We are an english couple thinking of touring USA for 6 months. We hope to buy a Ford Explorer 2006 to tow a 5000lb travel trailer with the aim of transporting them both back to the UK.
Can anyone give advice on the following questions please:
1. Is it possible to convert the gas engine to LPG gas, it is a common thing to do in UK. Any ideas on cost of conversion
2. What miles to the gallon would a gas engine do towing the travel trailer
3. The approx cost of the insurance for the vehicles and some suitable, reputable insurance companies
4. Do Ford use diesel engines in the explorer
Thank you in anticipation for everyones help.
Roy

Welcome to the forum.

It is possible to convert the gas engine to LP, but the American smog laws might make it very expensive to do here. Would be better to stay with gasoline in the USA and convert it when in the UK. Gasoline is readily available here. You might find it difficult to find places willing to fill a LP vehicle (other than RV places).

I pay about $600 per year for full coverage on a truck.

Roy ... Here is a Ford web site that will help you chose the Explorer model most suited to towing. Remember that converting the engine to LP will reduce your power. LP has less energy than gasoline.

http://www.fordvehicles.com/assets/pdf/towing/07RVexplorer9-18.pdf

thankyou hosspuller for your valued reply, I am finding it impossible to get a quote for car/travel trailer insurance from a USA company because of no zip code.
Could you reccommend an insurance company who I could contact by email to start negotiations ?

There could be a change of plan we could be shipping our own SUV and travel trailer over to the USA for our tour.

Kind Regards
Roy

Roy... The more I consider your difficulties, the more I would recommend you rent a travel rig rather than try to bridge the pond with vehicles. If you rent, you'll have your choice of rig type. Motor home, travel trailer, and all the sub types in each category.

With a rental, the insurance is already included.

I think the insurance problem arises because of the question of which state will the vehicle be registed in. Each of our 50 states has its own set of vehicle and insurance requirements. Perhaps if you choose a state to become temporary residents of, the questions will solve themselves.

Hi Hosspuller

Thank you for your recent advice, its good to speak with someone from the USA.

Can you reccommend a reputable hire company, there are a vast amount on websites any ideas please?

Roy

Roy ... As you found on the web, a bane and boon of our life is the multitude of choice. There really isn't a choice of nation wide hire company for RV's. If you would choose a starting location, I'll ask my contacts to get you a thread to pull.

Let's start with a simple choice, east, west coast or middle America?
You might start away from the major metro areas.

We are an English couple who are planning to do a similar trip as yours. Any chance that we can get in contact with you so that we can see how your trip went.

Joe G .. Welcome to the forum ...
If you do decide to trek across the USA, I'll offer myself as a local contact. NC is on the southeastern portion of the country.