2018 Ford Explorer Sport Max Towing Capacity & Payload
Max Towing Capacity
5,000 lbs
Safe limit: 4,000 lbs (80% rule)
Max Payload
—
Often the real limiting factor
Fuel Economy
17.6 mpg
16 city / 22 hwy (EPA Est.)
The 2018 Ford Explorer Sport is rated to tow up to 5,000 lbs powered by the 3.5L. For real-world towing, the practical limit is 4,000 lbs — that's 80% of max, giving you margin for hills, headwinds, and load variation. Always verify your door-sticker payload rating, as it's often the real limiting factor once passengers, gear, and tongue weight are factored in. With this setup, you're looking at most travel trailers and slide-in campers.
Recommended Equipment
Towing Gear for This Truck
Matched to this trim's Class III hitch class and 5,000 lb tow rating
Class III Hitch Receiver
Required for towing. 2" receiver is standard on tow-equipped models.
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Trailer Wiring Adapter
7-pin to 4-pin adapters for trailer brake lights and signals.
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Brake Controller
Required by law in most states for trailers over 3,000 lbs.
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Weight Distribution Hitch
Strongly recommended for trailers over 6,000 lbs to level the load and reduce sway.
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Full Data
Specifications
Towing & Capacity
Engine & Performance
Dimensions
SpecificationValueShopLearn More
Towing
Payload & Weight
Curb Weight
0 lbs
SpecificationValueShopLearn More
Engine
Engine
3.5L
Horsepower
365 HP @ 5500 rpm
Torque
350 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm
Transmission
6-speed shiftable automatic
Drive Type
All Wheel Drive
Fuel Type
Regular unleaded
Fuel Tank
18.6 gallons
Fuel Economy (EPA)
City16 mpg
Highway22 mpg
Combined18 mpg
Real-World (Fuelly, 170 owners)17.6 mpg
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Dimensions
Overall Length198.7"
Overall Width78.9"
Height71.0"
What Can I Tow?
RV Class Compatibility
Based on a safe tow limit of 4,000 lbs. Shows what % of each RV class in our database you can tow.
RV Type
Weight Range
Coverage
Status
Travel Trailers
Bumper Pull
1,100 – 89,950 lbs
Limited
Toy Haulers
5th / Bumper
1,300 – 112,250 lbs
Limited
Destination Trailers
Bumper Pull
9,800 – 16,500 lbs
Out of Range
Fifth Wheels
5th Wheel
1,176 – 24,000 lbs
Out of Range
⚠ Vehicle capacity only — does not include passengers, gear, or tongue weight. Run the full calculator →
Compare Configurations
Other 2018 Ford Explorer Trims
| Configuration | Max Towing | MPG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Ford Explorer Platinum AWD | 5,600 lbs | 19.1 mpg | View → |
| 2025 Ford Explorer Platinum RWD | 5,600 lbs | 19.1 mpg | View → |
| 2025 Ford Explorer ST AWD | 5,600 lbs | 19.1 mpg | View → |
| 2025 Ford Explorer ST RWD | 5,600 lbs | 19.1 mpg | View → |
| 2025 Ford Explorer Active RWD | 5,300 lbs | 19.1 mpg | View → |
| 2025 Ford Explorer Active AWD | 5,300 lbs | 19.1 mpg | View → |
| 2025 Ford Explorer ST-Line RWD | 5,300 lbs | 19.1 mpg | View → |
| 2025 Ford Explorer ST-Line AWD | 5,300 lbs | 19.1 mpg | View → |
| 2024 Ford Explorer King Ranch 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 10A) | 5,600 lbs | 21.0 mpg | View → |
| 2024 Ford Explorer Platinum 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 10A) | 5,600 lbs | 20.0 mpg | View → |
Questions & Answers
Common Questions
How much can I actually tow with my 2018 Ford Explorer Sport?
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The 2018 Ford Explorer Sport is rated at 5,000 lbs maximum — but the real-world best practice is the 80% rule: target 4,000 lbs as your practical limit. This gives you margin for hills, headwinds, braking distance, and real-world load variance. More critically, check your payload first — the door sticker tells you your specific truck's limit, and payload may be your actual binding constraint.
What about payload — how much stuff can I put in the truck?
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You have 0 lbs of payload capacity — that's everything going IN the truck: passengers (~150 lbs each), camping gear, coolers, and critically the tongue weight from your trailer. For bumper pull trailers, tongue weight is typically 10–15% of the trailer's loaded weight. It fills up faster than most people expect, especially on longer trips.
What kind of hitch do I need?
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For the 2018 Ford Explorer Sport, you need a Class III receiver hitch rated for 5,000 lbs. Don't skimp here — the hitch is the critical link between truck and trailer. For fifth wheel towing, you'll need a dedicated kingpin-style fifth wheel hitch mounted in the truck bed.
What types of RVs will work with my truck?
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With your 4,000 lb safe towing capacity, you're looking at most travel trailers and slide-in campers. The compatibility chart above shows what percentage of each RV class in our database you can handle. Use the Tow Calculator to check a specific RV including gear, water, and passengers.
What does GVWR mean and why should I care?
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GVWR is Gross Vehicle Weight Rating — the maximum your truck can weigh when fully loaded with people, gear, and fuel. Your truck's GVWR is 0 lbs. Exceed it and you're over-stressing brakes, suspension, and tires. This is different from towing capacity — it's about what the truck itself can carry.
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