Is a Ford Explorer a good vehicle for towing 26M?

[Y.B.Normal]

I'm looking for a good vehicle for towing my 2005 26M w/ 50hp OB. Is a Ford Explorer a good towing vehicle?
I'm sure I need a HD towing package, but is the V-8 better than a V-6? Any other options suggested?
I'm guessing my total towing weight is less than 4k lbs with all equipment and including a "fudge factor".

[pokerrick1]

I had a 2005 Explorer I just sold, Eddie Bauer edition, so it was comfortable for long trips, V-6 and it towed my 2006 Mac with NO PROBLEMS ever. Mine was also a 4 X 4.

Rick

[Oskar 26M]

It might be a good idea to put the boat/trailer rig over a weigh bridge before you decide on a new tow vehicle.

I thought I had "worked out" the weight of my boat from the bare boat and trailer weights from the Mac web site plus other "known" weights like the motor, fuel, batteries, anchor, water, etc, and thought I had an all-up weight of about 1800kg or 4100 lbs but found it was a lot more than I'd estimated when I weighed it (2150kg, 4740 lb, with still more gear due to be added). Rigging, cushions, trailer brakes and stuff adds a lot!

It was a costly mistake because I had bought a V6 tow vehicle rated for 2000kg, 4400 lb. It towed the boat easily enough, but I was towing illegally because the boat-trailer rig was over the legal limit for the tow vehicle mass. Worse, the steel Mac trailer was only rated for 1905 kg 4200lb, so there would have been a double insurance whammy if I had had an accident.

Now I have a Toyota Land Cruiser V8 diesel rated for 3500 kg, 7700 lb, and an upgraded trailer 2800kg, 6170 lb.

[NiceAft]

Y,

This is a topic which has been exhaustively processed If you do a search on this topic, I do believe you will have enough reading to occupy your time for quite awhile

Ray

[Snyds]

What year? Where do you live (hills are important!)?

That V-6 is around 5000 pound towing capacity which will do the trick but, like Oskar said, could be pushing it.
The V-8 is around 7000

Add a little to each if it's not 4x4, and after 2006 they beefed up the V-8. I used to love my Explorer but sold it because the transmissions on the old ones (pre 04ish) went out religiously at 100,000 miles. Last I heard my old one was going strong at 160,000 with nothing but oil changes!

Steve

[Y.B.Normal]

I reviewed the tow vehicle section and found a ton of listings on a lot of vehicles; I just wanted to narrow it down to people with experience with this one.
While I live in Wisconsin, which is relatively flat, I do plan to tow it to southwestern PA (mountains), and TX in the next few years. Most of my towing will be under 600 miles with the majority under 300.

[Snyds]

I used to pull a enclosed 2 axle trailer full of Haz-Mat equipment with a 99 v6 explorer for the fire department I used to work for. I would guestimate that it was about as heavy if not a little less than the Mac. It did great on the flats but the poor thing would DIE going up the pass, it was the cities and we'd floor it anyhow. It always made it at about 30 mph, hotter than a son-of-a-gun and stinking of burning tranny fluid and coolant. So I'd say, if mountains are an option for you and if you can afford it I would defiantly recommend the v8.

Steve

and yes, we would turn the lights and sirens off to save embarrassment!

[NiceAft]

I have a 6 cylinder, 2002 GMC Envoy. I have pulled my Mac up to the Adirondacks many times. I have never had any problems. That 6 works sweet! What I did do was have a transmission cooler installed. Four years ago it cost me about $100 U.S. The investment was worth it. I can not emphasize enough how important it is to have that installed. Also, if you have "overdrive", avoid using it when going up those mountains. The shifting back and forth will heat up your transmission. My Envoy has an RPM of about 3000 at highway speed when I do not use the overdrive.


