Not another towing question!!!
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Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2007
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Not another towing question!!!
Sorry but I have to ask, even though I am sure it has been talked about many times.
I have a 2002 V8 Explorer with a factory 3500kg (approx) 7000lb tow hitch. I plan to use the Explorer to tow my enclosed car transporter and very expensive payload, totaling approx 3200kg (approx 6400lb).
What are your thoughts? How would it perform? Should I use load levelers?
Trailer has electric brakes.
Thanks
Gary
New Zealand
I have a 2002 V8 Explorer with a factory 3500kg (approx) 7000lb tow hitch. I plan to use the Explorer to tow my enclosed car transporter and very expensive payload, totaling approx 3200kg (approx 6400lb).
What are your thoughts? How would it perform? Should I use load levelers?
Trailer has electric brakes.
Thanks
Gary
New Zealand
CO River Rat
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Lake Havasu City AZ
Tow ratings are established with a 150# driver, 1/2 tank of gas and no accessories, plus you're looking at 640-960# tongue weight (10-15%). Based on your "very expensive payload" comment, I'd say you need a tow vehicle with more capacity - JMHO.
Steve
Steve
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Freshman User
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Why would Ford state that their 2002 Explorer V8 can tow 3500kg (7000+ lb) and have a heavy duty tow hitch to suit? If it cannot tow this weight safely? Wouldn't they under rate their towing weights for safety reasons?
Oh well!
CO River Rat
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,209
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From: Lake Havasu City AZ
I like to use no more than 80% of a vehicle's tow capacity for safety reasons, but that's me. Are you gonna have gear/passengers in that Explorer? How sure are you of that 6400# figure? If you're guessing, you may find after weighing that it's more. You'll probably need a weight distribution system with that much tongue weight. CAN it tow 7000#+ weight? Sure. Would I push the limit with a "very expensive payload" involved? Nope.
Steve
Steve
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Gary,
Small world, I know a guy named John who might be the one that sold you that payload. He sold a car that went overseas, but I can't remember if it was NZ or Australia. I've seen a YouTube video of the car.... sounded great.
I'm in the same boat - setting up an '02 Mountaineer to tow a tandem axle car trailer. My trailer is an open. (Current tow vehicle is a full sized '89 Ford Bronco)
You *MUST* use a weight distributing hitch that is professionally setup for your tow vehicle & trailer. Get a pro to do the setup, otherwise it is not worth it. Roughly 9 out of 10 of the rigs going down the road with a weight distributing hitch are not setup correctly. Setup is specific to the tow vehicle and trailer.
Without this hitch, your tow capacity is down to 3500 lbs (that is not kg...).
Also, as previously mentioned, be very certain about your weights. Enclosed trailers are much heavier than an open trailer and leaving yourself a margin of safety with respect to total capacity is very important as well.
Good luck, Steve
Small world, I know a guy named John who might be the one that sold you that payload. He sold a car that went overseas, but I can't remember if it was NZ or Australia. I've seen a YouTube video of the car.... sounded great.
I'm in the same boat - setting up an '02 Mountaineer to tow a tandem axle car trailer. My trailer is an open. (Current tow vehicle is a full sized '89 Ford Bronco)
You *MUST* use a weight distributing hitch that is professionally setup for your tow vehicle & trailer. Get a pro to do the setup, otherwise it is not worth it. Roughly 9 out of 10 of the rigs going down the road with a weight distributing hitch are not setup correctly. Setup is specific to the tow vehicle and trailer.
Without this hitch, your tow capacity is down to 3500 lbs (that is not kg...).
Also, as previously mentioned, be very certain about your weights. Enclosed trailers are much heavier than an open trailer and leaving yourself a margin of safety with respect to total capacity is very important as well.
Good luck, Steve
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 112
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Well from a legal standpoint i would say if ford says u can tow it!(and i will give my reasons further on in this post).. i think you can tow it and should tow it!.. Do as Roadrunner_sf said above and make sure your set-up as correct so that no blame will fall on your shoulders should you incur some complications.. If Ford Motor Company says you can tow it I would think that their tow ratings are underrated so that if something should happen the blame cannot fall on them.. They took a huge hit with the tire incidents a few years back and i'm sure they dont want any further problems..
