I intended to use my 2006 4.6 v8 Explorer to tow my driftboat/trailer with a few tires over the Cascades and Rockies this weekend. I hadn't even made it from Seattle to Snoqualmie Pass before I decided to turn around.My guess is the driftboat/trailer with tires was still no more than 1500 lbs and probably closer to 1000. Those of you who tow with yours, should I expect high revs to maintain 65-70 going up mountains with this type of load? How many RPMs should I expect up to 6000 ft?If not, what should I check? My 2006 Limited is AWD with 18 inch wheels. The tires are slightly larger than stock size.NOTE: I took it to Montana using a F450 instead. Obviously, a bit overkill for a light towing load.

I would expect high RPMs to maintain 65-70 on high mountain passes even without the trailer.

2700 - 3000 rpm running down the flats would be normal.3200 - 4200 rpm climbing would be normal.You may need 4.30 or 4.56 gears to keep the rpm up without running in 1st and 2nd all the time. The larger tires are killing you.And yes I have run my older 5.4 at 3000+ rpm for 10 hours straight.Otherwise if you want to run 2000 rpm you will need a diesel.

When we had the combination, our Explorer did ok towing our Fleetwood Sea Pine pop up....We bought a small hard side travel trailer and it was horrible.Just our experience, others may differ.

jimh425 wrote:I intended to use my 2006 4.6 v8 Explorer to tow my driftboat/trailer with a few tires over the Cascades and Rockies this weekend. I hadn't even made it from Seattle to Snoqualmie Pass before I decided to turn around.My guess is the driftboat/trailer with tires was still no more than 1500 lbs and probably closer to 1000. Those of you who tow with yours, should I expect high revs to maintain 65-70 going up mountains with this type of load? How many RPMs should I expect up to 6000 ft?If not, what should I check? My 2006 Limited is AWD with 18 inch wheels. The tires are slightly larger than stock size.NOTE: I took it to Montana using a F450 instead. Obviously, a bit overkill for a light towing load.I would not expect any 6 or 8 cylinder engine to tow much of anything up a mountain pass without some high revs, at 65 mph.It's not a big deal to get in the right lane, shift down, and slow down. There's no need to run every mile at 65 mph.

You are not letting the Explorer work. You are not use to letting it rev to 4500-5,000 RPM to climb a grade. Let it work. That's what it was designed to do. I pull much more than 1,500 lbs with my Minivan and it does a great job but I let it work. Let it rev...you are not going to hurt it. If your F450 had a V10 it would be running 4,500-5,000 rpm to tow up mountains too...it's the nature of a gasser. Thanks!Jeremiah

2006 Explorer 4.6 v8 has no power to tow up mountains?

ppine
Explorer II
Mar 28, 2017
If you can't pull a drift boat over Snoqualmie Pass you do not have much of a tow vehicle. I believe towing at 5,000 rpms is a mistake.

Some people seem to do fine with that engine. I would suggest trying a lower gear and going slower.

My grandfather used to talk about driving over Snoqualmie when it was dirt and there were 38 stream crossings on the West Side.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Mar 27, 2017
jimh425 wrote:
blt2ski wrote:
65-70 towing ANYWHERE in the state of washington is over the max limit of 60mph towing or a vehicle over 10K of any sort

True, but I've yet to see or heard of anyone stopped on I-90 for that towing violation. Along I-90, it's common for the trucks to exceed 60 as well in the 70 mph stretches. YMMV.

We need to get the werd out about this!!! Buncha 4 wheelers think 60 in the left lane is the limit too!! F WA drivers!! Most frustrating state I've lived in for clueless motorists.
I could insert a quote from an old comedian Andrew Dice Clay now. Something about blinded with dental floss.....
Mike_Up
Explorer
Mar 27, 2017
BTW, this 4.6L 3V is 292 Hp and 300 lbs of torque, has a 6 speed trans (6R60) with a first gear of 4.17:1 and a 3.55 open rear differential. For 2009 and 2010, the torque went up to 315 lbs and used the same trans as the f150, the 6R80 which has a stronger torque converter.
Mike_Up
Explorer
Mar 25, 2017
jimh425 wrote:
I intended to use my 2006 4.6 v8 Explorer to tow my driftboat/trailer with a few tires over the Cascades and Rockies this weekend. I hadn't even made it from Seattle to Snoqualmie Pass before I decided to turn around.

My guess is the driftboat/trailer with tires was still no more than 1500 lbs and probably closer to 1000. Those of you who tow with yours, should I expect high revs to maintain 65-70 going up mountains with this type of load? How many RPMs should I expect up to 6000 ft?

If not, what should I check? My 2006 Limited is AWD with 18 inch wheels. The tires are slightly larger than stock size.

NOTE: I took it to Montana using a F450 instead. Obviously, a bit overkill for a light towing load.

I had a 2008 Sport Trac 4WD w/4.6L 3V V8 and it towed my trailer just fine in very high winds and big hills in southern indiana and Kentucy.

Click here.
Fordlover
Explorer
Mar 25, 2017
blt2ski wrote:
As also mentioned in another post, with the RCW listed, 65-70 towing ANYWHERE in the state of washington is over the max limit of 60mph towing or a vehicle over 10K of any sort.

Marty

Interesting, the speed limit in our town's divided roadway, (a road with very limited direct access away from stop light controlled intersections, and no cross traffic). is 45 mph, where the average speed is typically 55 to 60. Quite frankly, it is irresponsible and dangerous to drive 45 MPH (or less) on the roadway. The majority of traffic is moving at a much faster rate. Sometimes, speed limits can be wrong, luckily Texas recognizes that and covers it with a Prima Facie law rather than absolute.
jimh406
Explorer III
Mar 24, 2017
blt2ski wrote:
65-70 towing ANYWHERE in the state of washington is over the max limit of 60mph towing or a vehicle over 10K of any sort

True, but I've yet to see or heard of anyone stopped on I-90 for that towing violation. Along I-90, it's common for the trucks to exceed 60 as well in the 70 mph stretches. YMMV.
blt2ski
Moderator
Mar 24, 2017
As also mentioned in another post, with the RCW listed, 65-70 towing ANYWHERE in the state of washington is over the max limit of 60mph towing or a vehicle over 10K of any sort.

Marty
Dave_H_M
Explorer II
Mar 24, 2017
I disagree with a bunch of you folks.

65 to 70 in mountain passes seems quite an ambitious thought.

What is the hurry? i cannot even imagine maintaining that kind of speed climbing a mountain with a not so big motor and towing anything.
Sam_Spade
Explorer
Mar 22, 2017
rowekmr wrote:
I even towed it from Chicago to Detroit and back to get an engine installed.

And how did it do on those mountains between Chicago and Detroit ?? :B
rjstractor
Nomad
Mar 22, 2017
jimh425 wrote:
Sounds like some of you aren't familiar with a drift boat. The only motor is an electric along with the battery for that. I figured 200 lbs for the electric plus Group 24 batteries.

Once upon a time, I remember seeing the weight on the Willie site at around 325 for a 16x54. Mine does have the UMHW bottom, so figure some weight for that let's call it 500.

Yes, I was picturing something bigger. You are right, I would guess that your boat and trailer is 1000 pounds max. I would think that it would not slow down your Explorer much. I used to have a 2003 with the 4.6 and it would easily pull my 6x12 enclosed trailer. My mom has a newer Explorer with the V6 and she tows a heavily loaded 6x12 enclosed from the Seattle area to Montana a few times a year. It does fine, but she doesn't try to go 70 up the hills.