Expedition vs Expedition EL - does > wheelbase/ length help?

Usually longer wheelbases provide more stability. I don't think 12" is going to make that big of a difference in maneuverability. JMHO

I have yet to tow a decent sized trailer with my 07 EL But when i owned my 08 regular length expedition it towed just fine as long as you are within specifications. To me they drive and feel the same. You need to figure out if you need the extra space behind the third seats and which one gives you the necessary payload. Odds are you run a bigger chance of maxing out the receiver hitch (890lbs w/WDH) before anything else. My EL has a yellow sticker payload of 1500lbs and some change, a GVWR of 7900 lbs and I think the rear axle is rated at 4250lbs. It is a loaded 4x4 Eddie Bauer with all the options, in other words just about as heavy as they come. Its a great truck.

Thank you for the feedback.

Don't forget the larger fuel tank on the EL, longer wheelbase=better towing.

What is the ratio of the rear overhang to the wheelbase of each? Longer wheelbase alone in itself doesn't guarantee better towing. It is the ratio of the rear overhang to the wheelbase that does.

My 2004 Envoy XL was more stable than our 2005 Suburban. Wheelbases were within 1" of each other, but the rear overhang of the Envoy was far shorter and made for a more stable ride.

ktosv wrote:
What is the ratio of the rear overhang to the wheelbase of each? Longer wheelbase alone in itself doesn't guarantee better towing. It is the ratio of the rear overhang to the wheelbase that does.

My 2004 Envoy XL was more stable than our 2005 Suburban. Wheelbases were within 1" of each other, but the rear overhang of the Envoy was far shorter and made for a more stable ride.

You make a very good point. However I am not sure I totally agree. My old Tahoe used to tow very well. Then I pulled the same trailers with my brothers Yukon XL with the same drive train and it felt much more stable even though I had a larger rear overhang. Overall a longer wheelbase seemed to help dramatically

Brisk wrote:
You make a very good point. However I am not sure I totally agree. My old Tahoe used to tow very well. Then I pulled the same trailers with my brothers Yukon XL with the same drive train and it felt much more stable even though I had a larger rear overhang. Overall a longer wheelbase seemed to help dramatically

Just curious as to what year Tahoe you had and what year Yukon XL your brother had? The ratio of the rear overhang to the wheelbase of a Tahoe/Yukon/Suburban/Yukon XL are darn near identical (I haven't verified this on the 2015's yet!!). Your improved handling you experienced didn't come from the longer wheelbase, but from some other mean(s).

I am sure there is some function of tow vehicle weight and ratio of rear overhang to wheelbase that would come into play, but we both went from a lighter to heavier vehicle and had different experiences. Neither of my vehicles had sway with the trailer towed, but the Suburban would get pushed around by passing larger vehicles while I never encountered another vehicle large enough to experience that push with the Envoy.

For the OP...if it were me and the ratio is the same for the Expeditions, get the one you want. What I do know is that the added luggage are of our Suburban far out weighed ever having a shorter vehicle for us.

ktosv wrote:

Brisk wrote:
You make a very good point. However I am not sure I totally agree. My old Tahoe used to tow very well. Then I pulled the same trailers with my brothers Yukon XL with the same drive train and it felt much more stable even though I had a larger rear overhang. Overall a longer wheelbase seemed to help dramatically

Just curious as to what year Tahoe you had and what year Yukon XL your brother had? The ratio of the rear overhang to the wheelbase of a Tahoe/Yukon/Suburban/Yukon XL are darn near identical (I haven't verified this on the 2015's yet!!). Your improved handling you experienced didn't come from the longer wheelbase, but from some other mean(s).

I am sure there is some function of tow vehicle weight and ratio of rear overhang to wheelbase that would come into play, but we both went from a lighter to heavier vehicle and had different experiences. Neither of my vehicles had sway with the trailer towed, but the Suburban would get pushed around by passing larger vehicles while I never encountered another vehicle large enough to experience that push with the Envoy.

For the OP...if it were me and the ratio is the same for the Expeditions, get the one you want. What I do know is that the added luggage are of our Suburban far out weighed ever having a shorter vehicle for us.

They were both 2004s. And I agree, the extra cargo space will always come in handy. I always say "You will always wish you had more space/capability, not less"