We just purchased a used 2002 Ford Ranger XLT, 3.0 V6, extended Cab, 4WD.  It did not come with a frame mounted hitch, just a hole in the bumber for a standard ball.  It also did not come with a wiring harness to plug the trailer lights into.  We have a 4 pin on our trailer.  

I did a google search and could not find any info a trailer wiring tow harness for this make and model Ranger, or how to tell if it does have a towing package.  It did not come with an owners manual--it will be in from the dealer later in the week.  

Does anyone else tow with this truck?  

Thanks

what will you be towing...that is the real question 8-)

That bumper hitch is rated for 2000 lbs and 200lbs tongue weight, you could buy  a kit at walmart that just plugs into your existing harness near the spare tire that will give you the 4 pin connector, My son has a 99 4.0 that tows pretty well. I put a hich on his in as well as his friends 99  3.0 just this week. U haul sells a nice round tube hitch that sells for $129.  They just bolt right on to the existing bumber bracket bolts holes. 1 hour job.

keep loads under 3500 regardless that little 3.0 isnt meant to tow more than that.

Transmission cooler would be a plus if autoamtic

I hope what you plan to tow isn't heavy.  I had a Ranger with the 2.3, and it was a dog.  The 4.0 isn't bad, but the 3.0 isn't much better than the 4cyl.  I had a 5x10 landscaping trailer with a 36" walk behind mower, and it would barely pull the rig 55 on the highway.  A boat won't have that gate sticking up, but it's likely to weigh a bit more.  The unit for the electrical is called a Trailer Mate plug, and you unplug the factory wires and add it in.  I would take the recommendation for getting a frame mounted hitch as well.  

You can find the trailer plug at any auto store they make them for all trucks and SUV. The ranger is very popular so it shouldn't be hard to find. Yes, get a frame  mounted hitch. If your boat is small you can get away with using the bumper .You can get a hitch for just over $100 and put it on yourself of got to Uhaul and for under $200 they can do it, also they have the light plugs too. If its an auto trans, tow in 3rd gear only, and look at getting an aux trans cooler ( Under $50, and easy to install) Like what was said before, I hope your not planning on pulling a large boat with it. I had a 1994 Ranger Extended cab with a 3.0L V6 5 speed 4x4. Only had it one summer, could not pull my 17'6" boat up hills. It pulled my 14 footer good. My S-10 with a 2.5L 4cyl 5 speed pulled alot  better than it. I have freinds with the 4.0L V6 and they pull good.

I'm fairley close to your truck I'm towing an 17'6" Ranger with a '95 Ford Ranger 4 cyc. automatic with a 141,000 on it and SLOOOW's way down going up hills, and on the highway forgett it wont do more than 60mph. Luckley lakes are close by. Wally-world or the auto store is where I got mine frame mounted hitch took about 45 minutes to saved some cash and did it myself.

Thanks for the Replies.  I am towing a 1993 14' Sea Nymph (Lowe) Deep V 14R, 7.5 HP Chysler Engine, on a Tee Nee Trl.  With the fully loaded boat motor and trailer, I would estimate it at 1200 lbs total.  The 2002 has a 3.0 V6, 4WD, Auto trans with OD.  

In the past we had a 1988 Ranger 2WD with the 2.9 V6 Auto and it pulled the boat great, up hills too.  

Before I bought the 2002 Ranger, we had a 1997 Ford Ranger with a 3.0 V6, 2wd, Auto with od.  Again, it pulled the boat, but not as good as the 88.

My dad has a friends with a 2001 and 2004 with the same set up as our 2002, and it tows 14' boats just fine, and they have bumber hitches.  I found that when towing, always tow with the OD off.  I will look into the Aux cooler too.

I went to walmart and searched online, but could only find harnesses for the 93 to 97 model Ranger.  I am going to take a ride to Advance Auto Parts, Autozone, and Pep Boys tonight.

FK

I crawled under the rear of the truck to see if it had a plug in Harness, and what do ya know,  it has a factory trailer harness tucked up underneath the bumper.  It does not even look like it has been used, as the truck never had a tow ball on the bumper.  Does that mean that it came with the towing pkg?  I should have my OM by next week.   One other problem I found was that the spare tire is 15" 140 series.  The truck has 16" X 145 series tires all the way around.  Have to see the dealer about that one.  

You should have no problems towing that boat. Its small enough. yes do not tow in OD even on flat ground. you will use a bit more gas, but save the trans. You can pull that with the bumper, no problem. I bet your boat wieghs less than what you est. it. I have a 14 startcraft deep v(full floor and decks), 9.9(15) merc, trailer, 2 batteries and 2 TM,, with gas and gear its still under 1000lbs