Travel Tow Capacity for Ford Expedition EL

majorgator wrote:

Those numbers like payload which is based on GVWR are NOT RECOMMENDATIONS. They are SAFETY CERTIFIED NUMBERS verified by extensive safety related independently performed tests in accordance with a set of uniform testing protocols

Well, that's not entirely accurate either. There is no "uniform testing protocols". There's extensive online articles about how the manufacturers have never been able to agree to a uniform set of testing and rating protocols when it comes to determining what their product's capacity and capabilities are. Every time they've tried to agree, someone breaks rank and then no one participates. Supposedly, they've reached an agreement beginning in 2015 to a set of uniform standards, but there are no government mandates to do it. There are no "independent performed tests" which have a bearing on the door sticker, and all tests are done to the bias of the manufacturer. Some folks have come along and performed independent tests, but those are "informational only" and will never be published my the manufacturer. This has been a huge complaint since the 1990's.

Bottom line is that the ratings on the door sticker show what the vehicle ratings are in its "stock" configuration...right off the assembly line. Aftermarket mods can have a positive or negative effect. It is absolutely common for people to exceed the ratings after they've done some level of mods to their TV. I'm not saying its right or wrong, and one should never perform mods without very diligent research. Its the people that exceed ratings blindly that should scare you. If your TV is under warranty, that would obviously be a big NO-NO.

Not true at all when it comes to brake testing which is the main "SAFETY" related parameter I was referring to. It is done at the stated GVWR and those are performed by independent entities and paid for by the manufacturer. The results are privileged and go directly to the FEDs. FORD provides the vehicles to the testing entitiy, but that is where their participation basically ends. I know that Fed Mogul has a complete division for testing the brakes on all SD Ford trucks and there are VERY STRICT PROTOCOLS as it relates to those tests and they even include what percentage of the GAWRs for the front/rear loads so that the sum still equals the GVWR for the certification label. All this information is buried in the FMVSS regulations for those willing to dig for it.

Now it's true that these are performed on stock off the line vehicles which is logical since that is what the certification label states when it says "THIS VEHICLE CONFORMS TO ALL APPLICABLE FMVSS ....". That sticker is FAR, FAR from any recommendation at to what it contains.

Larry