Expedition vs Suburban

Mike Up wrote:

Racerchaser27 wrote:
I towed for 5 years with my '03 Expedition, with the 5.4 ltr engine. First two years towing my 24' Prowler and the next 3 years towing my new 30' Skyline Layton (7000#'s) all while also towing a loaded enclosed racecar trailer every few weeks, I was worried about the independent suspension and CV joint axles when I first started towing with it, but it towed like a champ, never giving me a bit of grief. Was suprised that even without the weight bars hooked up for moving it in the driveway, it really didn't sag the rear of the truck that much! It handled the weight great! The "only" reason I retired her from towing, was because I purchased a Dodge 2500 Diesel. Still own the Expedition, and my wife drives it everyday, and it still runs and drives like a trooper. I never did any major repairs other than regular maintenance items. I never towed with a Suburban, so cannot say its better, worse, or same.....but after towing with my Expedition, I would definitely tow with one again! The only suggestion I would make in either truck you choose, make sure you put on 10 ply (load range E) tires. My Expedition came with "P" rated passenger tires on it originally, but I switched them out when we started towing. Good luck!!

You have to watch putting LT on a P rated wheel. The LT tires require much higher pressures. Many passenger rated wheels will not handle the higher pressures that LT tires use. You may have to use a load range C LT tire that uses lower pressure to be compatible with your wheel.

The 2012 F150 comes with a HD package that uses HD axles, bearings, and wheels. It comes with LT245/75/17" load range E tires. That's the only option that comes with the HD package on the F150. Without the HD package, LT275/65/18" load range C tires are an option.

LT 275/65/18 load range C tires require 50 psi while LT 275/65/18 load range E require 80 psi.

I ran/run 50 psi in the 17" LT's on me Expedition while empty, and 60 while towing. They drove/handled like clockwork, and no sidewall slosh or squish. They have approx 80000 kms on them, and show very very little sign of wear. I asked both Ford, and my tire dealer before I bought the tires if there would be an issue. Was told, from Ford (not the local Ford dealer), that the rims on my Expedition were good to go for Range E LT tires. With the tongue weight on my truck with my set up, running a higher psi in the tires only made it hit the bumps harder with no noticable difference in handling or drivability. Handled towing great! My Dodge on the other hand runs at 60 front and 70 rear from the factory, and I haven't changed the pressures at all, mainly because of those stupid TPMS sensors and lights. What did we ever do without idiot lights? But absolutely, to the original poster, do your homework, and check it out with the factory before you change a factory set up.

Racerchaser27 wrote:
I towed for 5 years with my '03 Expedition, with the 5.4 ltr engine. First two years towing my 24' Prowler and the next 3 years towing my new 30' Skyline Layton (7000#'s) all while also towing a loaded enclosed racecar trailer every few weeks, I was worried about the independent suspension and CV joint axles when I first started towing with it, but it towed like a champ, never giving me a bit of grief. Was suprised that even without the weight bars hooked up for moving it in the driveway, it really didn't sag the rear of the truck that much! It handled the weight great! The "only" reason I retired her from towing, was because I purchased a Dodge 2500 Diesel. Still own the Expedition, and my wife drives it everyday, and it still runs and drives like a trooper. I never did any major repairs other than regular maintenance items. I never towed with a Suburban, so cannot say its better, worse, or same.....but after towing with my Expedition, I would definitely tow with one again! The only suggestion I would make in either truck you choose, make sure you put on 10 ply (load range E) tires. My Expedition came with "P" rated passenger tires on it originally, but I switched them out when we started towing. Good luck!!

You have to watch putting LT on a P rated wheel. The LT tires require much higher pressures. Many passenger rated wheels will not handle the higher pressures that LT tires use. You may have to use a load range C LT tire that uses lower pressure to be compatible with your wheel.

