Towing capacity Expl. 2004
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Towing capacity Expl. 2004
I have a Explorer 2004 Eddie Bauer with the 4.0l and has the Class II hitch . I am planning on purchasing a camper aprox . 4500 lbs . Can i swap from a class II hitch to a Class III/IV hitch . Does a class II equipped Explorer come with a transmission factory installed rad ?
CO River Rat
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From: Lake Havasu City AZ
Because you don't have the tow package, you're missing the engine oil cooler and the 3.73 LS rear end, plus wiring/relays/fuses for a 7-pin trailer connector. Is that 4500# loaded or empty?
Steve
Steve
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The base weight of the camper will be 3500 lbs + 1000 lbs of load. I have done all the wiring from a 4 pin to 7 pin . The Ford sticker on the door states that the max tow capacity weight should be 5995 lbs .
CO River Rat
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From: Lake Havasu City AZ
I towed my 3640# boat/trailer rig with an '02 XLT 4.0L (had the tow package); it struggled on hills with 4 people and lots of gear on board, so I traded for my '04.
That tow rating is figured on an XLS with no options, 1/2 tank of gas and a 150# driver. If you load up that EB with people/gear, your rating will be a lot less. Plus, the wind resistance of a TT versus a boat makes it a tougher tow.
You MIGHT be OK, but without the tow package it's gonna be close to the ragged edge - JMHO.
Steve
That tow rating is figured on an XLS with no options, 1/2 tank of gas and a 150# driver. If you load up that EB with people/gear, your rating will be a lot less. Plus, the wind resistance of a TT versus a boat makes it a tougher tow.
You MIGHT be OK, but without the tow package it's gonna be close to the ragged edge - JMHO.
Steve
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Would a Oil cooler be mandatory at this specified maximum weight . The Unit dry weight is 3700 and the GVWR is 4600 . The dealer told me that to swap from a ClassII to ClassIII/IV is not that difficult and it could be probably done in my yard . Is this true .
Serge
Serge
CO River Rat
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From: Lake Havasu City AZ
Serge -
Take a look at your present hitch to see how it bolts on; that should tell you how hard the swap will be. BTW, the door sticker on my '04 shows GVWR; tow ratings are in the Owners Guide.
An engine oil cooler sure wouldn't hurt, but if you tow up lotsa hills you'll wish you had the 3.73 rear gears also.
Steve
Take a look at your present hitch to see how it bolts on; that should tell you how hard the swap will be. BTW, the door sticker on my '04 shows GVWR; tow ratings are in the Owners Guide.
An engine oil cooler sure wouldn't hurt, but if you tow up lotsa hills you'll wish you had the 3.73 rear gears also.
Steve
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Thanks for your quick answers Steve , the GVWR in the door of the EB is 5925lbs. The Owners guide indicates that with a 3.73LS the maximum trailer weight should be at 5500lbs . I am under this rating by aprox 1000lbs . What will the 3.73LS do that the 3.55 will not do .
I simply do not want to damage anything on the truck . I understand that towing a TT will be different from driving empty , also we do have have lotsa hills here.
I simply do not want to damage anything on the truck . I understand that towing a TT will be different from driving empty , also we do have have lotsa hills here.
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CO River Rat
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From: Lake Havasu City AZ
Serge -
My Owner's Guide shows your max tow rating to be 3260#; the Class II hitch means you have no tow package (3.55 rear gears, not 3.73 LS). Changing to a Class III/IV hitch won't change that rating.
If you tow over the max rating and have/cause an accident, you could be out in left field legal-wise. You'll also increase the chance of damage to the EB's drivetrain, which you said you don't want to do.
Steve
My Owner's Guide shows your max tow rating to be 3260#; the Class II hitch means you have no tow package (3.55 rear gears, not 3.73 LS). Changing to a Class III/IV hitch won't change that rating.
If you tow over the max rating and have/cause an accident, you could be out in left field legal-wise. You'll also increase the chance of damage to the EB's drivetrain, which you said you don't want to do.
Steve
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Thanks Steve , you were right the rating in the book is 3260 with a class II hitch . I have spoken to a Ford garage manager and explained to me in details that i will be OK to tow a 3500lbs +1000lbs by modifying the hitch from a Class II to III/IV . He also indicated that the oil cooler was not necessary for the weight rating i have in mind and also explained the difference between the 3.73LS and the 3.55 and that was not a major problem . The 3.73LS is better suited for the job but the 3.55 will work fine considering the weight .
