Towing Help, Yes or No?

[anthonymtz]

Hey guys I need a little help, I need to tow a 2001 lexus rx300 awd 500 miles round trip on a flatbed trailer, I have the 4.6 v8, 3.73 rear end with the tow package, will the explorer be up to the task? The maximum weight it can pull is around 7k from what I've read and this might be around 6k lbs, I know the transmissions on these cars are not the best so that why I'm asking, I have 125k on it as I speak so any suggestions will be wonderful! Ps. The vehicle will not exceed 50 mph.

 

[lincolnshibuya]

some companies will not let you rent a flat bed or a car hauler if you don't have 1/2 ton truck. it might work as long as you keep an eye on your transmission temp.

 

[Joe in NY]

Normal towing tips. Take off nice and easy. Prepare to brake early and use the engine to help you! These brakes are only barely enough for the Explorer alone. Do get your tongue weight adjusted correctly as that will drastically affect how the car and trailer handles. I have towed 5,000lbs behind mine. Did fine. Just not as well as a 1500 Suburban. So keep your expectations real.

You will also like how it rides when towing. These things are very over sprung (just like a 2nd gen) and when you weigh down the rear end with 500+ lbs they really smooth out.

We have had a 1st gen, 2nd gen, and now I have a 3rd gen. The 2nd and 3rd never road anywhere near as smooth as the 1st gen. But with some gear in the rear they do smooth out to what they should have been.

 

[Number4]

Will the trailer have its own brakes? Texas? Ground should all be flat, which is good.

The trans is rated for 500 HP, it's the servos bores that wear out that are the issue. If you've made it to 125k, then you are probably okay. It just seems that most people with trans problems have them under 100k. (Pure conjecture.)

 

[IPcamper]

I have the same tow vehicle, you will be fine on flat ground. Turn the OverDrive off! The transmission may hunt in and out of overdrive, not good under heavy load. If you have any major hills, don't let the engine lug down into low rpms, manually down shift before that starts. Make sure the trailer brakes are properly adjusted, the Explorer brakes will cook if you don't have working trailer brakes with that much weight.

 

[intelisevil]

Assuming you have an Explorer (not a Mountaineer) I hope you're not planning on renting a trailer from UHaul!

Even if your brakes are 'good', I'd plan on going through them thoroughly. Bleed them, lube the sliders, upgrade the pads to heavy duty. Replace anything even slightly questionable.

Expect your gas mileage to be about 1/2 of normal.

Take more rest breaks than you normally would, you'll get tense every time you look in the rear view mirror and see that darn Lexus tailgating you!!!

 

[LMHmedchem]

It seems like it might make more sense to rent a truck that is not so marginal for what you need. Then you wouldn't even need the flatbed and could just tow the car directly. If you end up needing new brakes by the time you are done, you are already in $200-$250 plus the cost of the flatbed if you are renting it. You may want to do the numbers on some other options before you decide.

LMHmedchem

 

[colintrax]

It seems like it might make more sense to rent a truck that is not so marginal for what you need. Then you wouldn't even need the flatbed and could just tow the car directly. If you end up needing new brakes by the time you are done, you are already in $200-$250 plus the cost of the flatbed if you are renting it. You may want to do the numbers on some other options before you decide.

LMHmedchem

What do you mean by tow the car directly? Flat towing? If so that's highly unadvisable if even possible on the Lexus.

OP, you'll be fine so long as you can rent the trailer or borrow one. Just make sure it has working trailer brakes, and take it easy.

 

[Number4]

The RX300 can't be flat towed nor put on a dolly. Dolly maybe, if you drop the drive line.

 

[anthonymtz]

Normal towing tips. Take off nice and easy. Prepare to brake early and use the engine to help you! These brakes are only barely enough for the Explorer alone. Do get your tongue weight adjusted correctly as that will drastically affect how the car and trailer handles. I have towed 5,000lbs behind mine. Did fine. Just not as well as a 1500 Suburban. So keep your expectations real.

You will also like how it rides when towing. These things are very over sprung (just like a 2nd gen) and when you weigh down the rear end with 500+ lbs they really smooth out.

We have had a 1st gen, 2nd gen, and now I have a 3rd gen. The 2nd and 3rd never road anywhere near as smooth as the 1st gen. But with some gear in the rear they do smooth out to what they should have been.

Thanks I appreciate the feedback, how did the engine do, I know the 4.6 only has 290ish pound feet of torque so it's not going to be effortlessly but I don't want to be WOT all the time I would like to run at 3k rpm max, I won't be going over 50 since it's quite a bit of weight and uhaul says not to exceed 55, but I just want to make sure It won't struggle as bad as I think it will, thanks!

 

[anthonymtz]

Will the trailer have its own brakes? Texas? Ground should all be flat, which is good.

The trans is rated for 500 HP, it's the servos bores that wear out that are the issue. If you've made it to 125k, then you are probably okay. It just seems that most people with trans problems have them under 100k. (Pure conjecture.)

