How do I tow an 03 Limited

[Clodhopper]

Good Afternoon All,

Hope things are going well with everybody. Well the wife and I have decided we are going to try full time Rv"ing and the question we have what do we need to do to our 03 Limited 4x4 to tow it behind the motorhome. I have heard there is a kit that needs to be installed to put the transfer case into neutral.

If anybody have any thoughts on the subject it would be appreciated if you could drop a note.

Thanks, Steve the Clodhopper.

PS: Update on the driver's seat not moving I called the local stealership and gave him the symptoms and he said that it was the DSM (Divers Seat Modual) and he would have to order it Cost of $275.00 + Labor If I had him install it. I said thank you have a nice day:thumbdwn::thumbdwn:

 

[01STrunner]

Its just a kit that shifts the transfer case into neutral. I did a quick Google search and this popped up.

https://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/rv_trailer_towing/2007/07RV4wdtowAug06.pdf

I'm sure if the 4th gens can the 3rd gens can too. I'd say do a little searching around and you'll be able to find more info. GL

 

[Exproblems]

Good Afternoon All,

Hope things are going well with everybody. Well the wife and I have decided we are going to try full time Rv"ing and the question we have what do we need to do to our 03 Limited 4x4 to tow it behind the motorhome. I have heard there is a kit that needs to be installed to put the transfer case into neutral.

If anybody have any thoughts on the subject it would be appreciated if you could drop a note.

:

I'm not sure if one of these tow dolly's in the link below will work for a 3rd Generation Explorer, but if you don't feel like installing the tow kit into your Ex, something to look into. Just a suggestion for you to look at. Click on the link and you'll see the tow dolly's in the photos at that web page.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=car+tow+dolly

 

[Wills05xlt4x4]

I'm not sure if one of these tow dolly's in the link below will work for a 3rd Generation Explorer, but if you don't feel like installing the tow kit into your Ex, something to look into. Just a suggestion for you to look at. Click on the link and you'll see the tow dolly's in the photos at that web page.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=car+tow+dolly

No it won't work without removing a driveshaft or destroying your transfer case... Ford has a kit to allow flat towing of our explorers... I'd imagine that'd be the best way to minimize extra weight on the rv...

from what I understand the kit is software and a light they install on the dash to confirm your in neutral....

 

[Flag Gibby]

I have seen the kits in use and I don't like them because the most common issue is the battery on the vehicle getting drained. The least wear and tear on the 4x4 is to just tow it on a flat bed trailer behind the RV. Aluminum flat bed trailer prices are pretty reasonable right now since they are not selling very many of them.

 

[01STrunner]

We've been flat towing our Enclave since we bought it new in 09 and haven't had any battery issues. Basically there is a fuse that controls almost all the electronics. In ours its 50 or 52 and the Ex has one similar. You pull that fuse and it shuts down the lights, dash electronics, dome lights, windows, etc so nothing is killing your battery while the ignition is in the run position. It's the easiest and most efficient way to bring a vehicle where you go RV'ing.

Edit: Our Enclave is AWD so it has the same problems as 4x4 trucks as far as being towed.
The problem with towing on a flat trailer is having a spot to park the trailer when you get to your destination as well as having room to hook up to the RV. Our coach is 43' long so that plus a 16-18' trailer and you still need room to drive the car onto it. There's hardly any places long enough for that. Plus with flat towing, you dont have to get the RV in a perfect spot over a hitch because the bars pivot to line up to the car.

 

[Flag Gibby]

Sorry, I was not specific in my post... I should have said Ford kits and maybe the kits were not installed correctly. I understand the limitations of having a trailer behind a RV very well, I occasionally attend club racing events on the weekends. However, you make a good point in reminding me of space limitations when out enjoying mother nature and using RV parks. Personally, I believe ideal would be a FWD vehicle on a car dolly for RV'ing and then you don't have to worry about any connections or modifications to the vehicle, but that is not what the OP is asking so just ignore my flat bed trailer suggestion.

 

[Exproblems]

No it won't work without removing a driveshaft or destroying your transfer case... Ford has a kit to allow flat towing of our explorers... I'd imagine that'd be the best way to minimize extra weight on the rv...

from what I understand the kit is software and a light they install on the dash to confirm your in neutral....

Yeah I wasn't sure about the dolly when I suggested it. Thanks for the info.

 

[01STrunner]

Sorry, I was not specific in my post... I should have said Ford kits and maybe the kits were not installed correctly. I understand the limitations of having a trailer behind a RV very well, I occasionally attend club racing events on the weekends. However, you make a good point in reminding me of space limitations when out enjoying mother nature and using RV parks. Personally, I believe ideal would be a FWD vehicle on a car dolly for RV'ing and then you don't have to worry about any connections or modifications to the vehicle, but that is not what the OP is asking so just ignore my flat bed trailer suggestion.

Sorry, after reading how I worded that I didn't mean to come off like an a hole. Just saying trailers can be complicated for towing normal cars.

I do see a lot of Escapes being flat towed. Wouldn't they have the same system as the explorers?

 

[Flag Gibby]

No worries, I didn't take it personal... I am referring to a non 4x4 FWD vehicle in my post in terms of ideal. You know I don't think that Ford sells a kit for the older Escape because years ago my father in law traded in his Escape for a Jeep Liberty just so he could flat tow the vehicle behind his RV. For the new Explorer Ford states that you cannot tow over 70 MPH with their kit and you have to start the car every ?? hours to charge the battery back up. Most of the ford dealerships and technichians wouldn't even be able to tell you if they even sell a RV flat tow kit.

 

[01STrunner]

I think all the kits say that. Ours is technically limited to 65. And the real reason they say to stop and start it up is to cool the tranny down because it runs near operating temps but without fluids flowing. They're safety measures to protect the companies I think.