Towing with v8 2wd

[jlgray81]

Just curious as to if I'll be safe at the beginning of the season. As mentioned this is a 2002 2WD model with the v8...I have a 14x6 trailer and I keep a zero turn mower on it along with a push mower, backpack blower, 2 weedeaters, couple jugs of gas, and a 5ft toolbox with about 100lbs of tools and what not in it...Is this going to be safe to pull or do I need a different truck for this.

 

[colintrax]

You'll be fine, a trans cooler would be my only suggestion.

 

[jlgray81]

Alright. Thanks!!

 

[Explorer0204]

Just curious as to if I'll be safe at the beginning of the season. As mentioned this is a 2002 2WD model with the v8...I have a 14x6 trailer and I keep a zero turn mower on it along with a push mower, backpack blower, 2 weedeaters, couple jugs of gas, and a 5ft toolbox with about 100lbs of tools and what not in it...Is this going to be safe to pull or do I need a different truck for this.

Do you have the tow package? If yes than just tow it. If not get a trans cooler

 

[jlgray81]

Yes, it has the tow package. What does the tow package actual consist of over your regular explorer? What all was upgraded? Other than the receiver and trailer wiring

 

[jlgray81]

By the way. I'm used to hauling this trailer with a 4x4 chevy truck but I sold it. It pulled it with no problem of course. But it did seem a little rough going into D if I had been parked on a downhill slope. I just want to be cautious with this Explorer.

 

[colintrax]

By the way. I'm used to hauling this trailer with a 4x4 chevy truck but I sold it. It pulled it with no problem of course. But it did seem a little rough going into D if I had been parked on a downhill slope. I just want to be cautious with this Explorer.

You need to set the parking brake.
FYI that's really not much weight, what 4,000lbs at most? Any truck will pull it fine

 

[ponkotsu]

You need to set the parking brake.
FYI that's really not much weight, what 4,000lbs at most? Any truck will pull it fine

Whenever I park on a hill with any car, I always set the parking brake first and make sure it holds in N before I put it in Park. Then you never have a problem with it getting stuck, or rolling away on you.

 

[Donystoy]

Whenever I park on a hill with any car, I always set the parking brake first and make sure it holds in N before I put it in Park. Then you never have a problem with it getting stuck, or rolling away on you.

Plus one on this, This takes the pressure off of the parking pawl within the transmission and also lessens the chance of breaking the shifter lever when trying to shift out of park. As we all know this is a frequent issue with these vehicles.

Edit, and to reply to the OP's question. I frequently tow a heavy tandem trailer with a small Kubota backhoe (2500 lbs.) with my 4.6 and have no problems at all. I do appreciate the dual axle brakes though.

 

[jlgray81]

Im not too knowledgeable when it comes to vehicles, as you can tell. With that being said, I didn't know that about the parking brake though. I know to set it on a hill but didn't know about setting it while in neutral. So kick up to neutral, set parking brake, then move shifter into park? Makes sense though. Would it be any different if I parked going uphill instead of downhill?

I was leaning more towards about 3000lbs max with a few more garden tools and pressure washer added. I could be wrong. So that could mean an even easier pull.

 

[Explorer0204]

Im not too knowledgeable when it comes to vehicles, as you can tell. With that being said, I didn't know that about the parking brake though. I know to set it on a hill but didn't know about setting it while in neutral. So kick up to neutral, set parking brake, then move shifter into park? Makes sense though. Would it be any different if I parked going uphill instead of downhill?

I was leaning more towards about 3000lbs max with a few more garden tools and pressure washer added. I could be wrong. So that could mean an even easier pull.

3k is nothing for an explorer... You don't even need a cooler. And up or downhill it doesn't matter.

 

[fusseli]

1) The towing package comes with a trans cooler (and an LS rear diff).
2) The 4.6 Explorer is rated to tow 7,200lbs
3) You'll be perfectly fine. It may even tow better than your Chevy 4x4 whatever.

I pulled my old Thunderbird on a full size car hauler on the highway and it was like nothing was even there. It did fine up steep grades limited to a safe hauling speed. Just be sure and turn O/D off if you do anything above 30-40mph.

 

[jlgray81]

Thanks guys! I appreciate all the info. Very helpful. One last question now that fusseli brought it up. When to use o/d and when not to use it?

 

[colintrax]

Putting it in N to set the parking brake is excessive. Smash down parking brake, put trans in P, turn the truck off.
Turn truck on, hold regular brake, put in D, release parking brake.
If it's not even gonna be 3,000lbs I wouldn't stress the trans cooler.

For such a light load leave OD on. Unless you're driving right around 45mph because it'll be shifting in and out of OD constantly

 

[fusseli]

Do not tow with O/D on.

 

[colintrax]

Do not tow with O/D on.

So you mean to say it's better to have OD off while pulling a light load at 60~70mph? Seems pretty ridiculous to me... but what do I know. I've NEVER towed a trailer.

 

[fusseli]

The only people I've seen post on this board saying their tranny overheated, overflowed, burned bands, etc. was because "I was towing a boat" or whatever and "oh, didn't know you had to turn O/D off."

If it's a heavy load, turn it off. If it's a couple mountain bikes or a lawnmower, then I could see not worrying about it.

 

[colintrax]

The only people I've seen post on this board saying their tranny overheated, overflowed, burned bands, etc. was because "I was towing a boat" or whatever and "oh, didn't know you had to turn O/D off."

If it's a heavy load, turn it off. If it's a couple mountain bikes or a lawnmower, then I could see not worrying about it.

It's 3,000lbs at most. It's not a boat. Like I said, turn it off if driving 45~50mph to keep the transmission from hunting gears. But the OP has admitted he doesn't know much about vehicles. I don't want the OP leaving it off at 70mph running down the freeway. Waste of gas, and causing excessive wear on the engine. If the OP had an escape, or or something along those lines then yes. Leave OD off with that kinda load.

And for the record, I got 180,000 miles out of my trans. Burned it up at a mud bog, my guess is unadjusted bands+misfire+mud+stupid

 

[Explorer0204]

I towed 6700lbs with my v6 3.55 geared x. No overdrive and it sat right around 3k rpm which was no big deal really. Even in Hills at 60 I was shocked at how it never had to downshift it just required a little more throttle. Even merging onto 890 in a real nasty spot I was still able to keep up with big trucks and if I was nowhere near foot to the floor. Point is, that v8 is a lot better towing engine than my 6 banger so it will handle the load fine. With 3.73s at 3k pounds I would personally be comfortable using overdrive at 65 and up. At that speed the Trans fluid pressure would be enough to pump sufficient amounts of fluid through the Trans to keep it cool.

 

[Donystoy]

Putting it in N to set the parking brake is excessive. Smash down parking brake, put trans in P, turn the truck off.
Turn truck on, hold regular brake, put in D, release parking brake.

I overlooked the putting in "N" part, The main thing is to maintain pressure on the regular brakes while putting on the parking brake after coming to a stop and prior to putting the shifter into park . This will stop the vehicle from rolling and only been stopped and held by the transmission. This is especially important on a steep hill as it would be hard to get out of park later on.