Tow Rookie Neds Help! 03 XLT

[mrplayer67]

Hi All,

I've spent the last couple of hours reading through posts, great information here, great forum.

I came specifically looking for information about using my 2003 V6 XLT to tow a Pop-up camper I purchased over the weekend. I have never towed anything with any vehicle, and am admittedly clueless in all related areas of this. Before I put my wife and two small boys in my beloved Explorer on the way to come camp ground here in New England, I would like to be prepared and have the right equipment to ensure a safe tip.

My hitch appears to be a 1-1/4or1/2" hitch, after reading here, I guess this is a class II hitch? I also seem to have a small plug, but this only has 3-4 small pin holes, but the trailer I got has a large round (7?) prong plug.

I stopped by two RV dealers and got two very different views.

# 1 - This guy said that all I need is an adapter to fit into the smaller hitch connector that will then lead to the ball on the end that my trailer hitch attaches to, and that I don't need a tranny cooler, if in fact my XLT doesn't already have one. He said that my V6 XLT, equipped already with the existing tow hitch was fine to pull a 1500lb pop up. I forgot to ask him about the electrical connection.

#2 - This dealer said I needed to have a Class III 2" hitch installed - as well as a tranny cooler, and a new electrical connection installed. That all said and done would cost me nearly $1400!!!!

So can I just use to "adapters" to make my small hitch work with a full size ball, 1500lb trailer? Is there an adapter that will connect the 3-4 pin connector on my XLT to the big round plug on the trailer (its probably worth adding that the trailer does not have its own brakes)? Or do I need to have a new hitch and connector installed? Does my 03 have a tranny cooler, and do I need one?


Again, I read a bunch of related posts here, but still don't feel I understand what I need to do here. Can someone please help me out? Thanks in advance for any assistance you might be able to provide!


MrPlayer

 

[briwayjones]

You can use an adapter to convert from the 4 prong to the large 7 prong round plug. It should say in your owners manual or somewhere what the tow rating is for the small receivers they put on the new Explorers. I forget if they're class II or III, probably II. But my guess is it's probably fine for a 1500lb trailer.

 

[Yamvip]

Its fine with what you have,the class II is rated at 3500LBS. I tow with mine,two snowmoblies and the trailer,an that is around 1700LBS. Just get the adapter,and receiver,and you'll be on your way!!!

 

[mrplayer67]

THANK YOU so much for the quick replies, I feel 100% better about having purchased the camper, and that I can enjoy using it with my family without having to invest even more $$$ into this endeavor!

I REALLY appreciate it. Any other opinions or tow related advice is always welcome.

I think I might have to hang out here a bit more often... I am on my second Explorer XLT (first was a 97') and can't imagine wanting to drive any other vehicle.

MrPlayer

 

[fprodget]

POP UP Camper websites

See the following for information about towing pop up campers. I too own a pop up and will be towing this year with our new (to us) 03 XLT X. I towed last year with a 4 cyl 2001 subaru outback. It towed okay, but was a lot of work and stress on the road - and it only got 18mpg towing.

I am a firm believer in a sway bar to keep the pop up from whipping around. I used a reese model and our trailer followed the subaru straight as an arrow, even when getting blown by an 80 mph semi-truck.

Also be sure to have no less than 10 percent of your trailer's weight as tongue load. ~ 2000 LB trailer = no less than 200lbs of tongue weight.

See these website for more pop up info:

http://www.motorhomemagazine.com/forums/index.cfm/fuseaction/listings/forum/25.cfm

http://www.popupexplorer.com/

 

[FordLover]

1500 sounds kinda lightweight, even for the smallest popups. The class II hitch should be fine for what your doing, but I'd make sure of what the dry weight of the trailer is, and be concious of EVERYTHING loaded into the trailer, the Dry weight of a travel trailer doesn't include things like weight of the water in the tanks, LP cans, any kind of supplies you pack the trailer with, and sometimes doesn't include optional accessories for the trailer, like an AC unit, generator, awnings, etc.

Definitely keep the speed down, while you learn what a trailer will do and how it can change the behavior of the tow vehicle. I'd definitely spend an hour or two with the explorer and the trailer, in an empty parking lot, get some practice backing up, seeing how wide you need to take a turn to avoid catching a curb with the trailer, and also some higher speed driving, and see how it affects the handling and braking abilites of the truck.

For a first timer this is very important, get some experience behind the wheel with the trailer before you load up your loved ones.

