Towing with a Ford Explorer 4.0 V6?

[leadmacdog]

Any one tow with this. I would like to know if it would tow an 18'ft with a 150 and an 19 with a 200 once in a while. Most of the time my Pantera II stays on the lift. But i want a good tow vehicle for my son also which would be the 18ft. What do you think

[jasonalmy]

I'm not an expert on this by any means, but I've towed with my Jeep Cherokee and it wasn't the smoothest ride. It's also a 4.0 V6.

Pulling it won't be the problem so much as stopping. Make sure the brakes are in very good shape. Trailer brakes would be a plus also. Due to the short wheelbase, it does bounce around a bit. Wouldn't be that big a deal if towing short distances.

I did buy a Suburban just for towing. I just feel so much more comfortable/safer towing with that than I did with my Jeep.

[tcesni]

I have a friend who tows his Procraft 200 with a 200 Merc using a 4.0 Explorer. He has been doing this for about 5 years but his trips are no more than 3 hours one way. Its a single axle trailer but I assume it has trailer brakes.

[rwells]

I have a 2002 Explorer Sport Trac with 4.0 V-6 and it tows my Champ 186 with 175. I two about 1 1/2 hours from an elevation of 1500 to a max of 4500 then down to the lake at around 2100. It does fine up and down the mountains but you have to push it pretty hard to get 75 mph our of it. The tranny was doing some slipping so I changed the fliud and filter and it seems much better now. The down side is that gas mileage goes down the tubes when towing. My mileage goes from about 18 in town without towing to around 10 when towing and pushing it hard. I just sold it to my daughter and bought a 2001 F 150 with a 5.4 V-8. Much less stress on the new rig!

[colreb2000]

I've been towing my 19ft Blazer with 175 merc (dual axle) for two years now with a Explorer sport with the 4.0 V6 (SOHC). I haven't had any problems what so ever. Just make sure you give yourself room to stop, it takes a bit longer.

[Schuler]

I tow my Venom 17 w/ a 115 w/ my 4.0 Cherokee in overdrive. It has plenty of power, but rear drum brakes. You just have to be careful.

[Tundra]

Just figure 80% of the vehicle tow rating and you are good to go. Less if towing in the mountains.

[2ndCajun]

Get a V8 Explorer. I have a 2001 Explorer with a 5.0 and avg. 19.6 mpg city and highway and 16 mpg highway towing a 285 Stratos with a 175. Trailer has brakes and I keep them adjusted. Definately would want trailer brakes that are working for a panic stop. I had a V6 Explorer before that and the mileage wasn't much better.

[Hawkman]

I used to tow 18 ft stryker fglass with 4 door 4wd. Did good but could have used some trailer brakes when wet as my '91 didin't have the front antilock brakes.

[Owen Matheson]

I tow an 18 ft with my 4.0 SOHC Ranger. Total tow wt. is about 3300 lbs. Tows great, mileage is ok if you keep speed below 75. As others have said, leave room to stop.

[Neilslure]

I tow with a 2001 F-150 with 4.2 V6. I towed a 18 ft Stratos with it for 4 years. Did well except on long hills on the interstate. I am now using it to tow my 21 ft Skeeter. Tows about the same as the Stratos did except for less fuel mileage. I would guess you should be fine. Once I get most of my boat paid for, I will be getting a new F150 with a V8.

[gkropat]

Neil, I've also been towing with the 4.2 V6 (1999 F150).. to pull my TR20. Sorry to say, I'm on my third transmission. (replaced at 37k and again at 150k miles and back in the shop after 10 months on #3 Tranny). Any transmission problems on your side??

[unclemark]

I used to tow with a 4.0 Ranger 4x4 with no probs.....

[2100greenmonster]

I pull a 21' Gambler with tandem trailer with a 2001 explorer sprort 4.0 L. I haven't had any problems and it backs up awesome.

[mark482vs]

I have both Mercury Mt. one has V8 its a O4, and V6 is a O8, Sure the V8 is stronger up hills but use the 6 and once I learned to drive it different I like it I pull a double axle trailer with a 482 Ranger on it. The big thing is no boat on back of either 90 percent of time and 6 does get better milage.

[racefan]

I use the 4.0 explorer to tow my 17 foot ranger. It does fine and only get worked hard on big long hills.

[LuckyToo]

Over the years, I have towed a 19 foot Ranger on a tandum axle trailer with brakes, with four (92,98, 03 and 08) Ford Explorer 4.0 V6. Always towed with the over drive off and never had a problem; except for the lower gas mileage. Had a couple of panic stops but the vehicle's ABS brakes and trailer's brakes prevented any mishaps.

[calfish1]

had a ford ranger extra cab 4.0 v-6. towed great 19 ft bass boat ranger and a 19 ft boston whaler ( hvy). three things i would do to make it better / easier is put a 3" cat back exhaust system ( i used a gibson ) kn air filter and carbon fiber brakes. amazing how just the cat back and filter improved milage and get up. the brakes really improved stopping over stock as neither one had trailer brakes.