Getting Expensive

I towed a 26' with my Expy years ago, White Knuckle on interstates (also had a less than desirable WD hitch) (I didn't have RV.Net to counsel back then). Good choice on the upgrade and happy camping!

I love towing with the Excursion - actually - even when not towing I love my Ex :)

jbjuices - We also have a family of 5 and two dogs and that's exactly why we got this beast.

Congrats on getting an Excursion. I have upgraded a few componets and have improved my towing experience.

jbjuices wrote:

Anyway, I found a beautiful Excursion with only 54,000 miles on it and we're going to pick it up this Saturday. We're trading in our 03 EB Expedition which I will miss very much. The Excursion is a 6.8L V10, and with that power, I will fill much more comfortable towing my family of 5, two dogs and all our gear 10 hrs a way to our camping destination.

Congrats on the upgrade! Sounds like you found a sweet ride.

Smart guy to upgrade

The Excursion with the V-10 or even better yet, the 7.3 Diesel would make a great TV.

Maximum trailer ratings are a warranty issue and do not actually address safety issues. They merely explain the weight beyond which the manufacturer MAY not be required to honor the warranty for items that could be WEIGHT related. SAFETY numbers are the axle ratings and the GVWR of the vehicle (both items are posted on the DOT safety plate on your door post).Your dealers were giving you all the advice they COULD give you. The warranty WOULD be honored and as long as you didn't exceed the DOT numbers you SHOULD be safe. The ACTUAL safety depends on many things NOT in their control, such as the hitch you use, your own driving skills etc and NOBODY can guarantee those things.

I agree you probably have made a wise decision in the upgrade but that doesn't mean the Expy was incapable of doing the job.

Good luck / Skip

Congrats all the way around! I too had a 2003 Expy pulling a 6800lb (dry) TT. The Expy was maxed out in every way. When I bought a 08 Sequoia there was a huge difference in handling, power, and braking.

Manufacturers tow ratings are highly suspect - they all want to be the best so how they determine tow rating varies. Enter the SAE J2807 standard. Toyota has been following it since 2011 and even reduced it's numbers to conform to the standard. I'm a Chevy guy so no bias here. Read more about the spec here as well as an intersting Car and Driver article or just Google SAE J2807.

jbjuices wrote:
I don't trust the 5-6 different dealers I called that said we would be more than fine to tow it with this vehicle. By the way, it amazes me that they would say that an expedition can tow a 7000lb dry weight trailer, even if they know I'm not buying from them. Is it that they truly don't know, when they should because they're the experts?

Problem is when manufactures create their tow ratings, it is for an ideal trailer. An ideal trailer is a 2 axle flat deck hauling lumber or concrete. Maybe a boat or a low profile enclosed box. These trailers have low center of gravity, low (or no) wind resistance, and about a 10% tongue weight.

So yes, an Expedition can tow a 7000 or even 8500lb trailer!! - as long as it is low, with no wind resistance, the load centered on the trailer axles, 10% tongue weight, and just the driver inside :)

If you have ever seen videos of manufactures towing tests, this is EXACTLY the set up you will see. A single driver pulling a flat deck with some heavy weighs strapped over the trailer axles. Hardly representative of what we want to tow!

A travel trailer is the OPPOSITE of ideal. High center of gravity with weight around the edges, very high wind resistance, requires a higher tongue weight of 13% minimum to keep stable, and usually a family is along for the ride.

Manufactures don't really explain the difference. Salesmen rarely understand this difference, and fail to realize just how much it affects how much can safely be towed. It is left to the customer to take the maximum number provided and back out all the other factors.

The numbers have been run enough times on half ton SUVs that the general concensus for a family of 4 to stick with a dry weight of 5000-5500 lbs which will also usually keep the length in check. and The weight numbers will pretty much always work out and not require excessive attention. Add family numbers or increase the dry weight and adjustments should be made.

My TT is 4045 dry. Add propane, batteries, water, food, stuff, and I am at around 5200-5300. I have 3 kids and a aunt that sometimes comes with us. My Expy has one of the highest half ton payload ratings at 1675lbs. With the 6 of us and a bit of stuff, I have around 850lbs left for tongue weight. So I could go a little bigger than my current trailer, but not much!

Congrates of the the big Ex!! You have made a good decision!!