I have a 19' Nitro, about 3500lbs loaded. I have been looking for a truck to pull it, but I have found a few Ford Explorers, AWD, 4.6L V8, tow packages, with around 80-90k miles for under $8,000 (KBB is around $9,000).

Anyone tow a bigger boat with one of these? How does it handle? Please let me know. Thanks!

it will depend what hitch is installed on the explorer.

here is a towing guide straight from ford

http://www.meadowlan...ing%20guide.pdf

it states for the 03 explorer with standard rear bumper it can tow 3500

and can be equipped to pull 5000 pounds

also you will have to be careful about stopping the boat, since it is on the top of the towing capacity it will be hard to stop the boat.

Id bet the gas mileage gets thrown out the window though, even with my small (16 foot) 1970's bass boat being pulled by silverado 1500 4.8 liter 2wd my gas mileage significantly drops. (15 normal, towing around 10-11 at best)

I have to say bein a SUV the trailer your pulling may sway, my RAV-4 ( smaller SUV) sways when I pull the truck.

I had an 02 Explorer 4.0 and it would have pulled that no problem, just be careful about your stopping distances and mind your speed and you should be fine. Gas mileage is going to stink but than it stinks with just about any tow vehicle big enough to pull an 18' bass boat.

On a side note I know the Explorer gets ripped on alot, but that was imho the best suv of that year class, the 02's and up had independent rears that hurt there towing capacity a little bit but made there on road ride well worth it, I have owned 3 Suv's from the Explorer to a Suburban and a 4-runner, the Explorer was by far the best and easiest riding, lets face it you probably are not going to use it off road so on road performance is way more important to me. The explorer was comfortable, reliable and good looking, right up until a cam chain decided to take a crap and take out the engine, but in its defence it had a tick since like 38,000 miles and I wasn't smart enough to bring it in to the dealer to see what was going on, I like doing my own maintenance and stuff but it bit me this time.