2003 Expedition and towing a new TT...thoughts?

[theboneskes]

My 2003 Ex has a towing capacity of 8650... We are looking at buying a TT with a unloaded weight of about 6000 and a GVWR of 7200 approx. I do have a prodigy brake controller and plan on getting a WDH w/sway control or an Equal-i-zer. Thoughts? We won't be pulling in the mountains at all. Would like some feedback. I have read many places try to keep it to 80% of the tow vehicle range. I know this setup is a little over, but will never tow with full tanks. I also have a rebuilt trans and run synthetic fluid in it and plan on getting an external trans cooler for it in addition to the one built in the trans. Also LT rated tires.

Thanks!

[rowekmr]

I briefly towed my trailer in sig with a 03 Navigator that is basically an Expedition with the 4 valve (300hp) engine. I lightened the tongue weight by moving propane tanks into the rear of trailer and removed unnecessary junk esp stuff stored up front under bed. That truck had auto adjusting air suspension so had to hook up WD with switch off then turn it on and it drove fine to me for the short trips I took. Wouldn't classify it as ideal setup though but I felt safe with it operating on short trips on flat land. I also have towed it with the recommended Excursion both the V10 and 6.0L and find them much more capable but slightly limited with soft rear suspension but definitely more stout than the Expedition/Navis. I also had Suburbans 2500 (can get cheaper) albeit the older body style with 7.4L which also towed it fine.

[BenK]

Addition to buddy Jeremiah's comment on ratings...

The wheels won't instantly fall off if over the OEMs ratings...just that they
will sooner...and how much sooner depends on lots of things

Like how much over the OEM Ratings, how you drive, where you drive, etc

Then the bottom line for me...is that the performance and ratings of the vehicle
is based on staying within the OEMs ratings numbers (any anagram with an 'R'
in it). Performance: get up and go, stopping, manhandling the load & trailer, etc

[jerem0621]

My Father In Law has a 2007 Navigator with the heavy duty tow package. 3v 5.4 v8, 3.73 gear ratio... 4x4 (true 4x4 with high and low) 4x4. Recently the Cam Phasors bit the dust due to a tech installing a base model Fram oil filter without the anti-drainback valve.

Cam phasors are fixed now with a lock out kit (Much better now)

This is a powerful truck... 300 hp doesn't sound like much but this 5.4 makes power pretty low in the powerband.. very powerful. Here are the specs.

GVWR - 7450 lbs
FGAWR -3450 lbs
RGAWR -4128 LBS
payload is 1370 lbs

(Sum of Axles is only 128 lbs more than GVWR.. not a lot of fudge factor here)

The tow capacity is 8300 lbs...
The Receiver is rated at 885 lbs in Weight Distribution mode...

Note that the payload is the combined weight of Occupants, Gear, and trailer Tongue weight.

We are considering purchasing this SUV for our family and for towing duties. Looking at the math, this is how I figure it up.

Payload subtractions

1) Misc junk in gloveboxes - 10 lbs
2) Weight Distribution Hitch - 80 lbs
3) Occupants (driver, three passengers) - 775 lbs
4) Occupants stuff- 30 lbs

Total load in vehicle - 895 lbs

So, with 1370 lbs of available payload and 895 lbs used up by passengers and hitch... that leaves 475 lbs for a trailer tongue weight. There is no way on this planet that I can Practically use the tow rating of this vehicle with anybody but myself left in the truck.

Its just not a lot of weight capacity left. Now, if you have small children you may gain a few hundred lbs back. Here is where it gets sketchy with ANY tow vehicle.

The advertised "Marketing" towing capacity is theoretically possible... but not practical.. not for families at least. Not many will tow with a half ton SUV unloaded without people in it. Thats why you buy a family SUV like this, to haul people.

Can you haul? Yes.. How much depends on what your weights look like...and as my friend BenK outlines... how much you believe the OEM's ratings.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[theboneskes]

Looking at buying a Jayco 267bhsw incase you are curious. Would I be ok (not great) towing it?

[shadows4]

theboneskes wrote:
I am gonna start looking for a excursion, and the 2003 5.4 was 3 valve.

