Gen IV Towing questions

[donstevens]

I looked at two 06 Explorers today, both with V8s, both with 45 axle codes (3.55 open) and both with Class three hitches and 7 pin connectors.

In Gen 3 vehicles the 3:55 open diffs were only rated to tow 3240lbs..

Why would they put a class three hitch on a 3:55 vehicle? Does traction control and the 6 speed trans increase towing capcity on the base V8?

What are these 3:55 V8 rated to tow?

Searching for answers before I buy,

Don

 

[donstevens]

Addendum -

Can anyone tell me the code for the factory Class III tow option?

Is it in the VIN?

The two vehicles I am looking at "appear" to have a class III towing package but I can't tell for sure.

Thanks in adavance.

 

[Beargap]

The V8 with the Class III/IV hitch installed from the factory is rated at approximately 5000 lbs for a standard hitch or 7000 lbs with a load leveling hitch. We have an '08 Mounty and pull a 5000 lb horse trailer with no problem. You will note the transmission staying in lower gears for a much longer time, but there is plenty of torque with the V8

There is a link here somewhere to reprint the window sticker if you have the VIN. That would show the upgraded tow package if it was installed at the factory.

=Vic=

 

[DavidEBSmith]

There's a guide to decoding the VIN Dead Link Removed, but towing package is not in the VIN.

The axle codes, etc. are on the door plate, which you can decode Dead Link Removed, but towing package isn't on that, either.

As someone pointed out, your best bet is the window sticker tool that's in a sticky post at the top of the forum, or go Dead Link Removed and replace the XXXXXXs with your VIN.

Mine shows CLASS II TRAILER TOW/HITCH under standard equipment and CLASS III/IV TRAILER TOW PKG under optional equipment.

 

[steve6534]

I looked at two 06 Explorers today, both with V8s, both with 45 axle codes (3.55 open) and both with Class three hitches and 7 pin connectors.

In Gen 3 vehicles the 3:55 open diffs were only rated to tow 3240lbs..

Why would they put a class three hitch on a 3:55 vehicle? Does traction control and the 6 speed trans increase towing capcity on the base V8?

What are these 3:55 V8 rated to tow?

Searching for answers before I buy,

Don

I don't remember the specific ratios offhand but the V8 only shipped with one ratio of gear and the V6 varied depending on if you purchased the towing option. I remember vividly as I searched for a leftover 06 for quite a while looking for the right options I needed. I got the V8 and it's rated for 5000 weight carrying / 7400 weight distributing.

 

[donstevens]

The Link isn't working.

I bought one of the above mentioned vehicles. I call it a truck. It looks like a factory tow package.

I called Ford for the build sheet and they claim their research department will contact me within a few days to tell me how my vehicle left the factory.

Thanks for the info.

Don

 

[z0lt3c]

For 2006 at least, the V6 was equipped standard with a 3.55 and if you upgraded to the HD towing package, a 3.73 axle was installed instead. All 2006 V8 receive the 3.73 axle as standard, regardless of Class II or Clas III hitch option. Finding 2 V8's w/o 3.73 axes would be odd. My 06 V8 left the factory w/ a Class II hitch but has the 3.73 rear axle (I had this verified when I purchased). I added an aftermarket class III hitch.

 

[DavidEBSmith]

The Link isn't working.

Yeah it is.

Right click on the link, copy the link, paste it into your browser's address bar.

Go to where the XXXXXXXXXs are in the link, replace with your VIN.

Hit Enter.

It returns a PDF of your window sticker.

 

[gt_2001]

For 2006 at least, the V6 was equipped standard with a 3.55 and if you upgraded to the HD towing package, a 3.73 axle was installed instead. All 2006 V8 receive the 3.73 axle as standard, regardless of Class II or Clas III hitch option. Finding 2 V8's w/o 3.73 axes would be odd. My 06 V8 left the factory w/ a Class II hitch but has the 3.73 rear axle (I had this verified when I purchased). I added an aftermarket class III hitch.

I'm pretty sure in 06 all V8's had 3.55's with or without a class 3 hitch!

 

[donstevens]

I keep getting this message:

"We are temporarily unable to retrieve an online window sticker for this vehicle. Please try again later.
If the problem persists, please contact the help desk for this web site."

I must be doing something wrong.

 

[donstevens]

Yeah it is.

Right click on the link, copy the link, paste it into your browser's address bar.

Go to where the XXXXXXXXXs are in the link, replace with your VIN.

Hit Enter.

It returns a PDF of your window sticker.

I triedit o another computer thinking that my office computer may have some kind of firewall. Same result.

Might this have anything to do with being an "Elite Explorer".

Dave if I send you my VIN will you try it then send me the PDF?

Don
p911sc44@hotmail.com

 

[z0lt3c]

I'm pretty sure in 06 all V8's had 3.55's with or without a class 3 hitch!

Well I just checked out my V8 myself, now knowing to look at the axle tag and sure enough, it says I have a 3.55 axle. I was told all the V8's came w/ the 3.73, like the V6 w/ HD towing... but apparently that information was bad.

I keep getting this message:
"We are temporarily unable to retrieve an online window sticker for this vehicle. Please try again later.
If the problem persists, please contact the help desk for this web site."
I must be doing something wrong.

I get the same error and I'm on my home network.

 

[Bill MacLeod]

For 2006 at least, the V6 was equipped standard with a 3.55 and if you upgraded to the HD towing package, a 3.73 axle was installed instead. All 2006 V8 receive the 3.73 axle as standard, regardless of Class II or Clas III hitch option. Finding 2 V8's w/o 3.73 axes would be odd. My 06 V8 left the factory w/ a Class II hitch but has the 3.73 rear axle (I had this verified when I purchased). I added an aftermarket class III hitch.

I test drove/cheched over many 3V, V-8's prior to purchase and every one had 3:55's with open rear. My guess would be that the 3:55's are a match to the 6R60 trans as it has a very low first gear and no other ratio was available.
Now the 3rd gen V-8's were available with 3:73's and a locking rear. Test drove several of these.

 

[gt_2001]

I think the 06 model year was dumped from the database of window stickers. I couldn't get mine to work. I did try it on a few different computers with the same result.