Hauling Test: 2022 Ford Ranger FX4

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This is a hauling review of the 2022 Ford Ranger where we are going to be focusing on how it hauls and handles with a bed full of heavy cargo. For a deeper dive into the Ford Ranger, check out the full road test of the Ranger or a comparison test to see how it stacks up against the competition. You can also check out the video review below.

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Ask most people why they own a half ton pickup truck and the inevitable answer you’ll receive is that, now and then, they need to haul something and a smaller vehicle simply would not do. Our own Jil McIntosh frequently describes modern half ton trucks as TFB or Too Friggin’ Big and I share the affinity for the capable group of quarter ton trucks available like the Ranger, Toyota Tacoma, and Nissan Frontier.

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Our test truck is a 2022 Ford Ranger with the $1,400 FX4 off-road package and a very swanky set of stripes down the side. Those stripes are a part of the $1,700 Splash appearance package which also includes black painted bumpers, special wheels, orange accents in the grille, orange contrast stitching inside, and a few other aesthetic tweaks.

In Canada, the Ranger is available as a Super Cab with a six-foot box or as a Super Crew with a five-foot box as we have on our tester. Mechanically, all Rangers sold in Canada have selectable four-wheel drive with low-range. The only engine offered is a turbocharged 2.3L inline four that makes 270 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. That’s plenty for a smaller truck and unloaded, the Ranger feels very peppy. And unlike other turbocharged offerings, those power ratings are achieved on regular 87 octane fuel.

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Unlike the lighter-duty Ford Maverick, the Ranger is body-on-frame and this means it can carry more weight in the bed. The Ranger has a rated payload capacity of 1,860 lbs (845 kg) and when equipped with the $600 towing package, can tow an impressive 7,500 pounds (3,410 kg). For reference, an AWD EcoBoost Maverick has a 1,500 lb (680 kg) payload capacity and a 4,000 lb (1,818 kg) towing capacity when equipped with the towing package. One other difference versus the Maverick for loading cargo in the bed is that the Maverick has a notably lower bedside and load floor height than the Ranger; especially when the Ranger has the FX4 off-road package like our tester.

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Hoisted into that lofty cargo bed is the engine, transmission, and driveshaft of a 1965 Volvo P1800. The engine is about 345 lbs, the transmission is 90 lbs and I would estimate the entire assembly to weigh about 450 lbs total. I was also carrying a hood and a box of brake parts including drums. When lowered from the hoist into the bed, the truck settled maybe three inches on its rear leaf springs.

One thing I would have liked would be more cargo anchors in the bed. The Ranger has just four of them, one in each corner. This is sufficient for most jobs, but the Maverick has a bed rail system which allows you to move the anchors around to a position most convenient for the task at hand. These anchors are plastic, so maybe not as strong as the Ranger’s metal ones, but more flexibility is always nice.

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With the cargo safely strapped down it was time to hit the road. With 270 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, the Ranger doesn’t even notice the extra 500 lbs in the bed. And that makes sense as even this bulky load is only 24 per cent of the rated payload maximum of the Ranger. If anything, the extra weight in the bed makes the truck ride a little smoother with no noticeable impact on fuel economy, handling, or passing power. For light to medium duty loads like this, the Ranger is more than up to the task.

I also used the Ranger to transport a six-piece patio set. The weight of the set was negligible, but I was able to fit the entire set in the bed albeit with the tailgate lowered. For those lightweight and irregularly shaped items, I really wished it had a bed rail system to tie everything down to.

Overall, the Ranger is a capable hauler for those who don’t want the bulk and fuel consumption of a full-size truck. The Ranger can easily handle the hauling needs of most pickup truck owners. We wish it offered more flexible tie down locations but otherwise, a very solid package.