Towing a U-Haul 12 foot trailer through Kentucky.

[jamesTexplorer]

I have a bone stock 2012 explorer with 116000 miles on it. It has the factory tow package, new brakes.

can I tow, at highway speeds the big boy u-haul 12 footer THROUGH the mountains of Kentucky? We are moving from Columbus Ohio to Cumming Georgia.

That trailer, will be near max of the 5000 pound capacity. Full of my tools, compressor, quick jack, etc.

Will I trash the transmission?
Should I service the transfer case and change the water pump first?

plan b is to just rent a pickup and let it do the work.

 

[JAPeterson]

Anymore when it comes to hauling a trailer for moving I think that I would just rent one of their trucks and be done with it.

No wear and tear on my own vehicle.

 

[jamesTexplorer]

I guess I’m just being cheap that’s all. It’s been a good vehicle that I’m hoping to get 200K out of.
My guess is, it won’t do it. Just rent a pickup.

 

[Odrapnew]

Do a search on here.
Someone was complaining about lack of power with the V6(not Ecoboost) when towing a 'boxy' trailer.
What engine do you have?

 

[Ken2012limited]

I have a bone stock 2012 explorer with 116000 miles on it. It has the factory tow package, new brakes.

can I tow, at highway speeds the big boy u-haul 12 footer THROUGH the mountains of Kentucky? We are moving from Columbus Ohio to Cumming Georgia.

That trailer, will be near max of the 5000 pound capacity. Full of my tools, compressor, quick jack, etc.

Will I trash the transmission?
Should I service the transfer case and change the water pump first?

plan b is to just rent a pickup and let it do the work.

I wouldn't hesitate to do it. If its rated for it then an occasional use isn't going to be a problem. If you think the transmission was worked too hard or got hot just flush it with fresh fluid once you've completed your move.

 

[1991 sploder]

No...i mean yea of course it could but that trailer is heavier than your truck... With that on there it will be sketch plus isn't it winter over there? I would just rent a truck just to be safe.. SAFETY not reliably. Otherwise go for it if u have the v6 keep the weight lower than the tow vehicle...u will feel it.

 

[1991 sploder]

Through the mountains... No

 

[peterk9]

Do a search on here.
Someone was complaining about lack of power with the V6(not Ecoboost) when towing a 'boxy' trailer.
What engine do you have?

The 2012 Limited only has the 3.5L V6 engine.

Peter

 

[jamesTexplorer]

I did do a thorough search on here. The reason why I ask is because I did read a thread where someone struggled to get up to highway speed.

I need to empty out my starter home, create the illusion of much more space. It seemed logical to do a load down there with that setup. I just don’t want to trash the transmission or drivetrain.

oh, it’s stock 3.5 with 4x4. I thought about using a tune to get more towing power out of it.

 

[1991 sploder]

Can I tow 5,000 pounds?

Check that out, I think you can do it.

 

[JAPeterson]

OK, I not going to go digging but isn't a Explorer that is rated at 5000 lbs for towing only rated that with a weight distributing hitch?

And if it is then Uhaul won't work since all of their trailers are just bumper pulls without weight distribution from what I remember.

 

[Mbrooks420]

I wouldn’t do it simply because of the transmission, and PTU. Are both still the factory fluid?

I’d not be afraid to tow more than the vehicles weight, as long as the trailer brakes are properly set up.

 

[1991 sploder]

Yes I've talked to guys that say 4x4 could tow a train and others that swear they put a huge trailer on a vw bug or motorcycle and towed through mountains in the winter... I can only talk about what I "think" for me at that weight I'm like full size truck or its just unsafe. Typically my rule is, don't ever go over your tow vehicle weight or the trailer can push the tow vehicle....yea electric brakes would help dual axle ECT but there's alot of variables here and I don't own a 2012 and don't know the route so I really dont know. Some of these new full size trucks are claiming 30k+ tow capacity though...just insane

 

[peterk9]

OK, I not going to go digging but isn't a Explorer that is rated at 5000 lbs for towing only rated that with a weight distributing hitch?

...................................................

That is correct.

 

[Josh P]

Would you need to make more than 1 trip to move everything?

 

[94Eddie]

How much money is being saved renting a trailer over a truck?

 

[prince402]

Unless U-Haul has recently changed their policy you likely don't have a choice. They will not rent to a Ford Explorer. I've tried in person and I've tried online and as soon as I put in the make and model of the tow vehicle it shut me down when I put in an Explorer. They will rent to a Mazda Navajo, a Mercury Mountaineer, a Lincoln Aviator but not an Explorer. So before you put any more thought in it give them a call or apply online. Yeah I know I thought this was crap too until I actually tried.
It's corporate policy regarding the Explorer for a long time now and maybe based upon a lawsuit that they received from an Explorer owner. My 94 EB came with a 2in receiver and I considered it a big plus that I could take advantage of U-Haul when I needed it. What a disappointment!

So then I thought no big deal I'll just rent a trailer somewhere else. Ha! No one else rents like U-Haul where you can pick up one place and drop off another place. I thought that was crap too until I found it is true.

I've heard of some guys who actually rebadged their Explorer as a Mountaineer in order to rent from U-Haul. Or they have a friend with another make of vehicle pick it up and drop it off for them.

It's been a few years now for me so give it a try and good luck!

 

[jamesTexplorer]

With regards to the fluids. Yes, I change the PTU fluid every other oil change and I do a trans drain and fill as well.

if it were not the mountains, I’d do it. I think I’m gonna just rent an f150 from enterprise (they don’t charge mileage) and rent the trailer.

I agree, it’s just going to be too hard pulling those hills. I rent the 5x8 utility trailer from u-haul all the time. It’s a great vehicle for mulch and drywall just not hardcore towing.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Unless U-Haul has recently changed their policy you likely don't have a choice. They will not rent to a Ford Explorer. I've tried in person and I've tried online and as soon as I put in the make and model of the tow vehicle it shut me down when I put in an Explorer. They will rent to a Mazda Navajo, a Mercury Mountaineer, a Lincoln Aviator but not an Explorer. So before you put any more thought in it give them a call or apply online. Yeah I know I thought this was crap too until I actually tried.
It's corporate policy regarding the Explorer for a long time now and maybe based upon a lawsuit that they received from an Explorer owner. My 94 EB came with a 2in receiver and I considered it a big plus that I could take advantage of U-Haul when I needed it. What a disappointment!

So then I thought no big deal I'll just rent a trailer somewhere else. Ha! No one else rents like U-Haul where you can pick up one place and drop off another place. I thought that was crap too until I found it is true.

I've heard of some guys who actually rebadged their Explorer as a Mountaineer in order to rent from U-Haul. Or they have a friend with another make of vehicle pick it up and drop it off for them.

It's been a few years now for me so give it a try and good luck!

No, they’ll rent to the newer explorers.

 

[peterk9]

No, they’ll rent to the newer explorers.

Agree. The policy was changed a few years ago.

Peter