2008 Explore

Loop_Dad

Loop_Dad

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Hello.

I'm looking to buy a bass boat in the summer. I'm probably looking at 17 or 17 1/2 aluminum like Tracker. The weight for 17 1/2 per Tracker's website is 2176 Lbs (package weight).

But first, I need to get a tow vehicle. I'm looking at 2008 Explore right now. There are ones with V6 engine and there are ones with V8. There are not many V8's available.

Anyhow, my question is...is V6 good enough to tow this boat? To go to the water I fish the most, I need to drive about 100 miles one way, including some hills. I would also like to go to a lake 4 hours away occasionally (like once a year).

I would rather get V8 and forget about it, but the thing is as I say, it is hard to come by with V8 Explore. Plus V8's are probably 3K more. I would like to get something and concentrate on finding the boat.

Thanks!
 
smokeonthewater

smokeonthewater

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Re: 2008 Explore

While I can't in good faith endorse the purchase of a ford exploder I'd say that as long as the tow capacity is over the TOTAL weight of the rig which will be more than they posted and I can't imagine that the exploder isn't rated for quite a bit more than that boat will weigh, that the V6 would be more than up to the task.

I'm not gonna google the tow capacity for ya but I'm sure someone else will shortly.
 
Loop_Dad

Loop_Dad

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Re: 2008 Explore

Thanks, Kevin.

Yeah, about the tow rating...They should have different number based on teh configuration of the truck, correct? I tried to google and checked out a couple of the sites. The thing is they don't say different tow rating based on the engine size, 2WD vs 4WD etc, but rather had one number, like 3700 lbs. So I am confused if it is 3700 lbs for V6 2WD or V8 4WD or what? If it is for V8, then what' the rating of V6?

BTW I am interested in 4WD.
 
bigdee

bigdee

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Re: 2008 Explore

Don't let all these comments confuse you.....you will be OK with the V6.
 
H

H20Rat

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Re: 2008 Explore

Since you are looking at vehicles, you are aware of the explorer's transmission reliability? It got better in 2011, but prior to that, expect to replace them about as often as you change oil. Good news is they are relatively cheap, bad news is because there is a constant supply of rebuilt ones.
 
A

agallant80

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Re: 2008 Explore

I had a 2001 explorer. I don't know how much different it is from the 08 but I never had issues with the transmission. With that said I did have a fuel pump, 3 hubs, ball joints, shocks, and the A/C go out. I would explore your options. Also with the V6 explorer I traded it on a 1500 Silverado. Most amazing part to me was the heavier V8 silverado got better MPG then the explorer did. Honestly I think the explorer filled a market need for a while but its dated technology and there are better choices out there. You ever consider a Chevy Avalanche? They are great trucks.
 
Loop_Dad

Loop_Dad

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Re: 2008 Explore

agallant80 said:
Look here page 23

http://www.fleet.ford.com/resources/ford/general/pdf/towingguides/08RVTTgdeSep08.pdf


I don't care what the bumper hitch is rated for you should have areal hitch when towing not a ball mounted to the bumper.
Click to expand...

Thanks! So looking at this page, 4x4 V6 Class II Axle Ratio 3.73 has '-' in the column, the same for 4x4 v6 Class III/IV 3.55. Does that mean you cannot tow if you have certain combination of Axle Ratio and hitch? I don't get this. Or does that mean those combination does not exist as Ford's option?
 
Loop_Dad

Loop_Dad

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Re: 2008 Explore

Thank you everyone! This really helps as I was lost on the tow vehicle selection.

Yes, I am open to other options. I would love to hear your suggestions.

Here's the parameters I am working with. 2008 or newer 4x4 SUV 16K max, but I would like to stay below 13k if possible. SUV because I am planning on selling my car (ford fusion) and to drive just one vehicle. Those truck with extended cab might work, but I don't have need for truck bed, so I rather wanted SUV. Yet, I'll still consider extended cab truck, if there's good reason for it.

