www.iFourWinns.com

Looking at switching tow rigs - just curious if anyone is using the new V-6 Ford Explorer to pull their boat.

My boat is a 1998 220 Horizon with the 5.7L Volvo Penta(boat 3500lbs + trailer & gear = 4500lbs). I am lucky that my lake is less than 4 miles away so I am not as concerned about getting to the water. The main question is the boat ramp. My current 2010 F150 4x4 pulls with no problem but you know it is their. I do have a good concrete ramp which is very textured and can pull out with my truck in 2-wheel drive. The 2013 Ford Explorer 2x4 & 4x4 are both rated at 5000lb. towing capacity. The 2x4 is front wheel drive.... The question is do you think I would be ok with the 2x4 front wheel drive gettting my boat out of the water? I know there are alot of variables, but is anyone running a similar setup or have their input.

I also may tow once a year to a vacation location 250 miles flat highway.

Thanks - Jeff

I tow with a "smaller" size truck too (see my signature), but it is rated at 6500 lbs towing and built on the next bigger size truck frame (Titan). I would be concerned with the Explorer only having a 5k towing limit and your boat/trailer/stuff weighing 4500 lbs. Thats awful close to the limit and could put a lot of strain on the transaxle of the 4x2. Trans and brake overheating could be a problem. If your heart is set on the Explorer, get the 4x4 with a tow package, that way you get the trans cooler and maybe bigger brakes, better gearing in differential, etc.

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1996 205 Sundowner DLX
5.0FL Volvo SX Cobra
Tow Veh: 2012 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X

i'd guess your towed weight to be over 5000#. It wouldn't be a bad plan to get it weighed before buying a new tow vehicle.

As Captkevin said you are going to be well over 5000#. I would stick with that nice truck you have.
Boat-3500
trailer-1200
fuel-300
gear-300
people-?

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2008 H220 Frenzy VP GI/DP
2011 Dodge Ram 1500 Hemi
Previous boat: 1990 Chris Craft 245 limited

F 150 VS. an exploder?

ha ha

Keep the real truck.

John

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07 Azure AZ200,
Previous boat,
95 278 Vista,
And a lot of others.

Ontario, Canada

Yes - I agree the F150 is the way to go. However, I am switching jobs which is providing the Explorer as a work vehicle - I can add some options at my $$$. That is why I am leading towards the 4x4 option and definatley trailer tow. Very tough to keep a 30k truck around to pull a boat. Yes - talk them into the truck... I am trying but it looks like the explorer is all the bigger I am going to end up with.

Anyone with a similar setup???

Jeff

See if they will spring for a VW Toureg, those will pull 7,000 lbs easily. Or talk them into a new Jeep Cherokee with V8.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Check out the rigs in this thread, http://www.smwebhead.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=31 lots of different types and sizes...

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1996 205 Sundowner DLX
5.0FL Volvo SX Cobra
Tow Veh: 2012 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X

I'd be very careful about adding your own money into a company car. Especially with a new employer if things don't work out you are out the extra $$$$.

I use a 2006 ford explorer v8 for my 97 vista 238 works fine putting it in and out of the water I had to tow it for four hours when I bought it threw the mountains of Pennsylvania.

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