I have a 1994 Explorer with 5-speed, 3.73 gears, and 31x10.5 tires. I want to tow trailers up to about 5000 pounds, over mostly flat ground. Will this truck handle it?

 

This chart starts in '97. Best for the manual trans and 3.73s is 3100 lbs. There is nothing about the '94 that would increase this:

Explorer Towing Capacities - Ford Explorer Ranger Enthusiasts "Serious Explorations"®

Best get a bigger tow vehicle. The downside of overloading when towing gets to be quite expensive.

Some comments here and also info from a '93 owners manual. 2700 lbs max:

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...d.php?t=201247

 

Yup, you want to tow that much, upgrade to an Expedition.

 

Are the manual trannies just such weak worms that they can only tow barely more than half what the auto can?

Actually I'm planning on upgrading to an F-250... but before I can do that, I've got to tow a trailer, just once or twice, and my options are to do it with the Explorer or borrow a Tahoe that runs like a pig.

 

Borrow the Tahoe then. An Explorer cannot handle that much weight safely.

Yes, the manual trans is a joke.