2004 explorer vs. 91 F150 with 4.9 six

I have towed trailers (some 6k+) with 2 Explorers a 98 XLT 5.0L AWD and a 06 Ltd 4.6L (24valve) 4x4. Both of them did fine with the latter lasting past 100K miles before I got rid of it.
I towed loaded auto transport trailers, boat trailers and even my TT home from the dealership before I had a HD TV but wouldn't recommend that. I know many don't like the Explorer as a towing platform but when I had a V10 Excursion I preferred to tow med size trailer/loads with the Explorer. I know you say its hard to imagine a 7K tow rating but I bought mines to tow my boat/trailer that I expected was 6,600# after 2 years and on the second Explorer I weight it at a scrap yard at 8K and I was shocked but never disappointed in power, braking and stability. Unless you have a really heavy tongue weight or are driving in the mountains I don't expect you to have any problems.

hertfordnc wrote:
Primary TV is a Dodge 3500 Cummins and the travel trailer is about 6000 lb vintage BOles Aero.

But if the Dodge had a problem and I had to retrieve the trailer the other trucks are my wife's 2004 Explorer with 4.6 V8 and the yard truck, a low mileage 91 F150 with a the venerable 300 inline six.

The explorer claims a towing capacity of 7000 lb - hard to imagine.

And the Old F150 is supposed to be good for 5500 lb.


My gut feeling is that I would rather overload the old truck because I cannot imagine the little explorer in front of the TT. Neither of these would be good situations

I'd love to hear what other think.

THanks

Dave

Bottom line, my experience: My 2002 Explorer tows circles around my 1995 F-150.

Trailer 23' OAL @ 5,600 lbs.
Vehicles:
2002 Explorer 4x4 4.6 V8/5 speed auto 3.73 and HD towing pkg. 7,000 tow rating.
1995 F-150 Scab 4x4 5.0 V8/4 speed auto 3.55 and HD towing pkg. 6,000 tow rating.

Frankly, I was shocked after towing with both vehicles. I expected the F-150 to be a far superior towing platform. Since I've never had stability issues towing my RV with my explorer, and I didn't experience any with the F-150 I can eliminate that from my comparison.

Frankly the more powerful 4.6 V8, coupled to the 5 speed auto and better gearing left the F-150 in the dust and the explorer just didn't struggle like the F-150 did. I know the stock 5.0 liter from back in the day wasn't the most powerful unit, but it was even further handicapped by the slow 4 speed automatic.

I had a 96 F-150 with the inline 6 as a work truck, that thing always had 1000lbs in the bed hauling equip. & tools for the company, I sold it to a friend at 150K miles and he finally got rid of it a 295K miles, that was a great truck!! I say put 410 gears in it and go for it, Or put the money in the Dodge as that is a great truck also.
Just my 2cents worth

downtheroad wrote:

I think that you are over thinking this...you are not going to have a problem with your "Dodge 3500 Cummins." Relax.

The dodge is a great truck but it's had a hard life. I paid $4K. It has 220,ooo miles, (the last 13K with me)

I know it's not working much harder pulling the TT on a flat road than it is running empty.

But I have no maintenance history before last summer, 6th gear is getting wonky (have to double clutch) So a catastrophic failure a couple hundred miles form home is not out of the question.

In which case I would run back in one of the other vehicles to retrieve the TT, depending on what went wrong with the Dodge.

I occurred to me that the Explorer is technically capable of towing the trailer and the F150 is not but I think most people would rather be in the old truck.

BTW, the F150 only has 70,000 original miles.

I towed a 6000 lb TT with my F-150 with a four speed and 300 six. It did great going up and down the Sierras, but had trouble staying at 65 when driving into a head wind. We were driving through Arizona and got behind a big motor home that was doing under the speed limit. I pulled out to pass and as soon as the air hit me, the truck slowed like I had deployed a drag chute. I had to pull back in behind him and follow him.

In order for the Explorer to safely tow that much trailer it will need mods. Consider the right size LT tires and or a very high end hitch (Hensley etc).

Your old pick up has seen better days and even when new they were nothing special.

BTW, we tow our 23', a similar weight trailer as yours with a pro set up mid sized sedan that works great. I would not feel that comfortable using either of your back up choices.

hertfordnc wrote:
THe F150 has the 3.08 axle and E40D trans.

Thanks

I can only speak for what I have used in the past. I would definitely use the 91 F150. I had a new 92 F150, E4OD automatic, 3.08 gear, 300 six, 2WD, supercab. It was 100% reliable. The torque was almost exactly the same as the 302 V8 for that year. Great trucks.

hertfordnc wrote:
Primary TV is a Dodge 3500 Cummins

But if the Dodge had a problem and I had to retrieve the trailer the other trucks
I'd love to hear what other think.

THanks

Dave

I think that you are over thinking this...you are not going to have a problem with your "Dodge 3500 Cummins." Relax.

I would use the F150 for a reconnaissance mission.

hertfordnc wrote:
THe F150 has the 3.08 axle and E40D trans.

Thanks

Well Dave, that changes my advice. It would still be a good running old truck, but not much good for towing.

Jerry