2023 Ford Explorer 4 cylinder & 19'

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by Beekeepers

...
How do you figure I am over on tongue weight. Just double checked and tongue weight for my model with Class IV hitch is actually 560 lbs.

have you actually weighed the tongue on your trailer as loaded for a trip ? thats the only tongue weight that counts, not some spec on a trailer maker's site. Its a good idea to do this weight with empty tanks, with full water, and with full grey+black, as you will be driving under all those conditions on a typical trip, unless you're only ever camping with full hookups, and don't fill your water tank.

and things like my bike rack on the back of my E21 can make a big difference in tongue weight... I found my tongue weight was under 400 lbs with 2 medium weight bikes on the rack... this made the trailer feel a little squirrely, when I realized this, I adjusted how I load the heavier stuff in the trailer, and shifted more weight forward, and got the tongue weight back up to the 450-500 lb range where its stable. heavy stuff like beverages got moved under the bed, light stuff got moved to the back benches

[Beekeepers]

Only in the configuration phase, have not taken delivery yet, but plan to check the actual tongue weight when I get it.

[Mike G]

Plan on weighing the tongue when your trailer is on level ground and when it's at the height it'll be at for towing (which ideally is slightly nose down or level), because it has an effect on the tongue weight. For example, if it were slightly nose up the trailer's rear axle is loaded more than the front axle, which will increase the tongue weight. I'd suggest choosing a WD hitch partially based on that device's weight; no point in adding an extra 40-50 lbs if you don't need to, for that weight will count against the hitch limit.

[7Gentex]

Originally Posted by Beekeepers

https://www.explorerforum.com/forums...-hitch.315556/

Third party reference to use of WD hitch on Explorer and Ford tow guide. Tongue weight for my model is actually 560 lb.

Take out 102 lbs for fuel and add 82 lbs. for hitch is a 30 improvement

That link goes to a discussion originally referencing a 2011 Explorer

The floor pan / chassis for the Explorer changed drastically in 2020 due to a move from FWD to RWD or AWD

Pre 2020 Explorers specifically called for a WDH for trailers over x,xxx pounds

Now Ford just states "Not required"

Lots of Internet chatter regarding yea or nay though I have seen nothing officially from Ford.

Any 2020+ Explorer folks on here? Seems I remember a pic of a "son's" Explorer hooked up to an Escape. Explorer maybe had factory rear air leveling?

The short distance between the hitch to the rear axle on the Explorer is a positive for trailer towing handling and less front end unloading while hitched, but there are also Internet forum comments regarding the "short lever" being problematic in a WD approach as the forces required to transfer weight back to the front end would exceed design specs of the hitch / mounting area. So, appears Ford drew a #560 line in the sand for the non WD hitch and attachment points.

See what Ford, not a dealer, opines on such......in writing.

I'd try without WD first and focus on trailer weight distribution

Enjoy your new Escape!

[7Gentex]

Found the "son's" Explorer thread

Seems it towed fine but they ended up getting an Anderson WDH setup

That is a Gen 1 E19 which may have a bit less tongue weight, but......

https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f...led-24816.html

[Beekeepers]

Thanks for digging that our for me!