Higher Octane of any benefit for towing?

[judenray]

2

Coulda swore the 2010 Forester was either the 5eat or the cvt depending on model...

CVT came on in 2011 with the new engine. Probably a better fit for keeping the 170 hp 4 cylinder in the power band, but the CVT reduced towing capacity a lot.

 

[Bullfrog Bheer]

When we used to tow with our Grand Caravan, we always filled up with Premium. Don't know if it helped, but it couldn't hurt.

 

[Bowman3d]

Our 2019 4 cylinder ranger has 275hp (abouts) and tows trailers like a champ. Which model do you have?

Mine is an 2003 xl. V6 3.0 145hp.

 

[Arlyn Aronson]

Mine is an 2003 xl. V6 3.0 145hp.

Maybe its time for a new one?

 

[Dave2514g]

Mine is an 2003 xl. V6 3.0 145hp.

Nah, you're not under powered. In 2003 the HP went up from 146 to 154! Along with the massive 180ft lb of torque you should pull any trailer with ease! Engineering marvel to get that out of only three liters of displacement.

All joking aside, those Vulcan 3L engines are indestructible and will pretty much run forever.
Just stay in the Granny lane, but keep the ranger until the body/frame starts to rot. No sense making payments when the ol girl still runs. Nothing new will likely last the 20 years you got out of this one!

 

[xxxapache]

Keep on driving that Ranger. My 1994 Toyota is a blistering 114 hp. I pulled my Apache 8 years and a 17.5 ft I/O boat over 20 years. I never won any speed contests, but I always got there. I still drive that truck nearly everyday.

 

[Bowman3d]

Yup plan on keeping it for awhile. A lot of guys at where I used to work ( including my boss) were bugging me to sell it to them. They were disappointed when I didn't sell it and buy new before I retired ( a lot of guys did this). I might just buy a used vehicle just for towing and to keep mileage down on the ranger. I plan on moving to Tenn and I'm don't know yet how close my favorite campground will be when I find it.