Can 2015 Ford Explorer FWD be Flat Towed

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

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

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.

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 # BRK2016 you already mentioned is a great choice for efficient braking.

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?