Community Forums

Snomas1 · 09-22-2012, 06:14 AM

I just bought a 2012 ford Explorer. Can anyone give me instructions on the shift pattern to set for flat towing. Also are there any dead battery problems w/towing the Explorer and solutions? All suggestions are appreciated.

Pigman1 · 09-22-2012, 08:40 AM

Owner's manual will have everything you need to know.

tncruiser · 09-22-2012, 05:11 PM

i am getting ready to
i got a blueox receiver off the internet 200 delivered
i dont find any dead battery issues towing my jeep so i dont think there will be any with the ex. but i just purchased a stanley power pack jumper thingy at sams for 40 bux just to be safe. the good thing about the ex is it weighs about 200 lbs less than my jeep
brianj

Harlee79 · 09-25-2012, 09:09 PM

I posted my long experience with my 2013 explorer on the other thread, but you will probably have dead battery issues with the explorer. The Blue Ox is a very nice and hidden mount. Oh yea and the owners manual lies

Snomas1 · 09-26-2012, 07:01 PM

I know I will need a toad charge system to keep the battery up since I can't turn off the "My Ford Touch" screen. I will be installing roadmaster base plates since I have a Falcon ll tow bar. I have a older SMI brake system and probably will go with their newer Air Force system. Not sure about the toad lights since one blogger had problems with an installation that knocked out some of their electrical equipment. Many things to consider and directions to go. I hope the owners manual doesn't lie about the shift pattern. IE: put in neutral and go. I have the 4WD.

firetrader · 09-26-2012, 08:22 PM

Towed our 2012 Explorer 15,000 miles this summer using a blue ox tow system with Air Force 1 braking system. The explorer batt maintains a charge through the pin connection from the coach. We did have a problem in Alaska with a dead batt, found a blown in-line 20 amp fuse installed between the coach and the explorer batt. Started making all electrical connections with the coach not running, never had another problem. As for shift pattern, I started the explorer each morning for a few min, shifted R -N- D back to N and shut off ignition. Never experienced any problems, make sure your radio and a/c are turned off each day.

Harlee79 · 09-26-2012, 09:47 PM

Shift pattern in the manual is correct. I just was not happy that the manual made no refrence to needing a powered connection to the tow vehicle. I think with a powered connection setup it will probably be just fine.

BFlinn181 · 09-26-2012, 10:04 PM

I used a auto resetting 30 amp circuit breaker in the line between RV battery and toad. I wired it into an unused pin on a 6 pin connector. No dead battery in the toad.