Another Towing Car Suitability Question (Ford Explorer)

Take5

Take5

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Hello,

I was also thinking of getting another vehicle purely to tow the boat. Something that won't be used for anything else and a "cheap option" is the Ford Explorer (or North Face).

Anyone have a view on them?

Thanks
 
Machanic I used to work with swore by them, heavy ish on fuel so not so popular, you can pick em up for buttons and they are pretty tough as i think they are quite simple old school technology ie anybody can fix them.

as a alternative have you looked at the old model Nissan Navara, loads more grunt than an L200 but a lot cheaper to pick up(sic)

Gary
 
Hi, thanks for the reply.

In all honesty I am ex car job (used car retail) and can get one for next to nothing which is what really attracts me to it as it will ONLY be used to tow the boat.

Unfortuantely, it is not something I ever had either to sell on, or taken in PX, so thanks very much for the info.
 
Hi Take 5
Yep cheap as chips, pretty reliable, good to drive and all the fancy bits but not too many people around that want to maintain them. big and roomy and good at towing. Watch the Timing chain tensioner (platic) , it was a recall (so make sure that was done) Not sure if mine was recalled for that but it went at around 120K miles on mine and cost lots to fix, it was never the same afterwards !
 
well, yep, tho I fixed mine then offloaded it down the motor auctions. Whats the mielage on it and what year is it.
But v good for towing and comfort and roomy and coz its cheap it can go anywhere and u never care about it !

Oh and lovely noise from the 4L V6
 
[ QUOTE ]
old model Nissan Navara, loads more grunt than an L200

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah right...till the gearbox falls out /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Navaras go anywhere offroad - as long as an L200's towing them!
 
Hi,

The one that got my attention is a 99V with 90k on, its a main agent swapper. I could get that for about £1,200.

But I am not limited to that one alone. I still have trade accounts at all the BCA & Manheim car auctions and they are not a very popular car in the trade for some reason. Looks like they make around CAP clean in the block, which makes em a cheap thing as they don't book at very much.

Cheers.

EDIT: What sort of MPG did yours return and do you have any experience of having them LPG`d ?

Thanks
 
I'd go for it for that price, what else can you get for that sort of money that u can tow with and be comfy in.
I had a new one for 4 weeks when I went to Canada a few years back and loved it. Shame they have stopped importing them really as they are apparently the biggest selling 4/4 in the world. They are the equivalent of mondeos in North America. Oh yep there the rolling over thingy as well to know about, but that was down to the Firestone tyres they were fitted with. (Killed Firestone tyres that debacle, oh and a few passengers too /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif!). Thats what killed them off in the UK and didnt do them any good in the US either
 
Another common problem is RF interference (from building mounted aerials) on the alarm.........wow that is a pain, but when you understand where the problem areas are.........Pear tree roundabout on the oxford bypass (for me) where I had to be towed home ! Local tesco's . But this is apparently quite common with other cars too. Simple fix was to take off trim on left hand side of boot and stick alarm fob there....that'll sort it, but initially you get caught out.
Mileage was better than a diesel Merc ML270 I bought afterwards (Now that was a really shiite car) so must have been around 25MPG.
LPG is good, but really dont think its going to be worth it, just buy it and run it into ground, Exploder might surprise you and still be going in 5 years time ! Oh that reminds me, if you do gas it, make very sure you go for the better gas conversion otherwise you will understand why they are called Ford "Exploders" in the trade /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Thanks for all the info. Much appreciated.

(re LPG I wouldn't have one converted but there is one at auction already LPG`d)

CHEERS
 
Check the towing weights they are not high on that car, I think its only 2800 kg but can check that at work if need be.

I have just checked on the witter towbars web page and its only 2567 kg so to small for your boat.
 
Hello,

I have just checked and am getting conflicting reports (Google).

If you find out anything conclusive could you please let me know.

CHEERS
 
Hi,

Yeah looks correct. But that data says for "Towbar Data"....Not "Vehicle Data". What d`ya recon?

(I replied to your original post before it was modified, hence the confusion)
 
lol. Don't be hijacking my thread. And whats the weather like round there at the mo? Are we safe?

See ya laters.
 
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