Ray

[TAW02]

I'm looking for a good vehicle for towing my 2005 26M w/ 50hp OB. Is a Ford Explorer a good towing vehicle?
I'm sure I need a HD towing package, but is the V-8 better than a V-6? Any other options suggested?
I'm guessing my total towing weight is less than 4k lbs with all equipment and including a "fudge factor".

Yes ... A Ford Explorer is a good towing vehicle. Any full-frame vehicle with rear-wheel drive and a tow rating of 3K will do. But when you ask such questions as 'Is a V8 better than a V6?', I have to wonder how you mean that question. From what standpoint? From the standpoint of affordability or just plain 'a need to know basis'.

Obiously yes a V8 makes a big difference over a V6. In some cases you will get better fuel economy using a V8 over a V6 when towing a trailer, believe it or not!

A trailer option or package that comes from the factory is also awesome in that some even include trailor select modes that you can select at the dashboard. Simply, this limits the transmission from locking the torque convertor into direct drive or overdrive. It also extends shift points to take advantage of high end engine torque.

Other trailor package advantages are transmission and oil coolers. Excessive temperatures created from towing a trailor can kill a vehicle. The engine and it's entire drive-train componenets are at stake here. For example ... Ford Automatic transmission are pretty heavy duty, but can siphon most of its transmission fluid straight out the vent tube and onto the road when heat gets the better of it. It doesn't take much of this for the transmission then to burn itself out. Clutches are toast. Exterior case temperatures can read in the neighborhood of 300 plus degrees during the summer months in Florida. In order for the transmission to 'swing this sort of action', it must have an additional cooler installed either from the factory or as an add-on kit from a parts store.

Big T

[Y.B.Normal]

Thanks all for answering my questions. You are all a great help.
Big T - What I meant by "is a V-8 better than a V-6" is that in some cases there isn't that much difference in
torque and towing capacity between some V-8s and 6s. I know in this case the 8 gets better gas mileage than the 6.
Some vehicles are near the top limits with a 6 in regards to weight etc. and get worse mpg than the same vehicle with an
8 which is "hardly breaking a sweat" pulling the vehicle.

[NiceAft]

and get worse mpg than the same vehicle with an 8 which is "hardly breaking a sweat" pulling the vehicle.

Which is one of the reasons I mentioned my Envoy. With its six, it pulls the Mac beautifully. Without pulling the Mac it gets 22MPG on the highway. With pulling the Mac, it gets 10MPG on the highway, and this is a six and a half year old SUV. If you already have the Ford Explorer, never mind. If you don't, look into a used Envoy. They do make new ones with a six that have a towing capacity of 5700 lbs. GMC used to run a TV commercial showing an Envoy pulling a Mac. I happen to like the luxury that the vehicle gives. If you're not into that, that's OK too!

Ray

[Matt19020]

I have a Ford Explorer Sport Trac and we towed it from Wissconsin to Philadelphia area of Pennsylvania and there were no problems. I have a V-6 with a limited slip rear but no 4X4. I wish I did have the 4X4 I fear the day I may get stuck on a wet or slimy ramp and may need the extra traction, but after year two with the boat this has not been an issue, there appears to be enough tounge weight to keep the wheels from spinning.

[bscott]

Make sure you install a frame mounted hitch as the OEM bumper hitch is not adequate to handle the load.

Bob

[Y.B.Normal]

I haven't purchased a vehicle yet; I may wait until closer to Spring. I plan to get one with a factory-installed HD towing
option and get an equalizer hitch for the trailer. I like the new equalizer with sway control mentioned on another
recent post.
Regarding an Envoy, I'm concerned about the low reliability ratings I've seen. How accurate are these? Are you Envoy owners out there having reliability problems?
Dale

[John Christian]

Had 2 Buick Rainiers and 1 Envoy, same vehicle basically. They towed the Mac fine and I didn't have any issues. Not sure where your concerns about reliability are coming from. I think that platform has usually been in the middle of the pack in the JD Power reliability rankings. You could probably get a 2007 lease turn in for very cheap about now.

JC