I've been looking at a 2006 EB Explorer at the local dealership. It has 90,000 miles on it and is priced at about $15,000 even. It has the V8 4.6L and seems to be fully loaded with options including a class 2 hitch.
The purpose of this vehicle will be to go to the store (Home Depot, Lowes, etc) to pick up items which I cannot fit in my hatch back car. Also, a requirement is to be able to tow my dual axle trailer with a ~3000 pound vehicle on it. I believe this will total at least 3800 pounds dry.
I know that the tow rating on the class two hitch is 3500 pounds. I will easily surpass that weight. This being said, I would like to upgrade to a class 3/4 hitch.
Through my research, primarily on this board, I see that even though the explorer was available with a class 3 hitch, simply installing one won't resolve the other issues which my class 2 equipped vehicle is lacking as follows...
1) Likely has a 3.55 rear end, and not 3.73 as those with a class 3 from the factory do.
2) Smaller oil cooler (dealer mentioned the class 3 equipped Explorer had a larger oil cooler).
Is there anything else I am missing?
I saw a few threads where people said they have towed upwards of 6000 on a 3.55 rear end without issues. Keep in mind that I won't have a warranty on this vehicle. I typically tow about 100 miles at a time, but have been known to drive from the Northeast down to Myrtle Beach with a vehicle in tow in the past as well, so I do not want to let this be a hard 100 mile limit.
Side note, I also test drove a 2002 EB with the V8 and 77k miles for $10,500 and was much less impressed. It did, however, have an OE class 3 hitch. I will be having a 4 year loan on the vehicle, so I feel that the 2006 in 4 years will be a better investment at, granted, ~$100 more per month, than the 2002 by the end.
The purpose of this vehicle will be to go to the store (Home Depot, Lowes, etc) to pick up items which I cannot fit in my hatch back car. Also, a requirement is to be able to tow my dual axle trailer with a ~3000 pound vehicle on it. I believe this will total at least 3800 pounds dry.
I know that the tow rating on the class two hitch is 3500 pounds. I will easily surpass that weight. This being said, I would like to upgrade to a class 3/4 hitch.
Through my research, primarily on this board, I see that even though the explorer was available with a class 3 hitch, simply installing one won't resolve the other issues which my class 2 equipped vehicle is lacking as follows...
1) Likely has a 3.55 rear end, and not 3.73 as those with a class 3 from the factory do.
2) Smaller oil cooler (dealer mentioned the class 3 equipped Explorer had a larger oil cooler).
Is there anything else I am missing?
I saw a few threads where people said they have towed upwards of 6000 on a 3.55 rear end without issues. Keep in mind that I won't have a warranty on this vehicle. I typically tow about 100 miles at a time, but have been known to drive from the Northeast down to Myrtle Beach with a vehicle in tow in the past as well, so I do not want to let this be a hard 100 mile limit.
Side note, I also test drove a 2002 EB with the V8 and 77k miles for $10,500 and was much less impressed. It did, however, have an OE class 3 hitch. I will be having a 4 year loan on the vehicle, so I feel that the 2006 in 4 years will be a better investment at, granted, ~$100 more per month, than the 2002 by the end.
