TT Recommendation

Friends of ours has a 2015 Explorer Sport and they tow an RPOD 180. It is just the two of them and he was looking at getting a larger RV, but said he had weighed theirs and he was right at the top end and didn't want to push things.

Here is his trailer

RPOD 180 specs

How many people and what is their total weight? Add another 200 hundred pounds. Or simply load your family up and go to the scales. Once you have a real ready to travel weight you can subtract that from your SUVs GVWR. That my friend is how much you can add. Since a TT will put between 10 and 15% of their total weight as tomgue weight some basic math will tell you the maximum loaded trailer you can tow.

For towing high walled RVs, most people run into a tow weight well under the manufacturer's rating. Your Explorer has a lot of power, so 5000 pounds loaded good, even a high waled RV. Wheelbase is fine for RVs in this weight range. Looking through the 2017 Explorer Towing Guide as an example, I noticed a 500 pounds receiver weight limit and 40sq ft frontal area as being likely limits for you. That's closer to 4000 pounds loaded and a popup or Hi/Low type of RV is you strictly follow's Ford's ratings. You will have to decide if and by how much you are willing to exceed those recommendations. The 3.5L Ecoboost is used in the F-150 with over double the tow rating, so power is there. Cooling capacity I expect will be the most critical. Turbos and transmission will create a lot of heat when towing anything high walled.

Quick; visit as many RV shows as you can get to in your area. You might also visit some campgrounds and look for the same size family as you and ask the owners most of whom love to talk about their RVs.

Take a look at the Falcon Travel Lite. They have a bunkhouse model and are under 3500 pounds

Thanks all. Sounds like I got a bit ahead of myself and will start looking at smaller trailers. The recommendations so far are appreciated and I'd love any more you all have. Thanks!

Take a look at the Skyline 186. It has a maximum GVW of 3800 lbs fully loaded.

I towed my 3,500# boat with our 2013 Explorer Sport - same set up and limitations as yours. That’s as much weight as you would want to tow with the 3,5 Ecoboost, and the boat has much better aerodynamics than a travel trailer.

I would not consider towing a TT with the Explorer. That’s what my F250is for.

Look at a Lance, 2185!

Lwiddis wrote:
Just filling the fresh water tank will add almost 400 pounds.

Not everyone travels with a full tank. We never do.