2003 Ford Explorer - Any Advice??

[LNYTUNS]

I am looking for any advice in regards to issues with a 2003 Explorer XLT, 4.6L, 4X4, Tow Pkg., 3.73 gears, 26k miles, $22k. I am looking at buying one at a local dealer to tow my 29ft. Jayco trailer (6000#-6500#). Anyone out there have one? How does it tow? Problems?

Any comments or feedback would be appreciated.

LNYTUNS

[LCSO34]

With the tow package and the 4.6 I am sure that it would pull the trailer, but stopping....I don't know. IMO the Explorer is too light to pull that load, but thats just me.

[BigMerc]

Plus that price is too high, with the price of gas they cant move SUV's much less brand new Explorers or Expeditions, to compare I bought a brand new Eddie Bauer Expedition 5.4 liter plus tow pckge for $27,600. the sticker was $41,000 they cannot move them so play hardball. also the down side is I sold my 2003 Expedition XLT 29,000 miles perfect for $18,000 the resale is crap.

[GodOSpeed]

Is their tow ratings even that high? I know my grand fathers Sport Trac w/6 cyl pulls my boat better than most fullsizes have. With that much load trailer brakes are a must. I've pulled his camper (5000+) with it and it pulls nice.

[Mike Poore]

... I am looking at buying one at a local dealer to tow my 29ft. Jayco trailer (6000#-6500#). Anyone out there have one? LNYTUNS
Dunno about towing up there in the "flat lands" as long as you don't stray too far from Green Bay. For the mountains back here, it's not enough engine or truck for a trailer that size. We had a 27' Terry and used an F-150 with 460 engine to tow it. Have you looked at Ford's F-150 Super Crew Short Bed with the 5.4 engine, or better yet, the F-250 Super Crew Short Bed with the Power Stroke turbo Deisel.

[wchain]

I am looking for any advice in regards to issues with a 2003 Explorer XLT, 4.6L, 4X4, Tow Pkg., 3.73 gears, 26k miles, $22k. I am looking at buying one at a local dealer to tow my 29ft. Jayco trailer (6000#-6500#). Anyone out there have one? How does it tow? Problems?

Any comments or feedback would be appreciated.

LNYTUNS

Good vehicle overall. Just the usual 4.6 SOHC things you need to watch for. My sister paid 21K for an 03 XLT Premium w/Leather and Roof, 4x4 4.6L, TTow, 19K miles in the summer of 04.


You might consider something else to pull with instead of the explorer. It'll pull it, but the thing will be working pretty hard. We have ads here for 05 Expedition XLTs for 25,999, and they all come with the 5.4L IIRC for 2005. Ford's "Tow Package" now, unfortunately, I think is just a reciever and a 7 pin harness now. I dont think they put on other goodies like before, i.e. Power steering cooler, addl Trans cooler, oil cooler etc. Used Expedtione (02 and older) have poorer resale value, due to the body style change, and you could probably pick up an 02 Eddie Bauer with 40K for around 20. Is there a reason you need 4WD?

If you dont have to have new, consider a used F250/350 Diesel. Watch out for earler super duties (early 99- early 00) that have issues with INjectors and torque converters....Newer Super Duties have a better stock intake as well.... the 7.3 PSD may be too much truck for you, but I really think You'd be happer with a Full Sized Pickup, or an Expedition.

Let us know what you go with. Just my .02

[2003_MM_FYRE49]

I am looking for any advice in regards to issues with a 2003 Explorer XLT, 4.6L, 4X4, Tow Pkg., 3.73 gears, 26k miles, $22k. I am looking at buying one at a local dealer to tow my 29ft. Jayco trailer (6000#-6500#). Anyone out there have one? How does it tow? Problems?

Any comments or feedback would be appreciated.

LNYTUNS

I bought a 2004 Mountaineer Premier back in June. It has the 4.6, AWD, 3.73, and tow package. I haul my snomobiles around and I don't even know they are back there. Now grant it they don't weigh 6000# but it does a good job pulling, lots of low end torque. I also took the Mountaineer out to Colorado back in September driving through the Rockies at 14,000 - 15,000 ft. elevations, both rear seats folded down, full (and I mean full...I didn't know she could pack that much stuff... :rofl: ) of cargo and the Ol' girl didn't even break a sweat. That trip I experienced temprature changes from 25 to 80 degrees in CO. The only thing that I would question is the price. My Mountaineer listed for $39,095 and I drove it away, tax, title and license for $28,200 and that was with 100 miles on it. PM me if you have anymore questions, I'll be happy to answer them.

[ckadiddle]

I have a friend that owns a transmission shop, he refers to them as Ford Exploders. That's all I know about them.

[Bluerauder]

With the tow package and the 4.6 I am sure that it would pull the trailer, but stopping....I don't know. IMO the Explorer is too light to pull that load, but thats just me.
I have a friend who just unloaded an Explorer because of towing issues. He used to tow a small Jayco pop-up camper. Seems that one day on I-66 headed west toward I-81 a semi-trailer passed him and started the trailer weaving from side-to-side. He used both lanes before he was able to bring it under control and said the trailer was pushing him downhill all the way. He upgraded to an Expedition after changing his shorts. :D

[mdmarauder]

I've had a 03 Explr Eddie Bauer 4.6 and a 03 Mountaineer 4.6 and one thing that I hated was the shift quality. In 2004 Ford switched to drive by wire and tweaked the shift programming I believe and they are much better. I will never have another 03 again.

[BUCKWHEAT]

I am looking for any advice in regards to issues with a 2003 Explorer XLT, 4.6L, 4X4, Tow Pkg., 3.73 gears, 26k miles, $22k. I am looking at buying one at a local dealer to tow my 29ft. Jayco trailer (6000#-6500#). Anyone out there have one? How does it tow? Problems?

Any comments or feedback would be appreciated.

LNYTUNS

I've had, and towed, with both 4X4 Explorer and Navigator. Go with the bigger tow vehicle. You will not be happy with the Explorer towing that big of a unit. Explorer is a great truck, but go big.

John