Anyone towing a TT with a Ford Explorer

[Manny Glez]

Thanks for all the info, now I am focusing in finding a new tundra or Dodge 1500, if I do that I will have to drive such truck everyday, with this gas prices Im not sure. My other option is to get a 8 or 9 yrs old expedition or Dodge 1500 for about 8k to be use just to pull my TT.

I just test drive a 2004 expedition with factory towing package and seems to be good, I also drove a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 123000 miles and has lots of power, they want 10500. I am taking he dodge to the dealer on Tuesday to be inspected, I hope everything is ok, if so I will offer 10k even

[jesilvas]

Any vehicle will seem fine or good, but when you hook up to a trailer, it's completely different.

[shep13]

I had a 1999 explorer with the 4.0l tow package and it was the worst tv i ever used so wise decision not to get one. Despite in what everyone might say, you dont NEED the bigest truck to occassionaly pull a 4500lbs trailer either. If this is your daily driver and want something with decent mpg and can still fit in most garages then consider some of the 08-10 crossover suv type of vechicles.
Look for something with a high payload capacity and with no 4x4 or offroad type of package. An 09 GMC Acadia for example has almost 1700 lbs of payload (more than your Ram your looking at), very confortable daily driver with 18/24mpg and is an excellent tv that can handle 4500lbs trailer with ease.
Either way, Ram's are nice too. Good luck.

[Manny Glez]

I can see that this is "The Forum" everyone is ready to provide good experienced advice to new people like myself.. THANK YOU.

I think I found what I need, is a 2003 Ford Explorer and the spec are the following

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating Cap7100 lbs (7100.0 min/7100.0max)
Gross Combined Wt Rating11500 lbs (11500.0 min/11500.0max)
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt.5000 lbs (5000.0 min/5000.0max)
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt.500 lbs (500.0 min/500.0max)
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt.6050 lbs (6050.0 min/6050.0max)
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt.605 lbs (605.0 min/605.0max)SAE Net Torque @ RPM291 @ 3450
By my calculations I think Im ok but I want to be sure, I wondering if someone can verify how many Lb I can pull with this truck? Thanks.

[jesilvas]

Now what you need is your trailer's GVWR and actual wet weight.
But with a WD hitch, you only have 1800lbs of CCC on the trailer.

[Manny Glez]

Originally Posted by jesilvas

Now what you need is your trailer's GVWR and actual wet weight.
But with a WD hitch, you only have 1800lbs of CCC on the trailer.

Hi jesilvas, thanks for taking the time to help me.
Here is the missing info

GVWR 5600 LB
GAWR 3500 LB

[jesilvas]

So GVWR of trailer is 5600. What is actual weight? Or have you never weighed it on a scale?

[chawkins99]

This is a few years ago, but I used to have an Explorer (4.0L) in the UK pulling a 3,500lb trailer (caravan) which was about as big as they go over there.
The Explorer was adequate for that load but I certainly wouldn't want to pull anything much bigger.
Over here, we had a TT grossing around 7,000lb for several years pulling with a 2003 Expedition. Again, the Expedition was 'adequate'. The Expedition has a WDH max of 9,600lb but I wouldn't be prepared to go anywhere near that limit.
I would advise against the Explorer and recommend something more like the Expedition, Suburban or 1500 truck.
Heed 10Boomer's advice

[Manny Glez]

Im sooo confused now.. I made a mistake,, the SUV I found is an , NOT an EXPLORER, the specs are the same.
I esed this calculator Travel Trailer Weight Calculator= ) and shows that I cant tow anything,, Im totally lost, I have seen expeditions towing much heavier TT than mine with no problems. What Im doing wrong?

[jesilvas]

You're doing NOTHING wrong, and everyone you've seen towing much heavier are the ones doing EVERYTHING wrong. Just because they've done it, means nothing.
http://www.wheelingtruck.com/pdf/D12D465_VN.pdf - Seen this? That was a one ton dually, and it flipped. Think an Explorer or Expedition would've fared better?

[Manny Glez]

Originally Posted by jesilvas

So GVWR of trailer is 5600. What is actual weight? Or have you never weighed it on a scale?

The actual weight (dry weight?) is 4160 by Fleetwood owners manual info

[jesilvas]

That means nothing. What weight matters is the weight when you have it full of water, propane, and everything you take on a trip with you. People, hitch, gear, food, all.

[Manny Glez]

I have try to figure out several trucks from a F150, Tundra, Dodge 1500 and Expedition using this formula Travel Trailer Weight Calculator and NONE is capable to tow my TT!! Oviously I am doing something wrong,,, but what??? at moments I feel like seling my TT! I wanna cry!

May be if I try this will work... If my TT weighs 4160 dry w plus another 840 lb for water, food etc (we are just two people.) total of 5000 lb.
What truck or SUV should I get?

[sc3283]

Manny, go weigh your camper with it loaded as you would tow it when your going to use it....FORGET any weights the manufacturer has posted.

Then choose a tow vehicle based on your TRUE camper weight.

Something to remember...you NEED more tow vehicle than buying a bare bones minimum. You have to tow safely...and over weighted tow vehicles are NOT safe.

Remember you must stop that camper and be able to control that camper in an evasive maneuver(ie deer runs out in front of you, someone cuts you off etc).

A small at the limit tow vehicle with a short wheelbase is NOT the tow vehicle for being safe to you and your family and all others out on the road.

You can NEVER have too much tow vehicle when it comes to safety..BUT you can have not enough tow vehicle. It is unfortunate so many fit into the latter..thinking "that happens to others, never me"