Need Towing Advice, PLEASE HELP

time2roll wrote:

kdking1976 wrote:
Hi,
I have a 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac v6 with class 3 hitch which by all paper work that I have read puts my max tow weight up around 5300-5500 lbs.

I am looking at purchasing a Flagstaff Micro Lite 21 FBRS travel trailer that has a dry weight of 4200 lbs.

Keep the trailer GVWR within the tow rating for best results.
You will still need to pack light.

Forget dry weight.

Exactly, go by trailer GVWR and not the dry weight so you have some safety margin. You never know what the dry weight figure does or does not include.

Now i like more margin than most, so a rule i like to follow, is i try not to exceed 80% of the tow vehicles tow rating with the trailer GVWR. That had always worked well for me. In times past, the closer I've gotten to tow rating equal to trailer GVWR, the less enjoyable the towing experience was.

You have a very light weight tow vehicle so your going to be very limited in TT choices. Any chance you could afford an older half ton truck for a spare/tow vehicle?

If not then the suggestion to have your family drive separate is a good one. I did that when i used to tow with an old expedition, simply for room for gear in the expedition. It also is much easier to concentrate without kids in the truck, at least with my two! Lol.

I don't know what's out there, but you'd need to be in the 3500- 4k GVWR range and under 20' I'd think, and only you in the explorer to make it work with a TT, or buy a bigger TV.

My bf once towed a coachmen micro mini with his Nissan xterra. I want to say the coachmen is in the 20 or under range and very light weight. Even at that, i don't think it was a very enjoyable tow for him at all. I think your explorer is pretty equivalent to his xterra. So that may give you some idea of what you have to expect. Good luck. Your smart to come here and ask first. Don't listen to what any salesman tells you, you can tow. Do your own research and know the numbers.

Does your explorer have the yellow stucke8 on the drivers door jamb? That will give you your payload. If you have that sticker, tell us what that number is.