The Expedition didn't get the 3 valve version of the 5.4L until 2005.

[BenK]

The OP is talking about one of the lower class TVs and folks are trying to convince
the OP to look at the next higher class TV

Lowest to highest are

• Cars
• CUVs;;Half ton
• 3/4 ton
• 1 ton
• Commercial Class...AKA semi's
• Off Road construction 8' dia or larger tires
• Custom...one offs/etc

This goes back to something been trying to convey to folks, but marketing
trumps again...

Use their GVWR's, GAWR's and GCWR's

Just using marketing badging will have newbies looking at the +14 or so
models of half tons from Ford, GM (they don't have that many), RAM, etc


Expeditions are 'half ton' pickup truck derived. Newer has IRS, which
I'm not sold on for towing heavy...too many precision pivots that
are subject to wear and tear

Even the OP is mixed up thinking that the Suburban only has one class...it
has two classes. Lower class is in the same as his Expedition...even
the stretched version. Then the next higher class 3/4 ton. A 7K GVWR
vs 8K GVWR. A +4K RGAWR vs +6K RGAWR

Once I hear 'ride quality' and 'MPG' desired on their have to have list...give
up and leave them in the half ton class...when they need or should have
the next higher class TV

That is where the OEMs produce the 'fake half ton'...for them, but am
noticing that the OEMs no longer offer that fake half ton...models come
and go with that 8K GVWR fake half ton...

[APT]

It looks like the 2003-2004 Expy had 2V 5.4L. If you already have it, fine. If you do not, then an Excursion V10 or 3/4 ton Suburban/Yukon XL 8.1L would be significantly better performing.

[Garyl53]

From a previous post on another thread...
"If the 8th character in the VIN is "L" it's 2v, if it's "5" it's 3v. I'm 95% sure an 03 Expy will be a 2v"

[Garyl53]

I was thinking of the 3/4 ton versions.
"2004 Chevrolet Suburban LS 2500/Towing capacity = 12000 lbs."

[theboneskes]

I love how everyone recommends a Suburban. You do realize a 1/2 ton burb/Yukon has a towing capacity of 7200 right? I am gonna start looking for a excursion, and the 2003 5.4 was 3 valve.

[Garyl53]

I towed with a 2003 Expy 5.4L (2-valve version) 3.73 towing a 6000 Lb. trailer with wife and 2 kids. I did it but I would highly recommend you stay at or below a 5000 lb. trailer to provide a more comfortable ride. I got pushed around a lot by the trailer when towing even with a good anti-sway hitch. Couldn't tow in the mountains well at all. I would go for a newer Expy (with the 4-valve version and higher tow capacity) or better yet an Excursion V10. You may even look at the GMC/Suburban as they may have higher tow capacities.

[The_Kroc]

we tow 6000 pounds (loaded) with our 2014 espy, wouldn't feel safe going much over that.

[theboneskes]

Thanks for your input. I am trying to talk my wife into an Excursion... My Expedition is a 5.4 with 3.73 gears. I live in the Columbus Ohio area and it is relatively flay in most areas. I won't be towing far front home either (average about 60 miles-on a rare occasion 200). I always run Mobile 1 Synthetic oil, and as u said I had the trans rebuilt less than 20k ago and it has Mobile 1 synthetic in it too. I will be adding an additional trans cooler to it also. I am not one of those guys who pulls at a rediculous speed either.

[Ron_Gratz]

theboneskes wrote:
My 2003 Ex has a towing capacity of 8650... We are looking at buying a TT with a unloaded weight of about 6000 and a GVWR of 7200 approx.---

I believe the Owners Manual for the 2003 Expedition specifies a maximum allowable tongue weight of 865#
You also should check the receiver to see if there is a TW rating label on it.

I recommend that your loaded tongue weight percentage should be at least 13%.
With a max allowable TW of 865#, the max allowable loaded TT weight would be 865/0.13 = about 6650#.

If the brochure "unloaded weight" is about 6000#, it is likely the factory delivered weight will be 6200# or more.
That means staying within a max TW of 865# and having a TW% of 13% or more would limit the amount of TT cargo and liquids to 6650-6200 = 450# or less.

Ron