My suggestion..make sure your well equipped to tow your trailer and take precautions while doing so.. If something should go wrong.. atleast your not to blame!
Just my 2 cents!
My suggestion..make sure your well equipped to tow your trailer and take precautions while doing so.. If something should go wrong.. atleast your not to blame!
Just my 2 cents!
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Fort Smith
How far and what road conditions? Flat ground or a lot of hills, etc?
For general pulling and not long haul (1,000 miles+), I would not have a problem pulling what you are talking about. I would probably use some type of load levelers whether it be airbags, air shocks, etc. I might also add an extra tranny cooler as this would be where I would look to more than anything else. I've pulled things heavier than that with my 97, but not for extended times (500 miles or less). I've also pulled a car trailer with a friend's $100,000+ drag car to Las Vegas a few times - and by the time we load up with everyhting, we are around yor weight if not more. I don't worry any when doing it, but I just keep an eye on temps, etc, and use common sense.
Will your Explorer do it? Sure. It is just doing it for extended times and conditions you have to think about the wear and tear on the stressed parts of towing.
For general pulling and not long haul (1,000 miles+), I would not have a problem pulling what you are talking about. I would probably use some type of load levelers whether it be airbags, air shocks, etc. I might also add an extra tranny cooler as this would be where I would look to more than anything else. I've pulled things heavier than that with my 97, but not for extended times (500 miles or less). I've also pulled a car trailer with a friend's $100,000+ drag car to Las Vegas a few times - and by the time we load up with everyhting, we are around yor weight if not more. I don't worry any when doing it, but I just keep an eye on temps, etc, and use common sense.
Will your Explorer do it? Sure. It is just doing it for extended times and conditions you have to think about the wear and tear on the stressed parts of towing.
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Gary,
Small world, I know a guy named John who might be the one that sold you that payload. He sold a car that went overseas, but I can't remember if it was NZ or Australia. I've seen a YouTube video of the car.... sounded great.
I'm in the same boat - setting up an '02 Mountaineer to tow a tandem axle car trailer. My trailer is an open. (Current tow vehicle is a full sized '89 Ford Bronco)
You *MUST* use a weight distributing hitch that is professionally setup for your tow vehicle & trailer. Get a pro to do the setup, otherwise it is not worth it. Roughly 9 out of 10 of the rigs going down the road with a weight distributing hitch are not setup correctly. Setup is specific to the tow vehicle and trailer.
Without this hitch, your tow capacity is down to 3500 lbs (that is not kg...).
Also, as previously mentioned, be very certain about your weights. Enclosed trailers are much heavier than an open trailer and leaving yourself a margin of safety with respect to total capacity is very important as well.
Good luck, Steve
Small world, I know a guy named John who might be the one that sold you that payload. He sold a car that went overseas, but I can't remember if it was NZ or Australia. I've seen a YouTube video of the car.... sounded great.
I'm in the same boat - setting up an '02 Mountaineer to tow a tandem axle car trailer. My trailer is an open. (Current tow vehicle is a full sized '89 Ford Bronco)
You *MUST* use a weight distributing hitch that is professionally setup for your tow vehicle & trailer. Get a pro to do the setup, otherwise it is not worth it. Roughly 9 out of 10 of the rigs going down the road with a weight distributing hitch are not setup correctly. Setup is specific to the tow vehicle and trailer.
Without this hitch, your tow capacity is down to 3500 lbs (that is not kg...).
Also, as previously mentioned, be very certain about your weights. Enclosed trailers are much heavier than an open trailer and leaving yourself a margin of safety with respect to total capacity is very important as well.
Good luck, Steve
Thanks for the reply. My Boss 429 came from the US to NZ, many years ago. Yes, its the Calypso Coral 1970 Boss 429 on youtube with my wife giving a presentation
Cheers
Gary
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