I have no idea what I'm doing can anyone help

[megtbomb]

We are planning to take a trip to Oklahoma for a scooter rally in less than 2 weeks and I don't know what kind of trailer or trailer hitch to use. Right now I have no hitch on my bumper at all. Can I put a ball hitch on to tow a trailer or is that bad?

 

[Kyle0614]

try and find a 95-01 in a junkyard near you and pull the hitch off of it...i've carried a load on the bumper ball ...only in town ...but i wouldn't do it for that length of trip from kansas to oklahoma...it's not safe at highway speeds probably unstable...but as far as type of trailer what are yaw planning to take that want fit in the X?

 

[briwayjones]

What kind of trailer are you towing and what's going to be on it? The bumper only supports a 500lb tongue weight on a trailer which is not a lot. You get more than that and it will bend the bumper down. You would probably want to get a Class 3 hitch and put it on there.

 

[Kyle0614]

oh btw if you need to order a hitch online and can't find one in the junkyard i'd recommend you do it with in a day or two so that way it will get there before you guys leave...

 

[Kyle0614]

oops just saw u were 02

 

[Tbars4]

...u-haul sells hitch's pretty cheap and they are good ,...and you might want to get an adjustable drop hitch so you could level out the trailer...
http://www.explorerforum.com/reviewpost/showproduct.php/product/357/cat/all

 

[megtbomb]

We have a junky flatbed trailer. I think its 7x14 or a little smaller. We'll have 4 scooters on it too. I agree with the distance. Its pretty far and I am worried that my bumper will not be able to hold the weight. My boyfriend insists that it won't hurt anything....Any other suggestions on what I need to do or get to make this a safe trip?

 

[megtbomb]

Whats a class 3 hitch?

 

[briwayjones]

Whats a class 3 hitch?

It's a hitch with a tow rating of up to 5000lbs. Some Walmarts sells hitches also. I'm not sure how well they would fit an Explorer or not though.

 

[Kyle0614]

i never find them in our local walmarts that says for explorer only for other trucks...

 

[Kyle0614]

as far as above statement ^^ with your boyfriend saying it want hurt anything...but, i'm sorry he is not correct (4) scooters is far to much weight for a bumper ball plus a trailer ...thats probably between 1500 and 2000 pounds bumper is only rated at like 5 or 600 or so..i wouldn't pull much more than a very small trailer and a atv at most with the bumper ...

 

[joecrna]

Its the weight rating for the hitch. Im sorry but scooter, are we talking like Vespa or something different. The trailer size is smallish but flat beds can be heavy, especially if they have wood decks. Your bumper is only rated for 350lb tongue weight and 3500lb total weight. Distance you're towing isn't as big of a deal as speed and the laws of the states you'll be in (saftey chains, trailer lights).

 

[Kyle0614]

oh and btw i think it hot when a girl is worried about bumper weight on her explorer seems like you have more knowledge than him when it comes to pulling...

 

[90ranajo]

Uhaul sells a hitch for your X. Ask them for part number 78166. Should set you back ~$120 + tax for a Class III and take about 15 to 30 minutes to install, depending on ability.

 

[m4dc0w]

...u-haul sells hitch's pretty cheap and they are good ,...and you might want to get an adjustable drop hitch so you could level out the trailer...
http://www.explorerforum.com/reviewpost/showproduct.php/product/357/cat/all

Didn't pretty much all EX's after '01 have tow packages included?

As for uhaul, I would got to them in a bind, I would never let them hack up any vehicle up here.

 

[briwayjones]

Its the weight rating for the hitch. Im sorry but scooter, are we talking like Vespa or something different. The trailer size is smallish but flat beds can be heavy, especially if they have wood decks. Your bumper is only rated for 350lb tongue weight and 3500lb total weight. Distance you're towing isn't as big of a deal as speed and the laws of the states you'll be in (saftey chains, trailer lights).

Yeah the 350lb or 500lb refers to tongue weight. In other words the amount of weight pushing down on the bumper. The bumper has a tow rating of 3500lbs. It's unlikely to be towing a 3500lb trailer that only has 500lbs of tongue weight. The 1st gen bumpers were rated at 350lbs tongue weight and the 2nd gens are 500lbs tongue weight.

 

[steventadams]

I have an 01' sport and the rule of thumb that I've gone by is this: If you can pick up the trailer at the tongue without shooting vertebrae out of your back, you can put it on the bumper. Otherwise go with a hitch, and might as well go with Class III so you don't have to worry about it anymore as long as you make sure you are within the capabilities of your truck.

http://www.autoworldaccessories.com/script/newcategorypage.asp?category_id=429
(Last hitch shown - Hidden Hitch part# 70670)

EDIT: Damn guys, we answered the hell out of that question
In the few minutes it took to write this out like four more responses popped up...

 

[Evil Eye]

It's a girl in need, so it's for a good cause... BTW, it sounds like everyone has this one covered!

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! Check WWW.JCWhitney.Com & WWW.SummitRacing.Com.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Didn't pretty much all EX's after '01 have tow packages included?

As for uhaul, I would got to them in a bind, I would never let them hack up any vehicle up here.

They did, but this is a Sport, not a 4 Door- I don't think the old body Sport had the hitches like the new style 02+ 4D's did.

As for installing it, They're not hacking anything- it should only be bolts as long as the sport is like my 4D was- 4 bolts from work and it was finished. Maybe the wiring would be an issue, but it's so easy to get to, with some connectors, I don't know if I would be worried if I was watching them put it on/in.

Might call a hitch/truck accessory place if you're not interested in putting it on, but you're probably looking at about $100 to install it, so $200+ to put it on.