v8 or v6???

[BobinIL]

I am a newbe here and have already learned a lot from lurking around. I plan to buy my first Explorer in the next couple of weeks. Looking at a 99 or 2000 4door 4wd. I have a large 22 foot boat that I tow only occasionally the weight is a little less than 4000lbs on a single axle trailer. I also have a tandam axle flatbet I will use for odds and ends and a 16 foot fishing boat I tow regularly during duck hunting season. I commute 30 miles one way for work so fuel economy is a factor. Which would be the better choice the v8 or the v6 SOHC? Is the v8 only avalible in AWD or can you get it with the 2 high 4 low 4 high switch? I will probably buy a program vehicle XLT or XLS with less than 30,000 miles. The EB and limited's are out of my price range

 

[leenjen]

the V-8 is only available in AWD. i dont know much about towing, but i think the SOHC can handle it. but the V-8 does have more torque and hp. since fuel economy is a factor, i would go with a SOHC. especially with the commute. the horsepower of the SOHC is very close to the V-8.

 

[Stephen]

For towing I say V8 all the way.

 

[glc8937]

I tow my brothers 23 footer occasional with my v6 and I can tell you that I need a V8!!

If you drive your V8 properly the MPG is not that bad. Not as bad as pulling stuff with a V6

Just my opinion though

 

[JoeC5]

V8 all the way

 

[BislamJoe]

I'd go with the V8. From the sound of what you're saying, you don't off-road much (if any, but I may be wrong there), so I don't think the lack of a low-range will really bother you. But if you later on decide that you like to off-road, you can convert a V8 AWD to a true 4wd with a manual t-case. Advance Adapters can put a Dana 20 behind the 4R70W tranny that the V8's have. I don't know if that will be an issue with you, though.

 

[Jason94sport]

The newer sohc V6's you are talking about should be good. We older guys in the early 91-96's are stuck with the same 4.0 motor with only 165hp or so. My uncle has a 99 V8, & he tows. It's a gas sucker if that's what you using it for. The unwanted addition of AWD for the V8 just gobbles gas up. If that is your concern go with the V6. The new ones have alot more power in them then the old V6's

 

[Bartman]

V6

I agree with Jason, get a V6 SOHC (they don't come in XLS, so you'll have to get a XLT). I have a 2000 XLT with the SOHC V6 and like it a lot. I don't know the towing capacity, but it should be OK for you. Be sure to get one with the towing package so that you'll get the 4.10 gears and all your electrical connections. The pluses are: better MPG (all the time), 4x4 hi/lo, and you select when you want to be in 4wd. The minus is less torque when you have the boat. Overall, unless you tow really heavy stuff, or tow over mountains (not in IL!), I'd go with the V6. If you need some extra umph, you can add a cat-back exhaust + high flow air filter (like KKM or K&N) for under $500.

John

 

[Haxaw]

The V8 is what I have

I really don't tow too much and the full time AWD does bother me. My milage is about 16.6 AMPG on the computer in the vehicle. Not great but I think the torque is what you need for the towing. The V6 would probably be but do a search on towing capacity, it may help. Also if you have to hammer a V6 more to get the same towing results as the V8 it probably would not be that diiferent on gas, but i have never towed with mine. The V6 will be much better with commutes, choices choices.

 

[kvo]

Bartman -

I thought the V6 SOHC with the 4.10, side steps, and 16" tires only come with the Sports Package and the tow package comes with the 15" tires and 3.73 with all the wiring and cooler?

Is it an option for both the tow package and the sports package?

 

[espnfreak]

well i got the v-6 160 hp and i dont think it would handle towing too well. you might want a sohc (could have engine trouble, but just as fast as the v-8) or a v-8. i would go with the sohc route because they are like 205hp and they are v-6. my dad is getting the same mpg as i am with it. its a great engine in it even with the problems. ford has remedied most of them on the newer years. and even if you have a problem most likely it will be in fords extended warranty for the sohc

 

[Stephen]

Trust me guys, you need the torque of the V8 for towing. I chose the 6 because to me it made no difference in the type of driving the truck would be dealing with. If I were towing though I definately would have gotten the V8.

