Modifying truck to increase tow performance?

[jumpjets]

I have a 2002 ford explorer V6. It's got 102k miles on it. I just replaced the transmission with a rebuilt heavy duty trans.

I have been using the exploder to tow my 4600lb boat and trailer on low speed back roads. I have done the following mods to improve towing performance:
1. added 2" aftermarket receiver bolted to the frame
2. installed additional 18"x12" transmission cooler. It had a pretty big trans cooler stock.
3. installed trans temp gauge.
4. installed EBC brake pads and rotors.
5. installed deep trans pan with cooling fins.
6. Installed titan surge disc brakes on the trailer.

The truck is technically rated to tow 3500lbs. I think the GCWR is 9800lbs.

The V8 explorers with the tow package were rated to tow 7200lbs and had a GCWR of 10400lbs.
They had the same brakes that I have stock, and the same transmission that I have stock. They came stock with a 2" receiver, and they came with 3.73 gears. I have 3.55 gears.

I've read a few stories lately about overweight towing disasters, and I'm starting to get a guilty conscience.
I think I have done all the appropriate mods to make my explorer a safe vehicle to tow above it's stock tow rating. It is a little underpowered, but I think that the chassis and brakes are good for the load I'm towing. The suspension doesn't squat with the trailer hooked up. It's never given me any trouble at the ramp. I realize that the engine is under excessive stress, but if it blows, that's just an excuse to get a new truck.

I'd love to get a new truck now, but this thing is a reliable beater and it's paid off. Am I being negligent by using it to tow above it's rating despite my modifications?

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Modifying truck to increase tow performance?

You're over the tow rating by about 33%. Is the suspension the same as the V8 - Springs/shocks/etc? It's usually more than just motor and rear end ratios that determine the towing ability. I won't weigh in on negligence one way or the other.

 

[arks]

Re: Modifying truck to increase tow performance?

That's a big load for an Exploder (your term, not mine).
Although you've done the correct mods for towing, the brakes are still the weak point as far as safety.

Am I being negligent by using it to tow above it's rating despite my modifications?

Well, let's put it this way: if you're involved in a serious accident your insurance company would have a valid reason NOT to cover you!

 

[lrak]

Re: Modifying truck to increase tow performance?

Well, let's put it this way: if you're involved in a serious accident your insurance company would have a valid reason NOT to cover you!

OP, I suggest you read your insurance policy. There is a chance that exceeding your original transmission warranty rating on a vehicle with 102k miles and a rebuilt transmission will violate your liability coverage. The odds are probably twice those of being a Powerball jackpot winner.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Modifying truck to increase tow performance?

It is a interesting question, awhile ago I changed out a rear gear set to improve my pull on at the ramp due to a manual trans, but I was well with in the load rating, a 2400 pound boat and trailer with a 3000 pound tow rating. I wanted a bit more safety margin.

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Modifying truck to increase tow performance?

I have a 2003 Xploder with the V8 and 7200lb tow package.
The brakes are no different, the rear springs/struts ARE different, the gears ARE different, and the hitch is a factory one that is welded to the frame linearly, not bolted to the bottom of the frame.
Other than that, I am not aware of any differences between yours and mine.
Most of the difference is the motor, gears, and the mounting of the hitch.

 

[Rapio]

Re: Modifying truck to increase tow performance?

I suggest with that weight, you consider vehicles in addition max tow weight also have a max axel weight which can be too high even if your tow weight is within the legal limit. If the weight cops don't get you, your insurance company might

 

[dingbat]

Re: Modifying truck to increase tow performance?

We towed my old boat (~#4500) using my SIL Explorer a couple of times. Power and braking wasn't as bad as the suspension. The only truck that pulled worst was my daughter's Durango

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Modifying truck to increase tow performance?

OP, I suggest you read your insurance policy. There is a chance that exceeding your original transmission warranty rating on a vehicle with 102k miles and a rebuilt transmission will violate your liability coverage. The odds are probably twice those of being a Powerball jackpot winner.

EDIT

It IS NOT a "transmission warranty rating" it is a tow capacity... there may well be some vehicles where the strength of the transmission is the limiting factor but the tow capacity is NOT just a warranty issue but rather a safety based specification... MANY factors go into that rating other than transmissions. Wheelbase, spring rate, brakes, axle and bearing sizes, weight distribution, dampening rate of shocks, specified tires and many other factors all come together to determine tow capacity....

Example: A chevy K-1500 with a 4.3, 700r-4, and 3.73 gears has a higher tow capacity than the same year S-10 with the same engine, trans, and gear ratio and a K-2500 is higher yet.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Modifying truck to increase tow performance?

Well, let's put it this way: if you're involved in a serious accident your insurance company would have a valid reason NOT to cover you!

OP, I suggest you read your insurance policy. There is a chance that exceeding your original transmission warranty rating on a vehicle with 102k miles and a rebuilt transmission will violate your liability coverage.

Used to work in insurance. I can personally say i have NEVER once seen any issue whatsoever from someone towing over capacity. Not a single time. I have yet to also see any court cases where someone towing over their weight but within reason was the deciding factor in the case.

And I suggest reading the insurance policy also. I've read more insurance policies than most of the board has, combined! I can't ever remember reading anything about transmission warranties. To put it bluntly, that comment makes no sense.

Talk to some farmers sometime. To them, they are rarely UNDER their max weight, towing above is an everyday occurance. Of course, its slow speeds with skilled drivers who probably starting driving farm trucks and towing around age 10 (i'm not kidding!). Not a weekend warrior who is towing for the first time in his life.

OP, is that 4600 pounds loaded including trailer? You will be fine, nothing bad will happen, nor will the DOT pull up its mobile truck scales to weigh you. As long as you are doing it safely and your load is secured, no cop is going to care.

