2007 Ford Explorer V6 4.0

[markfnc]

I just bought a 2007 Eddie Bauer V6 with no towing pkg.  It does have the hitch and wiring harness and is rated for 3500 lbs.  With the towing pkg the V6 goes up to 5500 lbs. The camper I am looking at is the Jayco Feather Light which is 3500 lbs fully loaded. It has single axel.  

Does anyone think that this would be a problem, or should I go down to a pop up and have some weight to spare?

[Azusateach]

I just bought a 2007 Eddie Bauer V6 with no towing pkg.  It does have the hitch and wiring harness and is rated for 3500 lbs.  With the towing pkg the V6 goes up to 5500 lbs. The camper I am looking at is the Jayco Feather Light which is 3500 lbs fully loaded. It has single axel.  

Does anyone think that this would be a problem, or should I go down to a pop up and have some weight to spare?

Get the tow package.  You'll be glad you did.  I towed a Shamrock 19 with my V6 & it did okay.  A little slower than I'd like on the hills, but it could handle it.  I don't know the Jayco, but that weight seems a bit light.  How long is it?  Are you sure that's not the dry weight with no extras added?

[markfnc]

http://www.jayco.com/php/products/lite.weight/floorplans.php?id=142

here are the specs.  I already bought the explorer, it was used, but 3500 lbs is probably more than I need, unless i get this camper.

[mike4947]

BUT, the receiver on the Explorer is not only rated for 3500 pounds towing, but also ONLY 350 pounds tongue weight. That Jayco is over 400 pounds tongue weight dry. You need the towing package of at least a class III receiver and a 7 pin wire harness to be able to use the trailer brakes.

[batsignal2]

I just bought a 2007 Eddie Bauer V6 with no towing pkg.  It does have the hitch and wiring harness and is rated for 3500 lbs.  With the towing pkg the V6 goes up to 5500 lbs. The camper I am looking at is the Jayco Feather Light which is 3500 lbs fully loaded. It has single axel.  
 
 Does anyone think that this would be a problem, or should I go down to a pop up and have some weight to spare?

I have a Ford Explorer also and you need to find out what axle ratios are on the one you just purchased.  It is true the V6 can tow 5500 pounds however you need to have the tow package which includes the 3.73 axle ratio.  I have a 3.55 ratio so while my V6 motor can handle 5500 pounds, Ford says I can only tow 3500 since it has the 3.55 not the 3.73.  This is still true even if I get a class III hitch, sway bar, etc.

You can find more information on this here:

http://www.explorerforum.com

It is moderated by Ford Engineers and Techs.  You can find out which ratio you have by one letter in your VIN, I wish I could remember which one it is for you and what the letters mean.  As a side note, you can change (or get them changed) the axle ratios from one to another.  It is quite a process but doable.  The higher ratio gives the axles more torque for towing but reduces gas mileage.  

We are looking into a larger, heavier pop-up/hybrid and are in the process of getting a new tow vehicle first so I can avoid all of this ratio swapping, etc.  I love my Ford but personally, I would not tow much more than I am right now (2,500 pounds) with it expecially on hills.

[flyfisherman]

I've been over on the GM side of the ledger for so long now I've lost track of how other manufacturers vehicles go. For example, previously I had a GMC Sonoma and it's counterpart was the Jimmy Blazer, both were mounted on the same chassis. Is that how the Explorer and the Ranger pick-up work out?



Fly

[brainpause]

I've been over on the GM side of the ledger for so long now I've lost track of how other manufacturers vehicles go. For example, previously I had a GMC Sonoma and it's counterpart was the Jimmy Blazer, both were mounted on the same chassis. Is that how the Explorer and the Ranger pick-up work out?



Fly

Yes.

Larry

[flyfisherman]

My previous TV, a '00 GMC Sonoma pick'em up, had a real healthy tow rating of 6400 lbs. The little bugger had the 4.3 V-6 (an engine I really liked), 2-WD, auto tranny, a 3.42 rear axle ratio and a REAL heavy duty suspension.

http://www.trailerlife.com/towratings/tr00_chevrolet.cfm



What is/was interesting to note, to get all the towing facts, one had to go to the "GMC Trailering Guide". After the Sonoma's tow rating there were a couple of (**) and below was an explanation that the Sonoma was only rated to 3500 lbs using a class III load bearing hitch. If one wanted to tow something heavier, it would require a weight-distributing hitch. Now, if that is true with Mr.GoodWrench, I'd bet it's also true with FoMoCo.


Fly

(From the "for-whatever-it's-worth" department)

[mike4947]

For example, previously I had a GMC Sonoma and it's counterpart was the Jimmy Blazer, both were mounted on the same chassis. Is that how the Explorer and the Ranger pick-up work out?

To a point. In 2002 Ford redesigned the Explorer and it got it's own chassis with independent rear suspension. Until 2007 the SportTrak 4 door Explorer continued on the Ranger chassis. It was basically a 4 door ranger pickup with Explorer badging and a $3-$4 thousand dollar premium price...LOL

[sacrawf]

As Mike stated, the 2007 Explorer Sport Trac is completely redesigned and while based upon the Explorer, has a 16" longer and reinforced boxed frame with additional crossmembers, and a 13" longer wheelbase than the Explorer.  It has has nothing at all in common with the Ranger.  I just got the V-8 with the 7,000 towing capacity, and pull a small pop-up with GVWR of 2,287 lbs.

Ratings with towing packages:
Engine                   Axle Ratio  GCWR*       Max. Trailer Weight (lbs.)
4.0L SOHC V6/Automatic  3.73  10000         5,260 (4X2)  
4.0L SOHC V6/Automatic  3.73  10000         5,090 (4X4)  
4.6L SOHC V8/Automatic  3.55  12000         7,160 (4X2)    
4.6L SOHC V8/Automatic  3.55  12000         7,000 (4X4)

Sport Trac Forum:  http://www.mysporttrac.com/mysporttrac/

To a point. In 2002 Ford redesigned the Explorer and it got it's own chassis with independent rear suspension. Until 2007 the SportTrak 4 door Explorer continued on the Ranger chassis. It was basically a 4 door ranger pickup with Explorer badging and a $3-$4 thousand dollar premium price...LOL