1997 FORD EXPLORER Owners Manual

TRAILER TOWING
Trailer towing with your vehicle
may require the use of a trailer
tow option package.
Trailer towing puts additional loads
on your vehicle's engine,
transmission, axle, brakes, tires,
and suspension. For your safety
and to maximize vehicle
performance, be sure to use the
proper equipment while towing.
Follow these guidelines to ensure
safe towing procedure:
²Stay within your vehicle's load
limits.
²Thoroughly prepare your vehicle
for towing. Refer toPreparing
to towin this chapter.
²Use extra caution when driving
while trailer towing. Refer to
Driving while towingin this
chapter.
²Service your vehicle more
frequently if you tow a trailer.
Refer to the severe duty
schedule in the ªService Guideº.
²Do not tow a trailer until your
vehicle has been driven at least
800 km (500 miles).
²Refer to the instructions
included with towing accessories
for the proper installation and
adjustment specifications.
²Speed control may shut off if
you are towing on long, steep
grades.
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Do not exceed the maximum loads
listed on the Safety Compliance
Certification label. For load
specification terms found on the
label, refer toLoading your
vehiclein this chapter. Remember
to figure in the tongue load of your
loaded vehicle when figuring the
total weight.
Preparing to tow
Use the proper equipment for
towing a trailer and make sure that
it is properly attached to your
vehicle. See your dealer or a
reliable trailer retailer if you
require assistance.
Auxiliary coolers are recommended
for the power steering system and
automatic transmission system if
you are planning on:
²towing farther than 80 km (50
miles)
²towing in hilly terrain
²towing frequently
Trailer towing tables
TRAILER TOWING TABLE 4X2 MANUAL TRANSMISSION
GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating)/Trailer Weights
Engine
(EFI)Rear Axle
RatioMaximum
GCWR
Kg(Lb)Trailer Weight
Range Kg(lb)
(0-Maximum)Maximum
Frontal Area of
Trailer Ft
2
2-DOOR
4.0 L 3.272,721
(6,000)0-907
(0-2,000)50
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TRAILER TOWING TABLE 4X2 MANUAL TRANSMISSION
4.0 L 3.733,175
(7,000)0-1,406
(0-3,100)50
4-DOOR
4.0 L 3.27 2,721(6,000)0-861
(0-1,900 )50
4.0 L 3.73 3,175(7,000)0-1,315
(0-2,900)50
TRAILER TOWING TABLE 4X4 MANUAL TRANSMISSION
GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating)/Trailer Weights
2-DOOR
4.0 L3.27 2,721
(6,000)0-816
(0-1,800)50
4.0 L3.55 2,948
(6,500)0-1,043
(0-2,300)50
4.0 L3.73 3,175
(7,000)0-1,270
(0-2,800)50
4-DOOR
4.0 L 3.552,948
(6,500)0-952
(0-2,100)50
4.0 L 3.733,175
(7,000)0-1,179
(0-2,600)50
NOTES:
- For high altitude operation, reduce GCW by 2% per 300 meters
(1,000 ft) elevation.
- For definitions of terms used in this table and instructions on how to
calculate your vehicle load, refer toLoading your vehiclein this
chapter.
- Maximum trailer weights shown. The combined weight of the
completed towing vehicle and the loaded trailer must not exceed the
GCWR.
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TRAILER TOWING TABLE 4X2 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating)/Trailer Weights
Engine
(EFI)Rear Axle
RatioMaximum
GCWR
Kg(Lb)Trailer Weight
Range Kg(Lb)
0-MaximumMaximum
Frontal Area of
Trailer Ft
2
2-DOOR
4.0 L3.27 3,175
(7,000)0-1,360
(0-3,000)50
4.0 L3.55 3,628
(8,000)0-1,814
(0-4,000)50
4.0 L3.73 4,082
(9,000)0-2,267
(0-5,000)50
4-DOOR
4.0 L 3.554,082
(9,000)0-2,177
(0-4800)50
4.0 L 3.734,535
(10,000)0-2,630
(0-5,800)50
4.0 L 4.104,535
(10,000)0-2,630
(0-5,800)50
5.0 L 3.734,990
(11,080)0-3,039
(0-6,700)50
TRAILER TOWING TABLE 4X4 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating)/Trailer Weights
2-DOOR
4.0 L3.27 3,175
(7,000)0-1,270
(0-2,800)50
4.0 L3.55 3,628
(8,000)0-1,723
(0-3,800)50
4.0 L3.73 4,082
(9,000)0-2,177
(0-4,800)50
4-DOOR
4.0 L 3.554,082
(9,000)0-2,086
(0-4,600)50
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TRAILER TOWING TABLE 4X4 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
4.0 L 3.734,535
(10,000)0-2,540
(0-5,600)50
4.0 L 4.104,535
(10,000)0-2,540
(0-5,600)50
TRAILER TOWING TABLE AWD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating)/Trailer Weights
4-DOOR
5.0 L 3.734,990
(11,000)0-2,902
(0-6,400)50
NOTES:
- For high altitude operation, reduce GCW by 2% per 300 meters
(1,000 ft) elevation.