CO River Rat
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From: Lake Havasu City AZ
Serge -
That "Ford garage manager" wouldn't want to put his statements in writing, would he? You'll be WAY over the max tow rating, yet he knows more than the factory about oil coolers and rear gears.
I wouldn't do it, but it's your EB.
Steve
That "Ford garage manager" wouldn't want to put his statements in writing, would he? You'll be WAY over the max tow rating, yet he knows more than the factory about oil coolers and rear gears.
I wouldn't do it, but it's your EB.
Steve
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Steve , besides the oil cooler ,the 3.73LS and the hitch , what other parts are in a tow package ? Is it the same engine ? I just would like to understand why a 3600lbs trailer cannot be towed by an explorer . He certified that i can change the hitch from a class II to III/IV no problem . As for the oil cooler , i have consulted a tow specialist and he also told me it was not mandatory for the weight i would be pulling . This leaves us with the 3.73LS vs the 3.55 .
4362(EB) + 3600(TT) + 800(cargo/passenger) = 8762lbs
The owner manual GCWR is at 10000lbs and the GVWR is at 5925lbs.
Will the 3.73LS vs the 3.55 do the difference and prevent the explorer from pulling ???
4362(EB) + 3600(TT) + 800(cargo/passenger) = 8762lbs
The owner manual GCWR is at 10000lbs and the GVWR is at 5925lbs.
Will the 3.73LS vs the 3.55 do the difference and prevent the explorer from pulling ???
CO River Rat
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From: Lake Havasu City AZ
Serge -
Your GCWR is 7700#, not 10,240#. Figure 4400# for the EB and 4500# for the TT; now you're over the max tow rating AND the GCWR, before you put any people/gear in the EB.
Will these "experts" be around if you have a problem? I doubt it.
Steve
Your GCWR is 7700#, not 10,240#. Figure 4400# for the EB and 4500# for the TT; now you're over the max tow rating AND the GCWR, before you put any people/gear in the EB.
Will these "experts" be around if you have a problem? I doubt it.
Steve
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Well, I had a Dodge Dakota with a 4.7 v8, much more power than the 4.0l v6 the explorer comes with and I was very unhappy with the tow performance of that truck, and it had a tow rating of 6000 lbs.
You are trying to pull too much weight with that Explorer. I have towed a 3500lb boat with a chevy 4.3, which is similar in HP etc, and I struggled.
There is little in mods that you are going to be able to do to have it tow the camper comfortably, let alone safely.
You are trying to pull too much weight with that Explorer. I have towed a 3500lb boat with a chevy 4.3, which is similar in HP etc, and I struggled.
There is little in mods that you are going to be able to do to have it tow the camper comfortably, let alone safely.
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From: NJ
my manuel says that the maximum weight to be towed with the class 2 hitch and the 4.0 with 3.55 gears is 3375 lbs. the gcwr is 8000 lbs not 7700 lbs. this is all asuming you have 4x4. if it is 4x2 then the gcwr is 7700 lbs.i believe that the dry weight of the vehicle is about 4400 lbs.
the oil cooler is probably not needed when towing the 3375 lbs but if you tow that weight all the time a trans oil cvooler is a good idea. the 3.73 rear gears will give you much better low end pull. it will also make your engine turn about 300 rpms fasster then the 355. the l/s is just limited slip or posi rear and the ls should have nothing to do with your tow capacities.
i believe that if you purchased the tow package you get a heavy duty cooling system ( larger capacity radiator) a trans cooler and 7 pin wiring.
as steina says dont do it unless you can afford to repair the trans and drive line when it goes out on you. and you know that it will be after warranty is done.
you can probably tow 10 million pounds but can you stop it?
the oil cooler is probably not needed when towing the 3375 lbs but if you tow that weight all the time a trans oil cvooler is a good idea. the 3.73 rear gears will give you much better low end pull. it will also make your engine turn about 300 rpms fasster then the 355. the l/s is just limited slip or posi rear and the ls should have nothing to do with your tow capacities.
i believe that if you purchased the tow package you get a heavy duty cooling system ( larger capacity radiator) a trans cooler and 7 pin wiring.
as steina says dont do it unless you can afford to repair the trans and drive line when it goes out on you. and you know that it will be after warranty is done.
you can probably tow 10 million pounds but can you stop it?
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