In a few months I'm renting a travel trailer and taking the wife and kid out for a week. Thinking about buying a camper, but we want to try it out with a rental first. We're in NJ, picking up the rental trailer, and driving out the PA turnpike to Pittsburgh, about 350 miles. The trailer is labeled a 24 footer (so figure 27-28 tip to tip) and about 4,800lbs dry. The rental is supposed to include a weight-distributing hitch and sway bar(s). Not sure what brand or type.
My Explorer is a 2010 with a V8 and the III/IV tow package. I bought it used last year, and now at 30K miles. Just did some maintenance this past weekend:
* Oil/filter change (Mobil 1 oil & Ford filter)
* new fuel filter
* cleaned the MAF
* cleaned air filter and box (filter still looked clean yet)
* Chevron/techron F.I. cleaner
the brakes looked almost new still, and the tires have plenty of tread. just some light surface cracks where the sidewall meets the tread. checked the date and they're from ~ June '09, so not too old.
Planning to install an older brake controller my dad has.
Is there anything I am missing or should be looking over before we head out? Biggest concern is safety b/c I'll have my wife and little girl on board. I'm not so concerned about handling the weight of the trailer, but the length may sway the truck a little? Even towing a little 5x8 enclosed utility trailer, I could feel it push the truck around a little. What's the longest trailer length we can safely go on our explorers with a travel trailer? I still have time to 'downgrade' to a shorter trailer.
Am thinking about getting some clip on side mirror extensions. Are those necessary for just one week? Keeping in mind I'll probably be trolling in the right lane 90% of the time!
Should I put more than the suggested 32 lbs of air in the tires to tow?
The shop guys at the dealership told me I'd be ok with 87 octane towing. Any reason to run 89 or higher?
Anyone know if the 2010 tow package has an auxilary trans cooler? Or is it just the cooler that's built into the radiator? I think I read somewhere that there's an extra trans cooler on the tow package.
The 2010 has the electronic sway control feature that's supposed to tap the necessary rear brakes to keep the trailer from "wagging" the truck. Anybody here have experience with this feature? Does it work as intended, or do you end up turning it off?
My explorer has the backup warning feature, which is really cool, but a annoying when you're backup up a trailer. I can shut it off, but I think it resets every time I turn the ignition off and restart. Is there a way to disable it so it stays off until I turn it back on?
Thanks for any info guys.
My Explorer is a 2010 with a V8 and the III/IV tow package. I bought it used last year, and now at 30K miles. Just did some maintenance this past weekend:
* Oil/filter change (Mobil 1 oil & Ford filter)
* new fuel filter
* cleaned the MAF
* cleaned air filter and box (filter still looked clean yet)
* Chevron/techron F.I. cleaner
the brakes looked almost new still, and the tires have plenty of tread. just some light surface cracks where the sidewall meets the tread. checked the date and they're from ~ June '09, so not too old.
Planning to install an older brake controller my dad has.
Is there anything I am missing or should be looking over before we head out? Biggest concern is safety b/c I'll have my wife and little girl on board. I'm not so concerned about handling the weight of the trailer, but the length may sway the truck a little? Even towing a little 5x8 enclosed utility trailer, I could feel it push the truck around a little. What's the longest trailer length we can safely go on our explorers with a travel trailer? I still have time to 'downgrade' to a shorter trailer.
Am thinking about getting some clip on side mirror extensions. Are those necessary for just one week? Keeping in mind I'll probably be trolling in the right lane 90% of the time!
Should I put more than the suggested 32 lbs of air in the tires to tow?
The shop guys at the dealership told me I'd be ok with 87 octane towing. Any reason to run 89 or higher?
Anyone know if the 2010 tow package has an auxilary trans cooler? Or is it just the cooler that's built into the radiator? I think I read somewhere that there's an extra trans cooler on the tow package.
The 2010 has the electronic sway control feature that's supposed to tap the necessary rear brakes to keep the trailer from "wagging" the truck. Anybody here have experience with this feature? Does it work as intended, or do you end up turning it off?
My explorer has the backup warning feature, which is really cool, but a annoying when you're backup up a trailer. I can shut it off, but I think it resets every time I turn the ignition off and restart. Is there a way to disable it so it stays off until I turn it back on?
Thanks for any info guys.