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11-12-2019, 10:53 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Seminole, FL
Posts: 4
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Anyone Towing a 2019 Ford Explorer?
Last month we were travelling west on 1-4, about 60 miles east of Tampa, FL. As always, I-4 was packed, but we were plugging along in the slow lane at 50-55 mph. All of a sudden, my wife and I hear an explosion, the motor home lurches and I see our tow car swing into the middle lane. Someone had hit us from the rear. By the grace of God, no one was injured. However, our tow car, a 2010 Ford Edge didn't survive. So, the search for a new tow car began. We decided to buy a new car so we could use it as a family car, as well as our toad. Surprise, Surprise, Ford doesn't make a 2020 car or SUV that is flat towable. In fact, we couldn't find any 2020 car or SUV that could be towed flat. However, we continued looking for options, and we may have found a solution - but we would love to have confirmation from real live users. It seems that 2019 FWD (front wheel drive) Ford Explorers, with a 3.5 engine, can be towed with 4 wheels on the ground. Is anyone out there using a 2019 Ford Explorer as their tow car?
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11-12-2019, 11:47 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Florida Keys
Posts: 2,687
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First of all, I've never heard of a FWD vehicle that is towable 4 down so I'd definitely check into the info you've received. Looking at pages 252-255 of the 2019 Explorers users manual, it seems you will need the 3.5l engine to flat tow. Amazingly, it says nothing about FWD vehicles so you might be good. One hassle is that you have to disconnect the negative battery cable.
I did however purchase a 2019 Ford Expedition with full 4WD (not 2WD or AWD). That is flat towable as I went through the user's manual and even put the transfer case in neutral before I took delivery. The process is not quite as simple as my Jeep Grand Cherokee, but the Expedition (I got the Max version) seats 8 people. The entire disconnect process is done in the driver's seat with no battery disconnect.
The 2019 Expedition has the 10 speed transmission and get 20 MPG so it may be a viable option to the smaller Explorer.
__________________
Tom and Katharine
'07 Winnebago Tour 40TD, 400hp Cummins
'17 Winnebago View 24V, '02 R-Vision B+
RVing for 20 years & 200,000+ miles
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11-12-2019, 12:02 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Delaware
Posts: 171
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We have been towing a 2019 Ford Explorer Sport with a 3.5 engine
we have towed it since August 2019 for about 3,000 miles so far.
You will have to install a 12V battery disconnect switch on the Neg post
or just remove the battery cable off the Negative.
Procedure form the owners manual with push button start:
1.With car running, I hook up car,
2. Shift to neutral and push start button to shut off.
3. Disconnect Negative battery side ( I have a switch installed)
4. You are ready to go.
Keep in mind: lights, break lights, turn signals, etc have been wired
In my case I have installed a 12v kit under dash for my RVI brake
It is pretty simple to tow a 2019 Ford Explorer Sport
__________________
Joe
2017 Dynamax DX3 37 BH
Tow: 2020 Ford F-150
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11-12-2019, 08:06 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Comancheria
Posts: 484
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I also tow a 2019 Explorer, a 2WD Limited with the 3.5 six cylinder engine, several thousand miles so far. It goes just as Joe said above; no sweat. I had a shut off switch for the battery installed in the dash.
From what I understand only the 6 cylinder can be flat towed, ixnay on the 4; evidently they use different transmissions.
__________________
2016 Tiffin 32SA 24K chassis
2020 Ford Escape Hybrid toad
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11-13-2019, 10:22 AM
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#5
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Senior Member/RVM #90
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Columbus, MS
Posts: 54,578
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Hi ! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!
Can't help with that question but noticed you are kinda new on the forum and wanted to say hello! Have fun and keep her between the ditches!
Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!
__________________
Joe & Annette
Sometimes I sits and thinks, sometimes I just sits.....
2002 Monaco Windsor 40PBT, 2013 Honda CRV AWD
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12-02-2019, 07:18 AM
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#6
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 2
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When you disconnect your negative battery cable do you lose your radio presets and time every time? How do you also power your RVI brake system?
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12-02-2019, 07:19 AM
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#7
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by joet19711
We have been towing a 2019 Ford Explorer Sport with a 3.5 engine
we have towed it since August 2019 for about 3,000 miles so far.
You will have to install a 12V battery disconnect switch on the Neg post
or just remove the battery cable off the Negative.
Procedure form the owners manual with push button start:
1.With car running, I hook up car,
2. Shift to neutral and push start button to shut off.
3. Disconnect Negative battery side ( I have a switch installed)
4. You are ready to go.
Keep in mind: lights, break lights, turn signals, etc have been wired
In my case I have installed a 12v kit under dash for my RVI brake
It is pretty simple to tow a 2019 Ford Explorer Sport
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JpalmerCass
I also tow a 2019 Explorer, a 2WD Limited with the 3.5 six cylinder engine, several thousand miles so far. It goes just as Joe said above; no sweat. I had a shut off switch for the battery installed in the dash.
From what I understand only the 6 cylinder can be flat towed, ixnay on the 4; evidently they use different transmissions.
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When you disconnect your negative battery cable do you lose your radio presets and time every time? How do you also power your RVI brake system?
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12-02-2019, 07:44 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Baton Rouge, La
Posts: 838
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We have been towing Chevrolet Equinox FWD since 2012, first a 2012 now a 2019 with no trouble. Easy set up and hook up.
