Towing with the V6

[00blkexplorer]

We've had our 2000 XLS V6 Explorer a little over a year. No problems with it. Great truck. Now we are going to start using the it for towing my sandrail. I was wondering what I would need to prepare my truck for towing. I still have to buy the reciever hitch. Basically with the sandrail and trailer, it would be 3000lbs, not including passengers and gear. Would it be able to haul everything? Thank you!

 

[00blkexplorer]

anybody with help please?

 

[aldive]

Be sure that you add additional tranny cooler(s).

 

[Josef86]

http://www.explorerforum.com/ntrprize/spec2000.htm

According to the specs you should be good to go.

 

[00blkexplorer]

How about changing the suspension in any way? And whats a good tranny cooler I can get?

One thing that I will to deal with when towing is steep hills and about a 3 hour drive.

 

[BrooklynBay]

It would be a good idea to put in a cooler, transmission gauge, deep transmission pan, and external filter. The biggest cooler that could fit would be your best bet. AlDive put in a cooler collar that goes around the screw on external filter. He said in one post that it lowered the temperature by 4 degrees. In another post, he showed that he rerouted it to the front like MonMix did, and it lowered the temperature even more. The deep pans have cooling tubes in the bottom, and hold an additional quart of fluid, so that also reduces the temperature.

 

[aldive]

I use a B&M cooler; it works great.

Take a look at http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=127283&highlight=transmission+cooler

 

[BrooklynBay]

One thing to remember is to keep the overdrive off while towing.

 

[aldive]

I would also recommend switching to synthetic fluids throughout the truck.

A tranny temp gauge is also a must in my opinion.

 

[spindlecone]

It would be a good idea to put in a cooler, transmission gauge, deep transmission pan, and external filter. The biggest cooler that could fit would be your best bet. AlDive put in a cooler collar that goes around the screw on external filter. He said in one post that it lowered the temperature by 4 degrees. In another post, he showed that he rerouted it to the front like MonMix did, and it lowered the temperature even more. The deep pans have cooling tubes in the bottom, and hold an additional quart of fluid, so that also reduces the temperature.

Go with a PML pan and use 3 extra Qts

 

[alexefron]

a lot of people have added helper springs to reduce rear end sag while towing

 

[mnealuf]

I also added a set of rear air bags and am very happy with the results (I tow a 20 ft boat ~4000lbs).

 

[00blkexplorer]

thanks a lot for the imput guys. dont know what i would do without ya'll!

i will have to invest in a tranny cooler and gauge. since the truck is due for fluid change, might as well change all fluids to synthetic.

will the explorer sag THAT much? and is swaying a big problem with our trucks?

 

[aldive]

will the explorer sag THAT much? and is swaying a big problem with our trucks?

I tow a Jeep on a heavy tandem trailer and have done nothing to my rear springs ( its a '99 ) and have no sag.