Towing with 2004 Lincoln Aviator

[rg3]

I have recently purchased a new old Gulf Aero Light 19 ft bumper pull camper. The camper weigh 4005 LBs dry and about 4500 loaded with gear but not fresh water. I have a 2004 Lincoln Aviator with a 4.6 L 281 V8 dohc with 110,000 miles. The tow rating on the TV is 7000 lbs. Can I successfully pull the camper, it seems a bit sluggish? Could sure some advice.

[Grit_dog]

Fordlover wrote:


I had an Explorer with the less powerful SOHC V8, with the 3.73 tow package and a similar trailer, and was very pleased with the combo overall. The 5 speed automatic and 3.73 gearing worked well, but I never mistook it for a 1,000 ft. lb. diesel.

If I recall, the Aviator has the 300hp 4.6 and 5 speed. Basically the Mustang GT drivetrain.
Agree, not to be mistaken for a big diesel or even a big new 400hp gasser, but it is a very reliable combo in my past experience with several 4.6 and 5.4 trucks and would have the same or more power than a typical F150 of the same era.

One recommendation, at 100k miles, if you are on original spark plugs, buy new plugs, then go to church and pray hard that the old ones don't snap off when removing them and do a tune up. Idk how long you've had the vehicle, but enough people have know for a long time that the 4.6s are prone to snapping off plugs and they may have been left alone and original 17 year old spark plugs.
When removing, be careful, use copious amounts of penetrating oil and go slow. When they break loose, do not jsut start cranking them out. Go tight loose tight loose back n forth, kinda like tapping a thread. You'll understand why after you get the first one out.
(And then you'll want to go slap Henry Ford's great grandson for the "ingenious" design!)
Use copper antiseize on the sleeve and threads when installing new plugs.
I've only done one set of these plugs and low low mile super clean garaged car and the plugs were sticky and corroded already.

[Fordlover]

rg3 wrote:
I have recently purchased a new old Gulf Aero Light 19 ft bumper pull camper. The camper weigh 4005 LBs dry and about 4500 loaded with gear but not fresh water. I have a 2004 Lincoln Aviator with a 4.6 L 281 V8 dohc with 110,000 miles. The tow rating on the TV is 7000 lbs. Can I successfully pull the camper, it seems a bit sluggish? Could sure some advice.

I had an Explorer with the less powerful SOHC V8, with the 3.73 tow package and a similar trailer, and was very pleased with the combo overall. The 5 speed automatic and 3.73 gearing worked well, but I never mistook it for a 1,000 ft. lb. diesel.

[parker_rowe]

Something else....the 4 valve 4.6 is not a low rpm engine. So it will seem like it is working harder to pull, as most of the power is higher in the rpm range.

It should do the job but it will take a little RPM on the hills to maintain speed.

[mkirsch]

Still haven't made it clear: Sluggish with the trailer or withOUT the trailer?

If it's sluggish without the trailer it will only be worse with the trailer.

On paper your combination is perfectly reasonable. The only safety issue you would run into is if you didn't keep your vehicle maintained. Good tires, good brakes are just the beginning.

[Lwiddis]

My wife’s Equinox is 1085 pounds…and much smaller than an Explorer

[2112]

What's your payload? Did they use the yellow sticker in 2004?

Our Explorer Sport had about 900lbs of payload.

[RoyJ]

rg3 wrote:
I have recently purchased a new old Gulf Aero Light 19 ft bumper pull camper. The camper weigh 4005 LBs dry and about 4500 loaded with gear but not fresh water. I have a 2004 Lincoln Aviator with a 4.6 L 281 V8 dohc with 110,000 miles. The tow rating on the TV is 7000 lbs. Can I successfully pull the camper, it seems a bit sluggish? Could sure some advice.

Here's a trick to get better performance - put on the smallest tire with the highest payload that can match your factory rear GAWR. I believe it's 3400 lbs.

A 225/55R16 XL tire carries 1709 lbs @ 51 psi. 25.7" diameter. OEM is 29.5". It's a 15% gear upgrade at much lower cost.

If you have 3.55 gears, you now have 4.07. And 3.73 gears are now 4.28. It'll look funny, but the cheapest way to gain true towing performance. As a bonus your brakes will also feel much stronger.

[rexlion]

You should be okay, but you'll have to get used to the slower acceleration. Lock out overdrive to prevent transmission damage from heat buildup in the unlocked torque converter. You can downshift further on steep hills and let the engine rev higher to apply more torque; it's noisy but the engine is made to take it. Do pay attention to the hitch weight so you don't exceed the hitch's rating.

[mrad]

I agree with Grit Dog.

Back in 2004ish, we had 1994 suburban.It had 290 ft-lbs of torque. I don't remember the horsepower. we were looking for our first TT and found a 25' that was 4,800 dry and loaded was about 6,000lbs. That was about 400lbs over towing capacity. It towed without a problem on flat grounds. The only time we had an issue was in the black hills where we could only hit 30 mph on some of the inclines. With the extra gear or two you have, I don't see any problem towing that rig.

[Lwiddis]

If you come to the Southwest it’s best to travel with water.

[camperfamily]

If the vehicle is in good condition and well maintained just take your time. Your not going to win any races, nor should you want to. A more robust TV would be great, but if you are safe I'd go camping. Not everyone can afford a new vehicle.

That said, I do think 7k is optimistic for a tow rating for a Aviator (basically a explorer). I pulled the same trailer manor 3023 with both a 99 Ford Ranger with the 4.0 V6 and then with a 98 Explorer with the 5.0 V8. With the 5 speed trans and 4:10 gearing the Ranger was a much better experience. Lots of things go into a good TV imo.

FWIW. That same trailer I pulled with the Ranger, I then put behind a 1 ton diesel. Guess what... they both did the job, held acceptable highway speeds and got us there.

[Grit_dog]

Yeah, not a problem at all for that vehicle and size of trailer.

[Tyler0215]

If it feels sluggish you'er already pulling the trailer. Of course it feels sluggish. Thats a lot of weight for a mid size SUV. I wouldn't do it, but you may have lower standards.