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Ford Explorer Community - Maintenance - Modifications - Performance Upgrades - Problem Solving - Off-Road - Street
Explorer Forum Covers the Explorer ST, Explorer Sport, Explorer Sport Trac, Lincoln Aviator, Mercury Mountaineer, Mazda Navajo, Ford Ranger, Mazda Pickups, and the Ford Aerostar
What is the max weight I can tow without damaging my gears or tranny? I have a 92 XLT 4dr. Explorer 4x4 and will have a 5.5 lift and 32's by the time I have to tow a u-haul trailer. I'm running 3.27 open gears.
ScottXXL
I have been using my '93XLT to tow an 18' Cobia with a 120hp I/O. Cobia is a heavy boat also, I am guessing I am towing about 2000-2500lbs. I have no problem on the highway, but I can feel the truck struggle a bit on back roads engaging the turns and low speed hills. I have had no problem, and don't hesitate to go the 200 mile (round trip) weekend camping trips. I do take it easy and don't expect the truck to preform fast starts or stops, and I cruise at the speed limit so as not to push it. I do have to say that stopping is a chore that you have to be VERY careful with. I had a F150 with a 4 speed granny transmission before the Explorer, and I could stop on a dime even with the boat. The Explorer tends to get pushed down the road much easier with the extra weight. A U-Haul should not be too bad as long as you don't load it down with gravel or bricks.
I wouldn't use O/D when heavy towing because even with the slightest up-hill the truck will down shift. I even turn off the O/D on roads that have alot of hills to reduce the number of shifts, even though I don't tow. Just my thoughts!
Ru Gawg is right.... When towing you should not be using the overdrive. First it won't be shifting as much and for slight speed corrections and second it will also be easier on your transmission. I beleive the manual even suggests not using overdrive while city driving and where making extreme speed changes to smooth out the ride.
I towed a fully loaded U-Haul trailer from Utah to DC this year with my 96 Explorer EB V-6, had no problems even with the overdrive on in the mountains, do be careful slowing down though as mentioned, the trailer tends to puch you along a little. Also, my overall highway MPG suffered by about 2-2.5 MPG while towing, hope this helps.
1996 Green/Tan Eddie Bauer
Totally Stock and Totally Okay with that
I've been towing my 21' travel trailer (close to 4000lbs when loaded) with my '93xlt 4x4 for over a year. I'm running 3.73 gears. I have a weight distributing hitch system, sway conrol bar, air-lift air springs in the front and back, and electric brakes on the trailer. The rig tows as good as can be expected from the 6 cylinder engine.
Towing in the mountains can be tricky, but I live in Florida. Most of my towing is in the state. I would not recommend towing a heavy load without trailer brakes. These really help your stopping power significantly.
