We try to go camping somewhere every year with the kids. Usually, we would take our “utility” trailer that I built on my driveway with my kids according to my wife’s design, load it with bikes, kayak, tents, gear and whatever and go some camp ground and have fun.
It looks like this:
This year, we wanted to add some fun for kids so we rented a 22’ travel trailer. I checked the specs on line and it read that a shipping weight is 3680 lbs, which I did not believe much since they tend to underestimate the actual weight. Therefore, on my way to pick it up, I stopped on a CAT scale with just the truck, and I came up with 5480 lbs without me. I know that my car should be around 5000, but since I have the front hitch with plow mount, and a heavy tool box, and other stuff with me all the time, that looked reasonable. On the way back with the TT, I went thru the scale again, and it read 9180, telling me that the TT with fresh water and 1 gas tank was 3700 – incredibly close to the specs on line and on the door. The allowable cargo was about 3500 for the GWV of the TT around 7200 – I was not planning to do that.
With 4 of us in the car, plus the gear in the trailer, I estimate 10,500 for the GCVW. My Exp GCVW is 12,000.
The car handled it with no effort, and I mean it. I knew it was back there, but I was able to accelerate uphill, and pass some slower cars in the right lane. I maintained 65-70 mph. There was no tail wagging, and I feel like the truck could handle maybe a 26-28 footer.
We went from NY/NJ to MA, about 240 miles.
My biggest complaint was the mileage, about 9 mpg, and small tank. You really need to fill up frequently and get the gas when you can, otherwise you are in trouble.
The truck is 06 Explorer with 4.6 v8, 3 valve, 209k miles.
It looks like this:
This year, we wanted to add some fun for kids so we rented a 22’ travel trailer. I checked the specs on line and it read that a shipping weight is 3680 lbs, which I did not believe much since they tend to underestimate the actual weight. Therefore, on my way to pick it up, I stopped on a CAT scale with just the truck, and I came up with 5480 lbs without me. I know that my car should be around 5000, but since I have the front hitch with plow mount, and a heavy tool box, and other stuff with me all the time, that looked reasonable. On the way back with the TT, I went thru the scale again, and it read 9180, telling me that the TT with fresh water and 1 gas tank was 3700 – incredibly close to the specs on line and on the door. The allowable cargo was about 3500 for the GWV of the TT around 7200 – I was not planning to do that.
With 4 of us in the car, plus the gear in the trailer, I estimate 10,500 for the GCVW. My Exp GCVW is 12,000.
The car handled it with no effort, and I mean it. I knew it was back there, but I was able to accelerate uphill, and pass some slower cars in the right lane. I maintained 65-70 mph. There was no tail wagging, and I feel like the truck could handle maybe a 26-28 footer.
We went from NY/NJ to MA, about 240 miles.
My biggest complaint was the mileage, about 9 mpg, and small tank. You really need to fill up frequently and get the gas when you can, otherwise you are in trouble.
The truck is 06 Explorer with 4.6 v8, 3 valve, 209k miles.
Hi there - yeah, it's a small world 🙂
That's me on the Explorer forum, here I am Megacab_PL since this is what I had years ago, that was a beast but very thirsty and not really "drive thru" friendly 🙂
That's me on the Explorer forum, here I am Megacab_PL since this is what I had years ago, that was a beast but very thirsty and not really "drive thru" friendly 🙂
Hey Mega Cab PL... I just responded to your post on the explorer forum! Explorer PL right? Small world after all...
My explorer drags this trailer, and all this junk when we go camping!
My explorer drags this trailer, and all this junk when we go camping!
Our setup is in the signature. I've got the less powerful version of the 4.6 V8, but with about 15K miles of towing the RV, I've never experienced a white-knuckle tail-wagging-dog experience. It's done everything I've asked of it, including towing thru the Ozarks and to the East coast without a single issue. I see similar fuel economy, and also wish the tank was larger.
Bottom line, I'm very pleased with our Explorer coupled to our 19ft (23ft overall) camper.
I pulled a 3900 lbs dry Jayco Jay Flight 19BH loaded to about 5000 lbs with my 2008 Explorer Sport Trac. It effortlessly towed my 22.5' Jayco with the 4.6L 3V V8.
Wouldn't go any bigger due to the limited payload and limited hitch rating though. That's why I bought a F150, then the Jay Flight 26BH.;)
I got about 9 mpg towing this trailer. Funny thing, I get about 11 mpg towing the bigger trailer with the F150. The Explorer is short and with a high profile trailer, makes it harder to tow. Plus the 4.6L V8 is shy on torque so it has to work harder.
However the Explorer V8 is an excellent tow rig with the right camper!
We just bought a new Explorer, but it's not the tow vehicle the truck frame and V8 were able to make.
Wouldn't go any bigger due to the limited payload and limited hitch rating though. That's why I bought a F150, then the Jay Flight 26BH.;)
I got about 9 mpg towing this trailer. Funny thing, I get about 11 mpg towing the bigger trailer with the F150. The Explorer is short and with a high profile trailer, makes it harder to tow. Plus the 4.6L V8 is shy on torque so it has to work harder.
However the Explorer V8 is an excellent tow rig with the right camper!
We just bought a new Explorer, but it's not the tow vehicle the truck frame and V8 were able to make.
