Does anyone use the newer explorers to tow a 24ft jetboat

[virgil]

I'm trying to find a midsize SUV to tow my 2012 ar240 I use a 2012 F150 6.2 to tow now but with my new current job I need to find something better on gas and get the girlfriend a bigger SUV so I'm trying to see what will work she doesn't want something you judge in a gas guzzler I'm thinking the new explorers with the EcoBoost 365 horse but it says it's only rated for 5000 pounds I know my boat from what I read read for 52 to 5500 lb loaded up anyone else in similar situation what do you guys recommend if I have to I'll get an expedition but trying to see if I can find something a little bit smaller

 

[Dough]

Jeep Grand Cherokee might be a little better towing wise. I wouldnt buy something that would definitely over.

 

[swatski]

Pretty simple, if you ask me. Need one those import V6 TDIs. Problem solved.

I can not tell you how much I enjoy the Q7 (3.0 TDI), it is an absolute beast. 400+ lpf torque, and that's before a chip or reflash.

I use mine as a daily driver, too. Get about 600-700 miles between fill-ups in mixed driving. Hauls 7-passengers comfortably. Not sure what I would do if I had to switch, want to keep it indefinitely.

These machines also tend to have insanely good traction control. A huge plus where I boat (MO rivers) - the ramps around here can be pretty dreadful. I often launch and retrieve with ease where many large trucks can really struggle, not because of the lack of power, necessarily, but traction.


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[Stevenpigsooie]

Here in the hills of the Ozark Mountains it’s not always whether you can pull it, but can your vehicle stop it.

 

[2kwik4u]

I just looked at Explorers as a tow vehicles. Keep in mind that 5200lb rating is with a weight distributing hitch. Otherwise it's 3500lbs. FindING a WD hitch that works with surge brakes is damn near impossible. The only way to really make that setup work is to run an electric brake setuo, secondary brake controller, and a WD hitch. Even then, you're on the edge of rated capacity. If you so much as add passengers, you're over the GCVWR.

So as I was searching for a tow vehicle I wanted 7k tow rating WITHOUT a WD hitch requirement. I also mandated 350ft-lbs of torque in the criteria. Not much really met that, but I think for a 24ft boat (Yamaha or other) that should be a minimum IMO.

Tow ratings, just like anything else in life, are better to have more and not use it that to need more and not have it.

 

[Mainah]

A Durango R/T has a towing capacity of 7.4k seats 6 and fits in a 20 foot deep garage. Gas milage is a bit better than half ton. We love ours and it has a better ride when towing the boat than my hemi powered ram 1500 sport. Gas milage will vary by driver as it is very spirited for a suv.

Good luck on your search.

 

[motoman006]

I'm trying to find a midsize SUV to tow my 2012 ar240 I use a 2012 F150 6.2 to tow now but with my new current job I need to find something better on gas and get the girlfriend a bigger SUV so I'm trying to see what will work she doesn't want something you judge in a gas guzzler I'm thinking the new explorers with the EcoBoost 365 horse but it says it's only rated for 5000 pounds I know my boat from what I read read for 52 to 5500 lb loaded up anyone else in similar situation what do you guys recommend if I have to I'll get an expedition but trying to see if I can find something a little bit smaller

Wait till spring//summer of 2018 and buy one of the new bad Ass f-150 diesels they will get 25-30mpg

I have a ecodiesel dodge now I get 24-25 mpg with but have had injector issues twice covered under warranty
Will be getting traded for a new f150 diesel when available

Then get her an explorer! We have a 2012 with the v6 non ecoboost and get 23-24 mpg with it all the time
My cousins with the ecoboost gets less fuel mileage but has more power

http://www.tfltruck.com/2017/09/2018-ford-f150-diesel-30l-lion-v6-weight-towing-specifications/

 

[swatski]

Wait till spring//summer of 2018 and buy one of the new bad Ass f-150 diesels they will get 25-30mpg

I have a ecodiesel dodge now I get 24-25 mpg with but have had injector issues twice covered under warranty
Will be getting traded for a new f150 diesel when available

Then get her an explorer! We have a 2012 with the v6 non ecoboost and get 23-24 mpg with it all the time
My cousins with the ecoboost gets less fuel mileage but has more power

http://www.tfltruck.com/2017/09/2018-ford-f150-diesel-30l-lion-v6-weight-towing-specifications/

Yep. Import TDIs. Those rule as far as towing a Yammy.
The TD6 is really the Lion 6 of Ford/Peugeot/Citroen (aka AJD-V6), been around for a long time - is now in Land Rover diesels.

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[motoman006]

Yep. Import TDIs. Those rule as far as towing a Yammy.
The TD6 is really the Lion 6 of Ford/Peugeot/Citroen (aka AJD-V6), been around for a long time - is now in Land Rover diesels.

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Yep great and fuel efficient
I wouldn't be able to give up my truck so for mileage and a truck you need a small diesel in a half Ton!