Yes, it's a uhaul car hauler, and thanks I didn't think they would be rated at 500 ponies lol! That makes me feel alot better now! Thanks!

 

[anthonymtz]

The RX300 can't be flat towed nor put on a dolly. Dolly maybe, if you drop the drive line.

It's a awd model so I'm not 100% sure, if it was the fwd model for sure it would work perfectly for a tow dolly!

 

[anthonymtz]

What do you mean by tow the car directly? Flat towing? If so that's highly unadvisable if even possible on the Lexus.

OP, you'll be fine so long as you can rent the trailer or borrow one. Just make sure it has working trailer brakes, and take it easy.

Yes, it will be a flatbed car hauler with brakes, I'll have to change my pads in the front cause they're almost done haha!

 

[anthonymtz]

It seems like it might make more sense to rent a truck that is not so marginal for what you need. Then you wouldn't even need the flatbed and could just tow the car directly. If you end up needing new brakes by the time you are done, you are already in $200-$250 plus the cost of the flatbed if you are renting it. You may want to do the numbers on some other options before you decide.

LMHmedchem

I'm going to put new pads before I go, but I have a little vibration in the rotors, so if I do decide to take this vehicle it will have new brakes/rotors all around when I get back.

 

[anthonymtz]

I have the same tow vehicle, you will be fine on flat ground. Turn the OverDrive off! The transmission may hunt in and out of overdrive, not good under heavy load. If you have any major hills, don't let the engine lug down into low rpms, manually down shift before that starts. Make sure the trailer brakes are properly adjusted, the Explorer brakes will cook if you don't have working trailer brakes with that much weight.

Thanks, I'll just have o/d off and when I hit a hill I'll shift it back down to 2nd or 3rd depending on the speed, thanks!

 

[Number4]

See post 3 & 20.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=414645

I don't recall the entire thread, but you may find it interesting.

 

[anthonymtz]

Ok guy's after inspection, my brake pads will need replacement, my rotors are vibrating a little but under server braking or when they get hot so I think they might be warped, would it be a good idea to get them resurfaced? Or just put new pads and take it? If I do I will get new rotors and pads all round since they are really cheap online. Also I found about a quarter of a inch of play in my front passenger wheel, would it be ok for the trip or should I just look into a rental? It is going to cost about 200 for a truck with trailer, insurance and taxes I'm in about 350$ if I vouch for the uhaul and truck, that's a nice chunk to go into the explorer to get it running 100%, I may be overreacting to the few issues but I don't want the wheel to break off or rotors to crack even though I won't be doing heavy breaking, I'll be taking it easy and slow so what do yall think? Thanks again for everything guys I really appreciate all of the positive feedback, you guys are great!

 

[colintrax]

If you have play in the wheel, you need to find where it's from and fix it asap. That's a safety issue. No if ands or buts. It's probably ball joints.

FYI uhaul doesn't rent to explorers.
If the rotors are warped, replace them. Don't forget to grease the caliper pins, I wouldn't be suprised if you find them frozen (and thus the reason for warped rotors)

As far as power you'll be fine. The 4.6 isn't exactly fast, but I've towed more weight than you with a 1997 4.0 OHV v6 and oversized tires. It does ok.

 

[anthonymtz]

Assuming you have an Explorer (not a Mountaineer) I hope you're not planning on renting a trailer from UHaul!

Even if your brakes are 'good', I'd plan on going through them thoroughly. Bleed them, lube the sliders, upgrade the pads to heavy duty. Replace anything even slightly questionable.

Expect your gas mileage to be about 1/2 of normal.

Take more rest breaks than you normally would, you'll get tense every time you look in the rear view mirror and see that darn Lexus tailgating you!!!

Ugh I know, uhaul refused to let me tow any of their trailers with the explorer, apparently they had alot of legal issues with the older explorers so I will have to have a friend pick it up with a proper truck and then bring it to my house to hook up it up to mine, and oh yes, that lexus! She's a heavy one, it's my dad's so I'm trying to help my old man out! Apparently the altornator went out and it has some other issues so it's not drivable so go figure it's got 210k so it's been pretty good still on stock everything so it would make sense for them to start failing now.

 

[anthonymtz]

If you have play in the wheel, you need to find where it's from and fix it asap. That's a safety issue. No if ands or buts. It's probably ball joints.

FYI uhaul doesn't rent to explorers.
If the rotors are warped, replace them. Don't forget to grease the caliper pins, I wouldn't be suprised if you find them frozen (and thus the reason for warped rotors)

As far as power you'll be fine. The 4.6 isn't exactly fast, but I've towed more weight than you with a 1997 4.0 OHV v6 and oversized tires. It does ok.

I checked all the suspension parts and everything checks out except the wheel bearing and rotors, it needs pads so I'll get those, so you don't think I could get away with getting them resurfaced or take it like that with new pads? Also since I might use the explorer would I need a trailer brake control or would I be fine with the "stock gain setting"