Tow Capacities

Makes · Ford

Ford Explorer towing capacity

Cross-year towing decision tools for the Ford Explorer. Use this page to find which years and configurations fit your trailer job; open a year page for an exact configuration Tow Check.

Years covered25 (1999–2023)
Configurations309
Highest rating in our dataset7,300 lbs
Highest payload in our dataset1,815 lbs

Figures reflect ratings currently represented in our dataset. Coverage can be partial for some years — confirm the door-jamb sticker and owner’s manual for any specific vehicle.

What are you trying to do?

I own a Ford ExplorerFind my exact towing capacityI'm choosing a Ford ExplorerFind one that can tow my trailerCompare model yearsCompare towing and payloadCheck payloadPassengers + cargo + tongue weight

Find a Ford Explorer that can tow your trailer

Matches must clear the published trailer rating when known. Where payload exists, remaining payload must also stay non-negative after passengers, cargo and tongue weight.

Ford Explorer towing history

Range chart of observed min–max towing ratings by year. Click a year to open its page.

Ford Explorer towing capacity by year

Sorted newest-first below. Use the interactive tools above to filter by trailer weight or compare two years.

YearMinimum ratingMaximum ratingMax payloadConfigurationsExplore
20235,000 lbs5,000 lbs1,815 lbs15Open year
20226,000 lbs6,000 lbs—15Open year
20215,600 lbs5,600 lbs1,815 lbs8Open year
20205,600 lbs5,600 lbs1,815 lbs6Open year
20192,000 lbs5,000 lbs1,717 lbs8Open year
20182,000 lbs5,000 lbs1,717 lbs8Open year
20172,000 lbs5,000 lbs1,717 lbs8Open year
20162,000 lbs5,000 lbs1,717 lbs8Open year
20152,000 lbs5,000 lbs1,728 lbs7Open year
20142,000 lbs5,000 lbs1,626 lbs7Open year
20132,000 lbs5,000 lbs1,626 lbs7Open year
20122,000 lbs2,000 lbs1,603 lbs6Open year
20112,000 lbs2,000 lbs1,603 lbs6Open year
20103,500 lbs3,500 lbs1,520 lbs8Open year
20093,500 lbs3,500 lbs1,520 lbs18Open year
20083,500 lbs3,500 lbs1,520 lbs16Open year
20073,500 lbs3,500 lbs1,520 lbs12Open year
20063,020 lbs3,230 lbs1,520 lbs14Open year
20053,240 lbs3,400 lbs1,431 lbs20Open year
20045,400 lbs7,160 lbs1,446 lbs32Open year
20035,400 lbs7,300 lbs1,446 lbs34Open year
20025,400 lbs7,300 lbs1,431 lbs8Open year
20015,740 lbs6,820 lbs900 lbs11Open year
20004,960 lbs6,820 lbs900 lbs14Open year
19991,799 lbs5,600 lbs900 lbs13Open year

Some years have partial catalog coverage — highest figures are the highest ratings currently represented in our dataset, not a claim of absolute manufacturer completeness.

Ford Explorer towing capacity ranges (dataset)

Observed minimum and maximum trailer ratings in our dataset for each model year. Values remain available without JavaScript; the interactive chart above enhances this view.

Which Ford Explorer years can tow my trailer?

Compare Ford Explorer model years

20222023
Min towing6,000 lbs5,000 lbs
Max towing6,000 lbs5,000 lbs
Max payload—1,815 lbs
Configurations1515
Drivetrains4x2, 4x44x2, 4x4
Cabs——
Beds——
Axles3.31, 3.58, 3.733.31, 3.58, 3.73
Engines2.3 liters I-4, 3.0 liters V-6, 3.3 liters V-62.3 liters I-4, 3.0 liters V-6, 3.3 liters V-6
  • 2023 has a 1,000 lbs lower maximum towing rating in our dataset than 2022 (6,000 lbs → 5,000 lbs).

Coverage warning: one or both years have partial catalog coverage, so differences may reflect dataset gaps rather than true product changes.

Browse Ford Explorer configurations

Showing 50 results (capped at 50).