 

[mrplayer67]

Fordlover,

I appreciate the ideas about practicing in a parking lot, and plan to do just that. We all know what our cars or SUV's will react to dips and swerves and other oddball things that happen, because we drive them so much - but I have to imagine that adding a trailer like this changes everything. Considering I will have my whole family in the vehicle on camping trips, I want to get some experience before hand.

I have to admit that even before hooking up, there has already been a lot to learn. GVW, tongue weight, class II, class III, 7 prong adapters, trailers electric brakes, tranny coolers... I had no idea that towing something could be THAT involved! I thought, "Oh, yeah my Explorer has a hitch..."

I just want to be safe and not damage my Explorer! ...preferably without breaking the bank


Thanks again,

MrPlayer

1500 sounds kinda lightweight, even for the smallest popups. The class II hitch should be fine for what your doing, but I'd make sure of what the dry weight of the trailer is, and be concious of EVERYTHING loaded into the trailer, the Dry weight of a travel trailer doesn't include things like weight of the water in the tanks, LP cans, any kind of supplies you pack the trailer with, and sometimes doesn't include optional accessories for the trailer, like an AC unit, generator, awnings, etc.

Definitely keep the speed down, while you learn what a trailer will do and how it can change the behavior of the tow vehicle. I'd definitely spend an hour or two with the explorer and the trailer, in an empty parking lot, get some practice backing up, seeing how wide you need to take a turn to avoid catching a curb with the trailer, and also some higher speed driving, and see how it affects the handling and braking abilites of the truck.

For a first timer this is very important, get some experience behind the wheel with the trailer before you load up your loved ones.

 

[garmstrong2007]

I read this. You should be ok as long as you follow the reccomendations for towing. Check everything you do. Make sure the trailer has no defects, is loaded properly, and hitched securely. Double check everything after towing a short distance. Check the trailer and connections frequently such as at a rest stop. Drive safely and defensively. Remember you have a trailer behind you.

This reminds me of an incident years ago when I borrowed a two place snowmobile trailer from my uncle. I had an 83 Chevy S-10 Blazer with a factory tow package. On the 60 mile trip up to the Colville Naional Forest north of Spokane everthing was fine. But, on the way back I didn't notice the roads had black ice. I was cruising along at 45-50 MPH on the two lane highway. Going down a long gentle hill the vehicle "felt funny". I looked in the mirror. To my absolute horror I could see the trailer (with two snowmobiles) literaly fishtailing from extreme left to extreme right. Even though it was icy the only way to get out of this was to acclerate to keep the trailer from pushing into a jackknife. Down we went, across a bridge, and up the other side. We pulled off into a parking lot. I found that every joint on the trailer tounge was worn out. We gingerly made our way home. I learned it is very important to (1) load the trailer properly, (2) inspect the trailer for defects, and (3) drive safely.

 

[Ronin8002]

Mrplayer all 2002-2005 explorers come equipped with a pretty big tranny cooler from the factory. If you pop off that plastic piece on top of the radiator and look down in the space between the radiator and A/C condensor you can see it sitting at the bottom of that space.

 

[tower]

Umm th op post is 5 years old, I hope he has it all sorted by now

 

[Ronin8002]

lol! I should have checked that

 

[D Hook]

Mrplayer all 2002-2005 explorers come equipped with a pretty big tranny cooler from the factory. If you pop off that plastic piece on top of the radiator and look down in the space between the radiator and A/C condensor you can see it sitting at the bottom of that space.

I'll have to check that. I always thought that was the power steering fluid cooler.

 

[Ronin8002]

I'll have to check that. I always thought that was the power steering fluid cooler.

PS fluid cooler is on the front of the front-most crossmember under the truck

 

[Widgeon]

Is there a code for towing package? I've always assumed I've got one but will have to check for the tranny cooler. I've got the 2" reciever and 7 prong plug. Seems to tow a 5500lb boat ok haha

 

[Ronin8002]

With that receiver and an axle ratio of 3.73, that's your tow package.

All 2002-2005 have that tranny cooler, not just the tow package equipped ones.

 

[Widgeon]

With that receiver and an axle ratio of 3.73, that's your tow package.

All 2002-2005 have that tranny cooler, not just the tow package equipped ones.

Thanks Ronin! ...not that anything would stop me from pullin with my truck, she does a beutiful job! Even made a stoneboat for a rock/boulder I wanted to move. 4Lo and some water on the grass and she moved it! Stone must have weighed ~2000lbs or so!