Forum Discussion

boulderado's avatar
boulderado
Explorer
Dec 29, 2016

Temporary towing with Ford Explorer

We're in between proper tow vehicles and need to move our TT (see signature) for a few miles (flat towing) from time to time in the next few months using our 2017 Ford Explorer XLT with the 3.5 non-turbo. Yes, I know this is not an ideal tow vehicle, but I am looking for input on the best possible class IV hitch to install. Trailer is just over 5 K (actual weight).

Any input is much appreciated & Happy New Year to all.

38 Replies

  • A V-6 Explorer with a factory tow pkg has a 5k lb tow rating! FYI

    I have a '13 with the factory tow pkg. however the only thing I tow is 2 snowmobiles, about 1300lbs with trailer. The dry weight of your trailer is 5200lbs (which is heavy for a 23ft TT). you would have to take everything out so it is in as delivered weight to be able to tow it. however if you are truly only going 3 miles I don`t see it being an issue with a WD hitch.
  • dadechil wrote:
    westend wrote:
    You may have trouble finding a hitch with enough towing capacity to fit that Explorer. AFAIK, the new Explorers are now unibody and not body-on-frame as years past.

    A better solution might be to rent a truck or hire out the moving if it is just a few trips. One of the worst slip-ups, IMO, is rationalizing a short trip or even terrain into any towing vehicle being capable of the trip.

    I agree rent a uhaul moving truck much safer and relatively cheap

    uhaul

    U haul will NOT let you tow your own load with their trucks, only options are Enterprise Truck (not a truck at a regular Enterprise) and you'll need to get a 3/4 ton as they don't put a ball or hitch on their half tons, a tool rental/fleet truck rental place, or some Toyota dealerships patriciate in their rental program and if they have a truck with a trailering package you are allowed to tow with it. Those are the only options I found to legally rent a truck to tow with.
  • westend wrote:
    You may have trouble finding a hitch with enough towing capacity to fit that Explorer. AFAIK, the new Explorers are now unibody and not body-on-frame as years past.

    A better solution might be to rent a truck or hire out the moving if it is just a few trips. One of the worst slip-ups, IMO, is rationalizing a short trip or even terrain into any towing vehicle being capable of the trip.

    I agree rent a uhaul moving truck much safer and relatively cheap

    uhaul
  • I wouldn't do it instead I would look for a cheap beater truck to tow with or as others suggested rent a truck or have some one tow it.
  • You may have trouble finding a hitch with enough towing capacity to fit that Explorer. AFAIK, the new Explorers are now unibody and not body-on-frame as years past.

    A better solution might be to rent a truck or hire out the moving if it is just a few trips. One of the worst slip-ups, IMO, is rationalizing a short trip or even terrain into any towing vehicle being capable of the trip.
  • They do not make a hitch for that truck in the weight class you need.

    The best you can get from my research is a 675 TW and 4500 tow rate hitch from draw tite

    Your trailer is 5200 lbs per specs online and a TW of 650 lbs ( Probably more)

    Ironically this hitch with weight dist loweres the TW to 500 but inbcreases tow rate to 5000..

    Still out of your relm..

    I would forget about it since its so borderline... There are so many other variables. Tires, GVW etc.. It would be a shame to destroy a 2017 vehicle trying to tow what it cant..

    Would I try it? Maybe.. If only a few miles? Maybe. But thats just my thoughts if I were in that situation..

    Plus I would do more research on the truck itself, and probably take it to the scales to really determine where the payloads/axle weights are at with the truck..

    Plus I would want to know if its a full boxed frame or not....etc...


    http://www.draw-tite.com/products/trailer-hitches/class-iii-iv-receiver/class-iii-trailer-hitch/WfzaCtfZMf0hoaEk3ihHPRU6D8ldJVqP
  • I would look on Craiglist for a good deal on a simple WD hitch or I would go to Harbor Freight and get this WD hitch.

    I would not try to just tow it on a ball with that tow vehicle. I think you should use a WD hitch but not spend much money on one for the type of use you are going to put it to.
    Barney
  • You could probably get some bubba with a truck to do it for you, cheaper, safer, and less headache than installing a hitch.