Our Explorer is getting up there both in years and miles. Probably about time to think about a replacement. Our Hybrid trailer out the door is probably 5000 lbs and I always felt our V8 rated at 7300 was a good match. But they are getting increasingly difficult to find. Need to stay in the SUV market for a variety of reasons. Not interested in a pickup. Suggestions? We're of course thinking used. This is primarily a winter and tow vehicle at this stage in our lives.

You might keep an eye out for a 2011 to 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee or Dodge Durango with the 5.7L V8; it will have more power than the old 4.6. Another possibility is the Lexus GX... used ones hold their value well though, so you'll pay more. Or you could move up in size to the Expedition or Yukon, etc.

rexlion wrote:You might keep an eye out for a 2011 to 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee or Dodge Durango with the 5.7L V8; it will have more power than the old 4.6. Another possibility is the Lexus GX... used ones hold their value well though, so you'll pay more. Or you could move up in size to the Expedition or Yukon, etc.Why not the 3.0 EcoDiesel Jeep Grand Cherokee or the Ford Explorer Sport with the 3.5L EcoBoost, or the new Chevy Tahoe.Good Luck

OpenRangePullen_Ford wrote:rexlion wrote:You might keep an eye out for a 2011 to 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee or Dodge Durango with the 5.7L V8; it will have more power than the old 4.6. Another possibility is the Lexus GX... used ones hold their value well though, so you'll pay more. Or you could move up in size to the Expedition or Yukon, etc.Why not the 3.0 EcoDiesel Jeep Grand Cherokee or the Ford Explorer Sport with the 3.5L EcoBoost, or the new Chevy Tahoe.Good LuckAs the ex-owner of a V/8 Explorer as well as a new one, the two aren't close to being on the same planet power wise as a tow vehicle. And the Sport makes it worse being shorter.

Check for a 4th generation Toyota 4Runner with the 4.7L i-Force V8. My HTT weighs roughly the same as yours and I think I have an ideal setup. I'm planning on keeping my 4Runner for as long as possible...it's the absolute perfect vehicle for me and I can't think of what I'd replace it with!

SCVJeff wrote:OpenRangePullen_Ford wrote:rexlion wrote:You might keep an eye out for a 2011 to 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee or Dodge Durango with the 5.7L V8; it will have more power than the old 4.6. Another possibility is the Lexus GX... used ones hold their value well though, so you'll pay more. Or you could move up in size to the Expedition or Yukon, etc.Why not the 3.0 EcoDiesel Jeep Grand Cherokee or the Ford Explorer Sport with the 3.5L EcoBoost, or the new Chevy Tahoe.Good LuckAs the ex-owner of a V/8 Explorer as well as a new one, the two aren't close to being on the same planet power wise as a tow vehicle. And the Sport makes it worse being shorter.I think they meant the 5th Gen Explorer sport... It's the same body (they don't make the 2 door any longer) but with the Ecoboost v6. Pretty sure it tops out at 5000lbs towing capacity which is the same as the non sport with tow package. It's the body/unibody rap frame limiting it , not the engine though.

Replacement for a V-8 Explorer? | Good Sam Community

APT
Explorer
Apr 14, 2014
JSGlow wrote:
Need to stay in the SUV market for a variety of reasons....This is primarily a winter and tow vehicle at this stage in our lives.

Then non towing ride, handling, and fuel economy doesn't matter much. Get a full sized SUV. I'd recommend a 2004-2006 GM 2500 with 8.1L. :)
PAThwacker
Explorer
Apr 14, 2014
wgaf about towing when payload trumps all.
rjstractor
Nomad
Apr 13, 2014
SCVJeff wrote:
Have you towed identical loads with both? I have.. V/8 hands down

Interesting,from reading what Ecoboost owners have said, it out-tows the old 5.4 by a huge margin, which in turn is more powerful than the 4.6. I used to have a 4.6 powered Explorer and it was OK, but far from being a powerhouse. Now, compared to the NA V6 the V8 should win hands down.
Fordlover
Explorer
Apr 13, 2014
JSGlow wrote:
Our Explorer is getting up there both in years and miles. Probably about time to think about a replacement. Our Hybrid trailer out the door is probably 5000 lbs and I always felt our V8 rated at 7300 was a good match. But they are getting increasingly difficult to find. Need to stay in the SUV market for a variety of reasons. Not interested in a pickup. Suggestions? We're of course thinking used. This is primarily a winter and tow vehicle at this stage in our lives.

