2000 Explorer V6 - good for towing?

[Mscanon99]

Hi All,

I have been searching for a v8 Explorer/Mountaineer but they are not easy to find in my price range around here.

I don't want one with over 100K and not looking for anything older than a 1998, so that leaves me with a few to pick from.

I found a 2000 XLT with the V6, 83K and in good shape for 4500.00. I do not think this has a towing package...so I will need to build it out. What am I looking at to do this? Any advice? Are the trannys on these solid? by adding the cooler will I be OK.

Looking to tow a 2500 lbs boat.

Thanks

MS

 

[James909]

You should be fine towing with the V6. Having the right gearing however is critical. Try to find out what gears this truck has, you want either 3.73's or 4.10's. The transmission on this truck isn't too bad, much better than the earlier A4LD's. If you bought this truck you should definitely add a class 3 hitch and tranny cooler. You may also want to consider an auxiliary tranny filter and temp gauge.

 

[Mscanon99]

Thanks....how do I tell what gears this truck has? Is there a code in the VIN number? I am actually looking at two. Same year, both with about 85K, one is an Eddie Bauer the other an XLT. Both of them are from Ford Dealers in my area. The XLT is about 4500, the EB will be a few hundred more.

Thanks....MS

 

[James909]

If you look on the driver's door sticker there is a category called Axle. Under this category there is a code. Compare that code to this chart:http://www.explorerforum.com/ntrprize/Axle.htm and that is your rear axle gear ratio. There is also a tag on the differential itself that states the ratio.

 

[Mscanon99]

Hi,

I checked out this Explorer...Thanks for the help with the codes....it has 3.55 gears...how does this impact the trailering?

Thanks again,

MS

 

[James909]

It looks like the towing capacity for that truck would be 4,940 for 2wd and 4,740 for 4wd. If the truck had 3.73's or 4.10's then the capacities would be 5,940 for 2wd and 5,740 for 4wd.

The chart is listed here:http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=176988

So as you can see you would pick up 1,000 pounds in capacity with deeper gearing. However assuming that the boat is 2,500 pounds without the trailer it is probably about 3,500 with trailer and gear. So you are well within range of the trucks capacity, but keep in mind that the higher the truck's capacity the better it will tow this load. Also realize that the weight adds up fast when counting gear and passengers. So basically if you're not going to need to tow anything heavier than this boat then I think you will be OK with those gears. If you really like these Explorers and are getting a good price then I wouldn't really let this stop you. But if you plan on towing anything heavier in the future I would try to find one with deeper gears. You should if possible though try to get the boat and trailer to a scale to get some real numbers just to be sure that it isn't heavier than you think. Also a general rule of thumb with any vehicle is that you should try to stay within 75% of the towing capacity for the best towing. That would mean that you would want to stay within about 3,500 pounds when towing with this truck.

 

[Mscanon99]

Thanks James...

I actually did get the boat/trailer weighed, its only 17 feet, but I wanted to be sure so I took it to a public scale....the boat/motor/trailer are 2580 lbs. Add in the battery/gas/gear, I figure another 300 lbs, putting me at about 2900 lbs.

I am having a hard time finding a v8, there are a few nice ones around in the 80K mile range, however they are about $7K to 8K and I did not want to go that high. I am of the school that a bigger motor works less, therefor the gas MPH is not that much different and the reliablity is higher.

I have another post about a sport model, they seem to be everywhere and fairly reasonable, anything about the sport that makes towing an issue? I am aware of the short wheelbase, but not sure what the impact would be with this boat.

Thanks again,

MS

 

[James909]

Oh, OK I didn't realize that it was 2,500 pounds with the trailer. Then I don't think you will have a problem at all. I think you will be happy with the V6 which I think is the SOHC engine, not sure though. But this engine is much more efficient than the V8 motor which you may appreciate with todays gas prices. Regarding the sport, you have the shorter wheelbase, like you mentioned which may cause the trailer to push the truck around a little bit more but I don't think this will be an issue with a 2,500 pound load. One concern with the sport though is that some of the sports (maybe all of them I don't remember) came with a monoleaf setup in the rear. This means that they just had one leaf spring versus a leaf pack. This may not support the weight of the trailer tongue the best. But that is an easy fix, just get a 4 door spring pack from a junkyard and it will bolt directly in place of the monoleaf.

 

[Gator Jeff]

Just want to echo James' comments on getting 4-door leaf packs, as well as the auxillary tranny cooler with a secondary filter and temp gauge.

Replacing the leaf springs is easy by the way, assuming the bolts don't give you too much grief. While you're at it, you might as well replace the shackles as well. They tend to rust out, especially in our neck of the woods and they're only $40 from the stealership. That's also a good time to replace the shocks, especially the rears if it looks like the shocks have some miles on them. There are lots of threads about the leaf-spring swap, shackles and shocks. As long as you have a couple jackstands, some good socket wrenches, lots of PB Blaster and some patience, it's an easy job.

