Ford Explorer

I pulled 2 different trailers both somewhat larger and heavier than this with a 2003 Explorer - several long trips in all kinds of weather and with one a toyhauler weights varied a lot. It has done a fine job, stable and still reliable at 245,000kms and routine maintenance only (oil in differential and transmission changed at 100k and 200k)
Depending on where you live the V6 may be a bit lite on the hills, my V8 was just enough but then I was as much as like 3500 more weight than you are ever going to be.
The rollovers were only an issue prior to 2002 redesign, and that was tires and poor maintenance of same and nothing to do with trailers specifically.
If you have any questions PM me, I did a learn a few things that may be of help and don't worry about the people who are obsessed with the marketing specifications as the setup, where you live and trailer design has as much to do with the suitability as weight or length for moderate sized trailers like this.

Phillipsfam4 wrote:
Can an 07 v6 4.0 Ford Explorer class 3/4 hitch set up pull a rock wood roo 23ss safely worried about swaying.

you should be asking this question in the Hybrid forum here.
there is no 23SS any more, so you must be asking about a used one.

i own a 2007 23SS and i used to own a 4.0 v-6 Exploder.

mine had a width of 7'6" and weighed over 4400lbs from the factory. from 2008 they are 8'0" wide and weigh more than mine.
you're using fictional "dry" weight numbers, big newbie mistake.

ours weighs over 5000lbs. loaded for camping and that's just for two people.

you'll EASILY be over the 5000lbs. towing capacity of your Explorer, which is rated with only a 150lb driver in it.
any passengers or cargo in the Ford, reduces that 5000lbs. towing capacity.

that's why i sold ours and bought a v-8 Avalache.

you need a bigger tow vehicle or a smaller hybrid.:(
the 23SS is too much trailer for your Explorer.

I towed a 93 Award TT, 25ft, 5k lb loaded. with a 95 Explorer 4.0L. I had no issues with it here in the Midwest. it had decent power and with a properly setup WD hitch it was a good combo. In 170k miles it never once rolled over, but then again I wasn`t trying to do 80mph with it either (90+% of all rollovers were on the highway, but they never once stated the speed). The 3rd gen Explorers (02-10) were more stable due to them being lower and having independent rear suspension. If you do have the class 3 hitch it means you have the tow pkg. I wouldn`t hesitate to tow that trailer with your Explorer. it will not be a powerhouse, but properly setup it will be a good combo!

The Explorer you have (2007) is a redesigned vehicle, not the same as the ones that had the rollover reputation.

I think you're pushing it. By the time you get the TT loaded it will be just a few pounds short of the rating. Worse yet is the hitch weight issue. If you're rated for 500 lbs on the hitch, I will bet that TT's hitch when loaded for camping will be around 600 lbs, maybe 650 or more. Add the weight of a weight distributing hitch, and you're way over the limit. I towed a 23' Rockwood (advertised dry hitch weight 380 lbs) with a 2000 Mountaineer (Explorer clone) and Equal-i-zer hitch, and I bent a rear spring on the truck. Plus I needed ball joints soon afterward.

Roll over issues with the Ford Explorer were centered around Year 2000 with the vehicle and Firestone tires failing unexpectedly. I owned a 2001 Explorer Ltd. with the Firestone tires. I ran the tires out to 90,000k miles and then exchanged them.

The more important thing is that your Explorer will be at or over the weight ratings, once loaded. The V6 will also punish you in strong winds and up hills.

I'd suggest your options are smaller trailer or bigger tow vehicle.

By almost 20 years what do you mean.

Phillipsfam4 wrote:
The explorer is 5k and roo is 4,037. I have been hearing roll over issues with the explorer. The gcvw is 10k.

that was almost 20 years ago

We had a 2002 Explorer V6 with a tow rating of 5000 lbs, towing a Starcraft hybrid weighing about that. It did ok as long as we stayed in the flat parts of the Midwest, but really struggled when we towed into a stiff headwind in SD; we already knew we didn't dare try to take it into the Black Hills with that trailer. Before the next camping season began, we traded in the Explorer on a 2007 Tundra. :)

Rollovers aren't necessarily related to the trailer weighing too much for the tow vehicle's capacity. Sway control is a must, especially with this situation, as is weight distribution. (And yes, we did have a WD hitch with sway control built in. Still do.)

The explorer is 5k and roo is 4,037. I have been hearing roll over issues with the explorer. The gcvw is 10k.

What is the Explorer rated to tow? How heavy is the Roo? That is what is important.

We towed our Roo 233 with our Nissan Xterra with a 3.3l V6, 170 HP, 205 Ft/lbs torque (first generation Xterra). I didn't like towing it on serious hills, but it got the job done. We had an Equal-i-zer hitch and sway was never an issue. With the larger engine of your Explorer, I would think power wouldn't be a problem on flat land, but it probably wouldn't be ideal.

Our Xterra had a tow rating of 5k pounds. The Roo 233 when loaded was pretty close to 5k pounds. I did install a B&M tranny cooler. Since we lived in the south, I used the OEM tranny cooler and the B&M cooler together. When in really cold weather, I would bypass the OEM cooler.

I think you will find that the Explorer will tow your Roo, but it probably isn't the ideal tow vehicle. The 23ss is pretty heavy too. Make sure you have anti-sway and weight distribution as well as a brake controller.

-Michael