Towing capacity for AWD and Airstream???

[Badspell68]

97 5.0 AWD 4-door XLT

I'm thinking of getting an Airstream and have no Idea what the towing capacity is...Anyone know and is there anything else I should know about towing with my truck?
Also what is the best towing package to install on my truck?

 

[MountaineerGreen]

Towing capacity is ~5k max. However, there is another consideration of frontal area and wind drag. That, of course will be less with an airstream. I pulled a 23' Jayco with my 01 5.0, it did pretty good, gas mileage was dismal though. Long hills were tough and windy days were a real pain. Just not enough vehicle weight to control the weight of the 4400lb dry weight camper. I'd recommend a smaller and lighter camper than what I had for anything but short trips and flat land.

Towing package- a rectangular or square framed hitch is stronger than any round tube hitch. Look carefully, there are several versions available, some do not have enough capacity for towing a travel trailer. You'll need a brake controller and 7 pin RV plug, Explorers were never equipped with electric brake wiring.

You have a great drivetrain for towing, the 5.0 with the transmission behind it is a great towing transmission. Keep your fluid fresh, a trans temp gauge is a good idea. Never tow in O/D, push the button on the end of the gear selector and lock the O/D off.

 

[rowekmr]

If my memory serves me correct the rating for that package is 6,600 lbs. I towed a 8,000 lb trailer behind my 98 Explorer 5.0 AWD quite frequently during the summer months. Travel trailers have way more frontal drag though. I did tow my 31' TT home with my 06 Explorer and it did ok except the rear end was severely sagging even with an Equalizer WD hitch hence I got a 00 Excursion with the V-10. I would say try it out first and see how comfortable you feel with the combo.

 

[gijoecam]

97 5.0 AWD 4-door XLT

I'm thinking of getting an Airstream and have no Idea what the towing capacity is...Anyone know and is there anything else I should know about towing with my truck?
Also what is the best towing package to install on my truck?

For your year, 4x2 is rated for 6700 lbs, 4x4 is rated for 6400.

For all practical purposes, you'll want to aim for a trailer that weighs roughly 4000 lbs dry. Loaded and wet, that will easily balloon to 5000 lbs gross weight. Anything larger than that, and the towing experience will be less than desireable. Although the engine has the capability of pulling more, even with a weight distributing hitch, a trailer with that kind of weight properly set up with a weight distributing hitch will put the Explorer quite near its GAWR on both axles.

Also, you'll need towing mirrors to see around the beast, and you'll likely want to add an auxiliary transmission cooler and a class-3 frame-mounted receiver if you don't already have one.

 

[brutalbeast69]

i towed a 5x10 u-haul trailer from king george va to eugene or.( 3000 miles at an average 75mph) i would estimate it weighed around 5500lbs full loaded with my stuff when i moved. the truck got 15mile to the gal, and i used OD didnt know that i shouldnt,AND wind sucks one night we stopped bc the wind was causing really bad handling. could i pull more at a lower speed ?

 

[Badspell68]

Thanks all..got it all set up and running!

 

[Badspell68]

Did any of you have problems wit the tranny overheating?