Expedition EL - LT tires

[peoples1234]

I have a Expedition EL that I am using to pull my travel trailer. While I know that the trailer is maxing out the Expedition, it is what I have and it isn't going anywhere for a few years. Nevertheless, it actually pulls great. I know it is back there, but no waggle and it usually very stable. That is until we had some great weather here in NC for December and so off we went.

Basics:

Expedition EL, ecoboost
TT - 7900 lbs, 950 tongue, 36ft
Blue OX sway pro WD hitch

Again normally tows great. However this past trip, it was very windy. It is normally pretty windy in eastern NC, but this was sustained winds of 20-25, gusts to 35. The trailer and truck was all over the place, I could barely maintain 50 at times.

The trailer wasn't swaying so much as I was having to put a lot of input into the steering to offset the wind, and then it would either gust or change direction suddenly causing the input to be too much or in the wrong direction. Basically, side to side stability sucked. But the truck and trailer moved together for the most part, so I feel that the blue ox was doing its job.

So my question is, would LT tires help with this problem? I have the factory P tires on there aired up to max pressure (50 lbs). I have heard that P tires feel like marshmallows when towing, and I'd have to agree based on my last tow. So if an E rated LT tire like the LTX would solve this problem, I won't hesitate to install them.

Basically, is there a drastic difference between a P and LT.

If there is no hope, I guess I'd like to know that as well. Thanks.

[Rustycamperpant]

RinconVTR wrote:

Rustycamperpants wrote:
I could not find a D or E rated tire for my Expy due to the 20" wheel size. .

Cause you're not looking at the right tire size to get you into LT.

Change into LT265/60 R20

You will not notice any speedo error...even when compared to GPS. Well, on paper you will, but the margin of error is so close, you wont notice a thing in reality.

I wish I'd known that previously. Odd that both the Ford Dealer and Discount tire did not mention this option when I asked about a higher rated tire for towing my TT. Thanks for the information, next time I will go as you have mentioned...

[shadows4]

Yes the LT's will make a difference. Previously had a 2001 Expy and changed from the factory C's to LT's. Big difference. Yes it rode a bit rougher but not unbearable. Good luck, John

[RinconVTR]

Rustycamperpants wrote:
I could not find a D or E rated tire for my Expy due to the 20" wheel size. .

Cause you're not looking at the right tire size to get you into LT.

Change into LT265/60 R20

You will not notice any speedo error...even when compared to GPS. Well, on paper you will, but the margin of error is so close, you wont notice a thing in reality.

[RinconVTR]

Grit dog wrote:
Agree with above posts completely, and yes LT tires will do nothing but make the Expe handle better when loaded or towing and longer tire life.

X1000....except for the tire life comment. Who the he$$ knows about tire life when towing vs driving and the total sum.

I have towed at max with a Honda Pilot for 3 summers and the last 3 summers with a Toyota Sequoia with a larger TT also placing it at near max. Yes, tires are critical when towing.

For the Pilot, XL UHP tires made all the difference. UHP tires...do not doubt their towing ability and stability. Wake up to this fact, as uncommon as it may be!

The Sequoia UHP tires OR LT tires at 60psi...the same good result. Wake up people. Stiff tires for towing are critical!

Add to the Sequoia ir Pilot...a Hensley (or Propride...same thing) WDH....crazy stable towing.

Those who have not done any of the above...ignore them entirely.

If your are retired and plan to travel multiple weeks at a time per year...ignore all this and buy a 5th wheel with 3/4 or 1 ton...or motorhome! My reply does not apply to you.

[Grit_dog]

Agree with above posts completely, and yes LT tires will do nothing but make the Expe handle better when loaded or towing and longer tire life.

[brulaz]

I had good luck with my F150 using Michelin LTX MS/2 LT-E tires.

But I also added HD shocks like Bilsteins and rear spring stiffeners like Energy Suspension Bump Stops and Roadmaster Active Suspension.

But like others say, a 36ft trailer is going to blown all over in high winds anyway.

