Get Tires, Wheels and Loading -> TRAILER TOWING Guide for Ford Explorer SUV Fifth Generation (2005-2011)

Tires, Wheels and Loading

TRAILER TOWING

Trailer towing with your vehicle may require the use of a trailer tow

option package.

Trailer towing puts additional loads on your vehicle’s engine,

transmission, axle, brakes, tires, and suspension. For your safety and to

maximize vehicle performance, be sure to use the proper equipment

while towing.

Follow these guidelines to ensure safe towing procedure:

• Do not tow a trailer until your vehicle has been driven at least

1,000 miles (1600 km).

• Stay within your vehicle’s load limits.

• Thoroughly prepare your vehicle for towing. Refer to Preparing to

tow in this chapter.

• Use extra caution when driving while trailer towing. Refer to Driving

while you tow in this chapter.

• Service your vehicle more frequently if you tow a trailer. Refer to the

severe duty schedule in the scheduled maintenance information.

• Refer to the instructions included with towing accessories for the

proper installation and adjustment specifications.

Do not exceed the maximum loads listed on the Safety Compliance

Certification label. For load specification terms found on the label, refer

to Vehicle loading in this chapter when figuring the total weight of your

vehicle.

Your vehicle is equipped with a standard Class II integrated hitch and

requires only a draw bar and ball with a 19 mm (3/4 inch) shank

diameter. An optional Class III/Class IV hitch is also available.

Note: Do not exceed the GVWR or the GAWR specified on the

certification label.

WARNING: Towing trailers beyond the maximum recommended

gross trailer weight exceeds the limit of the vehicle and could

result in engine damage, transmission damage, structural damage, loss

of vehicle control, vehicle rollover and personal injury.

266

2010 Explorer (exp)

Owners Guide, 2nd Printing

USA (fus)

Tires, Wheels and Loading

4x2

GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating)/Trailer Weight

Engine

Rear axle ratio

Maximum

Trailer weight

GCWR-lb. (kg) range-lb. (kg)

(0-Maximum)

4.0L SOHC Class

II towing

4.6L* Class II

towing

4.0L SOHC Class

III/IV towing

4.6L* Class III/IV

towing

3.55

3.73

3.55

8500 (3856)

0–3500 (0–1588)

8500 (3856)

0–3500 (0–1588)

10000 (4536) 0–5375 (0–2438)

12000 (5443) 0–7285 (0–3304)

Notes: - For high altitude operation, reduce GCW by 2% per 1,000 ft.

(300 meters) elevation. For definitions of terms used in this table and

instructions on how to calculate your vehicle load, refer to Vehicle

loading in this chapter. Maximum trailer weights shown. The combined

weight of the completed towing vehicle and the loaded trailer must not

exceed the GCWR.

* -When towing maximum loads under high outside temperatures and

on steep grades, the A/C system may cycle on and off to protect the

engine from overheating. This may result in a temporary increase of

interior temperatures.

4X4 and AWD

GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating)/Trailer Weight

Engine

Rear axle ratio

Maximum

Trailer weight

GCWR-lb. (kg) range-lb. (kg)

(0-Maximum)

4.0L SOHC Class

II towing

4.6L* Class II

towing

4.0L SOHC Class

III/IV towing

3.55

3.73

8500 (3856)

0–3500 (0–1588)

8500 (3856)

0–3500 (0–1588)

10000 (4536) 0–5205 (0–2361)

267

2010 Explorer (exp)

Owners Guide, 2nd Printing

USA (fus)

Tires, Wheels and Loading

4X4 and AWD

GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating)/Trailer Weight

Engine

Rear axle ratio

Maximum

Trailer weight

GCWR-lb. (kg) range-lb. (kg)

(0-Maximum)

4.6L* Class III/IV

towing

3.55

12000 (5443) 0–7115 (0–3227)

Notes: - For high altitude operation, reduce GCW by 2% per 1,000 ft.

(300 meters) elevation. For definitions of terms used in this table and

instructions on how to calculate your vehicle load, refer to Vehicle

loading in this chapter. Maximum trailer weights shown. The combined

weight of the completed towing vehicle and the loaded trailer must not

exceed the GCWR

* -When towing maximum loads under high outside temperatures

and/or on steep grades, the A/C system may cycle on and off to protect

the engine from overheating. This may result in a temporary increase

of interior temperatures.

Preparing to tow

Use the proper equipment for towing a trailer and make sure it is

properly attached to your vehicle. Contact your authorized dealer or a

reliable trailer dealer as soon as possible if you require assistance.

Hitches

Do not use hitches that clamp onto the vehicle bumper. Use a load

carrying hitch. You must distribute the load in your trailer so that

10–15% of the total weight of the trailer is on the tongue, not to exceed

the maximum tongue loads as stated:

• Class II receiver: 350 lb. (159 kg)

• Class III/IV receiver: 500 lb. (227 kg) (weight carrying); 740 lb.

(336 kg) (weight distributing)

Safety chains

Always connect the trailer’s safety chains to the frame or hook retainers

of the vehicle hitch. To connect the trailer’s safety chains, cross the

chains under the trailer tongue and allow slack for turning corners.

If you use a rental trailer, follow the instructions that the rental agency

gives to you.

