I have a 1999 Ford Explorer 4 Wheel Drive XLT Utility 4 Door with the 4.0 V6 and I want to pull a 6.5 X12 trailer with a 04 sportsmen 500 H.0 and 01 trailboss 325. can pull it with a 2 inch Receiver Hitch and the stock rear gearing witch Im not what it is? it did not come with the tow pac. but i plan to have a 2 inch Receiver Hitch put on.
should i add anything eles to it? I will be travling about 80 mile a week and 300 miles up to wisconsin when i get the chance. your ideas and opions would help alot
thank you in advance[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

First, you need to find out what the vehicle is rated to tow. Try checking in the glove box or the drivers door jamb, there is usually a little placard that will give you info like gear ratio, paint codes, etc. Also on the drivers door jamb you should have a card that gives you the gvwr etc. of the vehicle. If you are having trouble figuring all of this out, a friendly dealer SHOULD be able to help you out. If it doesn't have one already, a tranny cooler and possibly even an auxillary oil cooler may be in order. If the trailer utilizes electric brakes, you will need to install a brake controller too. I think you will be OK on weight, especially with an open utility trailer, but you really need to find the tow rating of your Explorer.

 

I used my 95 Ranger with the 2.3 to pull a 5x10 with a Boss and Blazer on it, with no problems. You shouldn't have any with yours. Only thing I would worry about would be the sway factor. I had my trailer built for me, and it pulled straight as an arrow. Never went over 80, and it was rare to go that fast.

 

Read some of the other towing questions in this forum. Lots of good information that pertains to your concerns if not your specific vehicle.

 

Make sure you do put in a Tranny cooler. Those Fords are really bad on trannys on the Ranger/Exploder ,,, err uhh, explorer. Sorry I used to be a mechanic, and got tired of working on em. Your Explorer is rated to pull it no problems at all. When you get to a hilly area, I would probly take it out of OD and put it into D. You dont want the tranny shifting gears alot. The TCC (torque converter lockup) will still work, which will also take some heat away from the tranny. Also, for what you are towing, you could actually just use the bumper hitch point (if eqipped). Just buy a ball, and put it on there, make sure it has the right size shank for your bumper thou. Other than that, make sure to perform tranny services like you owners manual suggests, and you should be ok.

 

Worst advise evar..

 

Like to know where you got your information from, or lack thereof. I pull trailers for a living, I know more about trailers, DOT requirements, car/truck limitations, size requirements, etc than you could probly shake a stick at, Of couse I am also DOT certified. Not the worst advice ever. Practical, effective, cost wise advise. If he was hauling more, I would probly say otherwise. But for what he is doing, a regular Class 3 hitch would be over kill, and a light duty class 3 or class 2 is the same as the bumper hitch on his explorer.

 

yea no shi* i think the bumper pull is rated what 3500#'s? just watch the angle and you'll be fine, save the money for some quad accessories or something, i've pulled a 6x14 with 2 formans on it with a 93 subaru legacy and did fine, you will have 0 problems