towing

[spitts55]

Will a 2011 ford explorer pull my 22 ft travel trailer it has 3.5 cyclone and class 3 tow pkg

[kmbelt]

Gdetrailer wrote:

spitts55 wrote:
IT HAS A CLASS THREE TOW PKG.

Umm.. Doesn't matter.

The "Class Three" towing package includes a CLASS THREE HITCH.

Class three hitch has a MAXIMUM CAPACITY OF 500 lb tongue AND 5,000 lb GROSS TRAILER LOAD, PERIOD.

SEE HERE FOR CLASS INFO

From the website above..

Class 3 (Class III) trailer hitch
Trailer hitch with weight carrying rating of up to 5,000 lbs gross trailer weight and 500 lbs tongue weight. Also sometimes used to refer to a hitch with any 2" receiver, regardless of rating.

From an earlier post that you made you stated "2011 EXPLORER weight carring 2,000 max tongue 500 lbs gcwr 10,096"

So if I read that correctly the "weight carrying" is your "payload"?

If so you need to subtract passenger weights, fuel weight and any other item you place in the vehicle..

The result should be left over cargo weight which could be used for the trailer tongue..

But, at this point in time the trailer hitch just may be your limiting factor..

As someone else pointed out, your vehicle may not have a full on frame.. This becomes a problem because the HITCH is now an integral part of the vehicle frame and can not be removed or changed out..

Changing out the hitch on many newer vehicles is often not feasible due to the hitch becoming part of the crash protection systems..

You are most likely going to need to look for a different trailer, one that has a dry or empty weight at no more than 3,000 lbs in order to be able to have a hitch weight at no more than 500 lbs when loaded..

In 2011+, the full frame was replaced with a Unibody. It is now more of a car. This explains the towing reduction of the vehicle. Nothing like it used to be.

[Gdetrailer]

spitts55 wrote:
IT HAS A CLASS THREE TOW PKG.

Umm.. Doesn't matter.

The "Class Three" towing package includes a CLASS THREE HITCH.

Class three hitch has a MAXIMUM CAPACITY OF 500 lb tongue AND 5,000 lb GROSS TRAILER LOAD, PERIOD.

SEE HERE FOR CLASS INFO

From the website above..

Class 3 (Class III) trailer hitch
Trailer hitch with weight carrying rating of up to 5,000 lbs gross trailer weight and 500 lbs tongue weight. Also sometimes used to refer to a hitch with any 2" receiver, regardless of rating.

From an earlier post that you made you stated "2011 EXPLORER weight carring 2,000 max tongue 500 lbs gcwr 10,096"

So if I read that correctly the "weight carrying" is your "payload"?

If so you need to subtract passenger weights, fuel weight and any other item you place in the vehicle..

The result should be left over cargo weight which could be used for the trailer tongue..

But, at this point in time the trailer hitch just may be your limiting factor..

As someone else pointed out, your vehicle may not have a full on frame.. This becomes a problem because the HITCH is now an integral part of the vehicle frame and can not be removed or changed out..

Changing out the hitch on many newer vehicles is often not feasible due to the hitch becoming part of the crash protection systems..

You are most likely going to need to look for a different trailer, one that has a dry or empty weight at no more than 3,000 lbs in order to be able to have a hitch weight at no more than 500 lbs when loaded..

[skripo]

I just sold my 2013 Ford Explorer LTD that I used to tow a 24' 4700 LB trailer.

It was a white knuckle low gear nightmare.

[spitts55]

IT HAS A CLASS THREE TOW PKG.

[kmbelt]

spitts55 wrote:
2011 EXPLORER weight carring 2,000 max tongue 500 lbs gcwr 10,096
my 2003 explorer gvwr 5880 max tongue 500 gcwr was 11,600 max towing 7160 lbs
not sure what to do.

Based on the info you provided, I'm guessing you have an Explorer without the towing package, which means you are rated for 5000lbs. This 5000lbs only includes one passenger and no other stuff in the vehicle.

I'm also going to guess that your 22ft trailer is in the neighborhood of 6000lbs+ loaded, being as you have not provided actual model number. This puts you at least 1000lbs+ over the recommended rating.

[spitts55]

Qestion i have my travel trailer on a slight incline and hooking up my hitch/weight distr. hitch would it be better to pull onto a level area to hook everything up .Its a 22 ft travel trailer

[spitts55]

Thanks

[spitts55]

22 FT Coachman catalina yes aluminum

[All_I_could_aff]

Spits.... I am kind of in the same boat. 2010 was the last year of the full frame explorer. I currently have a 2006 explorer and am actively searching for a clean low mileage 2010 explorer to add to the fleet. I have seen a properly equipped new body explorer advertised as 5000 pound capacity. (of course that is with one person and no cargo) but my gut tells me that would not make an ideal tow vehicle

[krobbe]

The 2011 Ford Explorer's trailering Max Frontal area is 40sqft. That allows an 8ft wide by 5ft tall frontal surface. That's popup territory.

[2012Coleman]

One thing you can be sure of is that you will never be able to tow something that weighs 7160 lbs with your explorer.

Post a picture of the sticker found in the drivers door jamb.

[westend]

spitts55 wrote:
2011 EXPLORER weight carring 2,000 max tongue 500 lbs gcwr 10,096
my 2003 explorer gvwr 5880 max tongue 500 gcwr was 11,600 max towing 7160 lbs
not sure what to do.

Why aren't you sure?
You really need to give some more information about what you have and what you want to do to get any good information from this Forum. Be specific.

[coolbreeze01]

Is the trailer aluminum?

[spitts55]

2011 EXPLORER weight carring 2,000 max tongue 500 lbs gcwr 10,096
my 2003 explorer gvwr 5880 max tongue 500 gcwr was 11,600 max towing 7160 lbs
not sure what to do.