I have a 2001 Mercury Mountaineer 2WD 5.0L V8 with the towing package. I also installed Airlift suspension in the rear. I regularly tow a 20' alumninum boat with it and it does it well. I am thinking about buying a 24' fiberglass boat (http://www.chaparralboats.com/sig240.asp). It's 5400 pounds dry. With trailer, gas, fishing equipment, cooler, batteries, etc. it's probably 6500 pounds plus. The Mountaineer as equipped has towing max of 6700 pounds. Any thoughts on whether it can tow this boat over short distances? I plan on docking it somewhere but still may need to tow it a couple of times a year (winter storage, etc.). Anyone here tow something like that with an Explorer/Mountaineer? Thanks.

I used to tow a 30' travel trailer with my 98 Explorer with no problems. I believe with the towing package a transmission cooler is included which would be your biggest problem. I changed my transmission fluid more often because of the strain it was taking pulling somehting that heavy. I think the manual states every 30k miles & I did mine every 15K. If you take care of the transmission, where most of your problems would be, it will do just fine and last just as long if not longer than people that don't tow anything.