  • 2023 Base 4dr2.3 liters I-4 · 4x2 · 3.58 · Tow 5,000 lbs
    Open year
  • 2023 Base 4dr2.3 liters I-4 · 4x4 · 3.58 · Tow 5,000 lbs · Payload 1,815 lbs
    Open year
  • 2023 King Ranch 4dr3.0 liters V-6 · 4x2 · 3.31 · Tow 5,000 lbs
    Open year
  • 2023 King Ranch 4dr3.0 liters V-6 · 4x4 · 3.31 · Tow 5,000 lbs · Payload 1,815 lbs
    Open year
  • 2023 Limited 4dr2.3 liters I-4 · 4x2 · 3.58 · Tow 5,000 lbs
    Open year
  • 2023 Limited 4dr2.3 liters I-4 · 4x4 · 3.58 · Tow 5,000 lbs · Payload 1,815 lbs
    Open year
  • 2023 Platinum 4dr3.3 liters V-6 · 4x2 · 3.58 · Tow 5,000 lbs
    Open year
  • 2023 Platinum 4dr3.3 liters V-6 · 4x4 · 3.73 · Tow 5,000 lbs · Payload 1,084 lbs
    Open year
  • 2023 ST 4dr3.0 liters V-6 · 4x2 · 3.58 · Tow 5,000 lbs
    Open year
  • 2023 ST 4dr3.0 liters V-6 · 4x4 · 3.58 · Tow 5,000 lbs · Payload 1,459 lbs
    Open year
  • 2023 ST-Line 4dr2.3 liters I-4 · 4x2 · 3.58 · Tow 5,000 lbs
    Open year
  • 2023 ST-Line 4dr2.3 liters I-4 · 4x4 · 3.58 · Tow 5,000 lbs
    Open year
  • 2023 Timberline 4dr2.3 liters I-4 · 4x4 · 3.58 · Tow 5,000 lbs · Payload 1,815 lbs
    Open year
  • 2023 XLT 4dr2.3 liters I-4 · 4x2 · 3.58 · Tow 5,000 lbs
    Open year
  • 2023 XLT 4dr2.3 liters I-4 · 4x4 · 3.58 · Tow 5,000 lbs · Payload 1,815 lbs
    Open year
  • 2022 Base 4dr2.3 liters I-4 · 4x2 · 3.58 · Tow 6,000 lbs
    Open year
  • 2022 Base 4dr2.3 liters I-4 · 4x4 · 3.58 · Tow 6,000 lbs
    Open year
  • 2022 King Ranch 4dr3.0 liters V-6 · 4x2 · 3.31 · Tow 6,000 lbs
    Open year
  • 2022 King Ranch 4dr3.0 liters V-6 · 4x4 · 3.31 · Tow 6,000 lbs
    Open year
  • 2022 Limited 4dr2.3 liters I-4 · 4x2 · 3.58 · Tow 6,000 lbs
    Open year
  • 2022 Limited 4dr2.3 liters I-4 · 4x4 · 3.58 · Tow 6,000 lbs
    Open year
  • 2022 Platinum 4dr3.3 liters V-6 · 4x2 · 3.58 · Tow 6,000 lbs
    Open year
  • 2022 Platinum 4dr3.3 liters V-6 · 4x4 · 3.73 · Tow 6,000 lbs
    Open year
  • 2022 ST 4dr3.0 liters V-6 · 4x2 · 3.58 · Tow 6,000 lbs
    Open year
  • 2022 ST 4dr3.0 liters V-6 · 4x4 · 3.58 · Tow 6,000 lbs
    Open year
  • 2022 ST-Line 4dr2.3 liters I-4 · 4x2 · 3.58 · Tow 6,000 lbs
    Open year
  • 2022 ST-Line 4dr2.3 liters I-4 · 4x4 · 3.58 · Tow 6,000 lbs
    Open year
  • 2022 Timberline 4dr2.3 liters I-4 · 4x4 · 3.58 · Tow 6,000 lbs
    Open year
  • 2022 XLT 4dr2.3 liters I-4 · 4x2 · 3.58 · Tow 6,000 lbs
    Open year
  • 2022 XLT 4dr2.3 liters I-4 · 4x4 · 3.58 · Tow 6,000 lbs
    Open year
  • 2021 Base 4dr2.3 liters I-4 · 4x2 · 3.58 · Tow 5,600 lbs
    Open year
  • 2021 Base 4dr2.3 liters I-4 · 4x4 · 3.58 · Tow 5,600 lbs · Payload 1,815 lbs
    Open year
  • 2021 Limited 4dr2.3 liters I-4 · 4x2 · 3.58 · Tow 5,600 lbs
    Open year
  • 2021 Limited 4dr2.3 liters I-4 · 4x4 · 3.58 · Tow 5,600 lbs · Payload 1,815 lbs
    Open year
  • 2021 Platinum 4dr3.0 liters V-6 · 4x4 · 3.31 · Tow 5,600 lbs · Payload 1,433 lbs
    Open year
  • 2021 ST 4dr3.0 liters V-6 · 4x4 · 3.58 · Tow 5,600 lbs · Payload 1,459 lbs
    Open year
  • 2021 XLT 4dr2.3 liters I-4 · 4x2 · 3.58 · Tow 5,600 lbs
    Open year
  • 2021 XLT 4dr2.3 liters I-4 · 4x4 · 3.58 · Tow 5,600 lbs · Payload 1,815 lbs
    Open year
  • 2020 Limited 4dr2.3 liters I-4 · 4x2 · 3.58 · Tow 5,600 lbs
    Open year
  • 2020 Limited 4dr2.3 liters I-4 · 4x4 · 3.58 · Tow 5,600 lbs · Payload 1,815 lbs
    Open year
  • 2020 Platinum 4dr3.0 liters V-6 · 4x4 · 3.31 · Tow 5,600 lbs · Payload 1,433 lbs
    Open year
  • 2020 ST 4dr3.0 liters V-6 · 4x4 · 3.58 · Tow 5,600 lbs · Payload 1,459 lbs
    Open year
  • 2020 XLT 4dr2.3 liters I-4 · 4x2 · 3.58 · Tow 5,600 lbs
    Open year
  • 2020 XLT 4dr2.3 liters I-4 · 4x4 · 3.58 · Tow 5,600 lbs · Payload 1,815 lbs
    Open year
  • 2019 Platinum 4dr3.5 liters V-6 · 4x4 · 3.16 · Tow 5,000 lbs · Payload 1,259 lbs
    Open year
  • 2019 Sport 4dr3.5 liters V-6 · 4x4 · 3.16 · Tow 5,000 lbs · Payload 1,259 lbs
    Open year
  • 2019 Base 4dr3.5 liters V-6 · 4x4 · 3.65 · Tow 2,000 lbs · Payload 1,531 lbs
    Open year
  • 2019 Base3.5 liters V-6 · 3.39 · Tow 2,000 lbs · Payload 1,717 lbs
    Open year
  • 2019 Limited 4dr2.3 liters I-4 · 4x4 · 3.65 · Tow 2,000 lbs · Payload 1,531 lbs
    Open year
  • 2019 Limited2.3 liters I-4 · 3.39 · Tow 2,000 lbs · Payload 1,717 lbs
    Open year

