Ford Expedition - upgrade standard to heavy duty tow package
I have a '06 Expedition XLT 5.4 4x4 with a 3.73 gear ratio and a 4-speed transmission but it has the standard tow package (rated to tow up to 6000 lbs). I'm currently towing a 23 Trail Lite camper and it pulls it very easily. I'm looking to upgrade the camper to something bigger. So, I'm looking to upgrade the Expedition to the heavy duty tow package if possible so I can safely tow a camper in the 6000-7800 lb GVWR range. I have already upgraded to the 7-pin connector and have the brake controller installed so that part is done. I have called Ford and found there is also a heavy duty tranny cooler that I should get ($190+install) and possibly a heavy-duty radiator too. The Ford parts guy told me I would probably be OK with not getting the heavy-duty radiator (as long as I don't go up into the mountains) as long as I get the tranny cooler installed (does that sound OK?). I also have the class III hitch receiver instead of the class IV. The sticker on the hitch receiver says it can tow up to 8950 as long as it has a weight distribution hitch (which I already have). Is the class III hitch going to be OK as long as I have the WDH? The Ford guy said everything else between the '06 with and without the heavy duty tow package is the same (springs, struts, brakes, rotors, etc. are the same with both). Has anyone done this type of upgrade to the tow package that could help with putting my mind at ease that this is going to be safe to pull a camper in that 6000-7800 GVWR range? Is there anything else I need to do?
