Makes · Ford · Ford Explorer
2023 Ford Explorer towing capacity
Trim-level maximum towing capacity — 5,000 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?
15 configurations
15 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 2023 Ford Explorer tow?
In our dataset, 15 configurations list a maximum trailer rating of 5,000 lbs. Confirm the figure for your exact build.
- Minimum published towing capacity in this dataset: 5,000 lbs
- Maximum published towing capacity in this dataset: 5,000 lbs
- Configurations with a towing rating: 15 of 15
Highest-rated example: Base 4dr · 4x2 — 5,000 lbs
Lowest-rated example: XLT 4dr · 4x4 — 5,000 lbs
Highest towing configurations
Top configurations by published maximum trailer rating for the 2023 Ford Explorer. Payload is shown only when present in the dataset.
| Trim | Cab | Drivetrain | Bed | Axle ratio | Max towing | Payload |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base 4dr | — | 4x2 | — | 3.58 | 5,000 lbs | — |
| Base 4dr | — | 4x4 | — | 3.58 | 5,000 lbs | 1,815 lbs |
| King Ranch 4dr | — | 4x2 | — | 3.31 | 5,000 lbs | — |
| King Ranch 4dr | — | 4x4 | — | 3.31 | 5,000 lbs | 1,815 lbs |
| Limited 4dr | — | 4x2 | — | 3.58 | 5,000 lbs | — |
| Limited 4dr | — | 4x4 | — | 3.58 | 5,000 lbs | 1,815 lbs |
| Platinum 4dr | — | 4x2 | — | 3.58 | 5,000 lbs | — |
| Platinum 4dr | — | 4x4 | — | 3.73 | 5,000 lbs | 1,084 lbs |
| ST 4dr | — | 4x2 | — | 3.58 | 5,000 lbs | — |
| ST 4dr | — | 4x4 | — | 3.58 | 5,000 lbs | 1,459 lbs |
Towing capacity by drivetrain
2023 Ford Explorer 4x2 towing capacity
Range: 5,000 lbs (median 5,000 lbs) across 7 configurations in this dataset.
2023 Ford Explorer 4x4 towing capacity
Range: 5,000 lbs (median 5,000 lbs) across 8 configurations in this dataset.
Towing capacity by axle ratio
| Axle ratio | Towing range | Configurations |
|---|---|---|
| 3.31 | 5,000 lbs | 2 |
| 3.58 | 5,000 lbs | 12 |
| 3.73 | 5,000 lbs | 1 |
2023 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: 1,084 – 1,815 lbs
- Configurations with payload data: 7
Highest-payload configurations
- Base 4dr · 4x4 — 1,815 lbs
- King Ranch 4dr · 4x4 — 1,815 lbs
- Limited 4dr · 4x4 — 1,815 lbs
- Timberline 4dr · 4x4 — 1,815 lbs
- XLT 4dr · 4x4 — 1,815 lbs
Quick configuration comparison
Observed towing ranges from the 2023 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 | 5,000 lbs | 7 |
| 4x4 | 5,000 lbs | 8 |
Axle ratios
| Axle | Towing range | Median | Configs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.31 | 5,000 lbs | 5,000 lbs | 2 |
| 3.58 | 5,000 lbs | 5,000 lbs | 12 |
| 3.73 | 5,000 lbs | 5,000 lbs | 1 |
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: 3.31, 3.58, 3.73
- Published towing range: 5,000 lbs
Compare this vehicle
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Towing capacity by trim
| Trim | Max towing | Curb weight | Payload* | HP | Torque | Axle | Wheelbase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base 4dr 4x2 | 5,000 lbs | 4,345 lbs | — | 300 | 310 | 3.58 | 119.1 |
| Base 4dr 4x4 | 5,000 lbs | 4,345 lbs | 1,815 lbs | 300 | 310 | 3.58 | 119.1 |
| King Ranch 4dr 4x2 | 5,000 lbs | 4,345 lbs | — | 400 | 415 | 3.31 | 119.1 |
| King Ranch 4dr 4x4 | 5,000 lbs | 4,345 lbs | 1,815 lbs | 400 | 415 | 3.31 | 119.1 |
| Limited 4dr 4x2 | 5,000 lbs | 4,345 lbs | — | 300 | 310 | 3.58 | 119.1 |
| Limited 4dr 4x4 | 5,000 lbs | 4,345 lbs | 1,815 lbs | 300 | 310 | 3.58 | 119.1 |
| Platinum 4dr 4x2 | 5,000 lbs | 4,969 lbs | — | 318 | 322 | 3.58 | 119.1 |
| Platinum 4dr 4x4 | 5,000 lbs | 5,076 lbs | 1,084 lbs | 318 | 322 | 3.73 | 119.1 |
| ST 4dr 4x2 | 5,000 lbs | 4,701 lbs | — | 400 | 415 | 3.58 | 119.1 |
| ST 4dr 4x4 | 5,000 lbs | 4,701 lbs | 1,459 lbs | 400 | 415 | 3.58 | 119.1 |
| ST-Line 4dr 4x2 | 5,000 lbs | — | — | 300 | 310 | 3.58 | 119.1 |
| ST-Line 4dr 4x4 | 5,000 lbs | — | — | 300 | 310 | 3.58 | 119.1 |
| Timberline 4dr 4x4 | 5,000 lbs | 4,345 lbs | 1,815 lbs | 300 | 310 | 3.58 | 119.1 |
| XLT 4dr 4x2 | 5,000 lbs | 4,345 lbs | — | 300 | 310 | 3.58 | 119.1 |
| XLT 4dr 4x4 | 5,000 lbs | 4,345 lbs | 1,815 lbs | 300 | 310 | 3.58 | 119.1 |
* 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.