97 Towing Questions...

[macgyvr]

Planning to tow with a 1997 Explorer XLT (completely stock). Has the Control Trac Fulltime 4wheel drive. Its a 4dr with the 4.0 (160hp version), auto trans, and 3.73 gears (i believe). How much can I tow with this truck. The rear bumper says its rated to 3500 pounds, has anyone ever tested it up to this amount. I'm planning to flat tow a vehicle with the 97 Explorer, the vehicle weighs right around 3500 to 4000 pounds. Will the Explorer flat tow this? I dont want to have to buy a frame mounted hitch unless I have to.

Thanks for your time.

mac 'new to the forum' gyvr

 

[Robert]

If your ratio is 3.73 then your maximum tow limit is 5600 lbs. If you have a 3.55 then it is 4600 lbs. I would never attempt to pull the weight you want to pull with the bumper. It is rated for 3500 lbs. max! If you try pulling 3500-4000 lbs with it and you hit a bad bump on the highway your bumper is quite likely to get bent very badly, possibly dislodging the trailer. I have seen several factory bumpers that have the center ball-mount section bent down from too much of a load. For the $125 it costs for a hitch, that is what I would use (actually I do). When two vehicles and other peoples lives are at stake, it is a small price to pay.

 

[ksaldibar]

i also recomend purchasing a frame mounted hitch. not only can you have many accesories to mount on it, but it is a far safer way of towing such a load. hope all goes we..

-ken

 

[jimbo74]

put on the frame mounted hitch...it will be better in the long run

 

[macgyvr]

Guys thanks for your replys. I totally forgot that I had asked that question here. As it turns out, we went and kind of gambled with the step bumper and pulled the Jeep with the Explorer. We put 1100 miles flat towing from northern Indiana to Tellico. All trouble free. The Explorer did a very good job. I put all my tools and spare parts for the jeep in the back of the Explorer and kept the jeep as light as possible. We were pushed around a bit, but taking it easy we didnt have hardly any problems. I was very satisfied with performance of the Explorer. We even got 14 mpg. The thing that was bad at first was we weren't getting it to shift into one of the two 2nd gears, once we moved the floor mat back, we had all the 2nd gears we wanted. We could keep the speed limit very nicely.

Would I do it again, maybe. Currently I'm working to get my old 79 Bronco in shape for towing, but I wouldn't hesitate to definately consider it. But I would go with a frame mount hitch instead of the step bumper, one trip was enough for that thing.

mac 'deep down always a ford man' gyvr