I found there are not as many decent used SUVs available on the market as I thought.
I looked for 2008 4Runner, they are way out of this price range what people asking for them.
I checked 2008 Pathfinder. I found a couple within the price range with reasonable mileage, but people talked about problematic radiator and transmission which fails around 100K. Plus horribly gas mileage.
And Explore.
I'll look into Chevy Avalanche.
 
kenmyfam

kenmyfam

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Re: 2008 Explore

My personal advice would be to steer well clear of the Ford Exploder. Tranny issues appear to be the norm for them. Bad time to learn this is when you are at the side of the road with a pool of tranny fluid spreading under it. My neighbors can testify to that.
 
richard.prince

richard.prince

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Re: 2008 Explore

First, all explorers 02 and up are rated @ 3500 unless they have the HD towing package then its like 5700 or something. You will be able to tell because the HD ones have a class III/IV hitch and 7 pin round connector factory. That being said I towed a 21' pontoon boat last season with a 2010 with std towing with multiple 160 mile round trips and one trip from Louisville Kentucky to Weiss Lake in Alabama and never had an issue.
 
H

H20Rat

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Re: 2008 Explore

agallant80 said:
I had a 2001 explorer. I don't know how much different it is from the 08 but I never had issues with the transmission. With that said I did have a fuel pump, 3 hubs, ball joints, shocks, and the A/C go out.
Click to expand...


IIRC correctly 2003 to 2010 were some of the worst years for transmissions. Might be wrong on the start date though, or with any statistical number, there are outliers, so consider yourself lucky. (although it sounds like your explorer emptied your wallet in other ways!)

just a FYI, there are over 42 million hits on google for 'ford explorer transmission', none of the top hits are describing the quality of it!

OP, have you searched around for any used kia sorrento's? It's in a similar size class to an explorer, and despite it being a kia, the fit and finish is YEARS ahead of the ford. I was in a similar situation as you about 2 years ago, needed something bigger for pulling. Was really set on a chevy trailblazer, until I looked at a kia borrego. No comparison, the kia was far ahead in ride quality, interior, and pulling capability. Also, the one I bought had 10,000 miles on it with factory warranty, it was priced the same as blazers in the 60k-90k mileage range.
 
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Loop_Dad

Loop_Dad

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Re: 2008 Explore

smokingcrater said:
OP, have you searched around for any used kia sorrento's? It's in a similar size class to an explorer, and despite it being a kia, the fit and finish is YEARS ahead of the ford. I was in a similar situation as you about 2 years ago, needed something bigger for pulling. Was really set on a chevy trailblazer, until I looked at a kia borrego. No comparison, the kia was far ahead in ride quality, interior, and pulling capability. Also, the one I bought had 10,000 miles on it with factory warranty, it was priced the same as blazers in the 60k-90k mileage range.
Click to expand...

Thanks, smokingcrater, I didn't even think of kia. Which model year's kia and which engine (I assume they have options) did you get? Was that a former rental or lease return? (That's how I got my current car...lease return)

Anyone has any opinion about 2008 V6 Grand Cherokee? Or Honda Pilot?
 
Loop_Dad

Loop_Dad

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Re: 2008 Explore

kenmyfam said:
My personal advice would be to steer well clear of the Ford Exploder. Tranny issues appear to be the norm for them. Bad time to learn this is when you are at the side of the road with a pool of tranny fluid spreading under it. My neighbors can testify to that.
Click to expand...

Thanks, kenmyfam. I think I'll look for something else.
 
lncoop

lncoop

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Re: 2008 Explore

bigdee said:
Scrolling through this list everything except a few sub-compacts would handle his rig. This is being played out way more complicated than need be.
Click to expand...

Was thinking the same thing. Loop, will this be your primary vehicle as well? Sounds like it based on what you're saying.
 
Loop_Dad

Loop_Dad

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Re: 2008 Explore

lncoop said:
. Loop, will this be your primary vehicle as well? Sounds like it based on what you're saying.
Click to expand...

Yes, it will be. I was thinking about having two vehicles first, then the vehicle I can buy for towing would have to be much older truck, something I can buy for $5K or less. In that kind of price range, I am not getting a truck that I feel confident towing for distance.
 
kenmyfam

kenmyfam

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Re: 2008 Explore

bigdee said:
Scrolling through this list everything except a few sub-compacts would handle his rig. This is being played out way more complicated than need be.
Click to expand...

I agree for the most part. There are many vehicles around that will do the job here. The warnings I think are more for reasons not to by the Explorer due to the fact that the transmissions tend to explode even without towing anything behind you. Adding extra weight just expedites the failure.
 
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