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12-02-2019, 08:19 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 500
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I'll jump in here at the risk of getting flamed. I tow an Explorer and have for over 10,000 miles with NO issues. And I know what the Ford manual says about disconnecting the battery etc. However, I do it differently. Having a mechanical background I fully understand that my way will not hurt anything. If you don't agree with me (as was the "other" forum I posted this on) , simply don't do it this way.
With that said. All you have to do is in front of the floor shifter inside the little storage compartment is a little trap door in the upper left corner of the cubby. Use your fingernail and move the latch and lift the trap door up. Reach inside and you'll feel a button in front of the shift mechanism, hook your nail on the button and pull out, while it's pulled out you can shift the car into neutral without using the key or button. It's designed to release the park mechanism in case it has to be towed with a dead battery etc. I added diodes to the rear lights as no kit is available for the Explorers. Doing it this way requires no charge line or disconnecting the battery. Simply start and run the Explorer every 6 hours per the manual to re-fill the tail housing sump in the trans for lubrication. As I stated, towed over 10K miles this way without any issue and never a dead battery or a charge line. I do use a brake buddy too, again never any dead battery even after towing all day.
Good Luck !
__________________
1999 American Dream 40DVS
Spartan Chassis, Cummins ISC 330
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12-03-2019, 05:10 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Delaware
Posts: 171
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TTBarlow
When you disconnect your negative battery cable do you lose your radio presets and time every time? How do you also power your RVI brake system?
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I do not loose the radio presets, however when it is Daylight Savings Time,
the clock defaults back to Eastern Standard time.
I mounted a fused 12V kit under the drivers seat at the floor and plug the
RV1 brake into it. I did not run a 12V charge line. So far I have not had any
problems.
__________________
Joe
2017 Dynamax DX3 37 BH
Tow: 2020 Ford F-150
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12-03-2019, 06:44 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Delaware
Posts: 171
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Meames1
I'll jump in here at the risk of getting flamed. I tow an Explorer and have for over 10,000 miles with NO issues. And I know what the Ford manual says about disconnecting the battery etc. However, I do it differently. Having a mechanical background I fully understand that my way will not hurt anything. If you don't agree with me (as was the "other" forum I posted this on) , simply don't do it this way.
With that said. All you have to do is in front of the floor shifter inside the little storage compartment is a little trap door in the upper left corner of the cubby. Use your fingernail and move the latch and lift the trap door up. Reach inside and you'll feel a button in front of the shift mechanism, hook your nail on the button and pull out, while it's pulled out you can shift the car into neutral without using the key or button. It's designed to release the park mechanism in case it has to be towed with a dead battery etc. I added diodes to the rear lights as no kit is available for the Explorers. Doing it this way requires no charge line or disconnecting the battery. Simply start and run the Explorer every 6 hours per the manual to re-fill the tail housing sump in the trans for lubrication. As I stated, towed over 10K miles this way without any issue and never a dead battery or a charge line. I do use a brake buddy too, again never any dead battery even after towing all day.
Good Luck !
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You are exactly right sir, I wish I had know about that before I added the
battery disconnect switch. It is the secret door with the secret button LOL.
I could not find anything about that in the owners manual LOL.
I bet not too many people know about it either.
Thanks for the tip, every owner should know about it in case you ever have to be towed. Great find.
__________________
Joe
2017 Dynamax DX3 37 BH
Tow: 2020 Ford F-150
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12-04-2019, 04:42 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 5,625
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Goin2TheDogs
Surprise, Surprise, Ford doesn't make a 2020 car or SUV that is flat towable. In fact, we couldn't find any 2020 car or SUV that could be towed flat. However, we continued looking for options, and we may have found a solution - but we would love to have confirmation from real live users. It seems that 2019 FWD (front wheel drive) Ford Explorers, with a 3.5 engine, can be towed with 4 wheels on the ground. Is anyone out there using a 2019 Ford Explorer as their tow car?
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Have you see this guide? https://webcontent.goodsam.com/motor...inghyGuide.pdf
The 2020 version is not yet availalble, though.
Ray
__________________
2020 Forest River Georgetown GT5 34H5
2020 Equinox Premier AWD 2.0L/9-speed
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12-04-2019, 04:51 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Damon Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: North East Texas
Posts: 4,946
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RVThere
First of all, I've never heard of a FWD vehicle that is towable 4 down so I'd definitely check into the info you've received. Looking at pages 252-255 of the 2019 Explorers users manual, it seems you will need the 3.5l engine to flat tow. Amazingly, it says nothing about FWD vehicles so you might be good. One hassle is that you have to disconnect the negative battery cable.
I did however purchase a 2019 Ford Expedition with full 4WD (not 2WD or AWD). That is flat towable as I went through the user's manual and even put the transfer case in neutral before I took delivery. The process is not quite as simple as my Jeep Grand Cherokee, but the Expedition (I got the Max version) seats 8 people. The entire disconnect process is done in the driver's seat with no battery disconnect.
The 2019 Expedition has the 10 speed transmission and get 20 MPG so it may be a viable option to the smaller Explorer.
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not following your fwd four down towable remark. there are many vehicles that are front wheel drive that are four down towable
our edge is one .
the 2020 explorer may not be four down.
but the 2019 is as its a whole different under carriage drive train from 2019
__________________
USN Retired, Life time member of the DAV.
Enjoying the 2008 Damon Tuscany 4056, #3998 no your eyes are fine, there are really 6 slides
2022 F150 King Ranch or 2012 Edge toads
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