towing with short SUV-Explorer

[Fred-Home Depot]

New member about to buy an RV. Posted questions about quality concerns last week and since, have decided to buy locally if can get reasonable price. Very concerned to have local dealer support if I experience some of the horrendous quality problems I have read about.

Want to tow with my 7300 lb tow rated 2006 Explorer. Towed a 3600 lb show car on a 1600 lb hauler absolutely effortlessly, regarding hills, etc. Looking at a Passport GT 2520RL that is advertised at 4950 lbs empty and 550 lb tongue weight. Worry is sway due short TV.

Read post from experienced member encouraging someone to load his bunk house in back to avoid loading up the tongue. My Explorer has a 740 lb hitch capacity. I would worry that lightening the hitch would lessen stability. The 2520 has only 550 lbs, barely 10% of its weight, on the tongue to start with.

Another post talked about a Hensley sway control hitch. Going to check it out.

Love my Explorer. If I stay below 65 MPH I think I may be all right. Think I'll rent something to test. Comments?

Thanks,
Fred-Home Depot

[theallde]

Towed a 27' travel trailer (Wildwood by Forest River) by a 2014 Ford Expedition and it was a white knuckle drive, especially when passed by 18-wheelers. Lots of sway due to short wheel base of the Expedition.

Now have a 37' Cougar towed by a 2015 Ford F-250, no more sway - towing is a breeze.

Just my 2 cents .... Don

[chuckster57]

Tongue weight is before propane and battery(s) and can be up to 150 pounds. Then add the weight of the WD hitch and you might be over.

[Ken / Claudia]

Not to beat you up but, to get a real tongue wt. and trailer weight. Look at the trailers GVWR. That is the heaviest weight the trailer should be. And believe me there are many who are going over that wt. With the known GVWR, than use the 10 to 15% rule of that weight as the more real likely tongue weight. With those weights known how does that compare to what the vehicle can pull and carry. To be safe I would use the 15% figure. My listed trailer tongue wt. was printed as 540lbs. I checked that weight on a scale loaded for 2 days camping for 2 people and full of fresh water. Would you believe 900lbs. Your vehicle may be made for the real tongue weight. I do not know but, using the factory tongue or trailer weights of a empty trailer as the guide will lead to problems with any smaller tow vehicle.

[sourdough]

Not to rain on your parade, but a Ford Explorer is not, and wasn't intended to be, a tow vehicle. A previous poster related his white knuckle experience with an Expedition; much larger than an Explorer.

You said the tow rating is 7300 lbs for the vehicle; the trailer will come in at 7000 gvw....and it will get there. Max tongue weight for the explorer is 740. The tongue weight on the trailer will be 7-900 lbs. Figure 900. Way above your hitch rating. Beyond the weight issue, which the Explorer can't handle, the small size of the vehicle for a 30-31' trailer weighing 7000 lbs. is simply dangerous....and then you said at 65mph?? If you have loved ones I wouldn't recommend taking them with you

[Pull Toy]

Sorry, but definitely not the right vehicle for the job. When I needed to move a motorcycle several years ago, I found out that U-Haul would not rent me a trailer. My 2002, V8 Explorer was not considered to be an acceptable tow vehicle. Part of their decision was the "rollover vs blowout" problem that Explorer and Firestone were fighting about They didn't want the liability.

I finally did rent a landscaper trailer from a local rental shop, but it was not a pleasant towing experience. You may want to also check your numbers. I may be wrong, but I believe my 2002 was rated at around 5000# max.

Good Luck

[66joej]

^ Agree with Pull Toy. I had the exact same experience with U-Haul. It was an 06 with 4.6 engine. Also had the white knuckle scenario pulling a 3000# EVO 13' single axle TT.
Get a bigger truck and enjoy the drive. JMO

[jkohler70]

I tow a similar sized RV with a 2009 Kia Borrego V8, and I've never had a "white-knuckle" experience. My wheelbase is probably similar, but my tow capacity is 7500# and hitch is 750#. No mountains, but I have gone through some decent Ozark hills. I get some bewildered looks when I pass pickups towing campers on hills.

[Ken / Claudia]

I had same problem at u haul. The f350 was loaded with camper to head to beach. I needed to pick up a riding lawn mower to take there also. Took the 98 exp to u haul to rent a 5x7 open trailer and they would not rent me any trailer to be used with the exp. That was in 2008, I have no idea if that is still their rule.

[66joej]

Originally Posted by Ken / Claudia

I had same problem at u haul. The f350 was loaded with camper to head to beach. I needed to pick up a riding lawn mower to take there also. Took the 98 exp to u haul to rent a 5x7 open trailer and they would not rent me any trailer to be used with the exp. That was in 2008, I have no idea if that is still their rule.

