I plan to get an Explorer to tow our H26 and have seen that several folks here do the same. There are 3 engines...the 6, the 6 SOHC, and the 8. There are 3 rear ends...the 3.53, the 3.73, and the 4.10. I saw online that for the weight of the H26 they suggest at least the V6 SOHC with at least the 3.73 rear end. I'd like to hear from the good folks here if this is consistent with real life experience. I'll use it to haul and launch 2-3 times a year and one trip of 200 miles or so once a year on relatively flat terrain. I've been looking for a used Explorer ('99 or 2000) to fit the bill for a couple months and there don't seem to be many out there. What Explorer do you use? I'd really like to hear from those with experience. Thanks and here's to a great, safe season for us all!
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John Pollitt
a thought
While you certainly can pull it with an Explorer (I use a S-10 Blazer), if you are going to buy something for the purpose, I'd suggest something with a longer wheelbase and V8. Suburban or Expedition perhaps. If you do go with an Explorer, be sure it has, or add, a transmission cooler. I know of people that use minivans, but 4000 odd pounds is a lot of weight. Mostly comes down to whether you want to pull a max load or not. Fair winds, John
While you certainly can pull it with an Explorer (I use a S-10 Blazer), if you are going to buy something for the purpose, I'd suggest something with a longer wheelbase and V8. Suburban or Expedition perhaps. If you do go with an Explorer, be sure it has, or add, a transmission cooler. I know of people that use minivans, but 4000 odd pounds is a lot of weight. Mostly comes down to whether you want to pull a max load or not. Fair winds, John
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Gerard
I'm downsizing
I currently have a full size conversion van with a 127" wheel base that weighs 6000 lbs and is rated to tow 6600. Big V8. Moves the boat like nobody's business. I love it. The problem is it's a lousy commuting vehicle. I know I'll miss it when towing, but that's a fraction of the use it gets. In the snowbelt of Lake Ontario, where we got 180" of snow this year, an SUV makes the most sense. Anything bigger than an Explorer is too cumbersome for my needs. John- what is the setup of your Blazer? Sounds like an option. Thanks...
I currently have a full size conversion van with a 127" wheel base that weighs 6000 lbs and is rated to tow 6600. Big V8. Moves the boat like nobody's business. I love it. The problem is it's a lousy commuting vehicle. I know I'll miss it when towing, but that's a fraction of the use it gets. In the snowbelt of Lake Ontario, where we got 180" of snow this year, an SUV makes the most sense. Anything bigger than an Explorer is too cumbersome for my needs. John- what is the setup of your Blazer? Sounds like an option. Thanks...
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Rob McLaughlin
I use an Explorer as well
I pull my 26 with a '98 explorer with the V8 (5.0L). The engine has plenty of power, even to retrieve the boat on some very steep & slippery ramps. There is no low-range, since the V8 came with AWD, but this hasn't been a problem. It cruises real nice on the highway, but tends to slip in & out of O/D, but at least it runs normal RPMs. I used a 4-runner for while, and that thing was in the passing gear the whole time we were over 50 MPH. I don't think mileage of the V8 is that different from the V-6 on the highway - it has more torque and turns lower RPMs at the same speeds. The biggest problem I had was the boat swaying. Lets face it, the boat & trailer loaded up for a week's cruise is ~5000 lbs, which is actually more than the vehicle. The boat tends to pull the SUV around quite a bit, and caused a lot of rear-end sway. I upgraded the truck to "LT" tires, rather than the standard "P", or Passenger tires. The LTs are stiffer in the sidewalls and made a gigantic difference for me. Be sure to check inflation before you tow - its critical to have the rear truck tires at their rated maximum, and trailer at 50lbs (front tires on the truck can be less). Good Luck!
I pull my 26 with a '98 explorer with the V8 (5.0L). The engine has plenty of power, even to retrieve the boat on some very steep & slippery ramps. There is no low-range, since the V8 came with AWD, but this hasn't been a problem. It cruises real nice on the highway, but tends to slip in & out of O/D, but at least it runs normal RPMs. I used a 4-runner for while, and that thing was in the passing gear the whole time we were over 50 MPH. I don't think mileage of the V8 is that different from the V-6 on the highway - it has more torque and turns lower RPMs at the same speeds. The biggest problem I had was the boat swaying. Lets face it, the boat & trailer loaded up for a week's cruise is ~5000 lbs, which is actually more than the vehicle. The boat tends to pull the SUV around quite a bit, and caused a lot of rear-end sway. I upgraded the truck to "LT" tires, rather than the standard "P", or Passenger tires. The LTs are stiffer in the sidewalls and made a gigantic difference for me. Be sure to check inflation before you tow - its critical to have the rear truck tires at their rated maximum, and trailer at 50lbs (front tires on the truck can be less). Good Luck!
