New Ford Ranger takes on the 'world's toughest towing test' and the results make one hell of a statement
- The 2024 2.7L V6 Ford Ranger takes on the Ike Gauntlet
- It’s said to be the ‘world’s toughest’ towing challenge
- It tows a 5,000lb trailer along a seven percent gradient for eight miles
Published on Nov 26, 2024 at 8:15 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Nov 27, 2024 at 1:24 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
The 2024 2.7L V6 Ford Ranger promises big on towing – so these YouTubing truck enthusiasts decided to put it to the test along the Ike Gauntlet in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, US.
Seeing it take on the ‘world’s toughest’ towing challenge truly puts the American car’s claims to the test.
Enter a 5,000lb trailer and a seven percent gradient up and downhill for eight miles.
Could it live up to the hype? We’ll have to see.
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The ultimate towing test
Said to be the ‘world’s toughest towing test’, the Ike Gauntlet is situated in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, US.
According to the team behind The Fast Lane Truck who carried out the experiment, it’s an ‘eight-mile stretch of I-70 interstate highway that goes to the top of the Colorado Rocky Mountains’.
It’s an incline with a seven percent gradient, and the top elevation is 11.158 feet above sea level.

“If a truck can tow well here, it will tow great anywhere,” they enthused.
It looked set to be a rough ride – not unlike this Ford Ranger that blocked a garbage area so was filled like a dumpster by angry locals.
Performance of the 2024 2.7L V6 Ford Ranger
The Ford Ranger – powered by a 315HP 2.7L twin-turbo V6 and a 10-speed automatic transmission – had a 5,000lb trailer hitched to the back for the already tricky terrain.
On its way up it completed the climb in eight minutes and 17 seconds with steady power delivery.

What’s more, it achieved six miles-per-gallon towing efficiency, outperforming many midsize trucks in its climbing capabilities.
Downhill was equally promising, with a mere two brake applications, smooth transmission grade-shifting, and excellent control.
So how does it do it?
It’s all thanks to its user-friendly towing technology that are said to be practical and easy to use.
This includes the Trailer Brake Controller that applies brakes and slows the trailer when you brake the vehicle.
Meanwhile, Pro Trailer Backup Assist uses sensors and a rear-view camera to guide the vehicle and position the trailer safely.
Once you’re hitched and good to go, the Trailer Light Check Function ensures all your lights are working before you hit the road.
Ultimately, it delivered a quiet, comfortable, and stable setup and towing experience.
In other towing flexes, the Cybertruck beat a Porsche 911 in an epic drag race while towing a Porsche 911.
A Lamborghini LM002 was also seen towing a Revuelto in a matching shade.

All Supercar Blondie contributors undergo editorial review and fact-checking to ensure accuracy and authority in automotive journalism. After gaining her BA Hons in French and English at the University of Nottingham, Amelia embarked on a vocational diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). This led to numerous opportunities, from interning at Vogue to being on the small team that launched Women’s Health magazine in the UK, which was named the PPA Consumer magazine of the year for three years running. As Health, Beauty and Fitness editor, Amelia personally received a Johnson & Johnson Award and was shortlisted for both PPA and BSME titles. Since then, Amelia has created content for numerous titles and brands, including the Telegraph, 111 Skin, Waitrose, Red magazine, Stylist, and Elle, as well as being Head of Content at Vitality and Editor in Chief at INLondon magazine. “My superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a relatable story you’ll want to share with your friends after you’ve read it.” After joining the SB Media family as a senior journalist in September of 2023, Amelia’s role has evolved to see her heading up the SEO output of the editorial team. From researching the most ‘Google-able’ key terms to producing evergreen content - it’s been a time of hard work, growth, and success for the editorial team and the Supercar Blondie website. “I like to think of myself as a ‘method journalist’. In other words: I live and breathe whatever I am writing about. When writing about fitness, I trained as a personal trainer, and as a beauty editor, I completed an ‘expert’ in scent diploma with the Fragrance Foundation. “During my tenure at Supercar Blondie, however, I did something I never thought possible: I passed my driving test at the age of 36. One day I’d love to train as a mechanic to better understand what happens under the hood, too. “My sweet spot is providing readers with a ‘takeaway’ (read: something new they didn’t know before) after reading every one of my stories. While I don’t claim to be an expert in the automotive world, I know the experts and bodies in the field to rely on to provide our readers with an informative and thought-provoking story every time they visit the site.”