I learned a great deal about my big families payload issues last year from this forum, and we never bought a TV. (3 teens, 3 adults) We have decided that an Expy fits our needs the best as an everyday vehicle, and we may need to resign ourselves to the fact that it will tow a trailer with only the driver, and the family following in another vehicle. We typically camp within a few hours of our home so it's not a big deal. There is an outstanding deal on a '14 Expy EL. Brand new only 39k. 4x4 with a heavy duty towing package. Says it includes this: Heavy-Duty Trailer-Tow Package (Heavy-Duty Auxiliary Transmission Oil Cooler, Heavy-Duty Radiator, Integrated Trailer Brake Controller). 1)Is that including everything what we need to tow?2)It's such a great deal, but is it worth it to wait for the ecoboost engine in the '15? I see those as being at least 10k over this price. But is it worth it?We do not own a TT yet. Will likely be on the smaller side, kids don't mind sleeping in tents. Mostly want the bathroom, running water, bed for me. :)Would you snatch this up and use it as a TV?Thanks!updating info from Edmunds: Horsepower365 hp @ 5000 rpm ('15)310 hp @ 5100 rpm ('14) Torque420 ft-lbs. @ 2500 rpm ('15)365 ft-lbs. @ 3600 rpm ('14)

The 2014 EL with HD tow package has a max loaded trailer spec of 8700#NOTE: the vehicles GCWR is 15K pounds,http://www.ford.com/resources/ford/general/pdf/towingguides/14_Expedition_Sep11.pdfFYI, you can get into a 28 foot quad bunk ultralite Bullet (287 qbs) that weighs 5485# dry. You can figure, by the time you put in all the stuff you need, add 1000# to that number. On our Kodiak, with Four Teenagers, two adults and a dog, the trailer all stocked for a 2 week camping trip, with everything you can think of. Chairs, coolers etc, added exactly 1000# to our trailer. So if you take that bullet add the 1000# of gear, so 6485 total trailer weight, you still have and extra 2015# of capacity on your GCWR, that is more than enough safety net to take your family in your expy. and not make them follow in a car.

tim and amy wrote:So if you take that bullet add the 1000# of gear, so 6485 total trailer weight, you still have and extra 2015# of capacity on your GCWR, that is more than enough safety net to take your family in your expy. and not make them follow in a car.What about payload? That's too important to ignore. Bruce

With regards to waiting for the 15. If you dont need the extra hp and tourque the 5.4 is a good engine. Mpg would also be something to consider if you will use the car as a daily driver.

nomad297 wrote:tim and amy wrote:So if you take that bullet add the 1000# of gear, so 6485 total trailer weight, you still have and extra 2015# of capacity on your GCWR, that is more than enough safety net to take your family in your expy. and not make them follow in a car.What about payload? That's too important to ignore. BruceRight on. 6 people and personal gear alone is at least 1,000 lbs. Ford seems to call a version with 1,700lbs of payload. If the trailer weights even 6k lbs, he is at payload without any other gear. I own an Expy myself. It tows our 23 footer very nicely, but even with less people, we are right at the payload limit. Still patiently waiting for a new 3/4 ton SUV...

PDX.Zs wrote:nomad297 wrote:tim and amy wrote:So if you take that bullet add the 1000# of gear, so 6485 total trailer weight, you still have and extra 2015# of capacity on your GCWR, that is more than enough safety net to take your family in your expy. and not make them follow in a car.What about payload? That's too important to ignore. BruceStill patiently waiting for a new 3/4 ton SUV...I wish they would make a new 3/4 Ton SUV but even GM stopped making the 3/4 Sub/Yukon XL. Have you tried looking for a late model used 3/4T SUV? I know it took me a while to find mine and I am very pleased with it (even thoough it has high miles). For our family it couldn't be beat for payload and power (I just wish I could have a modern 6-speed matched to my 8.1L engine).

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Tystevens
Explorer
Aug 04, 2014
I guess I don't understand the logic here ... if you are resigned to taking a second vehicle anyway, why limit yourself to 3-row SUVs? If you have a second vehicle anyway, you could tow with a crew cab pickup or whatever else you wanted, leaving you a very wide range of options.

