towing V20 w/explorer

Oh, the holes are already there. I thought it was some kind of u-bolt installation, if you didn't drill. Great.

I've been dealing with other issues since I interupted a punk breaking into my truck saturday night. :o >:( >:( >:(
 
No such luck. :'( We caught each other by surprise. :o

I never saw anyone pedal a bike that fast with a load in their pants.
 
I have a 76' v-20 with a 140 eviinrude and a single axle trailer. I pull it with a 98' ford ranger 4x4 5 speed and a 3:73 gear. My only problem is the 5 speed with these gears...it feels a little weak. If it wasn,t for my 4x4 low range I believe I would strugle coming up the ramp. Other than that it works well.
 
I had a 94 explorer 4x4 for towing my V20 with the 5000# hitch from Uhaul. It towed fine for short distances to the ramp, <40 miles. The one time I had to double back for something, made the trip longer, and the tranny got so hot it dumped the fluid out the relief valve.

I had the tranny cooler and always towed carefully. I guess I was towing about 3600# + passengers (600#). After I deciphered the Explorer manual, I was way over the 3400# max towing for the vehicle when I added gross vehicle weight + trailer. Just a word to the wise.

No damage to the tranny, but it was a scary ride home with very clunky shifing. I just upgraded to a Yukon XL. Boy, what a difference in towing and braking.
 
You really need to read and understand your owner's manual, whatever your tow vehicle may be.

Mario, I can't speak for a 1994 Explorer, but my 2001 has a greater trailer tow capacity than you are reporting for your 1994.

Depending on your engine and rear axle, the 2001 Explorer is rated to tow anywhere from 4740 pounds to 6620 pounds. That is with a frame hitch - the bumper hitch is only rated for 3500 pounds. Also limited to fifty square feet of frontal area of trailer (for camper applications).
 
SK, You are so right about knowing what the capacity of your vehicle is before towing anything. Just having a frame hitch doesn't always mean your vehicle can handle the same weight as the hitch. I never realized how much weight in gas alone I was carrying!

Fortunately, I had the transmission checked and there wasn't any damage. She was shifting super smooth with a fresh fluid change.

I threw this thread for those new to towing. It was a quite a learning experience for me.
 
I have never thought about the tow vechile??? I just hook up and go!! ::)
Of coarse I have always had a monster of a truck any way!!
My Ford F150 with a Triton V8, is the smallest tow vechile I have ever owned!

And the last 2 including this one has tranny cooler and engin oil cooler. I change all fluides all the time!! I do the oil and filter every 3000 miles and I have the tranny fluid and screen done evey spring. Maybe a bit over kill on the tranny but its cheap!
And never never tow in OD (over drive) You can burn out a tranny real fast!!

But you guys with a smaller truck really need to keep a eye on things!! Don't take much for things to heat up on a 80* afternoon in Cape traffic!!
Also I never tow with the Air on!! Just more of a strain!!
 
I've got a V-8 Jeep Grand Cherokee with quadratrak full time 4 wheel drive. Anybody got any experience with towing the V-20 with a Jeep? I think it should tow just fine. Its stopping that I'm worried about!!

Thanks,
Blue
 
Well my computer phobic friend tows his '83 V20 Steplift with a 2002 GC and it does just fine even stopping. He has the 6 cyl in his.
 
Okay, I've had a lot of experience with trailers, brakes, and the whole 9-yards lately, so here's my 2-cents.

1. Although you may not NEED brakes to stop a boat as light (relative term) as the V-Step20, a lot of states are now requiring them on trailers of a certain size, especially tandems.

2. The brake actuator on my new boat's trailer was shot, and the old drums didn't look much better. Since I'm going to be doing a lot of long hauls with this new boat I looked into replacing the brakes. I spoke with the Load-Rite factory guys and they said "DISC" is all they install now and they urged me to replace the old drums with disc. I'm fortunate in that I go right by Eastern Marine Distributors on my travels up to the new boat's location in NJ.... and they are the biggest (and maybe the least expensive) trailer parts place on the East Coast. New stainless-steel disc brakes with new hubs, bearings, etc., $99 each. And they're in Delaware, no sales tax!!

Check out: http://www.easternmarine.com/

2. I just put a Class III (6000lbs/10,000lbs with weight distributing stuff) Draw-Tite that bolts directly to the frame (with 6 bolts) in existing holes for $136. It took about 35 minutes to inststall.

Check out: http://www.etrailer.com

The site askes your vehicle and shows you all the hitches that fit, and give you installation tips (like installation time, level of difficulty, and drill/no drill).

That's my bit.
 
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