There are lots of side quests to pick up in Cool Ranch. It is recommended to do those first so you can grow and get stronger to handle the main quests there. Once you get to level 20 there will be a large boost to your and your companion abilities. For example: There are buffaloon/bunbaloon quests to do. Bumbaloons are really hard to beat so I save those until I get the striped bumbaloon quest in Bison Village. By the time I get it i am much stronger and I can solve all the quest numbers at the same time with the same fights. You will get your credit for the striped one and all the brown ones will count towards the ones you need for the other quests. Then you can start on Rooster Cogburn's quests, you will be strong enough to handle those bosses as they are really tough if you try to do them as soon as you get the original quest. So you may need some help from friends for things like scorpions until you hit that level 20 mark, mind you this is not a solid line, just at and past 20 things really start improving for you. And don't forget One-Eyed-Jack's great tips in how to best fight them in the May Newsletter. It really taught me on how to deflate those pesky fur balls of hot air.
I hope this helps and welcome to Cool Ranch

The Onyx Rose on Jul 29, 2013 wrote:

I have just gotten to Cool ranch and have done just about every side quest in Skull Island, Monquista, and Valencia, So why am I so underleveled? There are people in their mid 20s in the places I need to go to when I myself am only 18, can someone please help me.

There are also times in Cool Ranch when you have to go back to somewhere you were at the very beginning to complete a quest. So don't worry if you see level 30s running around while your questing. You're not under leveled.

Rachel - Level 38