Can my vehicle tow this camper?

[Undercover_Poe]

Since I'm asking the question, I think I know the answer (it's probably no) but let's run thru the match and see how much over I am and how big of a deal is it to be over. Here is my stats on my trailer 3650lbs on the sticker

I'm trying to do this with a 2007 3500lbs tow capacity ford explorer, 2" aftermarket hitch is installed as well as 7 pin and brake controller.

[beemerphile1]

Undercover Poe wrote:
Since I'm asking the question, I think I know the answer (it's probably no) but let's run thru the match and see how much over I am and how big of a deal is it to be over. Here is my stats on my trailer

I'm trying to do this with a 2007 3500lbs tow capacity ford explorer, 2" aftermarket hitch is installed as well as 7 pin and brake controller.

Nope, even empty you will be exceeding several ratings most likely. Your aren't planning on towing it empty with no passengers in the vehicle are you?

Extra passengers and gear in the tow vehicle are subtracted from the tow capacity.

[PUCampin]

Triker33,

2007 Explorer is the old style body on frame, in 2012 it became a completely different vehicle that only retained the name. COMPLETELY different animals.

[valhalla360]

I hope this is a joke. The unloaded trailer weight is 3650lb and you say the truck has a maximum 3500lb tow rating.

It probably fails on a variety of ratings and by a large margin once you are loaded for travel.

[TxTwoSome]

Undercover Poe wrote:
Since I'm asking the question, I think I know the answer (it's probably no) but let's run thru the match and see how much over I am and how big of a deal is it to be over. Here is my stats on my trailer



I'm trying to do this with a 2007 3500lbs tow capacity ford explorer, 2" aftermarket hitch is installed as well as 7 pin and brake controller.

Well with a tow vehicle of that size you should be able to tow anything less then 15,000 pounds.





(April fools);)

[Triker33]

Time to trade the Explorer in for a Expedition that will handle that trailer.

2016 Explorer
For trailers over 2,000 pounds and under 3,000 pounds with
2.3L EcoBoost® engine – Class II Trailer Tow Package

For trailers over 2,000 pounds and under 5,000 pounds with
3.5L V6 engine – Class III Trailer Tow Package

2016 Expedition
For trailers over 6,600 pounds
Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package

[PUCampin]

Ugh, I just spent 30 min typing a reply that got vaporized by a network error! I'll edit in hopes it doesn't go poof again!

WOW so many here are quick to jump without actually researching the vehicle in question.

In short, you will be OK, here is why. The Explorer's low tow rating has absolutely nothing to do with the vehicle, the limitation is exclusively based on the class 2 receiver installed by the factory.

According to the 2007 Ford fleet towing guide, towing package 53G for the Explorer adds the following: Class 3/4 receiver, 7 pin plug, V6 gets 3.73 axle ratio vs 3.55, V8 retains 3.55. There it is, THATS IT!! These are the ONLY DIFFERENCES between the V6 being rated 3500 and 5370, and the V8 being rated 3500 and 7290!! 3500 is the limit for class 2, so if that is the receiver Ford installed, that is the max tow rating.

With a quality properly installed aftermarket class 3/4 and 7 pin I would have NO HESITATION in using the higher numbers.

I used to tow the trailer in my sig with a 2004 V8 Explorer. It weighs 4050 shipped and about 5100 loaded. With my wife and I and 2 little kids we were within every rating for our Explorer. The reason we traded for the Expedition was the 3rd kid. 3 car seats would not fit across the middle row of the Explorer, and trying to put one (or 2) in back was a logistical nightmare, not to mention all the gear that goes with 3 tiny kids. So we traded for more space.

One word of caution, on my 2004 Ford only used a stacked plate oil/air cooler for the transmission and did not have the oil/water loop in the radiator. It was not sufficient for low speed hill climbs, backing into spaces and other low speed maneuvering because there was not enough airflow. If you 2007 is also like this, you will need to add auxiliary cooling with forced airflow like a fan for those situations.

PM me if you have any questions about that generation Explorer and towing with it, I know a lot about them.

Daniel

[Undercover_Poe]

OP here, the GCVW rating is 8000lbs

[GordonThree]

Undercover Poe wrote:
Since I'm asking the question, I think I know the answer (it's probably no) but let's run thru the match and see how much over I am and how big of a deal is it to be over. Here is my stats on my trailer



I'm trying to do this with a 2007 3500lbs tow capacity ford explorer, 2" aftermarket hitch is installed as well as 7 pin and brake controller.

