towing question?

ripnlips · Post by **ripnlips** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 7:18 pm

Do you guys think i will have any problems towing an 18'9" stratos with my V-6 ford explorer? also do you guys have any idea on weight of boat and trailer. The boats got a 200hp motor if that helps figuring weight.........

Paul W · Post by **Paul W** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 7:42 pm

I am going to guesstimate that boat/motor to weigh around 1900 lbs plus gas/batteries/etc of course. I think on the level it will obviously do fine, but going up hills its going to be slow going at high rpms. If I'm not mistaken the Explorer v6 isn't an especially powerful one. Hopefully you have surge brakes too, because otherwise stopping will be a big issue. I would atleast get a tranny cooler installed before towing, they really arent too expensive.

Paul W

ripnlips · Post by **ripnlips** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 7:46 pm

yeah its got surge brakes....the explorer has a tow rating of 3500lbs.

Paul W · Post by **Paul W** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 7:53 pm

For most trucks the tow rating is kind of misleading. My last truck was a v6 Tacoma and it was rated at 5,000lbs......no way in heck I would ever tow anywhere near that w/ the truck....I dont see how that little suspension could handle a big load either. W/ a 3500lb rating and that boat, honestly I'd be a little bit leery but I'm sure it is do-able....having the surge brakes is a plus.

Paul W

Ken C. · Post by **Ken C.** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 9:00 pm

I tow my Skeeter TZX190 (18-1/2 ft) that has a Yammie 175 with a '99 Exploder. Mine has the 4 liter V-6 sohc and 4-wheel disk brakes. I have noticed a little swaying in strong crosswinds because the Exploder wheelbase is kinda short. But it gets us there, and even more importantly gets us back!!!! To be specific, the biggest hills I've gone over is going to Clear Lake over Hwy 20 and bringing it home from L.A. over the Grapevine.

A Tranny cooler is easy to install, only costs $30 to $40 and will help your tranny last even if you don't pull anything

encoly · Post by **encoly** » Sun Apr 30, 2006 6:51 am

I tow my TR-19 with the Explorer, V-6 with the tow package. No problems what so ever. A little side sway through the mountains, when heading to the river, from San Diego, but that's due to the short wheelbase.

Scott L · Post by **Scott L** » Sun Apr 30, 2006 7:38 am

I used my 97 Explorer to tow my TR21/225hp for three years and had no problems. As long as your trailer has brakes, you should not have any problems. Having said that, my Explorer had the V6 with the sohc which was introduced that year and had 205 hp with the complete tow pkg (tranny cooler, gear ratio). The previous 6 in the explorer only had +/-160 hp.
My suburban tows the boat smoother with the longer wheelbase, but the Explorer towed up the hills just as well.

The short wheel base comes in handy when getting around small gas stations or launch ramps.

Good luck

bddbass · Post by **bddbass** » Sun Apr 30, 2006 1:56 pm

I believe they were refered to as " Exploders ". Tranny issues in the earlier models. I had one that went bad real quick. Would definitely take the advise on the tranny cooler.