Moving from Texas to Ohio. Have 2017 F150 2.7L Ecoboost 4x4 and a 2018 Explorer Sport 3.5L Ecoboost 4WD. Uhaul denied renting a tow dolly or vehicle carrier but could not site an exact reason just "the system says not compatible". Is it not recommended/possible to tow my explorer with my F150 in any configuration?

 

What’s the explorer curb weight? I know that I couldn’t use their trailer to tow my Tahoe as it was over weight for the trailer. Nothing to do with my actual truck.

5290lbs is max weight for the uhual.

 

I’ve been turned down. Possibly that F150 500lb. max tounge weight, without weight distribution, hitch limit was the reason. Wonder if a tow dolly would be acceptable?

 

Without specs on the vehicles (including hitch setup)/dolly/carrier (and/or their policies), it’ll likely be a guessing game.

this may not be helpful (or possible), but I would prefer to just drive both vehicles (don’t know if you are moving alone, or if you could bring a friend along for the trip).

 

A few companies limit F150s to 5000 lbs. for liability reasons based on Ford's recommendation and the lack of electric brakes on most trailers (Tow dolly, dump trailers, skid steer and trailer. etc.)

U-Haul
Home Depot
United Rental

 

it probably weighs north of 5k. It might even be heavier than his F150.

 

After the Explorer/Firestone debacle (soccer moms in SUVs couldn’t maintain air in the tires), where Ford accepted blame for poor maintenance practices, U-Haul made a blanket policy that included ALL Explorers that they would not rent a trailer to be towed by them, 2WD, 4WD, 2DR, 4DR, even the Sport-Trac. Don’t know if they ever rescinded the policy.

I’ve never witnessed U-haul understanding ANY towing specs by vehicle makers.

 

He is not towing with the explorer, he will be towing the Explorer.

 

Specs on the explorer says 4500lb, the trailer can handle 5290 according to Uhaul. Trailer weighs 2210, so gross trailer weight would be about 7700lb, or close to 800lb tongue weight. I bet it's the 500lb limit without WDH that is the issue. You can always tell them you're towing a honda accord or something if you're comfortable with that much tongue weight without WDH. Me, personally, I would not tow that without a WDH.

 

Use at your own risk, but uhaul has no idea what you're towing so you can enter anything you want online for the towed vehicle when you reserve the car hauler. Miata works pretty good.

Also if you dig into the uhaul stuff, their car haulers are designed to not require a weight distribution hitch and typically have surge brakes which are not compatible with some of them anyway.