My episode was in 2014. Those darn Firestone tires. Back in '97 I bought a new F150. In '99 Ford came out with the tire recall. New tires for the originals.

[xcntrk]

Kudos to you for seeking input for this unusual configuration. In all honestly you're not going to like the feedback as what you're suggesting is so clearly unrealistic and unsafe that many will want to blast you for it.

That said; a 2007 explorer is:

1. A very short wheelbase to realistically tow a lengthy trailer and not encounter sway.
2. A very lightweight platform to manage the heavy load incurred from "properly configured" tongue weight.
3. Does not have the proper payload capacity (rear axle, springs, tires, wheels, frame) to support the "properly configured" tongue weight.
4. Is insufficiently equipped in the power and cooling department to realistically manage a heavy load over long range and/or high speeds. Think transmission or engine oil temps while pulling a grade on the highway.
5. From the factory, is not configured with the proper electronic brake controller configuration required to pull an enclosed travel trailer (these things don't have surge brakes).

These are just the obvious ones. The recommendation to load the trailer rear heavy in order to counter proper tongue weight is ridiculous. That is an extremely dangerous suggestion and one that quite frankly could cost you or your family their lives (not to mention put others around you at risk).

[Tbos]

DO NOT LOAD THE TRAILER REAR HEAVY. Doing so will cause excessive sway and be extremely dangerous. Bite the bullet and buy a better TV.


2016 Passport GT 2810BHS, 2014 Silverado 1500 LT in Deep Forest Green

[ctbruce]

Originally Posted by Tbos

DO NOT LOAD THE TRAILER REAR HEAVY. Doing so will cause excessive sway and be extremely dangerous. Bite the bullet and buy a better TV.


2016 Passport GT 2810BHS, 2014 Silverado 1500 LT in Deep Forest Green

Tbos nailed this. Don't load the back. Here's an examplehttps://youtu.be/i2fkOVHAC8Q

Chip Bruce, RPh
Kansas City, MO
2016 Fuzion Impact 312
2017 3500HD Silverado LTZ

[RGene7001]

I dont think towing with Explorer is an impossible or dangerous idea. I tow quite substantial Passport with a midsize unibody SUV and it never gave me any white nuckle experience although someone on this forum tryed to convince me otherwise (LOL), because it is simply impossible to tow almost 30 feet with a midsize SUV without having this experience and putting in danger the entire Interstate Highway System.
The good thing is that midsize Passports are very towable, well balanced, and very unlikely to start swaying just because you ho faster than 50 mph. I would rather be towing my 2670 and not a single axle 18 footer or popup which I see frequently swaying wildly behind any TV
Dont be preoccupied by hitch weight, think about how effective is weight distribution. 800 lb spread over 4 wheels means just 200 lb added to each. Big deal? Not, unless these 800 lb hang on the tail and upset your balance.
You have to avoid hitches with long shank because they will extend your rear overhang which as a lever conducting trailer movement to the steering wheel.
If you have smaller wheel/higher profile tire combo on the Explorer it may have to be changed to bigger wheels, 19' at least and stiffer, lower profile tires with good load rating and inflated to the max
The only true problem I can see is Explorer's much softer suspension compared to the ML which is heavy duty stiff.
But I would definitely give Explorer a try.

[mwm70]

Don't forget that getting and keeping the trailer rolling is only part of the equation. Stopping especially in emergency situations is just as if not more important. Towing puts serious strain on the transmission and braking systems. I was towing a hybrid TT with a 2007 Tahoe and never felt comfortable. Passenger tires and short wheelbase always felt like the trailer was pushing the Tahoe down the road. Moved to a 3/4 ton set up with a tow and plow package and I feel much more in control especially when braking. I keep vehicles for the long haul so I was also concerned with not pushing the TV to its limits and prematurely killing it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[gary31]

I have a F250 SRW CC and I had sway on a white knuckle trip pulling my Toyhauler. Trust the forum when they tell you that you want a bigger TV. If you do not believe the advice given it will not take long for you to find out. Hopefully you or no one else will be hurt in your learning curve. Wind and SEMI'S will push you all over the highway if you are under equipped, It can be the most frighten experience if you get in this situation.
I started with a Toyota 4 Runner V8 pulling a 27` bunkhouse, knowing I would need a bigger TV when I bought the TT. It only took a couple short trips to know I was grossly under equipped and soon purchased a 150 to tow. I guess everyone wants to keep the cost down when purchasing a REC vehicle, hoping that you will not need to upgrade the TV. If that is not and option then keep your purchase in perspective of your ability to tow and upgrade later when you afford an larger TV.