[downtheroad]

Above posters has pretty much said it all...about wind and trailers.

I'm do better with visuals so....
Check this out....semi and winds.......Click HERE

[Rustycamperpant]

I could not find a D or E rated tire for my Expy due to the 20" wheel size. The only available tire in that high rating was an offroad Wrangler and frankly I did not like the look, nor would I wont the road noise. When I replaced the Scorpions that were on my Expy, I put on the heaviest load rating tires I could find in my size, Nexen Roadian 275/55/20 XL. At 2,833# rating at 50# pressure I could find nothing else that comes close. I looked at Michelins and Yokohama and the load ratings were less.

I ran my first set of tires to 60,000 miles and had them worn almost to the wear bars when I replaced them with an identical set. I researched tires again and could find nothing else that compared. To top it all off, price installed was significantly lower than anything else quoted.

As stated earlier, wind can still be an issue regardless. Yes these tires are more solid than the Pirelli tires that came with the vehicle, but at times I still wish I had a more solid platform. . I cannot afford to get another TV though. Good luck with whatever you decide.

[austingta]

Terryallan wrote:
Yes stiffer side walls will help. but a 25 mph cross wind gust WILL move just about any trailer. It moved the 18 wheeler as well. so don't get excited just because a strong wind gust wiggled your TT. Slow down, and that is AFTER you put on stronger tires. Which I do recommend. My tires are rated to 2700lb, and they steady the TT greatly. but the wind will still move it around

That's exactly right. No amount of tire strength or tow vehicle size can eliminate sway or deflection in a strong enough wind. It's tough towing a giant sail in a crosswind, it just is. Youtube is full of 18 wheelers whose trailers just get blown over in a crosswind. It's not pleasant, but since you say this was a new event, you are probably OK.

A fifth wheel trailer would mitigate a lot of that, but as you say, that's not where you are.

Happy New Year!

[teamster_tom]

I switched to E 10 ply rated LT tires 4 years ago. I never had a sway problem with my Reese Dual cam hitch but I got a great deal on the tires. I did notice they are a lot more stable especially driving thru the gorge on Hwy 84. There are always ruts worn in the pavement lots of truck traffic pulling triples (105') and usually windy.
That being said they are noisy and harder riding even when I drop the pressure to 50 lbs not towing. Next set I will stay with LT's but look for more of a highway tread than I have.

[colliehauler]

Like Terryallen said slow down in strong crosswinds. Remember your pulling a giant billboard for the wind to catch. LT tires would be a good upgrade, stock tires can feel like your driving on Jell-O.

As long as the truck and trailer move as one it sounds like you have it set up correctly.

We're use to the wind in Kansas and it can blow strong enough to move the vehicle around without a RV.

[Terryallan]

Yes stiffer side walls will help. but a 25 mph cross wind gust WILL move just about any trailer. It moved the 18 wheeler as well. so don't get excited just because a strong wind gust wiggled your TT. Slow down, and that is AFTER you put on stronger tires. Which I do recommend. My tires are rated to 2700lb, and they steady the TT greatly. but the wind will still move it around

[theoldwizard1]

peoples1234 wrote:

So my question is, would LT tires help with this problem? I have the factory P tires on there aired up to max pressure (50 lbs).
.
.
.
Basically, is there a drastic difference between a P and LT.

Yes ! Stiffer sidewalls and heavier load rating. I would look for tires with >116T load rating (Michelin LTX). This is what is on my daughter's 2012 Expedition.

Higher profile (65-75 series) tires will also have stiffer sidewalls.

Do you have the factory HD trailer tow option ? You can always add the HD radiator and extra transmission cooler. Good piece of mind.

[peoples1234]

Just to clarify in case this seems to stupid of a question, I have towed with a F350 which obviously had LT tires, but I don't know how much that was the truck or the tires. So without going out and spending $1k on tires to try and see if there is improvement, I was look for someone to say that they switched and it was the best thing they ever did, or the opposite.