Anyone Using a Ford Sport Trac for Towing?

[minkota]

Hi all, I am considering purchasing a used 2 wheel drive 2001-2003 Ford Sport Trac with 4.0 6 Cyl engine. My boat weights about 3000 pound +/-, will this truck be able to pull it out of the ramp, I know the towing capcity is about 7000 pounds so going down the road should be no problem I am more worried about pulling it out of the water, some of the ramps in my area are a little steep. Thanks

 

[StitchSC]

Re: Anyone Using a Ford Sport Trac for Towing?

We have a 2005 4.0l v6 2wd and tow our 197 around with zero problems(ramp to). Our boat weighs in at about the same. Just turn the O/D off.

Almost forgot, we don't have hills for our normal trip, but the truck would seem to be able to handle average ones just fine.

 

[jasperboy]

Re: Anyone Using a Ford Sport Trac for Towing?

We used our 2003 Explorer XLT 4.0 4X2 to tow our Wellcraft 186 all over, including 450 miles up to Michigan and about the same down to Kentucky. Never had a problem at the ramps either. You won't be passing many people up hill, but it pulled just fine for us.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Anyone Using a Ford Sport Trac for Towing?

I think you're grossly overestimating the towing capacity of those vehicles.

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: Anyone Using a Ford Sport Trac for Towing?

http://www.trailerlife.com/images/downloads/03towingguide.pdf

Looks to be something under 3,000 #. We all know the rating is artificially low

 

[DJ]

Re: Anyone Using a Ford Sport Trac for Towing?

According to the 2002 Ford Towing Guide. Sport Trac is equipped to tow 3500# as standard. With the trailer towing package, 5300# See below.

Key Features​

​

​

Choice of 4x2 or 4x4 models

? ​

​

​

Standard 210-hp 4.0L singleoverhead-​

cam V6 with 5-speed

manual or automatic overdrive
transmission
​

​

? ​

​

​

Rugged body-on-frame construction

? ​

​

​

Four full-size doors with seating for​

five

​

​

? ​

​

​

? Standard 4-wheel anti-lock brakes

? ​

​

​

3500-lb. towing capacity with​

standard rear bumper​

​

​

​

​

? Can be equipped to tow trailers up to
5,300 lbs.

The key word is "CAN".

If the unit has a factory Class III hitch, it has the tow package.

​

 

[the vision]

Re: Anyone Using a Ford Sport Trac for Towing?

I pull an 18ft Vip runabout 2500# boat plus trailer with a 2003 explorer xlt 2wd 4.0l with no problems.

 

[boling]

Re: Anyone Using a Ford Sport Trac for Towing?

I have a 2005 Sport trac, towing a Seapro 180cc/115hp 2 stroke/al trailer. I'm guessing around 3000-3500 total weight. Been several thousand miles with no problems even with 4 adults riding with me. You will burn through a tank real quick. Lock out the OD as been said before. The most important thing (stopping) seems fine too, I had to lock it down last year to avoid hitting someone, all went well.

 

[RIDEPATE]

Re: Anyone Using a Ford Sport Trac for Towing?

To me a Sport-Trac would be marginal. I'd rather tow knowing I've got too much instead of "Will-It". Stopping is the biggest issue, not pulling. IMO.

 

[Billiy]

Re: Anyone Using a Ford Sport Trac for Towing?

According to the 2002 Ford Towing Guide. Sport Trac is equipped to tow 3500# as standard. With the trailer towing package, 5300# See below.

Key Features​

​

​

Choice of 4x2 or 4x4 models

? ​

​

​

Standard 210-hp 4.0L singleoverhead-​

cam V6 with 5-speed

manual or automatic overdrive
transmission
​

​

? ​

​

​

Rugged body-on-frame construction

? ​

​

​

Four full-size doors with seating for​

five

​

​

? ​

​

​

? Standard 4-wheel anti-lock brakes

? ​

​

​

3500-lb. towing capacity with​

standard rear bumper​

​

​

​

​

? Can be equipped to tow trailers up to
5,300 lbs.

The key word is "CAN".

If the unit has a factory Class III hitch, it has the tow package.

​

Just look up some parts for sport trac was not asked for with or with out towing package or did i see options for brake, springs or stabilizers. so my guess tow package is just a class 3 hitch and wiring.

 

[jkust]

Re: Anyone Using a Ford Sport Trac for Towing?

The fact the OP got to the point of typing that that vehicle tows 7000lbs tells me he doesn't speak the language yet. A vehicle with very little hp and tq will pull over 2 tons out of the water, up the steepest hill as long as there is traction with so little effort you will wonder why everyone has trucks. I know because I've lived that situation many times at different ramps with my 4000 lb boat and my former 180hp tow vehicle with 2wd. On the other hand a full size truck, with a large v8 can struggle with even a 14 foot tin boat on a level ramp with some algae if they only have 2wd and no G80 rear end or at least something to control slip. I've seen that too and it is a little comical. At the end of the day if you want to be a trailer boat owner and also like to plan for contingencies why not get 4wd with a locker? 98% of the time you'll be fine with 2wd but the other 2% when you are miles from civilization, with your family and stuck, you will wish you bought the appropriate vehicle for the situation. Good luck with your selection.

 

[DJ]

Re: Anyone Using a Ford Sport Trac for Towing?

Just look up some parts for sport trac was not asked for with or with out towing package or did i see options for brake, springs or stabilizers. so my guess tow package is just a class 3 hitch and wiring.

Trailer Tow Pkg.= Limited slip rear axle, Super Cooling, Wiring.

 

[jkust]

Re: Anyone Using a Ford Sport Trac for Towing?

Trailer Tow Pkg.= Limited slip rear axle, Super Cooling, Wiring.

Yes and no. Some of the more recent vehicles did away with the mechanical locker and opted for the electronic limited slip which is not as effective in certain situations such as off roading yet is better in others such as on ice. I don't know specifically about the Sport Trac but it's good to know. My current tow vehicle replaced my former tow vehicle after my wife rolled it over and wrecked it this past winter and they are identical except the newer tow vehicle has a bunch of new technologies and systems and with that the new one no longer included the G80 Eaton locking differential standard as the older one did. I didn't realize that when I bought it since I would have bet the house it was included and so this season I will learn first hand what a 4wd vehicle does that has electronic limited slip as opposed to a mechanical locker. All I know so far is that electronic limited slip doesn't make you have to drive differently in the winter as the G80 did. With a mechanical locker, when you go around a corner on ice or snow and the locker locks, the rear end wants to pass the front end even with 4wd, while the electronic version won't let that happen. When I buy a tow vehicle, these are generally the kinds of things I am thinking about not just will it tow.