I am shopping for a tow vehicle for a Mac 26x. Does anyone have experience towing this boat with a 2002 Ford Explorer? I am considering the V8 engine with the 2.73 rear. Spec.s say tow capacity is 7000 lbs, but I am worried about the length of the trailer. A friend towed the boat with a Ford Expedition, and we had some sway at 65 to 70 mph.
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Geof
Trailer Sway
I find that almost all trialers sway some. Careful attention to the tires, bearings and load of the trailer helps in this department. Also, driving at more moderate speeds often stop the swaying. For me, 70 MPH is just too fast to be tralering unless I've got a lot of open road ahead of me and there is no traffic. Geof
I find that almost all trialers sway some. Careful attention to the tires, bearings and load of the trailer helps in this department. Also, driving at more moderate speeds often stop the swaying. For me, 70 MPH is just too fast to be tralering unless I've got a lot of open road ahead of me and there is no traffic. Geof
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tomD
Anti-sway bar
A colleague had sway sensations with his Explorer towing a C-22. He installed a hitch with the anti-sway bar and load levellers and everything is great now, altho it cost him an extra 800 dollars to set it up. I tow the same boat behind a 94 Pathfinder with no problems at all. Be sure the tires are trailer tires and nothing but (different construction), be sure they are identically inflated to maximum to avoid flexing those heavy sidewalls and getting them overheated, and give the bearings one shot of grease after you do a haulout. Tongue weight really affects the tow also: 7 to 10% depending on the vehicle: too little and the trailer takes on a life of its own and will whip and veer, too heavy and the front end of the truck floats and the steering is vague. I adjust the load with gear placement in the veeberth.Be ready to experiment and adjust.
A colleague had sway sensations with his Explorer towing a C-22. He installed a hitch with the anti-sway bar and load levellers and everything is great now, altho it cost him an extra 800 dollars to set it up. I tow the same boat behind a 94 Pathfinder with no problems at all. Be sure the tires are trailer tires and nothing but (different construction), be sure they are identically inflated to maximum to avoid flexing those heavy sidewalls and getting them overheated, and give the bearings one shot of grease after you do a haulout. Tongue weight really affects the tow also: 7 to 10% depending on the vehicle: too little and the trailer takes on a life of its own and will whip and veer, too heavy and the front end of the truck floats and the steering is vague. I adjust the load with gear placement in the veeberth.Be ready to experiment and adjust.
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Paul
Sway bar and surge brakes
The 26x trailer has hydraulic surge brakes. I seem to remember that Sway bars defeat the surge brakes. This true?
The 26x trailer has hydraulic surge brakes. I seem to remember that Sway bars defeat the surge brakes. This true?
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John Visser
Sway
Biggest cause of sway is a DIFFERENCE n tire pressure, lefft to right. Likewise, differentially worn tires (should be matched), bad bearings. jv
Biggest cause of sway is a DIFFERENCE n tire pressure, lefft to right. Likewise, differentially worn tires (should be matched), bad bearings. jv
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Curtiss Grant
Towing
I tow with a Ford Ranger 4X4 which, I believe it is the same frame as the Explorer. I have the V6 3.0 at 175 HP ( I think). I consider it to have sufficient power but I do get some sway if I let the gas tank get to low or when a big semi passes. It depends on the height and weight of the tongue. I previously had a '93 Ranger 4X4 which was lower to the ground and actually had better control. Good Luck.
I tow with a Ford Ranger 4X4 which, I believe it is the same frame as the Explorer. I have the V6 3.0 at 175 HP ( I think). I consider it to have sufficient power but I do get some sway if I let the gas tank get to low or when a big semi passes. It depends on the height and weight of the tongue. I previously had a '93 Ranger 4X4 which was lower to the ground and actually had better control. Good Luck.
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tomD
Equalizer hitches
If you set up the hitch with swaybars and load levelers, you will need to remove the surge brakes and install electric brakes. You are correct, surge brakes cannot work with equalizer hitches.
If you set up the hitch with swaybars and load levelers, you will need to remove the surge brakes and install electric brakes. You are correct, surge brakes cannot work with equalizer hitches.
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Chris Gonzales
Hitch weight is the key
Your hitch weight should be 10-15% of the total weight of the boat/trailer combo including payload in the boat otherwise the trailer will steer itself from the wheels. It really is best to weigh the loaded trailer and then it's tongue to be sure the hitch weight is in that range. You may be surprised at the numbers you get. A short wheelbase vehicle such as the Explorer can be a concern when towing longer loads, especially in strong winds, and a sway control can help. As mentioned before, equalizing hitches and sway controls interfere (not render inactive) surge brakes. Best to convert to electric if you use these hitch accessories. Chris
Your hitch weight should be 10-15% of the total weight of the boat/trailer combo including payload in the boat otherwise the trailer will steer itself from the wheels. It really is best to weigh the loaded trailer and then it's tongue to be sure the hitch weight is in that range. You may be surprised at the numbers you get. A short wheelbase vehicle such as the Explorer can be a concern when towing longer loads, especially in strong winds, and a sway control can help. As mentioned before, equalizing hitches and sway controls interfere (not render inactive) surge brakes. Best to convert to electric if you use these hitch accessories. Chris
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tomD
The right hitch weight
In my trailering experiences, getting the right hitchweight is different for the trailer/tow unit/driver and needs to be done with some experimentation to see what works. Leaf springs vs. coil in the tow unit, wheelbase, overhang of the ball from the rear axle all impact the ride. If I put 15% weight on my hitch the steering is really light and the vehicle wanders, does not handle windblasts from semis. Two axle trailers track really well and if you are running the right tires, it is a huge safety factor. However Catalina's choice of TrailRite single axle on 14 inch ST 6 ply wall tires with load level D, inflated to 50 psi, is not a dangerous combo. If you put passenger or truck tires on, and in Canada it is illegal to mount them on a trailer rim, then you are asking for a blowout.
In my trailering experiences, getting the right hitchweight is different for the trailer/tow unit/driver and needs to be done with some experimentation to see what works. Leaf springs vs. coil in the tow unit, wheelbase, overhang of the ball from the rear axle all impact the ride. If I put 15% weight on my hitch the steering is really light and the vehicle wanders, does not handle windblasts from semis. Two axle trailers track really well and if you are running the right tires, it is a huge safety factor. However Catalina's choice of TrailRite single axle on 14 inch ST 6 ply wall tires with load level D, inflated to 50 psi, is not a dangerous combo. If you put passenger or truck tires on, and in Canada it is illegal to mount them on a trailer rim, then you are asking for a blowout.
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