Absolutely!

btw weight police, happy April 1st.

[Gdetrailer]

Undercover Poe wrote:
Since I'm asking the question, I think I know the answer (it's probably no) but let's run thru the match and see how much over I am and how big of a deal is it to be over. Here is my stats on my trailer



I'm trying to do this with a 2007 3500lbs tow capacity ford explorer, 2" aftermarket hitch is installed as well as 7 pin and brake controller.

Umm.. No, not gonna happen.

The unladen weight alone IS already 100 lbs OVER your "tow rating", not to mention if you add in propane and water as they did on the sticker you are now at 3,948 lbs..

Then add in your food, drinks, clothing, pots and pans, bedding and any other items you are WAY over your 3,500 lbs..

And that is totally ignoring your CARGO/PAYLOAD that may be available for your vehicle (which I can assure you that you ARE WAY, WAY over).

You need to ignore the supposed 3,500 lb tow rating and find out your vehicles cargo rating.

Newer vehicles have a big yellow sticker on the drivers door post which will clearly state the cargo rating.

If you don't have that you need to find the vehicles unladen weight and the vehicles GVWR.

Subtract the unladen weight from the GVWR and the result is cargo weight.

Then subtract the driver and passengers weight, FULL tank of fuel and any other items you put into your vehicle.

The left over result is the max tongue weight your vehicle can handle.

Once you find the remaining cargo weight you divide that by .15 (which is 15% tongue weight) and the result is the absolute max towing weight you can have without going over the cargo weight of the vehicle (tongue weight becomes "cargo" to the vehicle).

Example, say you have 200 lbs of left over cargo for the vehicle..

Divide 200 by .15 and you get 1,333 lbs as you MAX amount you can tow..

Typically when they give a 3500 lb tow rating they are assuming tongue max of 350 lbs.. 350 dived by .15 is 2,333 lbs.

So really that supposed 3,500 lb tow rating is out the door..

When ever I see a vehicle with a 3,500 tow rating a know it was not put there to pull a heavy trailer.. It was put there to allow you to pull small light trailers..

Sorry to burst your bubble, but you NEED to find a trailer the weights HALF the unladen weight of this one but to be certain you NEED to find or calculate the max cargo of your vehicle after deducting anything you put into the vehicle.

[phillyg]

Agree with deltabravo.

[wrvond]

Well, if we use 4680 lbs. as the camping weight of your TT, your tongue weight is going to be 468 to 702 lbs. If we use 13% as the average, the tongue weight is 608 lbs.
Since the weight limit of most class IV hitches is 500/5000 lbs., you'll be over the 500 lb. limit without a WDH.
Now you need to determine the cargo capacity of your Exploder. On the driver's door pillar is a sticker that says "Cargo and passenger weight should not exceed ____ lbs.". Subtract the 608 tongue weight plus 100 lb. WDH (708 lbs) from this number. The number that is left is what you can safely carry. If your passenger weight, food, fuel, ect., weigh more than this number, you'll have to leave somebody behind or get a smaller TT or get a bigger tow vehicle.

[SoundGuy]

Undercover Poe wrote:
Since I'm asking the question, I think I know the answer (it's probably no) but let's run thru the match and see how much over I am and how big of a deal is it to be over. Here is my stats on my trailer.

Your vehicle's tow rating of 3500 lbs doesn't mean you can tow a trailer weighing that much as you have to factor in the weight of people and cargo also in the vehicle. With such a limited tow rating you really need to be looking at a trailer no more than about 2500 to 2700 lbs dry ... this trailer you've highlighted has a stickered UVW of 3650 lbs so the answer isn't "probably no" but unquestionably no.

Keep in mind also that when towing any full height trailer it's not just about weight but also the effect significant wind resistance will have on your vehicle at highway speed, with the most obvious proof being fuel mileage that will typically drop 50% or more from what you get when not towing. You either need more tow vehicle or if you insist on towing with this vehicle stick with a low profile trailer such as a popup which won't suffer anywhere near as much wind resistance as will a travel trailer.

[deltabravo]

According to the data, you are over the tow rating of the Explorer.