Flat towing › Ford › Ranger
Four wheels down behind a motorhome
Can you flat tow a Ford Ranger?
Only some versions: 4x4. The others must not be flat towed.
- Needs a 2-speed transfer case
- Transfer case in neutral tow
From Ford's 2026 towing guide, p. 48 ↗
Photo: Mic from Reading - Berkshire, United Kin…, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia CommonsStep by step
How to flat tow the Ranger
4x4
- 1
Check the transfer case
Only versions with a 2-speed transfer case can be flat towed. If yours has a single-speed case, it can't.
- 2
Shift the transfer case to neutral tow
Place the transfer case in the neutral tow position to engage the four-wheel-down towing feature – refer to Owner's Manual to follow additional steps.
- 3
Give it its own brakes
“Ford Motor Company recommends that a separate functional brake system be used on any towed vehicle, including those dolly-towed or towbar-towed.” p. 3 ↗
Steps from Ford's guide, p. 48 ↗. Your owner's manual has the full procedure.
Every version
2026 Ranger: by version
Every version
2025 Ranger: by version
What you'll need
A flat-tow setup, piece by piece
1. Base plate
Vehicle-specific brackets bolted behind the front bumper — the tow bar connects here. Look it up by year and model.
2. Tow bar
Connects the motorhome's hitch to the base plate. Tow bars carry a weight rating — check it against your vehicle.
3. Safety cables
Back up the tow bar if it ever disconnects.
4. Supplemental braking
A brake system in the towed vehicle so it helps stop itself.
5. Breakaway switch
Applies the towed vehicle's brakes if it separates from the motorhome.
6. Lights / wiring
Carries the motorhome's brake, turn and tail lights to the towed vehicle.
Find the base plate for your exact year and model: Roadmaster FitMaster ↗ · Demco base plates ↗ · Blue Ox ↗. This list is general flat-towing practice, not from Ford's guide — except the brakes, which Ford recommends.
In the maker's words
Before you tow
- “For safe operation, towed vehicles (or dollies or trailers carrying them) should be equipped with a separate functional brake system.”
- “Some aftermarket camper centers offer kits which may allow vehicles with automatic transmissions to be flat-towed. … Check your new vehicle Warranty Guide, as this could void the warranty of your vehicle.”
- “Individual vehicles have different restrictions and towing procedures. Refer to the vehicle owner's manual or contact your Ford dealer for complete details.”
Other options
Similar vehicles you can flat tow
A version that can't go four wheels down can still travel on a car trailer or, where the maker allows, a tow dolly. Ford adds: “Ford Motor Company recommends that a separate functional brake system be used on any towed vehicle, including those dolly-towed or towbar-towed.” p. 3 ↗
Questions people ask
Can you flat tow a 2026 Ford Ranger?
Only some versions. Only some versions: 4x4. The others must not be flat towed.
Does flat towing void the warranty?
Some aftermarket camper centers offer kits which may allow vehicles with automatic transmissions to be flat-towed. … Check your new vehicle Warranty Guide, as this could void the warranty of your vehicle.
Source: 2026 Ford RV & Trailer Towing Guide (Ford Motor Company, v1 (PDF modified 2026-03-25); retrieved 2026-09-27). Page links open the PDF at the page each number is printed on.
Source: 2025 Ford RV & Trailer Towing Guide (Ford Motor Company, v5 (PDF modified 2026-05-20); retrieved 2026-09-27). Page links open the PDF at the page each number is printed on.