We are in a similar situation, good luck! It seems that most of the midsized SUV's on the market aren't rated for ~7,000 lbs. For that reason alone we'll likely be jumping to a half ton pickup next go around.
SCVJeff
Explorer
Apr 13, 2014
Have you towed identical loads with both? I have.. V/8 hands down
rjstractor
Nomad
Apr 13, 2014
SCVJeff wrote:
As the ex-owner of a V/8 Explorer as well as a new one, the two aren't close to being on the same planet power wise as a tow vehicle. And the Sport makes it worse being shorter.

The new 3.5 Ecoboost Explorer is limited by a 5000 pound tow capacity, but as far as engines go the Ecoboost is light years ahead of the 4.6 in towing power. Not sure why the towing capacity is so low, other than the unibody construction.
mustangglp
Explorer
Apr 13, 2014
Just look at GM's website they are saying 23 miles a gallon And a 8500 lb tow rating. Pricey though at 44,000.
mustangglp
Explorer
Apr 13, 2014
I believe the new explorer are unibody? So that would cross it off my list although I have an older one that I like. For towing I would probably look at a Tahoe or Yukon I think they get a little better millage the a Durango?
SCVJeff
Explorer
Apr 13, 2014
BryceB wrote:
SCVJeff wrote:
OpenRangePullen_Ford wrote:
rexlion wrote:
You might keep an eye out for a 2011 to 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee or Dodge Durango with the 5.7L V8; it will have more power than the old 4.6. Another possibility is the Lexus GX... used ones hold their value well though, so you'll pay more. Or you could move up in size to the Expedition or Yukon, etc.

Why not the 3.0 EcoDiesel Jeep Grand Cherokee or the Ford Explorer Sport with the 3.5L EcoBoost, or the new Chevy Tahoe.
Good Luck
As the ex-owner of a V/8 Explorer as well as a new one, the two aren't close to being on the same planet power wise as a tow vehicle. And the Sport makes it worse being shorter.

I think they meant the 5th Gen Explorer sport... It's the same body (they don't make the 2 door any longer) but with the Ecoboost v6. Pretty sure it tops out at 5000lbs towing capacity which is the same as the non sport with tow package. It's the body/unibody rap frame limiting it , not the engine though.
its heavy for sure, and 'they' say the unibody is stronger (now sure about that). What I know is that towing my 180 SeaRay with both, there is a significant difference in performance between the two. Even the braking seems anemic with the new body. The boat is heading to a full time home in the marina, which is fine since it won't be in tow..
BryceB
Explorer
Apr 13, 2014
SCVJeff wrote:
OpenRangePullen_Ford wrote:
rexlion wrote:
You might keep an eye out for a 2011 to 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee or Dodge Durango with the 5.7L V8; it will have more power than the old 4.6. Another possibility is the Lexus GX... used ones hold their value well though, so you'll pay more. Or you could move up in size to the Expedition or Yukon, etc.

Why not the 3.0 EcoDiesel Jeep Grand Cherokee or the Ford Explorer Sport with the 3.5L EcoBoost, or the new Chevy Tahoe.
Good Luck
As the ex-owner of a V/8 Explorer as well as a new one, the two aren't close to being on the same planet power wise as a tow vehicle. And the Sport makes it worse being shorter.

I think they meant the 5th Gen Explorer sport... It's the same body (they don't make the 2 door any longer) but with the Ecoboost v6. Pretty sure it tops out at 5000lbs towing capacity which is the same as the non sport with tow package. It's the body/unibody rap frame limiting it , not the engine though.