Tow Car- Ford 2013 Explorer ??

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Tow Car- Ford 2013 Explorer ??

October 04, 2012, 01:57:08 pm

Am still looking to replace my HHR as a tow car. It just needs more power and room. I looked at the equinox and the terrain and now am over to the Ford Explorer. The Explorer is a larger car than the other two. Drove one yesterday. It seemed very quiet, lot of electronics and room.
Six cyl gives me power and I can tow my boat as it has a 5000 towing capacity as I sold my truck and need something to tow the boat. Is anyone towing the Ford Explorer. Only the six cyl is towable not the 4 cyl which is not towable.??
DAN

Re: Tow Car- Ford 2013 Explorer ??

Reply #1 – October 05, 2012, 08:26:48 am

I have not seen many Fords of any stripe towed. You need to look carefully. I remember when I had my ast ford you needed the manual 4 wheel drive vs shift on the fly version but that was a while ago. Also check, speed and distance limitations. I tow a Jeep tht has no limitations.

Re: Tow Car- Ford 2013 Explorer ??

Reply #2 – October 05, 2012, 08:32:31 am

John: Hope to see you at the GV in Mineola. Even though on the Ford info site the Explorer is towable 4 down with 6 cyl engine only and select shift transmission. I think u are right I will ck further as I agree strange this is one of only a few Ford products that is towable. DAN

Re: Tow Car- Ford 2013 Explorer ??

Reply #3 – October 05, 2012, 09:09:20 pm

I would look closely at it, you are correct. I will be at the GV so I will see you there.

Re: Tow Car- Ford 2013 Explorer ??

Reply #4 – October 06, 2012, 12:19:52 am

I just brought a new Honda Fit. I thought, gee that's a really little car and after I got into it, I had to get back out and try to figure out how that got all the room on the inside. Much, much bigger on the inside than it looks from the outside. Bet it is bigger that your HHR. The rear seats fold flat with the floor too.

Re: Tow Car- Ford 2013 Explorer ??

Reply #5 – October 06, 2012, 09:18:50 am

Dan,
I have seen a few late model Ford's towed and cannot remember which model, Escape I think, but the Blue Ox tow pins were quite high. The coach had a 6" or 8" riser to lift the receiver to an appropriate height. Just one more thing to look at is the tow pin height when considering a toad to see if you need additional modification.
Good luck,
Rick

Re: Tow Car- Ford 2013 Explorer ??

Reply #6 – October 06, 2012, 09:40:46 am

Quote from: PatC – October 06, 2012, 12:19:52 am

I just brought a new Honda Fit. I thought, gee that's a really little car and after I got into it, I had to get back out and try to figure out how that got all the room on the inside. Much, much bigger on the inside than it looks from the outside. Bet it is bigger that your HHR. The rear seats fold flat with the floor too.

A lot of motorhomers in the campgrounds ask about our Fit. When they sit inside and check it out they say the same - it is way bigger than it looks! So, far ours has 7000+ miles as a towed and no problems. Consistently get 36-38 mpg suburban/country driving. Good luck with yours.

Re: Tow Car- Ford 2013 Explorer ??

Reply #7 – October 06, 2012, 10:47:19 am

I will say I love to tow the wrangler. It is an amazing tow vehicle. Easy to set up and to tow with no limitations. You can get off road tires that are a bit harder than some street tires. You can tow it easily and the bigger tires mean you do not have to change them as often. Now the real benefit, it will go anywhere you really want to go. I know about built jeeps and hardcore rock crawling but if you got a Rubicon, you can literally follow even the built jeeps. I love it in Yellowstone when you want to stop and the rangers make you get off the road to see that bear. I just pull right off the shoulder and get out. I was at the beach in NC and I just aired down and drove on the beach to a lovely area to spend the day. I got back to the coach and used coach air to air back up. There was a huge storm one time and the roads had huge standing water. Lots of cars were stranded and I could just drive thru. I get snow around here and in places that I travel to as well. It works very well in the snow too.

Re: Tow Car- Ford 2013 Explorer ??

Reply #8 – October 06, 2012, 10:57:48 am

Quote from: Dan J. Stansel – October 04, 2012, 01:57:08 pm

Six cyl gives me power and I can tow my boat as it has a 5000 towing capacity as I sold my truck and need something to tow the boat.

While the Fit and Jeep Wrangler are good toads, Dan did mention he needs a vehicle that can do double-duty and tow his boat

hence his looking at vehicles like the Explorer.

Re: Tow Car- Ford 2013 Explorer ??

Reply #9 – October 06, 2012, 03:07:36 pm

I would look at a grand Cherokee then. Also, the wrangler can tow too. A small boat maybe depending on the setup about 3500 pounds.

Re: Tow Car- Ford 2013 Explorer ??