 

[lrak]

Re: Modifying truck to increase tow performance?

And I suggest reading the insurance policy also. I've read more insurance policies than most of the board has, combined! I can't ever remember reading anything about transmission warranties. To put it bluntly, that comment makes no sense.

Sure it does. Its sarcasm. The only legal bearing your tow rating has is in denying coverage under your power train warranty. Otherwise it is meaningless. Every time I argue there are no insurance policies out there that will deny for being over tow rating, I am told I am wrong. So I'll admit there is a chance now ... the odds of winning the powerball jackpot are one in 176 million. ;-)

 

[jumpjets]

Re: Modifying truck to increase tow performance?

Well.... You guys have got me curious about the insurance piece. I read my policy online, and there wasn't anything specific about towing. I'm going to call my insurance company tomorrow and ask a professional about it. If they say that I can be denied coverage or be held liable for being over the max rating, despite the modifications, I'll sell the truck and buy a nice Ford Bronco!

If the insurance adjuster can 100% guarantee me that I can not be denied coverage in an accident due to the tow rating, I'm going to keep using the truck....After I install the heavy duty rear shocks and springs that bifflefan posted.

I know there are a lot of folks that would not be happy with towing over the max rating regardless of mods. I normally would not be OK with it either, but as long as the chassis and brakes are within the limit, I'm OK with it. They are the parts that affect safety. If the engine or trans blows due to the excess weight, that just means that my wife will finally let me get a new truck!

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Modifying truck to increase tow performance?

the term you need to look for is "contributory negligence".

The problem is that contributory negligence is not cut and dried and is open to debate..... In your case (as far as I can see) you appear to be taking all needed steps to tow that load with that vehicle safely..... If you were towing 7500 lbs with your camaro it would be a different story... No, your policy wouldn't nullify instantly for towing over your factory tow rating but your insurance agency could use that rating along with with the weight of the boat and information from the police report to show contributory negligence on your part and possibly deny or reduce coverage.... a prosecutor can use the same term to put offenders in jail.

In your case, again, you seem to be doing it right.

I would suggest that you keep receipts and document your modifications on the off chance that you ever need to defend yourself.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Modifying truck to increase tow performance?

Well.... You guys have got me curious about the insurance piece. I read my policy online, and there wasn't anything specific about towing. I'm going to call my insurance company tomorrow and ask a professional about it. If they say that I can be denied coverage or be held liable for being over the max rating, despite the modifications, I'll sell the truck and buy a nice Ford Bronco!
If the insurance adjuster can 100% guarantee me that I can not be denied coverage in an accident due to the tow rating, I'm going to keep using the truck....

Keep in mind that whatever your Insurance Agent/Adjuster/Salesman opinion is, means nothing.
Be sure he refers you the the paragraph in the policy that addresses the question.

If it isn't in writing, in the insurance policy, it has no legal bearing.
There IS a paragraph in the policy that states just that! (The "Four Corners" Clause!)

 

[roscoe]

Re: Modifying truck to increase tow performance?

Why not put the 3.73 gears in it and call it good? You've made all the other upgrades.

I have yet to find any leo carrying a portable vehicle scale, and the tools to take your rear end apart to check the gears.

 

[lrak]

Re: Modifying truck to increase tow performance?

...

 

[lrak]

Re: Modifying truck to increase tow performance?

The problem is that contributory negligence is not cut and dried and is open to debate.....

Contributory negligence laws mean (in five states only) if you sue someone else because you are injured and are partially at fault you are not entitled to compensation. It has NOTHING to do with tow ratings or your liability to others.

For some reason people understand that someone hits a legally parked car while driving the wrong way on a one way street through a red light at twice the speed limit while drunk is covered by their liability insurance for that event. Sure they won't be able to get insurance for a decade after that, but they are covered for that event. Yet those same people really want to believe towing 100lbs over the transmission warranty rating is illegal and instantly voids all liability coverage.

 

[agallant80]

Re: Modifying truck to increase tow performance?

This is going to be one of those tings where everyone has a conflicting opinion on. Your call dude. Just keep in mind, that rear end ratios, bigger breaks, trans and oil coolers upgrades are great but there is nothing you can do about wheel base besides change out the truck.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Modifying truck to increase tow performance?

Contributory negligence laws mean (in five states only) if you sue someone else because you are injured and are partially at fault you are not entitled to compensation. It has NOTHING to do with tow ratings or your liability to others.

For some reason people understand that someone hits a legally parked car while driving the wrong way on a one way street through a red light at twice the speed limit while drunk is covered by their liability insurance for that event. Sure they won't be able to get insurance for a decade after that, but they are covered for that event. Yet those same people really want to believe towing 100lbs over the transmission warranty rating is illegal and instantly voids all liability coverage.

Again nobody asked about a transmission warranty
I specifically said it didn't instantly void.
Contributory negligence is a legal term and not just a specific law.

 

[lrak]

Re: Modifying truck to increase tow performance?

Again nobody asked about a transmission warranty

The OP did, he just called it "tow rating" instead of "transmission warranty rating". They are exactly the same thing.

Contributory negligence is a legal term and not just a specific law.

True. It is also not used in most states and has nothing to do with automotive liability insurance.
Contributory Negligence | LII / Legal Information Institute

Your legal tow capacity is determined by the registration rules of your state, it has nothing to do with the "tow rating" assigned by the manufacturer. If you are talking about privately owned trailers under 10,000lbs it is generally very simple. The rules vary slightly from state to state but the gist of it is if you want to tow more, you MAY have to pay a higher registration fee. The number assigned by the manufacturer is simply a "transmission warranty rating", which in the OPs case is meaningless.