Ford Expedition Towing Problems

It is normal for a gas engine to run higher RPM, when trying to maintain speed while climbing.

You need to have working trailer brakes for that size trailer. It is a legal requirement, and a real safety issue. If the brakes are currently adjusted improperly...dragging from being too tight, it would cause it to tow harder, and create heat issue with the hubs.

Welcome to the forum!! I suggest you, or a qualified other, pull the hubs, check brakes, and repair brake wires. Also a good time to service wheel bearings to insure all is road ready. If previous owner cut the brake wires, I would suspect there is a problem.

Jerry

Thanks for the info!! I really appreciate it. So you think its not too much trailer for my expedition?

It is too much for your Expedition if you do not have operational trailer brakes. Engine revs if you are towing at 65mph are probably ok.

You aren't giving enough actual info, as to the TV capability. It would depend on actual scaled loaded trailer wt. You also will run out of TV payload, before reaching the 9,200 lb towing number. Everything in the TV plus the trailer tongue weight, hitch weight, will count against your payload. Payload number is on the tire loading sticker on driver's door panel. It will likely be around 1,500 lbs.

Jerry

Ok, thanks. I will definitely get the brakes fixed before the next trip.

Really appreciate it!

First thing to do before towing anything for the first time is check the operation of tail/running lights, brakes/battery, tires for wear/rot and proper air pressure, axle bearings for looseness/wear/grease, tongue coupler wear/lube and chains in good condition.
The battery is required to activate the brakes via the breakaway switch in the event of a truck trailer separation. The breakaway switch has a small cable with a hook that attaches to the truck's hitch receiver same as the chains.
All of this stuff must be in good working order to safely tow a trailer.
Be safe out there.

Is your vehicle up to towing that rig? Don't know because you don't list the specs on the TV. I would guess the weight of your tow to be in the neighborhood of 6500 lbs. Defiantly need brakes. Unless those brakes are adjusted too tight, I think your TV may not be up to the task. If the brakes were over adjusted, it would not have taken very long for you to figure out, by the smoke and smell, that something is wrong. I would not recommend pulling over 65 anyway. I know that a lot of RVers do, but you use much more fuel, harder to stop and if you are towing with a lightweight TV, that trailer will pull you around.
Make sure your TV is adequate for the task as well as your trailer is equipped properly to be towed.
I am perfectly happy to go up steep hills at 45-50 as well as down at 50-55. I KNOW I can stop at that speed. Good RVing!

You are way below your towing capacity. That does not mean that you have adequate power to run highway speeds up a grade. You need a big diesel to do that.

I consider 60 mph to be a good towing speed. That is probably the max speed rating on your trailer tires. Get in the right lane and stay there. 50 mph is good for climbing grades, and be prepared to downshift. Go down a grade in the same gear you came up.

That's exactly what it is supposed to do. Modern gas motors make their power at higher RPM. It's harder on a motor to lug it at low RPM when towing.

EXTREMELY DANGEROUS to tow without trailer brakes and illegal. You need a trailer brake controler installed in your vehicle for them to work as well. Most states require trailer brakes on anything over 2000 pounds, you are close to three times that amount. A lot of trailer tires are only rated for a max speed of 65 as well.

As to the trailer weight. If it truly is 4500lbs empty, then loaded should put you around 5800-6000lbs. That would give you an approx loaded tongue weight of 750lbs. There should be a sticker on one of the cabinet doors with the real unloaded weight and the trailers CCC. There should also be a sticker outside on the left front corner of the trailer with the VIN#, tire sizes and GVWR along with axle ratings. I do know the Gulf Streams of those years were very light weight. So it may be possible that it only has a 5500 lb GVWR.

Your Expedition will tow it no problem. Yes with a tall trailer you will run in 3rd gear at 3500 rpm. However that is where the motor is making its power so it is working as designed!

I would also suggest going through the brakes and wheel bearings to make sure they are in good working order. Repack the wheel bearings with new seals. And make sure the brakes are working properly, both with the brake controller in your Expedition (I hope you have one) and with the break away switch plunger pulled! (Disconnect the 7-way to the truck so you don't back feed and fry your brake controller. Then go through all the wiring and lights outside the trailer. You will also need a battery attached to the trailer to power the brakes with the break away pulled and the 7-way disconnected. (Not the one in the truck). The trailer must be able to stop itself in a breakaway situation.

Good luck and welcome to the forum!