Can 2015 Ford Explorer FWD be Flat Towed

Question

Question:

Can a 2015 Ford Explorer front wheel drive automatic with an engine in the 3.5 engine group be flat towed with all four wheels on the ground ?

asked by: Robert

0

Expert Reply:

According to the research I did on your 2015 Ford Explorer FWD with an automatic transmission you can flat tow it as-is as long as you keep it under 65 mph. But verify that in your owners manual first.

You'll need a base plate kit first like the part # 4427-3A which is a confirmed fit.

In addition to the base plates, you will also need a compatible tow bar, safety cables, lighting, and supplemental braking to flat tow your vehicle. The most popular compatible tow bar is the Falcon 2, # RM-520. For safety cables you can use # RM-643. The coiled design helps keep the cables off of the ground.

For lighting you can use the diode kit, # RM-15267, and not have to worry about cutting into the taillight housing. This will splice into your taillight wiring to allow your tow vehicle to control the taillight assemblies of the towed vehicle. This comes with a round 6-way connector that you will install on the front of your towed vehicle and enough coiled wire to go from there to the RV.

And finally, most states now require supplemental braking in the vehicle being flat towed. The easiest system to set up and use is the Blue Ox Patriot # BLU37TR, that applies the vehicle brakes in proportion to how much the tow vehicle is braking. This is the safest way to stop and it reduces wear and tear on both vehicles.

Most likely you will also need a high low adapter so that the tow bar will be level when you are flat towing. I attached a link to a page that has all of the ones we carry.

I have included a couple of helpful links to our articles on flat towing for you. Be sure to consult the vehicle owners manual for more specific information on flat towing your vehicle.

expert reply by: Jameson C

0

James J.

5/14/2020

I have a 2014 Ford Explorer and the owners manual says it can be flat towed; 65 MPH max and start it every six hours. I need all the required parts; baseplate, tow bar, cables, braking system (Patriot II), wiring diode for lights, etc. Please recommend the complete system.

Reply

Chris R.

5/18/2020

Starting with the base plate kit, the Roadmaster # 4427-3A will work perfectly (as long as your Explorer isn't the 2.0L EcoBoost model). For a compatible tow bar I really like the BlackHawk # RM-422 along with the Safety Cables # RM-645. The Roadmaster Kit # RM-15267 will work great to wire up the Explorer so its signal lights illuminate with the RV's and the Patriot II # BLU37TR you already mentioned is a great choice for efficient braking.

Reply

James J.

6/17/2020

@ChrisR I appreciate your response and have purchased and installed the complete package this week. I do wonder why you recommended the Roadmaster to bar kit RM-422 with a cross bar type included when the Roadmaster base plate kit 4427-3A does not require it? That much steel and hardware must add significant cost and is completely useless in this package. Wasn't there a tow bar kit specifically for the baseplate kit you recommended?

Reply

Answer 1

Your Faclcon 2 tow bar would connect to the quick connect assembly which connects to the base plates on the vehicle. I've provided you a diagram from the installation instructions that will show you exactly how the whole towbar/base plate…

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Answer 2

Gladly! The difference between the Blue Ox Patriot 3 Radio Frequency, Portable Braking System BRK2019 and the Blue Ox Patriot Radio Frequency, Portable Braking System #BLU37TR is that the Blue Ox Patriot 3 RBRK2019 is older, no longer available, and…

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Answer 3

Yes I checked the online owners manual of your 2014 Ford Explorer and found that on page 283 you can flat tow the vehicle and all of the processes and guidelines are listed there. To flat tow your vehicle you will need to start with a base plate kit…

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Answer 4

While it is recommended to use the RF Controller for Blue Ox Patriot II or Patriot 3 Supplemental Braking Systems #BLU66CR, the systems can be used without it. The Blue Ox Patriot II and Patriot 3 systems are inertia based braking systems. This means…

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Answer 5

When it comes to choosing between the Blue Ox Patriot #BLU37TR and the Brake Buddy Select 3 #HM39524, these systems are extremely similar in their setup and functionality. Both of these systems provide proportional braking in a compact and easy to…

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Answer 6

Both the Roadmaster and Blue Ox tow bars are great options. But if it was my decision to make I would go with the Blue Ox Avail part #BX7420 as we have found that the Blue Ox tow bars are a little easier to connect and disconnect from. Also this tow…

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Answer 7

Yes, I did some checking and your 4WD 2013 Ford Explorer can be flat-towed behind a motorhome as long as you follow the prescribed flat-towing procedures you'll find in the owners manual under "recreational towing." For a base plate kit…

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Answer 8

Any GMC Acadia 2020 or newer would need to be towed on a dolly like the Roadmaster Tow Dolly #RM-2050-1. The 2019 and earlier models are able to be flat towed. If you have a 2019 model (or earlier) that you need to set up to flat tow, I can…

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Answer 9

I took a look at the online owner's manual for your 2014 GMC Acadia. It states if the vehicle is either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, it can be flat towed with all 4 wheels on the ground. I just recommend verifying this information in…

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Answer 10

It sounds like you are definitely on the right track. On a 2014 GMC Acadia The plug for the wiring harness #C56245 should be behind a trim panel behind the passenger side wheel. Sometimes locating these plugs can be tricky, and vehicle manufacturers…

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