How To Tow 4000kg With a Ford Ranger (What You Need To Know)

If you’ve just bought a Next-Gen Ford Ranger and you’re planning to tow a serious caravan, boat, or trailer, you’ve probably already realised something: The factory numbers sound good on paper but they disappear fast once you load the vehicle properly.

This is where a Lovells GVM upgrade and Lovells Braked Towing Capacity (BTC) upgrade come into the picture. 4000kg GVM, 7600kg GCM and 4000kg BTC.

This Ranger is ready to tow - with a Lovells 4,000kg GVM and BTC upgrade.

Which Ford Ranger Models Can Tow 4000kg

Lovells does offer GVM upgrades for the 2.0-litre bi-turbo Ranger. However, those upgrades do not come with revised GCM figures, and the Braked Towing Capacity (BTC) upgrade is not available on that platform.

If you’re planning on heavy towing, sustained load, and long-distance reliability, the V6 diesel Ranger is the correct starting point, as it’s the only model eligible for the revised GCM figures and the BTC upgrade.

GVM, BTC & GCM - What Do They Mean?

If you’re new to this, here’s the short version.

Beefed-up front suspension for a safer, and heavier payload. Lovells 4000kg GVM upgrade.

GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass)

This is the maximum legal weight of the vehicle itself — including passengers, accessories, fuel, ball weight and cargo.

Lovells offer multiple GVM upgrade levels for the Next-Gen Ranger, including:

• 3505kg Comfort GVM

• 3700kg Touring GVM

• 4000kg Platinum GVM

BTC (Braked Towing Capacity)

This is the maximum legal weight you can tow.

Lovells’ BTC upgrade increases the Ranger’s braked towing capacity from 3500kg to 4000kg, using a fully engineered system — not just a bigger hitch.

When your caravan tips the scales over 3.5T, you need more than just a towbar!

GCM (Gross Combination Mass)

This is the combined weight of the vehicle and the trailer together.

Here’s the important part people miss: When you add a BTC upgrade, your GCM also increases.

The table below shows how GVM, BTC and GCM change depending on the exact Lovells setup fitted to a V6 Ranger. The key thing to understand is that the GCM figure is different when a Braked Towing Capacity (BTC) upgrade is added.

	GVM	GCM	NOTES
Lovells GVM Upgrade	3700kg	7200kg	GVM upgrade only, no BTC fitted
Lovells GVM Upgrade	4000kg	7500kg	GVM upgrade only, no BTC fitted
Lovells GVM + BTC Upgrade	3700kg or 4000kg	7600kg	GVM upgrade with BTC fitted

Towing over 3.5T legally? This Ranger can - with the Lovells BTC kit keeping everything compliant.

A higher GVM: Allows the vehicle to carry more. Like accessories, fuel and passengers.

A BTC upgrade: Allows you to legally tow a 4000kg caravan or trailer. But you still have to operate within the GCM.

That means you can’t max everything at once. It’s a sliding scale. A properly planned setup balances:

• Vehicle load

• Ball weight

• Trailer weight

• GCM limits

What Is Included in Lovells BTC Upgrade

The Lovells BTC upgrade is a complete, engineered towing system, and it can only be fitted to a vehicle that already has a Lovells GVM upgrade in place.

Everything you need for legal heavy-duty towing—Lovells’ BTC kit.

The package includes:

• A Lovells 4-ton heavy-duty tow head, drop shank and tow pillar

• A 1200lb weight distribution hitch system

• The Lovells HaulAce all-terrain coupling with an integrated stainless steel handbrake

The HaulAce coupling itself is designed and manufactured in Australia, built from high-strength duplex stainless steel, and allows 360-degree articulation for on-road, off-road and marine towing applications.

When installed as a complete system by an approved facility, all of these components work together to safely and legally increase the Ranger’s braked towing capacity to 4000kg.

Lovells’ heavy-duty tow head is engineered for the serious end of the towing game.

Is Ford Ranger 4000kg Towing Right For You?

If you’re planning to set up a Next-Gen Ford Ranger for serious towing, getting the foundations right from the start makes a huge difference. The right GVM, the correct towing system, and the right compliance pathway all need to work together — especially if you’re ordering a new vehicle.

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Whether you’re towing a large caravan now or planning ahead, having the right conversation before the vehicle is registered can save you a lot of time, money, and frustration later.

If you’re looking to build a Ranger properly for towing and want clear advice based on real-world setups, get in touch with the team at BAW. We’ll help you work through the options and make sure the setup suits how you actually use the vehicle — not just what looks good on a spec sheet.