Dangers of unlevel towing?

[mccheez]

Got my PUP.  Have a class II step bumper hitch on my '01 Explorer Sport.  The tongue locks on the step bumper easily.  But, I am far from being level.  Tongue is up.  Trying to decide if I am fine (as evidenced by how easy it locks on the ball) or if I really need to shell out the $150 for a hitch and arm to make it level.

Thoughts?

[SpeakEasy]

I can't claim to understand the physics involved, but I will tell you a short story. We bought our camper new, and after the first couple of seasons I was getting uneven tire wear. I thought this should not happen, so I went back to the dealer to point it out to them. Rather than give me any kind of satisfaction (that is, warranty repair), they pointed out that I was a little off-level in my towing setup. They claimed that this could contribute to uneven tire wear. So, I bought a hitch-ball thing with a lower drop to even things up. Now, this was only about a two-inch (measured vertically) adjustment. I thought it was a bit obsessive-compulsive to be worrying about correcting a couple-inch off-level towing arrangement, but what could I say?

Did this correct the situation? I can't say, because the following season I had the accident (see thread "The Story"). Then, I changed tow vehicles. I have had a lot of other variables that make it impossible for me to conclude anything about the hitch-height adjustment.

So, make of this story what you will, but, it is possible that your arrangement will affect your tire wear.

[wavery]

Got my PUP.  Have a class II step bumper hitch on my '01 Explorer Sport.  The tongue locks on the step bumper easily.  But, I am far from being level.  Tongue is up.  Trying to decide if I am fine (as evidenced by how easy it locks on the ball) or if I really need to shell out the $150 for a hitch and arm to make it level.

Thoughts?

Low in the front is preferable to high in the front. If the front is too high, you may experience a lot of trailer sway.

You don't have to shell out $150 for a drop hitch, unless it is really extreme.
 Maybe this will work for you:
http://www.reese-hitches.com/step_bumper_hitch.htm
Shop around though. I have seen those for $69.

Here's a couple on eBay:
http://search.ebay.com/ws/search/SaleSearch?sofocus=bs&satitle=Reese+Step+Bumper+Hitch&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC5&%3Bsspagename=h%3Ah%3Aadvsearch%3AUS&from=R7&nojspr=y&pfid=0&fsop=1%26fsoo%3D1&fcl=3&frpp=50

[mccheez]

Low in the front is preferable to high in the front. If the front is too high, you may experience a lot of trailer sway.

You don't have to shell out $150 for a drop hitch, unless it is really extreme.
 Maybe this will work for you:
http://www.reese-hitches.com/step_bumper_hitch.htm
Shop around though. I have seen those for $69.

Here's a couple on eBay:
http://search.ebay.com/ws/search/SaleSearch?sofocus=bs&satitle=Reese+Step+Bumper+Hitch&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC5&%3Bsspagename=h%3Ah%3Aadvsearch%3AUS&from=R7&nojspr=y&pfid=0&fsop=1%26fsoo%3D1&fcl=3&frpp=50

I looked into a few, but they require more surface area than what the Explorer gives.  Thanks for looking into that for me.

[tknick]

As metioned earlier, sway could become a big problem when towing off level like that.  The other thing is if you have a fridge, operating it a such a steep angle can permenantly damage the fridge. Obviously if you don't have a fridge then that isn't a concern.

Would something like THIS  work?  I would probably get you pretty close if not spot on when you add the appropriate draw bar.  Of course, it would depend on what kind of space and bolt pattern you have under your bumper.  Keep in mind that you will still have to follow the lower of the two tow ratings, either the bumper or the bolt on whichever is lower.

[b2220128]

You don

[mccheez]

You don

[zamboni]

But, I am far from being level.  Tongue is up.

There is another option, and if you are somewhat mechanically inclined or comfortable with tools, you could do yourself (assuming it applied to your camper):

Flip the axle.  Many campers have the axle mounted above the springs.  People have removed the axle and bolted it to the bottom of the springs.  This, in effect, gives them about a 2" lift.  It also helps prevent bottoming out in parking lots, etc.

Extending that, you might even add a small lift kit (extra block between axle and spring) to lift it a bit more.  Then, it might be level-enough with your Exploder's bumper hitch.

[mccheez]

There is another option, and if you are somewhat mechanically inclined or comfortable with tools, you could do yourself (assuming it applied to your camper):

Flip the axle.  Many campers have the axle mounted above the springs.  People have removed the axle and bolted it to the bottom of the springs.  This, in effect, gives them about a 2" lift.  It also helps prevent bottoming out in parking lots, etc.

Extending that, you might even add a small lift kit (extra block between axle and spring) to lift it a bit more.  Then, it might be level-enough with your Exploder's bumper hitch.

I'm shelling out the $145 for a class III hitch to be installed by U-Hual on Wednesday.  Can add the proper ball mount to be level.

[zamboni]

I'm shelling out the $145 for a class III hitch to be installed by U-Hual

If possible, I'd urge you find any other company to install the hitch, because even though U-Hurl will take your money and install a hitch, since 2004, they have a company policy FORBIDDING renting any trailers to a Ford Explorer.

Note, they will happily rent to a Mazda Navajo, Mercury Mountaineer, Ford Expedition, etc.  Just not anything that says "Explorer"... no matter what year, even if they installed the hitch.

[dthurk]

... since 2004, they have a company policy FORBIDDING renting any trailers to a Ford Explorer...

Why?

(All I wanted to write was Why?, but it wouldn't post because it was too short.  Computer, are you happy now?)

[tlhdoc]

Why?
 
(All I wanted to write was Why?, but it wouldn't post because it was too short. Computer, are you happy now?)

UHall said they had too many accidents with people towing with Explorers.

[zamboni]

Why?

It's not just that there were too many accidents -- there were apparently too many lawsuits (probably from the Explorer days during the "firestone tires" period).

Basically, in our country, too many people who get into an accident or get hurt, sadly try to figure out who to sue even when they are 100% at fault.

Looking at it another way, Explorers could have had the majority of issues because it is the #1-selling SUV in America for like the last 10-15 years (thus, more of their customers drove Explorers than any other 1 vehicle...)

I even talked to U-Hurl Corporate, begging them to let me sign a waiver, promising my first-born, etc.  Nope.  Company policy: No Explorers.  I knew someone who put an "Expedition" tag on their Explorer and rented with no problem, as well as folks with the Mercury-version of the Explorer.  Dumb policy.  Very dumb.


(note, I intentionally write "hurl" instead of "haul"; just my goofy way, just like I've always called another entity "Taco Smell" or "Toxic Hell")