But anyway, I love my Ecoboost ... my personal preference would definitely be to wait for a '15 EB over the '14 5.4.
Fourkidletts
Explorer
Aug 04, 2014
Test drove the Nissan NV. Ummm...no. It's HUGE. I cannot possibly drive that tank around town. Now waiting for '15 Expy.
PDX_Zs
Explorer
Aug 02, 2014
Fourkidletts wrote:
Not really finding full size vans like they used to have. Anyone have an opinion on towing with this? http://www.nissancommercialvehicles.com/media/pdf/2014-Nissan-NV-Passenger-Brochure.pdf

Towing with rw drive only an issue?

Never thought of those. Quick search shows that those things are LEGIT.

Seems like a super solution. We need the 4wd where we go,after dumping the trailer, so it's not an option for us.

Buy it and let us all know...
Fourkidletts
Explorer
Aug 02, 2014
Not really finding full size vans like they used to have. Anyone have an opinion on towing with this? http://www.nissancommercialvehicles.com/media/pdf/2014-Nissan-NV-Passenger-Brochure.pdf

Towing with rw drive only an issue?
shadows4
Explorer III
Aug 02, 2014
With a family of 6 you should really consider a full size van. Maybe go rent one for a weekend just to try one out. We were a family of 4 plus a good sized dog. We loved our full sized vans. Excellent visibility for everyone, and everyone had their own seat. Our kids are in their 30's now so we no longer have one. But if we ever see any grand kids and thought we needed it I wouldn't hesitate to get another. JMHO.
Fourkidletts
Explorer
Aug 02, 2014
Thanks for the replies. We weigh 1000 pounds just in bodies alone. We are a tall family, and that 3rd row in the expy is needed. The only other vehicle that fits my boys in the back is the '15 Suburban. (About 10k more than this expy) Any 3/4 ton I've ever found has around 150k miles. As an everyday family vehicle that's too much. I like the idea of better gas mileage in the '15 but the price on this expy is several thousand off in incentives so I'm probably breaking even on savings there. I guess I could wait until this time next year for incentives on the '15 but I'm not sure i have that much patience! Lol
BenK
Explorer
Aug 02, 2014
Why keeping my Big Block K3500 :B Sub till the wheels fall off...even then fix it
up and keep going...

Consider a full sized van. MPG won't be as good, but IMHO...towing safety and
towing performance on top of my 'have to have' list and MPG on on my 'nice to have' list...
texasclarks
Explorer
Aug 02, 2014
PDX.Zs wrote:
nomad297 wrote:
tim and amy wrote:
So if you take that bullet add the 1000# of gear, so 6485 total trailer weight, you still have and extra 2015# of capacity on your GCWR, that is more than enough safety net to take your family in your expy. and not make them follow in a car.

What about payload? That's too important to ignore.

Bruce

Still patiently waiting for a new 3/4 ton SUV...

I wish they would make a new 3/4 Ton SUV but even GM stopped making the 3/4 Sub/Yukon XL. Have you tried looking for a late model used 3/4T SUV? I know it took me a while to find mine and I am very pleased with it (even thoough it has high miles). For our family it couldn't be beat for payload and power (I just wish I could have a modern 6-speed matched to my 8.1L engine).
PDX_Zs
Explorer
Aug 02, 2014
nomad297 wrote:
tim and amy wrote:
So if you take that bullet add the 1000# of gear, so 6485 total trailer weight, you still have and extra 2015# of capacity on your GCWR, that is more than enough safety net to take your family in your expy. and not make them follow in a car.

What about payload? That's too important to ignore.

Bruce

Right on. 6 people and personal gear alone is at least 1,000 lbs.

Ford seems to call a version with 1,700lbs of payload.

If the trailer weights even 6k lbs, he is at payload without any other gear.

I own an Expy myself. It tows our 23 footer very nicely, but even with less people, we are right at the payload limit.

Still patiently waiting for a new 3/4 ton SUV...
HaveAGoodOne
Explorer
Aug 02, 2014
With regards to waiting for the 15. If you dont need the extra hp and tourque the 5.4 is a good engine. Mpg would also be something to consider if you will use the car as a daily driver.

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