Hello everyone, brand new here and to RVing in general. Here is my story and I hope some of you can provide some insight:I just recently purchased a 2017 Ford Explorer 4wd V6 with the class 3 towing package. The towing rating is 5,000 lbs. I went to an RV show last weekend and found a travel trailer that I loved and saw that it came in at 4500 lbs....500 less than my vehicle is rated for. I signed the buyers order and planned to pick it up this coming weekend. Over the past few days I have been educating myself on all things RV and came across a lot of mixed information about towing and weights. (Especially that vehicle manufacturers overstate towing capacities and RV manufacturers understate trailer weights) I'm afraid now that my vehicle won't really be able to tow this trailer and I'll be stuck once I get to the dealership to pick this up. Shame on me for not doing enough research ahead of time, but it ended up being one of those impulse decisions. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Welcome to the Forum.I hope I'm not going to rain on you (we have had enough rain here in the NW).....but, if the weight of the trailer you bought (4500) is the "dry" weight, you might be in trouble.Once you add propane, batteries, all your gear, clothes, the hitch, food, and basic stuff, you will probably be well over 5000 lbs.And....then you have to consider Payload which is really more important than tow rating and that's another whole ball of trouble for your Explorer..What trailer did you buy....make and model?Hopefully others will chime in and give you a more sunny opinion.

Yeah its not looking good for you.Thats 5000 lbs max with WD hitch...https://www.ford.com/resources/ford/general/pdf/towingguides/17RV&TT_Ford_Explorer_Sep7.pdfPost make and model of trailer as stated.If its 4500 dry then you either need a smaller trailer or a bigger truck. I would say smaller trailer of course because you have a 2017 truck..And if you told the dealer what truck you had you may be able to convince them they are at fault. They should take back the trailer and get you in something else at no loss of money or additional cost to you..Example This is about as heavy as I would go with that truck..406 hitch 3370 empty 4600 gvw. ( Possibly this is like what you bought hopefully in the similar weights)http://www.coachmenrv.com/product-details.aspx?LineID=62&ModelID=1596#Main

additionally towing with that vehicle make sure it has the oil cooler as stated in the brochure and get a trans cooler for it...

It's a Keystone Hideout 21FQWE http://www.keystonerv.com/hideout/

Shipping weight is: 4650, that's before battery, propane, WD hitch and dry.They list carrying capacity 2350, that puts your gross weight at 7000#.

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downtheroad
Explorer
Mar 17, 2017
Welcome to the Forum.
I hope I'm not going to rain on you (we have had enough rain here in the NW).....but, if the weight of the trailer you bought (4500) is the "dry" weight, you might be in trouble.
Once you add propane, batteries, all your gear, clothes, the hitch, food, and basic stuff, you will probably be well over 5000 lbs.

And....then you have to consider Payload which is really more important than tow rating and that's another whole ball of trouble for your Explorer..

What trailer did you buy....make and model?
Hopefully others will chime in and give you a more sunny opinion.
lawrosa
Explorer
Mar 17, 2017
Yeah its not looking good for you.Thats 5000 lbs max with WD hitch...

https://www.ford.com/resources/ford/general/pdf/towingguides/17RV&TT_Ford_Explorer_Sep7.pdf

Post make and model of trailer as stated.

If its 4500 dry then you either need a smaller trailer or a bigger truck. I would say smaller trailer of course because you have a 2017 truck..

And if you told the dealer what truck you had you may be able to convince them they are at fault. They should take back the trailer and get you in something else at no loss of money or additional cost to you..

Example This is about as heavy as I would go with that truck..

406 hitch 3370 empty 4600 gvw. ( Possibly this is like what you bought hopefully in the similar weights)

http://www.coachmenrv.com/product-details.aspx?LineID=62&ModelID=1596#Main
lawrosa
Explorer
Mar 17, 2017
additionally towing with that vehicle make sure it has the oil cooler as stated in the brochure and get a trans cooler for it...
beaker305
Explorer
Mar 17, 2017
It's a Keystone Hideout 21FQWE http://www.keystonerv.com/hideout/
braindead0
Explorer
Mar 17, 2017
Shipping weight is: 4650, that's before battery, propane, WD hitch and dry.
They list carrying capacity 2350, that puts your gross weight at 7000#.
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Mar 17, 2017
4650 dry puts you around 5500-5800lbs loaded. If you pack very lite you will be able to stick to around 5000lbs loaded. The Explorer has the power to tow so setup is key as well as loading!
westend
Explorer
Mar 17, 2017
2017 Ford towing guide
SoundGuy
Explorer
Mar 17, 2017
beaker305 wrote:
It's a Keystone Hideout 21FQWE http://www.keystonerv.com/hideout/

Good grief, that's a 26' travel trailer that will easily weigh 6000+ lbs loaded & ready to camp and you want to tow it with a short wheelbase V6 Explorer which is no longer a BOF vehicle?!! :E

WAY too much trailer, WAY too little tow vehicle. I personally wouldn't tow that trailer with anything less than a properly rated 1/2 ton truck. :R
evanrem
Explorer II
Mar 17, 2017
short of having the dealer take it back as it is clearly to much trailer for the truck or getting a new truck you might have press on and see how it goes. You could put it on a seasonal site.
Jebby14
Explorer
Mar 17, 2017
Sorry to say but you aren't even in the ball park. You will be over towing capacity and WAY over payload. Time to think on you feet and get the deal squashed. Find a significantly smaller trailer or upgrade your tow vehicle. Before you try again make sure you understand functional weights vs dry weights, vehicle payload limitations, rear axle limitations, frontal surface area limitations, tongue weights and proper loading and whatever else you can find. Good luck.