 

[espnfreak]

how much more torque does the 8 have than 6 sohc

 

[99explorer5.0]

Judgeing by previous posts about gas millage there really isnt that big of a difference between a v8 and a 6. when i purchaced my explorer i was looking at the stickers and it was only a 1 mpg difference between the six and the eight. From the previous posts all of us with the V8's and the 6's are getting almost the same gas millage in real driving conditions. Go with the V8.

 

[Stephen]

The V8 has 288 ft-lbs. @ 3300 rpm with a maximum towing capacity of 6620 lbs vs. 240 ft-lbs. @ 3250 rpm and a capcity of 5740 lbs for the 6.

Gotta have the V8 for a boat that big, otherwise you'll be kicking yourself the first time you go up a hill.

 

[espnfreak]

get a new explorer for the power. those 4.6's are beasts. if your going through the mountains it will be horrible. but stephen dont you think for towing you dont need to gun the car? i mean your meant to go slow when towing. not flooring it around

 

[glc8937]

Jas84,

Just curious...have you ever towed anything of substantial weight before? You need the torque and power of a V8!

When I tow the 23 footer my V6 can handle it but it is A LOT OF STRESS on my engine. And as Stephen said...going up a hill....my explorer is waving to the side lines for a substitute!

The difference in MPG between V8's and V6's are not enough to justify going with a V6 when you will be towing. Get the V8 with a tow package and you will be saying Thank you Thank you Thank you

 

[BobinIL]

Wow! Thanks for the replies. I only tow the big boat 6 times a year tops. I do not go anywhere there is any significant hills. I am more concerned about pulling it out of the water on the ramps and I think the 4 lo range would be just the ticket. I am currently using a 93 F150 extended cab with a 300 6cyl in it so I am not used to burning up the highways. I do intend to do a cat back 2.25" exhaust with a flowmaster 40 or 50 and a KKN true rev intake along with air shocks and a class III hitch. I just hate to see those explorers squat when towing.

 

[espnfreak]

your saying a sohc wont have enough power? and also bobinil sounds like you want a v-6
i know i cant be crazy but other guys have said that the sohc is a viable solution also

 

[jjue]

Get the 302

Get the 302 V8 because of the low end torque and the heavier duty transmission. I think for the years that you mentioned, the V6 comes with a 5R55?? transmission, and I don't think that you can even attempt to pull in OD. The 302 comes with a 4R70W that is a pretty tough transmission. It can pull in overdrive as long as it isn't hilly, plus an electronic shift kit from B&M is less that $40, and I do use one even when I pull my <2000lb. boat and trailer combo.

On top of that, the 4R70W transmission is basically a wide ratio AODE, which is an electronic version of an AOD. Also, the 4R70W is the automatic in V8 Mustangs (even the Roushes) and in some of the F-150 trucks, although most of the ones that I have seen were 4R100s.

To let you know of my trailer pulling situation, most trailers don't drop my fuel economy more that 1 mpg in town. Since I can pull in overdrive, one trip from Jackson, MS to Atlanta, GA was about 19 mpg without more than a few tools and my clothes for a couple of nights and no trailer. I drove from Atlanta to Starkville, MS a few days later with a 5x8 Uhaul full of old furniture, that I inherited from my granparents and was sitting in storage at my aunt and uncle's basement, for my apartment. I got between 16mpg and 17mpg driving without stress due to engine power. I remember pulling a boat from Atlanta to Jackson that was similar in weight but less drag with the '94 Explorer, and I got a dismal 14 mpg and was quite restless the entire way since I didn't have enough engine power, and I was definitely driving slower as well, on purpose. I actually forgot that I was pulling the Uhaul with the Mountaineer V8.

Plus with the K&N filter and modified "cold air" airbox, I actually get better fuel economy out of my 302 than I ever dreamed of my '94 Explorer that my sister now drives. Since the mods, I've actually have gotten between 21-22mpg running the AC & passing some vehicles on the 2-lane highways, doing between 65-70. Ironically, I have the biggest engine in my family, and I have the best fuel economy.