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 2021 Ford Explorer?
A 2021 Ford Explorer has a maximum towing capacity of 5,600 pounds.
The 2021 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 2021 Ford Explorer Tow?
The 2021 Ford Explorer has a towing capacity of 5,600 pounds.
The 2021 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.
2021 Explorer Tow Capacity By Trim Level
There are several trim levels for the 2021 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 2021 Ford Explorer:
| 2021 Ford Explorer Trim Level | Towing Capacity |
| Base | 5,300 lbs / 2,404 kg |
| XLT | 5,300 lbs / 2,404 kg |
| Limited | 5,300 lbs / 2,404 kg |
| Limited Hybrid | 5,000 lbs / 2,267 kg |
| ST | 5,600 lbs / 2,540 kg |
| Platinum | 5,600 lbs / 2,540 kg |
Towing Capacity By Engine Size & Drivetrain
2021 Ford Explorer Engine Towing Specs
There are four engine options for the 2021 Explorer, which are a 2.3L EcoBoost I-4 engine, a 3.0L EcoBoost V6 engine, a 3.3L V6 engine, and a 3.3L Hybrid engine.
2021 Ford Explorer 2.3L EcoBoost I-4 Engine Tow Capacity: 5,300 pounds
2021 Ford Explorer 3.0L EcoBoost V6 Engine Tow Capacity: 5,600 pounds
2021 Ford Explorer 3.3L V6 Engine Tow Capacity: 5,600 pounds
2021 Ford Explorer 3.3L Hybrid Engine Tow Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2021 Ford Explorer Drivetrain Towing Specs
The 2021 Ford Explorer comes standard with rear wheel drive, but all-wheel drive is available as an option.
2021 Ford Explorer RWD Tow Capacity: 5,600 pounds
2021 Ford Explorer AWD Tow Capacity: 5,600 pounds
Note that these are the max towing limits for each 2021 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.
2021 Ford Explorer Payload Capacity
The maximum payload capacity of the 2021 Ford Explorer is 1,815 pounds.
Note that the max payload capacity of your 2021 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.
2021 Ford Explorer Tow Package
The 2021 Ford Explorer comes standard with a towing hitch, 4-pin and 7-pin wiring harness, and
We definitely recommend getting the tow package if you plan on towing anything with your 2021 Explorer.
2021 Ford Explorer Towing Capacity Vs Competitors
The 2021 Ford Explorer has a maximum towing capability of 5,600 pounds, which makes it capable of doing some heavy duty trailer towing.
This number is a little less than the Explorer’s main competitors which are the 2021 Hyundai Palisade and the 2021 Kia Telluride.
Here are some similar vehicles to the 2021 Ford Explorer and their towing capacities below:
2021 Hyundai Palisade Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2021 Kia Telluride Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2021 Honda Pilot Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2021 Subaru Ascent Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2021 Toyota Highlander Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2021 Volkswagen Atlas Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2021 Ford SUVs Towing Capacity Chart
| 2021 Ford SUV Model | Towing Capacity |
| 2021 Ford Expedition | 9,300 pounds |
| 2021 Ford Explorer | 5,600 pounds |
| 2021 Ford Edge | 3,500 pounds |
| 2021 Ford Escape | 3,500 pounds |
| 2021 Ford Ecosport | 2,000 pounds |
Data Accuracy
We’ve gathered all data represented here from the official 2021 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 2021 Ford Explorer.