Same engine from the land/range rovers are going in the f150 with possibly different tuning

 

[Speedling]

Modern vehicles have the power, no doubt, but the suspension has everything to do with towing, as does braking! The power is really minor after that due to transmissions and gearing. If something weighs 5k pounds get something that tows 7k. If 7k get 9k etc.
The diesels and turbo gassers make great torque and will make the driving more enjoyable and pulling out of the water ez but without the suspension, a properly rated transmission, brakes etc you are looking for trouble.
If it has an actual frame, you are gonna be safe.
My wife still amazes me with her Expedition 5.4 3v (2010 which DOES matter) getting 14+ mpg when towing longer trips, pulls great, no crazy diesel epa additive junk, etc.
What i am sayin is don't doubt the quality of a good running gas v8. Your truck is probably fine and a whole lot of gas can be bought for the cost of a vehicle!

 

[Bluewater272]

I have a '17 Explorer Sport, I wouldn't tow the 24' anything more than short/flat routes. Also, the fuel economy on it is pretty awful, doubt you'd save much over your F150 if thats a primary motivator.

 

[swatski]

Modern vehicles have the power, no doubt, but the suspension has everything to do with towing, as does braking! The power is really minor after that due to transmissions and gearing. If something weighs 5k pounds get something that tows 7k. If 7k get 9k etc.
The diesels and turbo gassers make great torque and will make the driving more enjoyable and pulling out of the water ez but without the suspension, a properly rated transmission, brakes etc you are looking for trouble.
If it has an actual frame, you are gonna be safe.
My wife still amazes me with her Expedition 5.4 3v (2010 which DOES matter) getting 14+ mpg when towing longer trips, pulls great, no crazy diesel epa additive junk, etc.
What i am sayin is don't doubt the quality of a good running gas v8. Your truck is probably fine and a whole lot of gas can be bought for the cost of a vehicle!

All great points! Especially with regards to suspension/transmission/traction/breaking.
Part of the reason I don't see how you can do much better than an import TDI. Take the Q7 TDI, those are actually a tad heavier than Expedition, with way more torque still.
Looks can be deceiving, and they do look like a shrimp next to some lifted trucks. But who cares - and then you see them tow. Humming at 2,000RPM up any hill around here. On the way to Ft. Lauderdale - Chattanooga Mts, I literally had to slow down in a couple of uphill passes not to start passing some yahoos in the fast lane...
Those are low to the ground w/ over-engineered suspension, traction, and breaking. Most have the 8 speed aisin transmissions, which are also used in their V10 diesels...

I would say, in terms of negatives, the big negative with those TDI clean diesels is the maintenance (probably 3-5 time more expensive/time consuming than a gas!)
I don't believe the dealer schedule is right, at all, and I change oil about every 3k miles - it comes out black. And I mean black - those TDIs burn hotter than hell and also use (very expensive) low-ash oil, so you have got to stay on top of it or you end up with bigger problems. Same with the transmission (yeah - sealed for life... my a$$) - I already serviced mine twice, and it was not pretty.
But for me - that is not a huge deal, oil takes 15min with a big extractor, transmission is a pain but infrequent. Still - on balance - totally worth it. Especially - if you can find one used in good shape.

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[motoman006]

All great points! Especially with regards to suspension/transmission/traction/breaking.
Part of the reason I don't see how you can do much better than an import TDI. Take the Q7 TDI, those are actually a tad heavier than Expedition, with way more torque still.
Looks can be deceiving, and they do look like a shrimp next to some lifted trucks. But who cares - and then you see them tow. Humming at 2,000RPM up any hill around here. On the way to Ft. Lauderdale - Chattanooga Mts, I literally had to slow down in a couple of uphill passes not to start passing some yahoos in the fast lane...
Those are low to the ground w/ over-engineered suspension, traction, and breaking. Most have the 8 speed aisin transmissions, which are also used in their V10 diesels...

I would say, in terms of negatives, the big negative with those TDI clean diesels is the maintenance (probably 3-5 time more expensive/time consuming than a gas!)
I don't believe the dealer schedule is right, at all, and I change oil about every 3k miles - it comes out black. And I mean black - those TDIs burn hotter than hell and also use (very expensive) low-ash oil, so you have got to stay on top of it or you end up with bigger problems. Same with the transmission (yeah - sealed for life... my a$$) - I already serviced mine twice, and it was not pretty.
But for me - that is not a huge deal, oil takes 15min with a big extractor, transmission is a pain but infrequent. Still - on balance - totally worth it. Especially - if you can find one used in good shape.

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Changing oil every 3k is pretty excessive
They recommend 10k

Also as soon as you pour the oil in t will b black after the next start up

I have sent my oil to black stone labs a few times with 10k on it and came back good for use
I have 100k on the truck and have changed oil at 9-10k intervals on the 3.0 ecodiesel in the ram

The newer engines and oils should go more then 3k
I change mine myself and it still costs me $100 each time almost 11 quarts rosella t6 and a expensive filter

 

[Jgorm]

Keep truck, buy explorer. Problem solved. I bought a 02 excursion just to tow.

