Towing a 6000 lb trailer with a Taurus?

kknowlton wrote:
we had the old truck-like Explorer and towed a 5000-lb (GVWR) HTT with it.

It is no wonder. The out of the box old Explorers were lousy TV's.

kknowlton wrote:

Drove behind a Taurus for a while today - it's a CAR. No way I'd consider a 6000-lb trailer behind it.

Many have come to realize many cars have made and can make great TV's.

we had the old truck-like Explorer and towed a 5000-lb (GVWR) HTT with it. We were not happy with the experience & bought a 1/2-ton pickup instead. Drove behind a Taurus for a while today - it's a CAR. No way I'd consider a 6000-lb trailer behind it.

Anyhow, I looked up the SHO. Fords towing guide lists the SHO "not rated for towing".
There must be a reason.

The old Explorer was a true SUV, but today's uses a 'car' platform
and is no longer a unibody (monocoque) on a ladder frame.

Only the unibody (monocoque) without a separate frame and a CUV, Crossover
Utility Vehicle

Stiffness is not the only criteria for a good TV, or more to the point
a long lived TV towing several tons behind it (manhandling). On that
a lot depends on how the towing (not tongue) forces are distributed
between the sheetmetal panels of the unibody

Similar to some half ton off roaders come with 'P' class tires. Others
comes with 'LT' class tires. I know some fire roads that would chew
up those with 'P' class tire in a hurry, while 'LT' class tires would
or might get scuffed

That is my analogy to a CUV vs SUV

Have also seen video's of that Canadian guy setup a front wheel drive
car where they removed the rear wheels and had the hitch/rear end
become 'one' with the trailer. Understand and not impressed as lots
who think so cool....well novel is a better word I'd use

It is now just a custom RV, like a Class C is with a full sized van
front end with a living quarter box behind

Just because it is in print, does it mean a good thing...

http://www.canamrv.ca/towing/

Wowsers

Mvander wrote:
Thats nothin'. I once saw an intrepid tow a triple axle airstream!!!!

That's nothin X2: I once test drove the Intrepid towing a triple axle Airstream and what a sweet ride!!!! You can see it here..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FsRXjI8W6o

carringb wrote:
Same car but taller and heavier (the Explorer) has a 5,000 pound rating. The Taurus probably handles trailers better than the Explorer because of its lower CG and lower profile tires.

Agree. The IRS too on the Taurus is going to be a huge improvement on the handling and stability. Note the Explorer also has IRS.

Mvander wrote:
Thats nothin'. I once saw an intrepid tow a triple axle airstream!!!!

Same company, same guy.

chracatoa wrote:
I think the problem here is not engine but breaking power. You can tow it until you have an emergency situation then you're screwed. Also, nothing about the payload?

....

Braking power? The trailer has it's own brakes. As much as I find towing that much weight with that car VERY strange, realistically, it has a stiffer chassis, better brakes, as much (or more) power, more gears, better ride, handling, better safety features and stability control, over an early 2000's half ton. I still find it odd, and I'm not sure if the author is nuts, or on to something. Interesting is the chassis commonality with the explorer, and the superior handling, might just make it a safer tow rig than the explorer....

Thats nothin'. I once saw an intrepid tow a triple axle airstream!!!!

Francesca Knowles wrote:

carringb wrote:
Same car but taller and heavier (the Explorer) has a 5,000 pound rating. The Taurus probably handles trailers better than the Explorer because of its lower CG and lower profile tires.

:h

Except that they're both made by Ford, what do the Taurus (a sedan) and the Explorer (an "SUV") have in common?

They're both built on the same platform. So they have quite a bit in common!