- For definition of terms and instructions on calculating your vehicle's
load, refer toLoading your vehiclein this chapter.
- Maximum trailer weights shown. The combined weight of the
completed towing vehicle and the loaded trailer must not exceed the
GCWR.
Calculating trailer loads
To determine the amount of weight
that your vehicle can carry:
²Obtain ratings from the Safety
Compliance Certification label
and the trailer towing
specifications in this chapter.
²Weigh your vehicle as you
customarily operate the vehicle
without cargo.
²Subtract the total weight of
passengers, driver and optional
equipment to determine the
total weight that your vehicle
can carry.
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Trailer weight range
The range is between zero and the
maximum trailer weight rating
found in this chapter.
Using trailer brakes
Use electric brakes or manual,
automatic or surge type hydraulic
brakes that meet Federal and local
regulations. Install and adjust
brakes according to the
manufacturer's instructions.
Do not connect a trailer's
hydraulic brake system
directly to your vehicle's brake
system. Your vehicle may not
have enough braking power and
your chances of having a
collision greatly increase.
Using safety chains
Always connect the trailer's safety
chains to the vehicle. To connect
the chains, cross the chains under
the trailer tongue and attach to the
vehicle frame or hook retainers
(not the bumper). Make sure there
is enough slack to allow the vehicle
to turn corners.
Using trailer lamps
See your local trailer retailer or
rental agency for proper
instructions and equipment for
hooking up trailer lamps.
Do not hook the trailer lights
directly into the vehicle's wiring
system. If the trailer lamps are not
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working properly, the warning
lights in the instrument cluster
may not work properly.
Using a hitch
Do not use hitches that:
²clamp onto the vehicle bumper
²attach to the axle.
Distribute the load so that only 10
to 15% of the total weight of the
trailer is on the tongue. tie down
the load so that it does not shift
and change the weight on the
hitch. Follow the towing
instructions of a reputable rental
agency.
Driving while towing a trailer
Do not drive faster than 70 km/h
(45 mph) while towing a 454 kg
(1000 lb) trailer. Do not drive
faster than 72 km/h (45 mph) with
any weight trailer while towing in
hilly terrain or on hot days.
Speed control (if equipped) may
not work properly while towing on
long, steep grades.
If driving with an automatic
transmission:
²use D or L rather than while
towing up or down steep hills
²anticipate stops and brake
gradually.
Towing behind another vehicle
Do not tow your vehicle behind
another vehicle, such as an RV,
unless front wheel dollies are used.
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Your vehicle can not be flat towed
with all wheels on the ground.
Servicing while towing
If you tow a trailer for long
distances, your vehicle requires
more frequent service than a
vehicle not used for towing. Refer
to the ªService Guideº for more
information on maintenance
intervals.
Using a step bumper
The rear bumper is equipped with
an integral hitch and requires only
a ball with a ô inch shank
diameter. The bumper has a Class
II capability (1590 kg / 3500 lb
trailer weight and 159 kg / 350 lb
tongue weight).
Use a frame mounted weight
distributing hitch for trailers over
1590 kg (3500 lb).
Launching or retrieving a boat
When backing down a ramp during
boat launching or retrieval,
²Do not allow the static water
level to rise above the bottom
edge of the rear bumper and
²Do not allow waves to break
higher than 15 cm (six inches)
above the bottom edge of the
rear bumper.
Exceeding these limits may allow
water to enter critical vehicle
components, adversely affecting
driveability, emissions and
reliability.uno_servicing_while_towing
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com_launch-retrieving_boat.01
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