Towing my camper?

[jackndelphine]

Hi everyone, I had a quick question, I am sure similar questions have been covered in this section but I have been searching and I can't seem to find what I need to know. I have a 96 XLT with the 4.0 in it 4wd with 3.55 gears and add a leafs. I just got a new, well not new, but new to me camper, its 24' it weighs about 3500 lbs, is tandem axle and has electric brakes. I was wondering if I could tow it with my explorer. I am kinda doubting it, because even with my add a leafs, the truck squatted pretty good when I put the camper on it this weekend. I looked at the gross vehicle weight and it says 5320, so I looked up the trucks curb weight which was 4200lbs and subtracted the numbers and came up with 1100lbs. My question is, is that 1100lbs the weight I can drag, or the weight I can haul? I am only planning on going about 100miles this weekend, am I gonna kill my truck?? I am a little confused, could someone help?? Thanks, Jack

 

[MountaineerGreen]

I really don't think its a good idea, for your transmission especially. That's an awful lot of camper for a 4.0 drivetrain. The transmission is the weak link here, it isn't too robust anyway, put a 4k camper behind it, and it will likely die.

If you do tow it, you need a weight distribution hitch, that will take care of the squat.

 

[gijoecam]

For '96, the 4.0L, automatic with a 3.55 gear ratio was rated for a max GCWR of 8500 lbs and a max trailer weight of 4000 lbs. A weight-distributing hitch is required for any trailer weighing over 3500 lbs, and the truck needs a class 3/4 receiver at the very least.

*Technically* on-paper, it *should* be within your Explorer's capabilities, provided the 3500 lbs weight is accurate. However, on a 24' trailer, I would be truly surprised if that was the case. More often than not, trailer wweights are 'dry' weights. It doesn't include the weight of any accessories like a fridge, cooktop, propane, fresh water, etc. If you're starting at 3500, add 55lbs for a 35-lb propane tank, 50 lbs for a battery, figure 280 lbs for 40 gallons of water, 35lbs for a spare tire, and you're already up to 1920, and that's before you put a case of beer in the fridge, or any gear inside it. It's quite easy to rack up 1000 lbs worth of 'stuff' in the smallest of campers.

Now, if the GVWR of the camper is 3500 lbs, you'll want to know what the dry weight is to start with... any CAT scale can provide that without too much trouble... but that's another topic for another thread...

At any rate, a 3500 lb trailer will be at the upper limit of your vehicle's capability. I wouldn't recommend it.

 

[jackndelphine]

I have the weight distributing hitch and I put it on tonite and the truck sat up nice and high, I was planning on installing a tranny cooler this week, and I am set up already for electric trailer brakes, but I don't want to kill my explorer so I guess I will have to hurry up and finish my other truck, I have a 74 f250 highboy I have been restoring for the last couple of months. It has a 67 352 with a c6 auto, a dana 60 rear and 44 front diff with 4:10s and 33x12.50 tires, I know I won't have a problem towing the camper with that but I will probably go from about 8 mpg to 1/2mpg LOL. The downside to towing with that truck is that I can only fit at the most 2 other people in it, so my family will have to follow with the explorer untill I can figure something else out. Maybee I will have to replace the ex with an expedition?-------Jack