Would you go WD with this set up?

having owned a soft-suspension Exploder, i'd advise you get a WDH and sway control.
i think that 500lbs. tongue weight is the rating for the receiver, no matter what it's bolted on.
i'll bet that the manual will state that you'll need a WDH to have that much tongue weight on the Exploder.

Before I got educated on weights, I pulled my camper on a 150 round trip excursion. It did just fine, but afterwards I learned about the 500# hitch max limit (my tongue weight is 720 loaded) and bought WD. Sure did do wonders for the handling characteristics, regardless, as well as correct my hitch glitch...

I’d want to know my tongue weight before I made that decision, but I think Terryallan’s suggestion would be a good indicator. I pull a 3000# loaded 16’ TT and my tw is on the light side, only 300 to 320#. I don’t need either wd or sway. When I towed with a shorter wheelbase Bronco I occasionally got a bit of minor sway that I tweaked out with the manual controller. When I went to an F150 I don’t get a hint of sway. I think you’re on the edge of the envelope so I’d check my tw and how much the front of the TV raises and make a decision on the wd. As far as sway, I’d drive it and add if you get any sway at all.

Probably not 100% necessary, but it will tow better with the WD hitch IMO.

Measure the wheels wells. Hookup, and measure again. IF the front rises more than 1/2 inch. You may need WDH. If not. you don't. I don't think you will.

Its a tough call. I can see peoples point either way. I pulled an x160 around with a chevy 1500 for a few years with no WD or Sway control of any type. Never had an issue and outside of some really good hills, barely knew it was there. Nice thing about the Little Fun Finders, from a towing perspective, it that they are 7 ft wide so I found they fit in behind the TV a little better and pull a little straighter because of it. (personal experience talking only)

Good idea would be to hook em up and have a look... if the TV points her nose up in the air, need WD... if it handles the weight, do a short road trip and see how it feels.

I like those little Finders... Sorta miss my old one.
:) Happy Camping

You`ll be looking at a fully loaded trailer weight of around 2600lbs. that should give you a loaded tongue weight of around 390lbs (15%). I don`t think you would need a WD hitch. I would get the sway control always a good idea!

Rescue16 wrote:
I would get Weight Distribution also. By the time you hook up the fun finder and have the back of the explorer loaded for camping. your front end is going to be a little light and steering will be vague. By using weight distribution and transferring some of the overall weight to the front of the tow vehicle will give you a more pleasurable towing experience in my honest opinion.

Very unlikely I will see the GVRW of the FF + a loaded explorer. The FF is 2100 with a payload of 1200. We camp pretty light. Still considering the hitch though!

I would get Weight Distribution also. By the time you hook up the fun finder and have the back of the explorer loaded for camping. your front end is going to be a little light and steering will be vague. By using weight distribution and transferring some of the overall weight to the front of the tow vehicle will give you a more pleasurable towing experience in my honest opinion.