I believe the automatic in your Exploder is a light duty 5 speed. Definitely tow with OD off.

Z, a F-series 4 speed is a whole different animal.

I would also keep the speeds way down flat towing. That thing is going to sway like crazy back there, you don't have any tongue weight for stability.

 

FWIW, I searched google and it looks like the 2004 V8 explorer is rated to tow over 7,000 lbs (up to 7,600 lbs according to some sites with all the right options). Of course, just because it is a potential maximum does not mean it is a good idea. And it only has a Class II (3,500 lb) hitch.

Anyways, a 2,000 lbs. load is about as light as anything you could ever expect to tow and well within the Explorer's limits. Shoot, a big jet ski and trailer will weigh that much or more. Even a utility trailer and a couple of dirt bikes can weigh that much.

Even though there won't be much weight on the tongue, the Thing does have 4 wheels widely spaced apart, so it should tow pretty straight, IMO.

 

UPDATE:

Just got back about an hour ago. Round trip was 14 1/2 hours, most I have driven in one day, pretty tired now too.

The Explorer handled the "Thing" perfect, its just the tranny in this Explorer is weak in my opinion, kept changing all sorts of gears, so I had no choice but to take it out of overdrive the entire way back. Although I was able to keep a steady speed of roughly 73MPH the entire way back with no swaying what so ever (surprisingly) I average 19.5mpg when I'm not hauling or towing anything, but towing this thing the computer was averaging 13.4mpg with over drive off.

I'm happy with the towing advise I got on here, just wish the tranny in these Explorers wouldn't search for gears as much as mine wanted to when it was in overdrive.

By the way, I don't know what it is, but I have a handful of people passing me up giving me a thumbs up?? Why the heck would they be giving me thumbs up? Wonder if they were just big VW fans and liked seeing what I was towing behind mine?? I don't know, never had anyone give me thumbs up ever before when driving until today. Who knows.

 

Hmm..Probably VW fans, Glad the trip as sucessfull and safe.

 

It was absolutely because of the the Thing. You don't see those very often anymore, and they are so ugly they are cool, IMO.

One of my friend's family had a brand new one back around 1972 or so. Bright yellow. It would get lots of attention even when it was new. 35 years later, it is a real oddity.

 

yeah, this one is a 1974, bright yellow one as well... Can't believe how much attention it up when I was towing it. I wish my truck had that much attention lol

 

Constant shifting is not a sign of tranny weakness, it's the extreme OD ratio coupled with the high axle gearing - all designed for highway gas mileage when unloaded. That's why they put in the OD lockout button.

I do believe the newer Super Dutys with the heavy duty automatic lock out top gear when you put it in tow mode. You guys with 150's and older Super Dutys with 4 speed autos that are towing in OD without excessive shifting or converter locking/unlocking probably have better gearing to begin with.