Makes · Ford · Ford Explorer
2000 Ford Explorer towing capacity
Trim-level maximum towing capacity — 4,960 – 6,820 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?
14 configurations
14 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 2000 Ford Explorer tow?
Across 14 configurations with published ratings, 2000 Ford Explorer towing capacity ranges from 4,960 lbs to 6,820 lbs. Exact capacity depends on configuration — not every 2000 Ford Explorer can tow the maximum value.
- Minimum published towing capacity in this dataset: 4,960 lbs
- Maximum published towing capacity in this dataset: 6,820 lbs
- Configurations with a towing rating: 14 of 14
Highest-rated example: Eddie Bauer 4dr · 4x2 — 6,820 lbs
Lowest-rated example: Sport 2dr · 4x4 — 4,960 lbs
Highest towing configurations
Top configurations by published maximum trailer rating for the 2000 Ford Explorer. Payload is shown only when present in the dataset.
| Trim | Cab | Drivetrain | Bed | Axle ratio | Max towing | Payload |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eddie Bauer 4dr | — | 4x2 | — | 4.10 | 6,820 lbs | 900 lbs |
| Limited 4dr | — | 4x2 | — | 4.10 | 6,820 lbs | 900 lbs |
| XLT 4dr | — | 4x2 | — | 3.55 | 6,820 lbs | 900 lbs |
| Eddie | — | — | — | 3.73 | 6,620 lbs | 900 lbs |
| Limited | — | — | — | 3.73 | 6,620 lbs | 900 lbs |
| XLT | — | — | — | 3.55 | 6,620 lbs | 900 lbs |
| XLS 4dr | — | 4x2 | — | 3.27 | 5,940 lbs | 900 lbs |
| Eddie Bauer 4dr | — | 4x4 | — | 4.10 | 5,740 lbs | 900 lbs |
| Limited 4dr | — | 4x4 | — | 4.10 | 5,740 lbs | 900 lbs |
| XL Fleet 4dr | — | 4x4 | — | 3.55 | 5,740 lbs | 900 lbs |
Towing capacity by drivetrain
2000 Ford Explorer 4x2 towing capacity
Range: 5,160 – 6,820 lbs (median 6,820 lbs) across 5 configurations in this dataset.
2000 Ford Explorer 4x4 towing capacity
Range: 4,960 – 5,740 lbs (median 5,740 lbs) across 6 configurations in this dataset.
Towing capacity by axle ratio
| Axle ratio | Towing range | Configurations |
|---|---|---|
| 3.27 | 4,960 – 5,940 lbs | 3 |
| 3.55 | 5,740 – 6,820 lbs | 4 |
| 3.73 | 5,740 – 6,620 lbs | 3 |
| 4.10 | 5,740 – 6,820 lbs | 4 |
2000 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: 14
Highest-payload configurations
- Eddie Bauer 4dr · 4x2 — 900 lbs
- Limited 4dr · 4x2 — 900 lbs
- XLT 4dr · 4x2 — 900 lbs
- Eddie — 900 lbs
- Limited — 900 lbs
Quick configuration comparison
Observed towing ranges from the 2000 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 | 5,160 – 6,820 lbs | 5 |
| 4x4 | 4,960 – 5,740 lbs | 6 |
Axle ratios
| Axle | Towing range | Median | Configs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.27 | 4,960 – 5,940 lbs | 5,160 lbs | 3 |
| 3.55 | 5,740 – 6,820 lbs | 6,180 lbs | 4 |
| 3.73 | 5,740 – 6,620 lbs | 6,620 lbs | 3 |
| 4.10 | 5,740 – 6,820 lbs | 6,280 lbs | 4 |
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, 4.10
- Published towing range: 4,960 – 6,820 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 4x2 | 6,820 lbs | 3,876 lbs | 900 lbs | 210 | 240 | 4.10 | 111.6 |
| Limited 4dr 4x2 | 6,820 lbs | 3,876 lbs | 900 lbs | 210 | 240 | 4.10 | 111.6 |
| XLT 4dr 4x2 | 6,820 lbs | 3,876 lbs | 900 lbs | 160 | 225 | 3.55 | 111.6 |
| Eddie Bauer 4dr All-wheel Drive | 6,620 lbs | 4,113 lbs | 900 lbs | 215 | 288 | 3.73 | 111.6 |
| Limited 4dr All-wheel Drive | 6,620 lbs | 4,113 lbs | 900 lbs | 215 | 288 | 3.73 | 111.6 |
| XLT 4dr All-wheel Drive | 6,620 lbs | 4,113 lbs | 900 lbs | 215 | 288 | 3.55 | 111.6 |
| XLS 4dr 4x2 | 5,940 lbs | 3,876 lbs | 900 lbs | 160 | 225 | 3.27 | 111.6 |
| Eddie Bauer 4dr 4x4 | 5,740 lbs | 4,113 lbs | 900 lbs | 210 | 240 | 4.10 | 111.6 |
| Limited 4dr 4x4 | 5,740 lbs | 4,113 lbs | 900 lbs | 210 | 240 | 4.10 | 111.6 |
| XL Fleet 4dr 4x4 | 5,740 lbs | 4,113 lbs | 900 lbs | 160 | 225 | 3.55 | 111.6 |
| XLS 4dr 4x4 | 5,740 lbs | 4,113 lbs | 900 lbs | 160 | 225 | 3.55 | 111.6 |
| XLT 4dr 4x4 | 5,740 lbs | 4,113 lbs | 900 lbs | 160 | 225 | 3.73 | 111.6 |
| Sport 2dr 4x2 | 5,160 lbs | 3,680 lbs | 750 lbs | 160 | 225 | 3.27 | 101.7 |
| Sport 2dr 4x4 | 4,960 lbs | 3,903 lbs | 750 lbs | 160 | 225 | 3.27 | 101.7 |
* 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.