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Marcel
Marginal at best
As someone that has towed a H-26 for 3 years with a 94 Explorer 4x4, V-6, 3.73 rear end, 6,800# tow package,(max available at the time) I am the first to admit that I was pushing the limits of the vehicle. As the previous writer said, fully loaded you are towing about 5,000#. My factory hitch was rated 5,000# max, you could only do the 6800# with an equalizing hitch, which makes a whole set of new problems. My main towing was 24 miles of local roads, the few long trips on the highway were very cautious, when the wind picked up I kept it at 50 mph. The engine and rear end options only affect acceleration and mileage, the brakes and suspension remain the same. I kept the Explorer until the Expedition came out in 97, and felt immediately that I was driving the boat around with the Expedition, not vice-versa. Whatever vehicle you get, read the fine print about towing very carefully. As someone said, the salesmen know very little about tow packages and what is in them.
As someone that has towed a H-26 for 3 years with a 94 Explorer 4x4, V-6, 3.73 rear end, 6,800# tow package,(max available at the time) I am the first to admit that I was pushing the limits of the vehicle. As the previous writer said, fully loaded you are towing about 5,000#. My factory hitch was rated 5,000# max, you could only do the 6800# with an equalizing hitch, which makes a whole set of new problems. My main towing was 24 miles of local roads, the few long trips on the highway were very cautious, when the wind picked up I kept it at 50 mph. The engine and rear end options only affect acceleration and mileage, the brakes and suspension remain the same. I kept the Explorer until the Expedition came out in 97, and felt immediately that I was driving the boat around with the Expedition, not vice-versa. Whatever vehicle you get, read the fine print about towing very carefully. As someone said, the salesmen know very little about tow packages and what is in them.
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Nils Anderson
Explorer Brakes Okay - No Sway
Our 97 Explorer SOHC has the best brakes of any SUV or truck. We trailer regularly from Phoenix to San Diego. One time both our lanes of freeway traffic came over a hill at 60 mph only to see traffic stopped ahead. I slammed the brakes and thought we were going to rear end, but we stopped just as quickly as without the boat (in fact the sedan next to us had to pull off to the shoulder because he couldn't stop as fast as we did) The 4-wheel ABS on the Explorer fools you into thinking you are not stopping but at the last minute it's like the boat dropped an anchor off it's stern. Our trailer has stainless steel disk brakes, and you should be able to stop just as quickly as without the trailer. As far as sway, if you maintain at least 600 pounds of tungue load (use a bathroom scale and 2x4 to measure it) you will not sway doing 65mph when the big rig trucks pass at 85mph. This has nothing to do with single or tandem axles; just plain less percentage swinging momentum behind the trailer axle. A lighter vehicle must have more tungue weight than a heavier one, and it doesn't hurt to have the rear tires at max inflation (for stiffness) and the fronts a little softer (for more grab). Use "air-lifts" so you don't exceed the rear spring limit, or a weight distributing hitch made for surge brakes.
Our 97 Explorer SOHC has the best brakes of any SUV or truck. We trailer regularly from Phoenix to San Diego. One time both our lanes of freeway traffic came over a hill at 60 mph only to see traffic stopped ahead. I slammed the brakes and thought we were going to rear end, but we stopped just as quickly as without the boat (in fact the sedan next to us had to pull off to the shoulder because he couldn't stop as fast as we did) The 4-wheel ABS on the Explorer fools you into thinking you are not stopping but at the last minute it's like the boat dropped an anchor off it's stern. Our trailer has stainless steel disk brakes, and you should be able to stop just as quickly as without the trailer. As far as sway, if you maintain at least 600 pounds of tungue load (use a bathroom scale and 2x4 to measure it) you will not sway doing 65mph when the big rig trucks pass at 85mph. This has nothing to do with single or tandem axles; just plain less percentage swinging momentum behind the trailer axle. A lighter vehicle must have more tungue weight than a heavier one, and it doesn't hurt to have the rear tires at max inflation (for stiffness) and the fronts a little softer (for more grab). Use "air-lifts" so you don't exceed the rear spring limit, or a weight distributing hitch made for surge brakes.
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