Reply #10 – October 06, 2012, 03:16:59 pm

I tow a 2007 Ford Edge. It is all wheel drive, 6 cylinder. Tows four wheels down with no modifications. As someone noted, the Blue Ox tow bar hookup is high, I needed a 6 inch riser. Only other problem, need to be sure to turn the key for accessories all the way to the stop. There are two accessory positions on mine, not noted in the manual and not marked on the key switch. If you only turn it to the first accessory position, some things remain on and your battery will run down. I found out the hard way. Just turn it as far as it will go when you turn the engine off with the shift in neutral.

Re: Tow Car- Ford 2013 Explorer ??

Reply #11 – October 06, 2012, 03:20:29 pm

Hi Dan,
Been dragging our 1998 Ford Explorer, automatic/4 wheel drive, for nine years. It is real easy to hook up. We had to have the neutral tow switch installed by a Ford dealer. Switch and install just over one hundred dollars. Now we just have to put in neutral, hold the brake pedal down until the switch flashes it's yellow light, and your done. Have had no problems. Can tow all day, any speed. Seems just fine. The Explorer weighed in just over 4.100 lbs.
Raymond

Re: Tow Car- Ford 2013 Explorer ??

Reply #12 – October 06, 2012, 04:56:08 pm

Raymond,
Question, Does the selector for 4wd, 2wd and 4wd Lo, operate electrically, and Ford can install a switch to select Neutral on that system ? That has been one of my complaints about the Ford electric selector and why the old mechanical lever on the floor has been required .
WHY I went with the 2 wheel drive and 5 speed manual, eliminate all the bs.

Know GM has some magic method of selecting neutral on their 4x4 setups.
Thanks
Dave M

Re: Tow Car- Ford 2013 Explorer ??

Reply #13 – October 06, 2012, 05:14:32 pm

Hi Dave M,
Yes, the 4wd hi/lo, 2wd, all operate from the dash switch electrically. The neutral tow switch is a way that the transfer case is put in neutral. It is a computer flashing that allows the transfer case to be put in neutral. The "switch" is just a small yellow light that lets you know the case has been put in neutral, or removed. All trans functions remain the same. This will only work on four wheel drive versions. Not on all wheel drive. I hope this helps.
Raymond

Re: Tow Car- Ford 2013 Explorer ??

Reply #14 – October 06, 2012, 05:28:14 pm

Raymond,
Thanks, now I need to see why the Ford folks do not know about it locally in my area, this question has been asked with answer of "Can not be done" So now I will ask a more pointed question.
I would prefer the auto with cruise control, the present F150 has all the needed options except crusie control.
Thanks
Dave M

Re: Tow Car- Ford 2013 Explorer ??

Reply #15 – October 06, 2012, 06:32:32 pm

For GM, place the trans in neutral (engine running), foot on brake. Turn transfer case switch all the way to right and hold (momentary position).

After 'N' light comes on (within 10 sec) let go of switch. Shift trans to D and R to ensure transfer case is in neutral. Turn engine off.
Place trans in park.

Book tells you to use emergency brake, but its too easy to forget.

Re: Tow Car- Ford 2013 Explorer ??

Reply #16 – October 06, 2012, 06:55:53 pm

I wanted to tow my 91 explorer with electric shift transfer case but was told that the wiring harness kit to put transfer case in neutral only works in 98 and up.

Re: Tow Car- Ford 2013 Explorer ??

Reply #17 – October 06, 2012, 09:06:14 pm

Hi All,
My Ford Explorer is a 1998 model. It is a 4.0 V-6, automatic transmission, four wheel drive. I was fortunate that the kit was available for my model year. As I recall, the "towing kit" was not available for all years.
Raymond

Re: Tow Car- Ford 2013 Explorer ??

Reply #18 – October 07, 2012, 10:53:24 am

Quote from: Dave M – October 06, 2012, 05:28:14 pm

Raymond,
Thanks, now I need to see why the Ford folks do not know about it locally in my area, this question has been asked with answer of "Can not be done" So now I will ask a more pointed question.
I would prefer the auto with cruise control, the present F150 has all the needed options except crusie control.

Dave,

I didn't immediately see the 2013 guide, but here's a link to Ford's PDF showing which 2012 models can be flat towed and what the restrictions are, like a max speed of 65 mph and must stop every 6 hours and run the engine to cool the transmission fluid on the Flex, Edge, and Explorer. No such restrictions on the 4WD pickups although the 250/350/450 must have manual transfer case.

https://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/rv_trailer_towing/2012/12FLRVTT104wdtowMar1.pdf

I'll continue to look for the 2013 guide...

Michelle

Re: Tow Car- Ford 2013 Explorer ??

Reply #19 – October 07, 2012, 10:04:41 pm

I have a 2005 Mercury Mountaineer AWD. REMCO says that it is towable 4-down with the neutral switch, available only from Ford. Upon further checking that switch is no longer available. Too bad. I really like my Mercury. We'll probably end up with a CR-V for a toad.

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