268

2010 Explorer (exp)

Owners Guide, 2nd Printing

USA (fus)

Tires, Wheels and Loading

Class III Trailer Hitch Safety Chain

Loops can be used as recovery

hooks.

Do not attach safety chains to the bumper.

Trailer brakes

Electric brakes and manual, automatic or surge-type trailer brakes are

safe if installed properly and adjusted to the manufacturer’s

specifications. The trailer brakes must meet local and Federal

regulations.

WARNING: Do not connect a trailer’s hydraulic brake system

directly to your vehicle’s brake system. Your vehicle may not

have enough braking power and your chances of having a collision

greatly increase.

The braking system of the tow vehicle is rated for operation at the

GVWR not GCWR.

Trailer lamps

Trailer lamps are required on most towed vehicles. Make sure all running

lights, brake lights, turn signals and hazard lights are working. Contact

your authorized dealer or trailer rental agency for proper instructions

and equipment for hooking up trailer lamps.

WARNING: Never connect any trailer lighting to the vehicle’s

taillamp circuits, because it may damage the electrical system

resulting in fire. Contact your authorized dealer as soon as possible for

assistance in proper trailer tow wiring installation. Additional electrical

equipment may be required.

269

2010 Explorer (exp)

Owners Guide, 2nd Printing

USA (fus)

Tires, Wheels and Loading

Driving while you tow

When towing a trailer:

• To ensure proper “break-in” of powertrain components, do not trailer

tow during the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of a new vehicle.

• To ensure proper “break-in” of powertrain components during the first

500 miles (800 km) of trailer towing, drive no faster than 70 mph

(113 km/h) with no full throttle starts.

• Turn off the speed control. The speed control may shut off

automatically when you are towing on long, steep grades.

• Consult your local motor vehicle speed regulations for towing a trailer.

• To eliminate excessive shifting, use a lower gear. This will also assist

in transmission cooling. For additional information, refer to Automatic

transmission operation in the Driving chapter.

• Under extreme conditions with large frontal trailers, high outside

temperatures and highway speeds, the coolant gauge may indicate

higher than normal coolant temperatures. If this occurs, reduce speed

until the coolant temperature returns to the normal range. Refer to

Engine coolant temperature gauge in the Instrument Cluster

chapter.

• Anticipate stops and brake gradually.

• Do not exceed the GCWR rating or transmission damage may occur.

Servicing after towing

If you tow a trailer for long distances, your vehicle will require more

frequent service intervals. Refer to your scheduled maintenance

information for more information.

Trailer towing tips

• Practice turning, stopping and backing up before starting on a trip to

get the feel of the vehicle trailer combination. When turning, make

wider turns so the trailer wheels will clear curbs and other obstacles.

• Allow more distance for stopping with a trailer attached.

• If you are driving down a long or steep hill, shift to a lower gear. Do

not apply the brakes continuously, as they may overheat and become

less effective.

• The trailer tongue weight should be 10–15% of the loaded trailer

weight.

270

2010 Explorer (exp)

Owners Guide, 2nd Printing

USA (fus)

Tires, Wheels and Loading

• If you will be towing a trailer frequently in hot weather, hilly

conditions, at GCWR, or any combination of these factors, consider

refilling your rear axle with synthetic gear lube if not already so

equipped. Refer to the Maintenance and Specifications chapter for

the lubricant specification. Remember that regardless of the rear axle

lube used, do not tow a trailer for the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of a

new vehicle, and that the first 500 miles (800 km) of towing be done

at no faster than 70 mph (113 km/h) with no full throttle starts.

• After you have traveled 50 miles (80 km), thoroughly check your

hitch, electrical connections and trailer wheel lug nuts.

• To aid in engine/transmission cooling and A/C efficiency during hot

weather while stopped in traffic, place the gearshift lever in P (Park).

• Vehicles with trailers should not be parked on a grade. If you must

park on a grade, place wheel chocks under the trailer’s wheels.

Launching or retrieving a boat

Disconnect the wiring to the trailer before backing the trailer

into the water. Reconnect the wiring to the trailer after the

trailer is removed from the water.

When backing down a ramp during boat launching or retrieval:

• do not allow the static water level to rise above the bottom edge of

the rear bumper.

• do not allow waves to break higher than 6 inches (15 cm) above the

bottom edge of the rear bumper.

Exceeding these limits may allow water to enter vehicle components:

• causing internal damage to the components.

• affecting driveability, emissions and reliability.

Replace the rear axle lubricant any time the axle has been submerged in

water. Rear axle lubricant quantities are not to be checked or changed

unless a leak is suspected or repair required.

RECREATIONAL TOWING

Follow these guidelines if you have a need for recreational (RV) towing.

An example of recreational towing would be towing your vehicle behind

a motorhome. These guidelines are designed to ensure that your

transmission is not damaged.

Note: Put your climate control system in recirculated air mode to

prevent exhaust fumes from entering the vehicle. Refer to the Climate

controls chapter for more information.

271

2010 Explorer (exp)

Owners Guide, 2nd Printing

USA (fus)

Tires, Wheels and Loading -> TRAILER TOWING for Your Ford Explorer SUV Fifth Generation (2005-2011)

Related Topics

Tires, Wheels and Loading