to drive an automatic. The Ranger 10 speed has a ‘Tow/Haul’ mode that changes the transmission mapping and various other parameters, including on the models that have it, switching to full time 4wd if not already engaged.
The transmission has VERY clever controls on the electronic selector lever [lower spec models don’t have this, being fitted with a conventional stick].

1. Pressing the front button on the stick, marked +, brings up a display in the dash which shows the gear engaged at the time.

2. A press of the middle button, marked -, will progressively limit the top gear attainable, down with every subsequent press from 10 down to 1 or 2. For towing 3.5 tons on local roads I generally limit the gearbox to change only between 1 and 6th, or 1 and 7th gear. Depending on load and forward speed the gearbox will not shift higher anyway even if not limited as described.

3. The rearmost button is marked M and switches the gearbox to manual mode, which is not really useful for towing in my experience, but a press will freeze the box in the currently selected gear and this can be changed by using the two buttons in front of it, + and -. If the forward speed becomes too low, the box will change down if it feels it must, certainly in high transfer box range. To cancel manual mode, just press the rear, M, button again.

This may sound complicated but it is very very simple in practice. It just depends on how much control the driver feels they need to use. In fact, as long as you switch TOW/HAUL mode on using the rotary driving mode selector behind the gear lever, there is no real need for any of the above driver input. It will look after itself perfectly well apart from very occasionally selecting too high a gear when not under load

Did the previous model ten speed have all that as well? Were looking for a used one

 

[Benr]

Sorry should have said looking at 21 plate - presumably cowabunga this is just on the new model?

 

[Cowabunga]

Did the previous model ten speed have all that as well? Were looking for a used one

Sorry should have said looking at 21 plate - presumably cowabunga this is just on the new model?

I’ve no idea about the previous model with the ten speed, as I only briefly test drove one a few years ago and can’t remember.
I suspect, but don’t know, that if it has a tall stick shifter rather than the squat electronic one fitted to current high end models, then it will have more limited functionality, more in line with the old six speed box. Nevertheless the ten speed box is in a different league to the old one and doesn’t really need driver input. It will not hunt as described in the original post.

However, there has apparently been firmware updates at some point that improved the logic and shift quality on these gearboxes and that may be available or even applied to earlier models. As always is the case, there have been improvements made to the build and software over time in light of experience.

Ford manufacture over a million of the 10 speed automatic every year, so it’s not exactly rare or without long term experience, especially in trucks as it is universally fitted to the F series American trucks which are the best selling vehicles of any kind in the USA. It is also fitted to Ranger and that is the best selling truck in the UK and Australia as well and there are not many people complaining about it, especially not after the first year of production.

 

[deleted user 837354]

Surely more gears is better for towing as you have more options driving and when coming down hills? As above there are shed loads of these transmissions worldwide now. Just keep changing the oil regularly?

 

[Pistonbroke]

Surely more gears is better for towing as you have more options driving and when coming down hills? As above there are shed loads of these transmissions worldwide now. Just keep changing the oil regularly?

In the seventies my uncle towed his box behind a Datsun car with a two speed auto and it's pretty hilly round here.

 

[colhonk]

Do the pickup engines have the wet belt engine that all the transits are having problems with?

 

[cheggars]

The older model tows better in sport mode as it doesnt try to skip gears and stayes in lower gear longer. But once moving on tidy roads D is fine.
Manuel occasionally on very difficult lanes or offroad.

 

[Timbo]

Do the pickup engines have the wet belt engine that all the transits are having problems with?

Yes. They aren't 2nd owner friendly.

 

[texelburger]

I've just bought a 70 plate one for towing after reading several reviews which suggest the 2.0 ecoblue 10 speed auto was superior to the 3,2 .Took a load of lambs to the abattoir this morning with our Mitsubishi l200 manual for the last time and I can't wait to pick it up the Ranger next week.

