Quote:
Originally Posted by Jhawk44
So lets assume that properly equipped, a Mountaineer can pull 7500lbs.
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Bad assumption. You didn't give a model year, so I'll pick 2010. 2010 Explorer/Mountaineer factory tow ratings depend on engine, drivetrain (4x2, 4x4, or AWD), axle ratio (3.55 or 3.73), with or without auxiliary AC, and hitch (Class II or Class III/IV).
If "properly equipped" means 4.0L engine with 3.73 axle ratio, and class III/IV hitch, then the GCWR is 10,000 pounds and the "tow rating" varies from 5,000 to 5,375. (Deduct 500 pounds if it has rear AC). With V8 engine and 4x4 or AWD, the GCWR is 12,000 pounds, and the tow rating goes up to a hair over 7,000 pounds (7,040 or 7,115). And again, deduct 500 pounds if it has rear AC. So nowhere near 7,500.
But tow rating is misleading. It assumes absolutely nothing is in the SUV expect a skinny driver. No passengers, pets, tools, spares, luggage, nothing.
To get a better estimate of the real world tow rating, you need the weight of the wet and loaded SUV, including driver, passengers, pets, tools, spares, luggage, everything that might be in the SUV when towing. For the 4.0L engine, subtract the weight of the wet and loaded SUV from 10,000 pounds, and the answer is the max trailer weight you can tow without exceeding the GCWR of the SUV. For the V8 engine, subtract the weight of the wet and loaded SUV from 12,000 pounds, and the answer is the max trailer weight you can tow without exceeding the GCWR of the SUV.
So that tells you how much the SUV will
pull without exceeding the GCWR. But no mention yet of how much hitch weight you can
haul. Subtract the weight of the wet and loaded SUV from the GVWR of the SUV and the answer is the max hitch weight you can have without being overloaded. Hitch weight is usually the limiter for an SUV. Divide the max hitch weight you can have by 0.15, and the answer is the max weight of any TT you can tow without being overloaded. Guaranteed, it's a lot less than 7,000 pounds.
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