first post: 2010 explorer and wolfpup 16fq

[bacon76]

ok,
quick intro: 15 yrs of boating in 3 boats last one weighing in at 9600# 30' cruiser. alwayz towed with 06 f150 v8. just had first baby freaked when saw the price of day care sold boat, sold truck.
got a sweet deal on. 2010 xlt explorer. Once dust settled i realized the explorer i bought os the last year it was built on a truck frame... it has factory tow package, class iii/iv hitch and brake controller jist like my f150. seems that my tow rating is 5200#'s. always wanted to dip my toes into rv life.

went to rv dealer looked at a bunch of trailers that had gross wt under 4k. coachman clipper 17fq but really fell in love with the Wolfpup 16fq. man 8' feels huge compared to 7 but i should have known that.
Am I out of my mind thinking i can tow this? Ive never towed with anything but a pickup. dint want to buy this and then be whiteknuckling all over the place????

[Boomerweps]

bacon76 wrote:
just curious what drop you had there is a reese wd hitch on craigslist right now for 125.00

from craigslist.

Reese hitch with 2 5/16 ball and 1,000 lb bars
Drop hitch is 6 1/2 or 2 inch rise
Have brackets for the trailer

Boomerweps wrote:
I bought my signature TT specifically so I could initially tow it with my V6 2008 Explorer XLT with factory tow package. It towed adequately using the Husky Centerline TS WDH with 400-600# spring bars but extended mirrors are a must. Braking and control were fine, but it sure slowed down on hills 😞 TT about 3600-3700# loaded. I did have to go through a weight reduction in both TV & TT, I initially overloaded the TT and TV drive axle by a couple hundred pounds! I was glad the dealer talked me into a WDH (used at a good price installed). Otherwise it really sagged down the TV even though in specs for hitch and TV for weight towed.

Mine is a 2" ball. Never measured on the Explorer, just used the WDH as set up & moved the TT around the yard with a basic ball hitch a few times.
With the F150:
Front 37 & 5/8". Rear 39 & 1/2" unloaded
Front 38". Rear 38". TT no WDH
Front 37 & 1/2". Rear 38 & 1/2" TT WDH
TT measured at corner of cabin box.
TT hitched no WDH. Front 19" Rear 21"
TT with WDH. Front 20" Rear 19 & 3/4"
I lucked out, I did NOT need to alter my WDH from the setup for the Explorer to the F150 😉

[bacon76]

just curious what drop you had there is a reese wd hitch on craigslist right now for 125.00

from craigslist.

Reese hitch with 2 5/16 ball and 1,000 lb bars
Drop hitch is 6 1/2 or 2 inch rise
Have brackets for the trailer

Boomerweps wrote:
I bought my signature TT specifically so I could initially tow it with my V6 2008 Explorer XLT with factory tow package. It towed adequately using the Husky Centerline TS WDH with 400-600# spring bars but extended mirrors are a must. Braking and control were fine, but it sure slowed down on hills 😞 TT about 3600-3700# loaded. I did have to go through a weight reduction in both TV & TT, I initially overloaded the TT and TV drive axle by a couple hundred pounds! I was glad the dealer talked me into a WDH (used at a good price installed). Otherwise it really sagged down the TV even though in specs for hitch and TV for weight towed.

[Grit_dog]

IMO that's about all the trailer a SUV like that would want, but it'll be safe since you know how to pull trailers.
This is always subjective. Up in Rochester, if you plan on pulling long grades, the V6 is going to get winded pretty quick, so if you're ok with slowing down and watching trans temps you'll be okay.
In yesterday's scenario, with us coming across eastern WA, I'd say good luck and don't bother trying. 40mph head and side winds netted me 8mpg in the Dodge with camper and boat behind at 70 mph. And about 50 miles of that was drafting my buddy's class A with no wind until one of the kids had to take a leak.

[Boomerweps]

I bought my signature TT specifically so I could initially tow it with my V6 2008 Explorer XLT with factory tow package. It towed adequately using the Husky Centerline TS WDH with 400-600# spring bars but extended mirrors are a must. Braking and control were fine, but it sure slowed down on hills 😞 TT about 3600-3700# loaded. I did have to go through a weight reduction in both TV & TT, I initially overloaded the TT and TV drive axle by a couple hundred pounds! I was glad the dealer talked me into a WDH (used at a good price installed). Otherwise it really sagged down the TV even though in specs for hitch and TV for weight towed.

[bacon76]

its a v6

[colliehauler]

With that size trailer as long as your weight ratings are within spec you should be ok. Just depends on your performance expectations as well. Since you have towed before you know the limitations.

I towed a 17' foot trailer behind a 4.3 Chevy Blazer and it did fine as long as I didn't use overdrive.

[Fordlover]

bacon76 wrote:
ok,
quick intro: 15 yrs of boating in 3 boats last one weighing in at 9600# 30' cruiser. alwayz towed with 06 f150 v8. just had first baby freaked when saw the price of day care sold boat, sold truck.
got a sweet deal on. 2010 xlt explorer. Once dust settled i realized the explorer i bought os the last year it was built on a truck frame... it has factory tow package, class iii/iv hitch and brake controller jist like my f150. seems that my tow rating is 5200#'s. always wanted to dip my toes into rv life.

went to rv dealer looked at a bunch of trailers that had gross wt under 4k. coachman clipper 17fq but really fell in love with the Wolfpup 16fq. man 8' feels huge compared to 7 but i should have known that.
Am I out of my mind thinking i can tow this? Ive never towed with anything but a pickup. dint want to buy this and then be whiteknuckling all over the place????

You didn't say which engine your Explorer has, it would be the V6 or the 3 valve V8.

Last year I retired my older V8 explorer and 21 foot camper which was a great combo for 10+ years, my young family simply outgrew the setup. My advice is to use a quality WD hitch and brake controller, dial it all in, and you should be satisfied as long as you don't expect to win any races.

[badercubed]

I'd say that if you keep yourself around the 4000lb mark loaded up, you'll be fine all day long. You can sneak higher in weight but you might start to get too long and tongue heavy for long hauls.

If you like the 16FQ, check out an Apex Nano 187RB. Same weights, a little more storage.

[Lwiddis]

“I towed a 25ft Award TT with a 95 4dr Explorer V-6.”

That elicits a TV wheelbase issue. Because a TV can carry the weight and pull the load doesn’t mean it is safe.

[dodge_guy]

Match the trailer to the truck and you should be OK. FWIW I towed a 25ft Award TT with a 95 4dr Explorer V-6. I would keep the loaded trailer weight at 5k lbs. lots of nice TT’s in that weight range.

[Lwiddis]

Are the loaded payload and gross trailer weight within Explorer’s specs? If so, yes.