 

[Jamesywick3]

I have got the new Amarok 2.0 with the 205hp 10 speed, so pretty much a Ranger. I have owned a few discovery 4's and would say the 10 speed box is as good as any. It is a pick up so just have to understand its never going to be a Discovery. The 10 speed gearbox really compliments the 2.0 engine and means you never really feel underpowered. I do think the gearbox software has been updated in the new Ranger/ Amarok though as the older Rangers did have an issue with not knowing what gear to go for. I have had a go in a few new V6 ones and have not thought it was that much better for the 10-12mpg less they get. I have also owned a Ranger with the 3.2 manual and it was a piece of junk and nearly put me off buying the new Amarok. The last ranger was sold after 8 months from new and replaced with a discovery 4 landmark. I do loads of towing of heavy things over long distances and would say go for a 10 speed and get away from the old 3.2!

 

[Benr]

We had to replace the manual gearbox in our 3.2 at 52k miles and am now worried about the engine going pop. I know of 4 around here that have had engine trouble.
Am I jumping out of the frying pan into the fire though to go to the 2.0!
Local ford garage has offered 2 year warranty on a 21 plate one but I think I can push them to 3

 

[Cowabunga]

Do the pickup engines have the wet belt engine that all the transits are having problems with?

There was and is a recall on older versions of this wet belt engine to replace some faulty injectors made by Continental [formerly VDO Siemens] and to inspect and if necessary replace the timing belt. These and much more have been modified in production and they have even shortened the service interval to every 12,000 miles from the former 20,000 miles. I change every 10,000 personally. The chemistry of the wet belt rubber has been changed and its service interval shortened to, I think, every 100,000 miles, but I intend to change mine every 60 to 70,000 miles and change the auto transmission oil and filter at the same service.

Changing the wet belts [there are two] is not a ridiculously complex or long job. It should be done, as all timing belt changes should be, by someone who knows what they are doing. The tin belt cover must be replaced by a new one. Might as well change the external stretch belt while at it.

The engine is now world class, not just for commercial vehicles but for cars and SUV’s as well. It’s quiet, refined and economical. There’s always that nagging doubt about the wet belt of course, as there was about dry timing belts for several decades, but I reckon that the four cylinder is a far better engine than the V6 diesel offered at a large extra cost which has a very long history of crankshaft failures. That engine has dry timing belts by the way, that are an absolute pig to change.

 

[Cowabunga]

We had to replace the manual gearbox in our 3.2 at 52k miles and am now worried about the engine going pop. I know of 4 around here that have had engine trouble.
Am I jumping out of the frying pan into the fire though to go to the 2.0!
Local ford garage has offered 2 year warranty on a 21 plate one but I think I can push them to 3

Change the engine oil pump in its sump and it will last a very long time. Very very occasionally they will have injector failures that may melt a piston but the risk of that is probably no higher than in any other diesel engine of any brand.

I have the 2.2 litre four cylinder version of that engine, which shares many parts. I changed the oil pump at some point before 70,000 miles, just in case, and it now has about 95,000 miles and still goes like new.

 

[texelburger]

We had to replace the manual gearbox in our 3.2 at 52k miles and am now worried about the engine going pop. I know of 4 around here that have had engine trouble.
Am I jumping out of the frying pan into the fire though to go to the 2.0!
Local ford garage has offered 2 year warranty on a 21 plate one but I think I can push them to 3

Our old 3.2 went wrong also.

 

[Benr]

Our old 3.2 went wrong also.

The engine?

 

[Benr]

Change the engine oil pump in its sump and it will last a very long time. Very very occasionally they will have injector failures that may melt a piston but the risk of that is probably no higher than in any other diesel engine of any brand.

I have the 2.2 litre four cylinder version of that engine, which shares many parts. I changed the oil pump at some point before 70,000 miles, just in case, and it now has about 95,000 miles and still goes like new.

How much did it cost to do. Our local garage said it was a big job and wasn’t keen