 

[Silver X]

(snip)....One concern with the sport though is that some of the sports (maybe all of them I don't remember) came with a monoleaf setup in the rear. This means that they just had one leaf spring versus a leaf pack....

Just to clarify....The '01+ 2dr Sports have multi-leaf rear springs.

Some sag a little bit though and may need an add-a-leaf kit to help carry a load. Mine started sagging right after I bought it in '02. Eventually lost a couple of inches of height, so I upgraded the springs. My next-door neighbor's '01 Sport is completely stock, but still hasn't sagged at all. He tows with it all the time too.

The '01+ 2dr Sports (and Sport Tracs) also have larger diameter front brakes than the rest of the Gen 1&2 Explorers.

I doubt you'll have a problem towing that boat with any Explorer that is in good condition.

 

[Mscanon99]

OK, I bit the hook, my first Explorer.....based on your feedback, I went ahead with this.

1998 Sport, 4.0 SOHC, Auto, 4x4 (Auto/4High/4Low), 4.10 rear, clean one owner- 63K Miles. The Ford dealer had the service records, they flushed (power) the trans at about 55K, the coolant around the same time. Normal service otherwise including oil changes and basic stuff.

It actually has a class III hitch installed, the owner used it for a bike rack, yes...I was a bit suspicious, however I checked it out, there is no wiring...just the hitch (Reese) attached.

I looked it over real good, it does have a mono leaf which I should replace with the full size springs. There seems to be two coolers...one in front of the radiator about 8" x 10" and a smaller one under the radiator at about 2"x 8".

What should I do on this? I am thining of the tranny and that I might want to add a second, larger cooler, any suggestions/links to look at? Also, what is the second cooler for?

I spoke with the service department, the guy I was talking to was not an expert...he suggested that these trucks had some "trans banding" problems when they got up in miles and that a second cooler might be a good idea.

I think this truck has a 4 speed auto, any recommendations?

Thanks....MS

 

[Nick1421]

OK, I bit the hook, my first Explorer.....based on your feedback, I went ahead with this.

1998 Sport, 4.0 SOHC, Auto, 4x4 (Auto/4High/4Low), 4.10 rear, clean one owner- 63K Miles. The Ford dealer had the service records, they flushed (power) the trans at about 55K, the coolant around the same time. Normal service otherwise including oil changes and basic stuff.

It actually has a class III hitch installed, the owner used it for a bike rack, yes...I was a bit suspicious, however I checked it out, there is no wiring...just the hitch (Reese) attached.

I looked it over real good, it does have a mono leaf which I should replace with the full size springs. There seems to be two coolers...one in front of the radiator about 8" x 10" and a smaller one under the radiator at about 2"x 8".

What should I do on this? I am thining of the tranny and that I might want to add a second, larger cooler, any suggestions/links to look at? Also, what is the second cooler for?

I spoke with the service department, the guy I was talking to was not an expert...he suggested that these trucks had some "trans banding" problems when they got up in miles and that a second cooler might be a good idea.

I think this truck has a 4 speed auto, any recommendations?


Thanks....MS

I looked it over real good, it does have a mono leaf which I should replace with the full size springs. There seems to be two coolers...one in front of the radiator about 8" x 10" and a smaller one under the radiator at about 2"x 8".




These 2 coolers as you call them, one is for your A/C the other is your Steering . your Tranny cooler actually runs through your Radiator. Look at the drivers side of your radiator and you will see the lines from your tranny.

 

[Gator Jeff]

Aldive has a thread where he talks about installing a transmission cooler along with filter and temp gauge on a gen 2 that should be very helpful. You should be able to find that and several others with a search.

 

[Silver X]

.......I looked it over real good, it does have a mono leaf which I should replace with the full size springs. There seems to be two coolers...one in front of the radiator about 8" x 10" and a smaller one under the radiator at about 2"x 8"......

The 2" x 8" one is the power steering cooler.

The 8" x 10" cooler is the factory external trans cooler. It is in addition to the one inside the radiator. Most 4x4 Explorers that I've seen had them. Not sure if it was with a towing package or what. Mine had the cooler and trailer wiring, but no hitch from the factory. Should be easy to replace the cooler with a larger one if you need to.

You should at least add that auxilliary transmission filter that Jeff mentioned.

 

[Glock40cal]

Just a note on the wiring. I Just put trailer wiring on my 2000 XLS and found out a few things. I do not have the factory tow package, but i did have the wiring prep. Behind the drivers side tail light is a plug, it is a round 8 pin female plug with 4 of the 8 pins occupied, it has a red dust cap on it that just pulls out.

Not having the tow package i was a little confused about why i had that plug. After searching on here and talking to service techs at the dealer i was still at a loss. Everywhere I went to buy a wiring harness, they wanted to sell me the $40 splice in kind. After a little more reading on here i came to the conclusion that i didn't need that and went with this one http://www.etrailer.com/pc-VWH~118241.htm

What i think is that Ford didn't use 2 different sets of wiring when producing these trucks, just one that had the trailer wiring prep.

So if you have that plug behind the drivers side tail light, that is all you need.