2006 4.0L Supercharger

[higney85]

My wife and I are entertaining the idea of getting a travel trailer and would like to address the towing ability of the vehicle. We are just over 5350# currently with the class III/IV package. The Ex has the 3.73 gears. I noticed the V-8 comes with a much higher weight and would be interested in possibly a supercharger kit on the v-6 to up weight. The trailer GVWR is 5400 and all the other weights are under the current V-6 limits. It even has the trailer brakes. Being that we are only #50 over I would think the supercharger kit and larger trans cooler would complete the job. Problem is that I can't find a supercharger kit for the 4.0L V-6 for 2006....

Ideas?

 

[tmike]

Get a F150 and not worry about it.

 

[King of So Cal]

Trade your v6 for a V8 ex

 

[thebrakeman]

Don't know about the supercharger, but consider the 5-speed was only designed to handle the output from the old 2-valve 4.6L V8 (250ft-lbs or so?). '06 4.6L-3V is 300ft-lbs, but it gets the new 6-speed designed for it. Supercharger on a 4.0L might give you 350ft-lbs or more. That not just a cooling issue. I'd be concerned about the trans itself.

Regarding your towing ability:
5350 max tow limit means that you can tow 5350 lbs with a driver and nothing else in the truck. If your wife weighs 120 lbs (?), then your limit is down to 5230. Put in a couple of kids, down to 5100. Put a stocked cooler in the back, down to 5000. Etc, etc, etc.

A more accurate way to look at it is to start with your 10,000 lb GCVWR (combined rating). Ex is probably about 5000 curb weight, leaving only 5000 lbs. Now subtract your weight, the wife, kids, cooler, etc, and you may only have 4500 lbs available (or less).

I LOVE the drivability of a blown car. I drove an '89 Probe GT for 10 years, and only sold it (2005) because parts were getting pricey. But the cost associated will be MUCH more than trading your V6 model for a V8 model, and you likely would end up with a vehicle that shouldn't tow any more than you can today, without damaging something.

Look for an '07 with V8 and tow package for up to 7300 lbs MAX. You'll actually get BETTER gas mileage than you do with your '06 V6 with tow package (due to the 6-speed, 3.55 combination) when not towing. And you'll gain an aux input for your mp3 player, too!!!!

 

[thebrakeman]

PS,
This all assumes that the trailer you are looking at will actually weight 5400 lbs when loaded. Most trailer I see have 1500-2000 lbs between their dry weight and GVWR. But it's well-known in the camping sites that I frequent, that 800 lbs over dry weight is a good average estimate for the actual loaded trailer weight.

So, if this is a 17-19-ft trailer with a dry weight down around 3600 lbs, you might be fine with what you have today.

 

[higney85]

Thanks for the feedback. I am aware of the total weight/dry weight and we figured 5000 total behind the ex was the max loaded. Unfortunately all the layouts we like flirt with that number or are already over. The question now is a trade for the V-8 or wait until I get a new vehicle in the next year or two and I get a truck for the tow job.

 

[2000StreetRod]

Not just power

My wife and I bought a 24 foot travel trailer and 1997 Tahoe with towing package to tow it for our 25th wedding anniversary. I believe the trailer weight was comparable to what you are considering. Stability is as important as power when towing a trailer. I think you would be happier with a full size SUV rather than a mid-size. A fifth wheel is much more stable than a normal trailer.