Essential Mods For Towing With A Ford Ranger

If you’re setting up a Ford Ranger for towing, this is where most builds either work really well… or slowly become a headache.

A lot of people focus on headline numbers like tow rating and GVM. That stuff matters, but it’s only part of the picture. What actually makes a Ranger nice to tow with — and reliable long-term — are the supporting mods that back those numbers up.

BAW Ranger and caravan combo shows what a fully loaded, road-legal touring setup looks like.

These are the upgrades we consistently recommend at BAW for customers who are towing caravans, boats, or heavy trailers. Some times it's the little things that make towing safer, easier, and far less stressful.

LONG RANGE FUEL TANK

Towing uses more fuel. That’s not a surprise, but how quickly your range disappears often is.

The factory tank in a Ranger is fine for everyday driving. Once you add a caravan and highway speeds, fuel stops come around a lot quicker than most people expect.

More fuel, less stops. This Brown Davis long-range tank gives your Ranger the range to match your towing setup.

A long range fuel tank:

• Extends your towing range significantly

• Reduces the number of fuel stops on long trips

• Makes regional and remote travel far easier to plan

When you’re towing, it’s not about seeing how far you can go for fun — it’s about less stress and more flexibility. A long range tank is one of the most practical towing upgrades you can make.

TOWING MIRRORS

If you can’t see past your caravan, you shouldn’t be towing it. Factory mirrors on a Ranger are not designed for wide vans, especially in traffic or reversing. Proper towing mirrors give you:

• Clear visibility down both sides of the trailer

• Better awareness when changing lanes

• Safer overtaking

• Less fatigue on long drives

  
  

Clearview towing mirrors give you the visibility (and confidence) you need when pulling a trailer or van.

Modern towing mirrors also retain factory features like indicators, cameras, heating and blind-spot monitoring, so there’s no downside when they’re chosen correctly.

This is a safety upgrade, not a convenience upgrade.

POLYAIR AIRBAGS

Airbags are one of the most misunderstood towing mods out there. They’re not designed to be a GVM upgrade. What they are designed to do is support the rear of the vehicle under load.

When set up correctly, Polyair airbags help:

• Reduce rear-end sag

• Improve vehicle balance

• Maintain steering and braking feel

• Keep headlights and towing geometry where they should be

They’re especially useful for vehicles that tow regularly but aren’t permanently loaded every day. Used correctly, they’re a great supporting mod. Used incorrectly, they’re usually covering up another problem.

Airbags make all the difference. PolyAir bellows help level your load and keep things stable on the highway.

SNORKEL

Snorkels aren’t just about water crossings. When a Ranger is towing, the engine is working harder for longer periods. That means higher intake temperatures and a greater demand for clean air.

A snorkel helps by:

• Drawing in cooler, cleaner air

• Reducing dust ingestion on long trips

• Supporting engine efficiency under sustained load

It’s a simple upgrade that pays off over time, particularly for people towing long distances or travelling on dusty regional roads.

Safari’s V-Spec Snorkel keeps your Ranger breathing clean even when the track turns ugly.

FUEL FILTER AND OIL AIR SEPARATOR

This is one of those upgrades you don’t notice - until you really wish you’d done it earlier.

Modern diesel engines run high-pressure injection systems, and towing increases heat and load across the entire drivetrain. Because of that protecting the engine becomes more important.

A quality fuel filter upgrade helps protect:

• Injectors

• Pumps

• The fuel system as a whole

An oil air separator helps keep oil vapour out of the intake system, which:

• Reduces carbon buildup

• Protects sensors and intercoolers

• Helps maintain engine efficiency long-term

For anyone planning to keep their Ranger and tow regularly, this is smart preventative work.

This Ranger’s loaded with a snorkel, GVM upgrade, UHF, towing mirrors and all the essentials for a serious touring setup.

FORD RANGER TOWING MODS WORK BETTER TOGETHER

This is the part most people miss. Ford Ranger towing mods don’t work in isolation. You don’t end up with a capable towing setup by ticking one box - you get there by making sure every supporting upgrade works together as a complete system.

1. Suspension supporting the load

2. Visibility that keeps you safe

3. Fuel range matching how you travel

4. An engine setup that handles sustained load

   
   

These supporting mods don’t grab attention on social media, but they’re the difference between a Ranger that feels confident on the road and one that's working too hard.

If you’re dreaming of the ultimate touring Ranger, this is it. All the gear you need for the long haul.

THINKING ABOUT SETTING UP YOUR RANGER FOR TOWING?

If you’re planning to tow and want your Ford Ranger set up properly it’s worth having the right conversation early.

Whether you’re new to caravanning or upgrading your setup, getting the supporting mods right from the start makes towing safer, easier, and far more enjoyable.

If you want advice based on real-world towing setups, get in touch with the team at BAW and we’ll help you work out what actually makes sense for how you use your Ranger.