The Ford Explorer was introduced into Ford’s lineup as a range of SUVs in 1991 and is still made today. The Explorer has many features consumers expect from today’s SUVs, including towing. But what is the towing capacity of a 2003 Ford Explorer?
A 2003 Ford Explorer has a maximum towing capacity of 7,160 pounds.
The 2003 Ford Explorer tow capacity can vary based on a few different factors such as engine size, drivetrain, and others which we’ll cover in this guide.
How Much Can The 2003 Ford Explorer Tow?
The 2003 Ford Explorer has a towing capacity of 7,160 pounds.
The 2003 Ford Explorer towing is affected by other factors like engine type, drivetrain, the weight of cargo and passengers, and whether your vehicle has a towing package equipped or not.
You can always reach out to your local Ford dealership for details to confirm how much your Explorer can tow.
You can check out our guide to Ford Explorer towing capacity by year if you’re looking at a different model year’s max capacity or if you want to compare different years of this vehicle.
You can also read our guide on what makes a vehicle towing capacity to learn all the aspects that go into it.
2003 Explorer Tow Capacity By Trim Level
There are several trim levels for the 2003 Explorer, and some engines are not available on certain trims, so they’ll each have different max towing limits.
Here’s the max tow capacity broken down for each trim level on the 2003 Ford Explorer:
| 2003 Ford Explorer Trim Level | Towing Capacity |
| 2003 Ford Explorer XLT | 7,160 pounds |
| 2003 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer Edition | 7,160 pounds |
| 2003 Ford Explorer Limited | 7,160 pounds |
| 2003 Ford Explorer Sport | 5,000 pounds |
| 2003 Ford Explorer Sport Trac | 5,260 pounds |
Towing Capacity By Engine Size & Drivetrain
2003 Ford Explorer Engine Towing Specs
There are two engine options for the 2003 Explorer, which are a 4.0L V6 engine and a 4.6L V8 engine.
2003 Ford Explorer 4.0L V6 Engine Tow Capacity: 5,800 pounds
2003 Ford Explorer 4.6L V6 Engine Tow Capacity: 7,140 pounds
2003 Ford Explorer Drivetrain Towing Specs
The 2003 Ford Explorer comes standard with 4×2, with 4×4 drive is available as an option.
2003 Ford Explorer 4×2 Tow Capacity: 7,160 pounds
2003 Ford Explorer 4×4 Tow Capacity: 7,000 pounds
Note that these are the max towing limits for each 2003 Ford Explorer engine. Your Ford Explorer may have a lower towing capacity based on the drivetrain, axle ratio, and if your vehicle has a towing package installed.
2003 Ford Explorer Payload Capacity
The maximum payload capacity of the 2003 Ford Explorer is 1,139 pounds.
Note that the max payload capacity of your 2003 Explorer will vary based on factors like the engine type, drivetrain and whether or not a towing package that includes other features like an engine oil cooler or transmission oil cooler is installed.
You can always contact your local dealership for extra details if you’re unsure of your vehicle’s payload capability.
2003 Ford Explorer Tow Package
The 2003 Ford Explorer comes standard with a towing hitch and 4-pin/7-pin wiring harness.
We definitely recommend getting the tow package if you plan on towing anything with your 2003 Explorer.
2003 Ford Explorer Towing Capacity Vs Competitors
The 2003 Ford Explorer has a maximum towing capability of 7,160 pounds, which makes it capable of doing some heavy duty trailer towing.
This number is similar to the Explorer’s main competitors which are the 2003 Toyota Highlander and the 2003 Nissan Pathfinder.
Here are some similar vehicles to the 2003 Ford Explorer and their towing capacities below:
2003 Honda Pilot Towing Capacity: 4,500 pounds
2003 Toyota Highlander Towing Capacity: 3,500 pounds
2003 Nissan Pathfinder Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2003 Hyundai Santa Fe Towing Capacity: 3,500 pounds
2003 Ford SUVs Towing Capacity Chart
| 2003 Ford SUV Model | Towing Capacity |
| 2003 Ford Excursion | 11,000 pounds |
| 2003 Ford Expedition | 8,900 pounds |
| 2003 Ford Explorer | 7,160 pounds |
| 2003 Ford Sport Trac | 5,300 pounds |
| 2003 Ford Escape | 3,500 pounds |
Data Accuracy
We’ve gathered all data represented here from the official 2003 Ford Explorer Owner’s Manual on Ford’s site and have checked all data thoroughly for accuracy.
Having said that, we still recommend you refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual yourself before towing with a 2003 Ford Explorer.