Makes · Ford · Ford Explorer
1999 Ford Explorer towing capacity
Trim-level maximum towing capacity — 1,799 – 5,600 lbs across packages. Exact capacity depends on configuration. Payload is separate from towing capacity and is shown where GVWR and curb weight (or manufacturer payload) exist.
Tow Planner
Select your exact configuration and tell us what you're towing. We'll compare trailer weight, payload, tongue weight and the available vehicle limits. Year-level towing and payload answers below are available without selecting a configuration.
Which configuration do you have?
13 configurations
13 possible configurations match your selections.
What are you trying to do?
Choose a job to open interactive tools. Year-level towing and payload answers appear below even before you pick a configuration.
What can a 1999 Ford Explorer tow?
Across 13 configurations with published ratings, 1999 Ford Explorer towing capacity ranges from 1,799 lbs to 5,600 lbs. Exact capacity depends on configuration — not every 1999 Ford Explorer can tow the maximum value.
- Minimum published towing capacity in this dataset: 1,799 lbs
- Maximum published towing capacity in this dataset: 5,600 lbs
- Configurations with a towing rating: 13 of 13
Highest-rated example: Eddie Bauer 4dr · 4x4 — 5,600 lbs
Lowest-rated example: XLT 4dr · 4x2 — 1,799 lbs
Highest towing configurations
Top configurations by published maximum trailer rating for the 1999 Ford Explorer. Payload is shown only when present in the dataset.
| Trim | Cab | Drivetrain | Bed | Axle ratio | Max towing | Payload |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eddie Bauer 4dr | — | 4x4 | — | 3.55 | 5,600 lbs | 900 lbs |
| Eddie | — | — | — | 3.73 | 5,600 lbs | 900 lbs |
| Eddie Bauer 4dr | — | 4x2 | — | 3.55 | 4,799 lbs | 900 lbs |
| Limited 4dr | — | 4x4 | — | 3.55 | 4,799 lbs | 900 lbs |
| Limited | — | — | — | 3.73 | 4,799 lbs | 900 lbs |
| Limited 4dr | — | 4x2 | — | 3.55 | 3,300 lbs | 900 lbs |
| XL 4dr | — | 4x4 | — | 3.55 | 2,800 lbs | 900 lbs |
| XLT 4dr | — | 4x4 | — | 3.55 | 2,800 lbs | 900 lbs |
| XLT | — | — | — | 3.55 | 2,800 lbs | 900 lbs |
| Sport 2dr | — | 4x2 | — | 3.27 | 2,000 lbs | 750 lbs |
Towing capacity by drivetrain
1999 Ford Explorer 4x2 towing capacity
Range: 1,799 – 4,799 lbs (median 2,000 lbs) across 5 configurations in this dataset.
1999 Ford Explorer 4x4 towing capacity
Range: 1,799 – 5,600 lbs (median 2,800 lbs) across 5 configurations in this dataset.
Towing capacity by axle ratio
| Axle ratio | Towing range | Configurations |
|---|---|---|
| 3.27 | 1,799 – 2,000 lbs | 2 |
| 3.55 | 1,799 – 5,600 lbs | 9 |
| 3.73 | 4,799 – 5,600 lbs | 2 |
1999 Ford Explorer payload capacity
Payload is not the same as towing capacity. Where both GVWR and curb weight exist in the catalog, payload is GVWR minus curb weight (or the manufacturer payload field when present). Payload covers people, cargo in the truck, hitch equipment, and trailer tongue weight — not the full trailer weight.
- Observed payload range: 750 – 900 lbs
- Configurations with payload data: 13
Highest-payload configurations
- Eddie Bauer 4dr · 4x4 — 900 lbs
- Eddie — 900 lbs
- Eddie Bauer 4dr · 4x2 — 900 lbs
- Limited 4dr · 4x4 — 900 lbs
- Limited — 900 lbs
Quick configuration comparison
Observed towing ranges from the 1999 Ford Explorer dataset. Values are min–max of published ratings in each group — not a claim that every unit in the group can tow the top figure.
Drivetrain
| Drivetrain | Towing range | Configs |
|---|---|---|
| 4x2 | 1,799 – 4,799 lbs | 5 |
| 4x4 | 1,799 – 5,600 lbs | 5 |
Axle ratios
| Axle | Towing range | Median | Configs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.27 | 1,799 – 2,000 lbs | 1,900 lbs | 2 |
| 3.55 | 1,799 – 5,600 lbs | 2,800 lbs | 9 |
| 3.73 | 4,799 – 5,600 lbs | 5,200 lbs | 2 |
Why does towing capacity vary for this vehicle?
Towing ratings vary across configurations. These are configuration differences present in our dataset:
- Drivetrain: 4x2, 4x4
- Axle ratios: 3.27, 3.55, 3.73
- Published towing range: 1,799 – 5,600 lbs
Compare this vehicle
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Towing capacity by trim
| Trim | Max towing | Curb weight | Payload* | HP | Torque | Axle | Wheelbase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eddie Bauer 4dr 4x4 | 5,600 lbs | 4,128 lbs | 900 lbs | 210 | 240 | 3.55 | 111.6 |
| Eddie Bauer 4dr All-wheel Drive | 5,600 lbs | 4,128 lbs | 900 lbs | 215 | 288 | 3.73 | 111.6 |
| Eddie Bauer 4dr 4x2 | 4,799 lbs | 3,819 lbs | 900 lbs | 210 | 240 | 3.55 | 111.6 |
| Limited 4dr 4x4 | 4,799 lbs | 4,128 lbs | 900 lbs | 210 | 240 | 3.55 | 111.6 |
| Limited 4dr All-wheel Drive | 4,799 lbs | 4,128 lbs | 900 lbs | 215 | 288 | 3.73 | 111.6 |
| Limited 4dr 4x2 | 3,300 lbs | 3,819 lbs | 900 lbs | 210 | 240 | 3.55 | 111.6 |
| XL 4dr 4x4 | 2,800 lbs | 4,128 lbs | 900 lbs | 160 | 225 | 3.55 | 111.6 |
| XLT 4dr 4x4 | 2,800 lbs | 4,128 lbs | 900 lbs | 160 | 225 | 3.55 | 111.6 |
| XLT 4dr All-wheel Drive | 2,800 lbs | 4,128 lbs | 900 lbs | 215 | 288 | 3.55 | 111.6 |
| Sport 2dr 4x2 | 2,000 lbs | 3,675 lbs | 750 lbs | 160 | 225 | 3.27 | 101.7 |
| Sport 2dr 4x4 | 1,799 lbs | 3,898 lbs | 750 lbs | 160 | 225 | 3.27 | 101.7 |
| XL 4dr 4x2 | 1,799 lbs | 3,819 lbs | 900 lbs | 160 | 225 | 3.55 | 111.6 |
| XLT 4dr 4x2 | 1,799 lbs | 3,819 lbs | 900 lbs | 160 | 225 | 3.55 | 111.6 |
* Payload = manufacturer payload when present, otherwise GVWR − curb weight. Towing capacity is a separate rating and is not the same as payload.
What affects the rating
Higher figures usually need the tow package, the right axle ratio, and enough cooling. Passengers, fuel, gear, and tongue weight all eat into what you can safely pull — stay under both the trailer rating and the vehicle’s payload.