 

[robert843]

I like the Euro TDI's as well but as mentioned service is expensive. I had my 2014 Audi Q5 TDI at the dealer yesterday for a check engine light that came on and and oil change and fuel filter change was $700.

 

[swatski]

Changing oil every 3k is pretty excessive
They recommend 10k

Also as soon as you pour the oil in t will b black after the next start up

I have sent my oil to black stone labs a few times with 10k on it and came back good for use
I have 100k on the truck and have changed oil at 9-10k intervals on the 3.0 ecodiesel in the ram

The newer engines and oils should go more then 3k
I change mine myself and it still costs me $100 each time almost 11 quarts rosella t6 and a expensive filter

I think it may depend on how much you tow. I trailer a lot! I'm definitely sticking with 3k o/f changes.
For parts and fluids, I tend to use IDParts, really like their kits - pretty no nonsense. Still about $120-150 per oil/filter change, transmission is a lot more, actually.
O/F - love the big extractor, makes a quick job of it:


And - here is the trans pan - look at all that sludge. Funny - this is at 1/4 of Audi recommended maintenance interval (and already second service by me) - the car is still under 35,000 miles. Its a major PIA to service but I like this thing enough, not going to let it go.

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[motoman006]

I think it may depend on how much you tow. I trailer a lot! I'm definitely sticking with 3k o/f changes.
For parts and fluids, I tend to use IDParts, really like their kits - pretty no nonsense. Still about $120-150 per oil/filter change, transmission is a lot more, actually.
O/F - love the big extractor, makes a quick job of it:
View attachment 65618

And - here is the trans pan - look at all that sludge. Funny - this is at 1/4 of Audi recommended maintenance interval (and already second service by me) - the car is still under 35,000 miles. Its a major PIA to service but I like this thing enough, not going to let it go.

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Those are bad ass suvs ya if you tow a lot I would change oil more often
I tow hardly any and drive a lot a lot of highway miles a year

 

[2kwik4u]

The '17 Explorer is rated at 5,200lbs, My wifes Traverse is rated at 5,200lbs, and @swatski has a Q7 rated at 5,500lbs. These are all rating pulled from the Google, so if they are wrong let me know.

SO here's another thought I had......When towing at or near the limit you can no longer rely on just the tow ratings to make a sound decision. The safety margins are slim, and making a mistake can have some dire consequences. We have to start making decisions based on experience, acceptable risk for us and our family, legal issues, as well as good engineering considerations. If there is a vehicle I would be willing to tow "over the limit" on, it would be an Audi. My A4 had bigger brakes than my current Sierra has. It had 4 balljoints per corner for the suspension, and was clearly well engineered. My wifes Traverse on the other hand has struggled with our AR190. The brakes are tiny, you can see obvious "corner cutting" in both assembly and quality of parts. It's a marginal tow vehicle at best. There is NO WAY I would put a 24ft boat behind that SUV and then anyone else on the inside. Just not enough truck there. The Q7, maybe but it's still a unibody construction, and technically isn't rated for it. No idea if Audi uses the new SAE method for determining tow ratings. Would be nice to know. My old 2006 Trailblazer SS was rated at 6,800lbs and the AR190 was about all it wanted as well. Had 400ft-lbs of torque and plenty of power, but the chassis was sloppy and the brakes were weak at best, even after a full rebuild.

I looked at an Explorer about a month ago. I bought a fullsize pickup instead based on my intended usage. Is it overkill for my little 190, sure. I bet it's worthwhile if/when I move up to that 24ft range. I also have some comfort in knowing that if I want to drag a car hauler with a buddys car on it to the drag strip I can do that, if I want to drag a utility trailer with mulch or firewood on it around for a day, I can do that too. It's a lot easier to have the capacity and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

The moral of the story I'm trying to make here is that when you're close to the limit (or over), the normal "rules" no longer apply and you have to make the decision for yourself based on all the things I listed above.

 

[swatski]

@swatski has a Q7 rated at 5,500lbs. These are all rating pulled from the Google, so if they are wrong let me know.

7,700lbs - w/factory tow package.

Well, which reminds me - I had a bad trailering harness and the only way to replace it was to swap the whole tow package including the hitch, harness (which is built in), plus software upgrade/reflash etc. It ended up costing me about $2k...
So - there you go - another big negative.

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[swatski]

Just not enough truck there. The Q7, maybe but it's still a unibody construction, and technically isn't rated for it. No idea if Audi uses the new SAE method for determining tow ratings. Would be nice to know. My old 2006 Trailblazer SS was rated at 6,800lbs and the AR190 was about all it wanted as well. Had 400ft-lbs of torque and plenty of power, but the chassis was sloppy and the brakes were weak at best, even after a full rebuild.

Yeah, no worries there with Q7 TDI. I actually got the idea from some friends of mine who trailer their porsches, generally way heavier than my 24' yammie with their massive trailers. They made me look. Those Q7s tow, track, and stop spectacularly well.
I do not think a trailblazer is a fair comparison.

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