Share Pics of People Hauling or Towing Something Wrong

California · Oct 27, 2015

fordmantpw said:
But yet, to this day, U-Haul won't rent you a trailer for an Explorer due to the Firestone tire fiasco.

Yeah that was a mess.

Aside from that era of exploding tires, is there something about the handling of an Explorer that is unusually unstable with a trailer? Short wheelbase and soft springs, or something?

fordmantpw · Oct 27, 2015

California said:
Yeah that was a mess.

Aside from that era of exploding tires, is there something about the handling of an Explorer that is unusually unstable with a trailer attached? Short wheelbase and soft springs, or something?

Nope.

aczlan · Oct 27, 2015

California said:
Yeah that was a mess.

Aside from that era of exploding tires, is there something about the handling of an Explorer that is unusually unstable with a trailer? Short wheelbase and soft springs, or something?

Nope. They will let you tow with a Mercury Mountaineer which is the same vehicle but with a Mercury logo rather than a Ford one.

Aaron Z

fordmantpw · Oct 27, 2015

aczlan said:
Nope. They will let you tow with a Mercury Mountaineer which is the same vehicle but with a Mercury logo rather than a Ford one.

Aaron Z

Shows you just how bogus their policy really is. Even the '11+ Explorer, which is a completely different vehicle, is restricted as well.

Diamondpilot · Oct 27, 2015

California said:
Yeah that was a mess. Aside from that era of exploding tires, is there something about the handling of an Explorer that is unusually unstable with a trailer attached? Short wheelbase and soft springs, or something?

Not at all. Towed 1000's of miles about 10 different trailers wit 2 Explorers, 2 Mountaineers, and one Aviator. All were 4.6 V8 powered with the exception of the 1st Mountaineer having a 5.0 V8 and the first Explorer having a 4.0 V6.

All performed well for 5000# to about 6500#

Chris

dragoneggs · Oct 27, 2015

Diamondpilot said:
Not at all. Towed 1000's of miles about 10 different trailers wit 2 Explorers, 2 Mountaineers, and one Aviator. All were 4.6 V8 powered with the exception of the 1st Mountaineer having a 5.0 V8 and the first Explorer having a 4.0 V6.

All performed well for 5000# to about 6500#

Chris

I have towed with an Explorer and also a Jeep. They both pulled great but I never felt that solid (tail wagging the dog a bit) pulling a random axle at #5500 or so. I should add that included passes and some serious hills.

ultrarunner · Oct 28, 2015

Diamondpilot said:
Not at all. Towed 1000's of miles about 10 different trailers wit 2 Explorers, 2 Mountaineers, and one Aviator. All were 4.6 V8 powered with the exception of the 1st Mountaineer having a 5.0 V8 and the first Explorer having a 4.0 V6.

All performed well for 5000# to about 6500#

Chris

A little off topic question...

A friend of mine has a one owner 42,000 mile 2003 F150 standard cab with the 4.6 V8, automatic, cruise, a/c, cd player, etc... no rust California truck.

He is picking up a new F150 4wd this week and the dealer offered 2k as a trade in...

The problem is he did not see a concrete barrier post and got to close on the right side of the truck... so about 8' on the right side is pushed in.

Truck has never been hit front or rear... door works, glass etc. is OK...

He said I can have for the 2k the dealer is allowing and use ir for a throw anything in truck and hope I'm not making a mistake.

fordmantpw · Oct 28, 2015

ultrarunner said:
A little off topic question...

A friend of mine has a one owner 42,000 mile 2003 F150 standard cab with the 4.6 V8, automatic, cruise, a/c, cd player, etc... no rust California truck.

He is picking up a new F150 4wd this week and the dealer offered 2k as a trade in...

The problem is he did not see a concrete barrier and got to close on the right side of the truck... so about 8' right down the side is pushed in.

Truck has never been hit front or rear... door works, glass etc. is OK...

I'm thinking of buying it for 2k for a throw anything in truck and hope I'm not making a mistake.

That truck should be worth every bit of 2k. I don't see how you could go wrong.

ultrarunner · Oct 28, 2015

I'm thinking this too... it's just the reaction I got from the family kind of set me back...

Maybe the local vocational school want to take it one for a project?

I do know a good body shop and will probably have it looked at just to get a number... it does not have to be perfect... infact, making it perfect would mean I could not use it for a work truck!

Diamondpilot · Oct 28, 2015

ultrarunner said:
A little off topic question... A friend of mine has a one owner 42,000 mile 2003 F150 standard cab with the 4.6 V8, automatic, cruise, a/c, cd player, etc... no rust California truck. He is picking up a new F150 4wd this week and the dealer offered 2k as a trade in... The problem is he did not see a concrete barrier post and got to close on the right side of the truck... so about 8' on the right side is pushed in. Truck has never been hit front or rear... door works, glass etc. is OK... He said I can have for the 2k the dealer is allowing and use ir for a throw anything in truck and hope I'm not making a mistake.

I would buy just about any car running for $2000. A low miles truck is a win even if it's just 2wd. You can fix body damage but you can't fix rust or a million miles. It has neither so go for it!

Chris