The Ford Ranger was introduced into Ford’s lineup as a compact pickup truck in 1984 and is still made today. The Ranger is one of the most popular compact trucks in the USA and has many features consumers expect from today’s trucks including towing. But what is the towing capacity of a 2006 Ford Ranger?
A 2006 Ford Ranger has a maximum towing capacity of 6,000 pounds when properly equipped.
The 2006 Ford Ranger tow capacity can vary based on a few different factors such as engine size, drivetrain, and others which we’ll cover in this guide.
There’s a bit more to know about the 2006 Ford Ranger tow capacity which we’ll cover in today’s guide.
How Much Can The 2006 Ford Ranger Tow?
The 2006 Ford Ranger has a towing capacity of 6,000 pounds.
The 2006 Ford Ranger tow capacity is affected by other factors like engine type, drivetrain, the weight of cargo and passengers, and whether your vehicle has a towing package equipped or not.
You can always reach out to your local Ford dealership for details to confirm how much your Ranger can tow.
You can check out our guide to Ford Ranger towing capacity by year if you’re looking at a different model year’s max capacity or if you want to compare different years of this vehicle.
2006 Ranger Tow Capacity By Trim Level
There are three total trim levels for the 2006 Ranger, and some engines are not available on certain trims, so they’ll each have different max towing limits.
Here’s the max tow capacity broken down for each trim level on the 2006 Ford Ranger:
| 2006 Ford Ranger Trim Level | Towing Capacity |
| 2006 Ford Ranger XL | 2,240 pounds |
| 2006 Ford Ranger STX | 2,340 pounds |
| 2006 Ford Ranger XLT | 2,240 pounds |
| 2006 Ford Ranger Sport | 2,340 pounds |
| 2006 Ford Ranger FX4 Off-Road | 6,000 pounds |
| 2006 Ford Ranger FX4 Level II | 6,000 pounds |
Towing Capacity By Engine Size & Drivetrain
2006 Ford Ranger Engine Towing Specs
There are three engine options for the 2006 Ranger, which are a 2.3L I-4 engine, a 3.0L V6 engine, and a 4.0L V6 engine.
2006 Ford Ranger 2.3L I4 Engine Tow Capacity: 2,260 pounds
2006 Ford Ranger 3.0L V6 Engine Tow Capacity: 2,340 pounds
2006 Ford Ranger 4.0L V6 Engine Tow Capacity: 6,000 pounds
2006 Ford Ranger Drivetrain Towing Specs
The 2006 Ford Ranger drivetrain options are 4×2 and 4×4.
2006 Ford Ranger 4×2 Tow Capacity: 6,000 pounds
2006 Ford Ranger 4×4 Tow Capacity: 5,680 pounds
Note that these are the max towing limits for each 2006 Ford Ranger engine. Your Ford Ranger may have a lower towing capacity based on the drivetrain, axle ratio, and if your vehicle has a towing package installed.
2006 Ford Ranger Payload Capacity
The maximum payload capacity of the 2006 Ford Ranger is 1,830 pounds.
Note that the max payload capacity of your 2006 Ranger will vary based on factors like the engine type, drivetrain and whether or not a towing package that includes other features like an engine oil cooler or transmission oil cooler is installed.
You can always contact your local dealership for extra details if you’re unsure of your vehicle’s payload capability.
2006 Ford Ranger Tow Package
The 2006 Ranger does not come with a tow package installed, but there is an optional tow package which includes a wiring harness and hitch receiver.
We definitely recommend adding towing equipment to your 2006 Ranger if you plan on towing anything with it.
2006 Ford Ranger Tow Capacity Vs Competitors
The 2006 Ford Ranger has a maximum towing capacity of 6,000 pounds, which makes it capable of doing some heavy duty trailer towing. This number is similar to its main competitors, the 2006 Chevy Colorado and the 2006 Toyota Tacoma.
Here are some similar vehicles to the Ford Ranger and their towing capacities below:
2006 Chevy Colorado Towing Capacity: 4,000 pounds
2006 Toyota Tacoma Towing Capacity: 6,500 pounds
2006 Nissan Frontier Towing Capacity: 6,500 pounds
2006 Honda Ridgeline Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2006 GMC Canyon Towing Capacity: 4,000 pounds
2006 Ford Trucks Towing Capacity Chart
| Model | Towing Capacity |
| 2006 Ford Ranger | 6,000 pounds |
| 2006 Ford F150 | 9,900 pounds |
| 2006 Ford F250 | 13,600 pounds |
| 2006 Ford F350 | 15,000 pounds |
Data Accuracy
We’ve gathered all data represented here from the official 2006 Ford Ranger Owner’s Manual on Ford’s site and have checked all data thoroughly for accuracy.
Having said that, we still recommend you refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual yourself before towing with a 2006 Ford Ranger.