Towing Options--Slim to none?

[durandel4]

I have a 2000 4wd Explorer XLT V6. I'm moving coast to coast (Maryland to Washington) and am only bringing a few furniture items: twin and king size bed, desk table, and some boxes, small shelf.

I had thought I could just hook up a trailer hitch and rent a UHAUL trailer that could accommodate these few pieces and head up there, but after starting to read about this (UHAUL doesn't rent trailers to explorers, most here think you should use a V8 for doing any real towing, etc.) I'm getting the impression I should just give up on that pipe dream and instead either pay to have this stuff shipped out there (I'm guessing it would cost a couple thousand) or rent a Ryder or Uhaul small truck and have my wife follow in the explorer.

What do you folks think? You all seem much more experienced at this type of thing than me.

Thanks!

 

[edavillenut]

i have a 93 explorer and i tow a 20ft car trailer with my 68 mustang on it all the time and dont have any problems i dont see what you couldent tow a small inclosed trailer. yeah the uhaul thing does suck

 

[EMG7895]

Borrw a friends car to rent the uhaul then take it home and put it on your explorer.

 

[IAmTodd]

Borrw a friends car to rent the uhaul then take it home and put it on your explorer.

How ya gonna return it?? I'd say the Explorer is up to towing it. Do you have an aux. tranny cooler? If not add one, add another even if you do!

 

[yosh18981898]

(UHAUL doesn't rent trailers to explorers, most here think you should use a V8 for doing any real towing, etc.)

Thats the biggest load of crap I've ever heard. I've towed a jeep cherokee on a car hauler with my 92 4.0 V6. That was about 5000 lbs and my X did just fine with it. I regularly tow an atv trailer and have towed all kinds of other trailers on occasion. Get a friends vehicle to rent the trailer and then hitch it up to your X, it'll tow it just fine.

 

[yosh18981898]

that or tell u-haul that you did a custom 302 V8 swap in your X!!

 

[Numidian]

Uhaul doesn't rent to sploders because of the Firestone thing.... You can have a Mountaineer and they'll give it to you no prob....

 

[Mbrooks420]

Maryland to Washington is a long way. I wouldn't tow a heavy trailer that far on a v6 tranny, unless it was a manual. You shouldn't have a problem towing 1,000 that far.

 

[udmsvt]

i towed a 4-dr 4wd explorer on a trailer with my 93 sport 50 miles and did ok. also towed an escort on same trailer, only after i had done my lift and 32s, 60 miles no problem. it can handle it....get a ryder trailer or just buy one. we picked up a utility trailer for cheap last week, if you ask me anyone without an open bed pickup that has the capability to tow should have a utility trailer.

 

[Christobal65]

We towed a 5000Lb 22 foot boat with our 92 Explorer for 10 years with no problems, we have 160k on it now (the trany did die once but that was due to a improperly installed flywheel by my dad)while you wont be breaking any speed records you will be fine. While I do wish the explorer had more power for towing the stout "little" V-6 towed our 22' ski boat from Sacramento to Lake Havasu Az with no problems other then running a little warm on some of the climbs, once we turned the AC of for 10 mins it was right back down where is should be. I'm not gunna make any claims like its a the best tow vehicle but it is a very good one IF your explorer is in good condition

Now with the problem with Uhaul. I just told them i had a Mazda Navajo and they hooked it right up to my Explorer no questions asked.