Ford Explorer towing capacity by generation

Generation windows are reference metadata. Towing and payload figures are calculated only from years present in our dataset.

GenerationYears (catalog)Years in datasetTowing rangeHighest towingHighest payloadConfigs
2020s2020–20292020, 2021, 2022, 20235,000 – 6,000 lbs6,000 lbs1,815 lbs44
2010s2010–20192010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 20192,000 – 5,000 lbs5,000 lbs1,728 lbs73
2000s2000–20092000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 20093,020 – 7,300 lbs7,300 lbs1,520 lbs179
1990s1990–199919991,799 – 5,600 lbs5,600 lbs900 lbs13

Ford Explorer payload capacity by year

Payload includes passengers, cargo and trailer tongue weight. It is not the same limit as maximum trailer weight.

YearMinimum payloadMaximum payloadConfigurations with payload dataExplore
20231,084 lbs1,815 lbs7Open year
20211,433 lbs1,815 lbs5Open year
20201,433 lbs1,815 lbs4Open year
20191,259 lbs1,717 lbs8Open year
20181,259 lbs1,717 lbs8Open year
20171,259 lbs1,717 lbs8Open year
20161,259 lbs1,717 lbs8Open year
20151,278 lbs1,728 lbs7Open year
20141,463 lbs1,626 lbs7Open year
20131,463 lbs1,626 lbs7Open year
20121,429 lbs1,603 lbs6Open year
20111,428 lbs1,603 lbs6Open year
20101,450 lbs1,520 lbs8Open year
20091,450 lbs1,520 lbs18Open year
20081,450 lbs1,520 lbs16Open year
20071,450 lbs1,520 lbs12Open year
20061,414 lbs1,520 lbs14Open year
20051,414 lbs1,431 lbs20Open year
20041,414 lbs1,446 lbs32Open year
20031,414 lbs1,446 lbs34Open year
20021,414 lbs1,431 lbs8Open year
2001900 lbs900 lbs11Open year
2000750 lbs900 lbs14Open year
1999750 lbs900 lbs13Open year

Some years have partial catalog coverage — highest figures are the highest ratings currently represented in our dataset, not a claim of absolute manufacturer completeness.

How Ford Explorer towing capacity changed over time

Year-over-year changes of at least 400 lbs in the highest dataset rating:

  • 2022 → 2023: Maximum towing 6,000 lbs → 5,000 lbs (-1,000 lbs)
  • 2021 → 2022: Maximum towing 5,600 lbs → 6,000 lbs (+400 lbs)
  • 2019 → 2020: Maximum towing 5,000 lbs → 5,600 lbs (+600 lbs)
  • 2012 → 2013: Maximum towing 2,000 lbs → 5,000 lbs (+3,000 lbs)
  • 2010 → 2011: Maximum towing 3,500 lbs → 2,000 lbs (-1,500 lbs)
  • 2004 → 2005: Maximum towing 7,160 lbs → 3,400 lbs (-3,760 lbs)
  • 2001 → 2002: Maximum towing 6,820 lbs → 7,300 lbs (+480 lbs)
  • 1999 → 2000: Maximum towing 5,600 lbs → 6,820 lbs (+1,220 lbs)

Towing capacity is not the only limit

The usable towing limit can be lower than the headline trailer rating. Depending on the vehicle and hitch, these limits can all matter:

  • Max trailer weight — published towing capacity for a configuration
  • Payload — people, cargo, equipment and tongue weight on the tow vehicle
  • GVWR — gross vehicle weight rating
  • GCWR — gross combined weight rating
  • GAWR — axle ratings (front/rear)
  • Hitch rating — hitch and receiver limits
  • Tongue weight — typically a fraction of trailer weight, counted against payload

Check an exact Ford Explorer configuration · Jump to year selection

All Ford Explorer model years

Open a year page to pick your exact configuration and run Tow Check.

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