The 2012 F150 comes with a HD package that uses HD axles, bearings, and wheels. It comes with LT245/75/17" load range E tires. That's the only option that comes with the HD package on the F150. Without the HD package, LT275/65/18" load range C tires are an option.

LT 275/65/18 load range C tires require 50 psi while LT 275/65/18 load range E require 80 psi.

I towed for 5 years with my '03 Expedition, with the 5.4 ltr engine. First two years towing my 24' Prowler and the next 3 years towing my new 30' Skyline Layton (7000#'s) all while also towing a loaded enclosed racecar trailer every few weeks, I was worried about the independent suspension and CV joint axles when I first started towing with it, but it towed like a champ, never giving me a bit of grief. Was suprised that even without the weight bars hooked up for moving it in the driveway, it really didn't sag the rear of the truck that much! It handled the weight great! The "only" reason I retired her from towing, was because I purchased a Dodge 2500 Diesel. Still own the Expedition, and my wife drives it everyday, and it still runs and drives like a trooper. I never did any major repairs other than regular maintenance items. I never towed with a Suburban, so cannot say its better, worse, or same.....but after towing with my Expedition, I would definitely tow with one again! The only suggestion I would make in either truck you choose, make sure you put on 10 ply (load range E) tires. My Expedition came with "P" rated passenger tires on it originally, but I switched them out when we started towing. Good luck!!

thedon42 wrote:
We are currently towing our 2013 Passport Elite 28bh with our LR3. We use a 4 point Equal-I-zer hitch and Prodigy brake controller. It actually tows well . But soon it'll be time to trade my vehicle in and I'm thinking having a secondary stronger tow vehicle won't hurt .

The TT is 5460 actual dry weight, GVWR 7500, 30 feet long.

The Expy is a 2009 with heavy duty tow package rated for 9100.
The Suburban is a 2008 with tow up to 8100.

Obviously the Suburban has a longer wheel base but 8100 tow seems low . I like things about both. Thinking we would be fine with either.

Oh and as far as payload, they are pretty similiar. For now, not really an issue as it is 2 adults and 2 young children . All gear goes in the tt.

Any thoughts ??

The GirlDON

This is a hard one.

I will say that I would stay far away from GM in general. I've seen to many quality issues with GM.

Since you didn't say 3/4 ton suburban I have to think it's the standard suburban with the low output 5.3L and 4 speed transmission.

I also have to assume a standard Expedition since you didn't say an EL.

The issue with the Expedition is that crappy 6 speed transmission. In 2006 when the Expeditions first got the 6 speed transmission, it was the 6R75 (6R60 for the Explorer). In 2009, Ford decided to put this transmission in the F150 and beef up the torque converter as a 6R80. Ford then put this 6R80 into the Explorers and the Expeditions. I guess they did this to have just 1 transmission in all of their truck based vehicles.

Anyhow, I had a 2008 Sport Trac with the 6R60 transmission. It was a quirky transmission at first but after about 3 program updates, it shifted very very good and was very reliable up to 70,000 miles.

I then traded to a 2010 F150 that used the new 6R80 transmission and had nothing but problems. I had valves replaced and the such but it would still slam into 1st, just not quite as bad. Never got that transmission to shift right and found out that this was a known and common problem with the transmissions for the 2009 and 2010 F150s. Ford redesigned the 6R80 for the 2011 F150s and changed some clutches and added manual shifting and gear lockout for towing. 2011 was also the year that Ford killed off the 4.6L 2 valve and 3 valve engines and the 5.4L 3 valve engine for the F150. They replaced them with the 3.7L 4 valve V6, 3.5L 4 valve twin turbo Ecoboost V6, 5.0L 4 valve V8, and 6.2L 2 valve V8.

I had some additional troubles with my 2010 F150 that involved the chassis. With the continueing issues of the transmission, dealer made a very sweet deal to get me into the 2012 with the better engine, axle, and option packages. I had 34,000 on the 2010 and drove it roughly 2 years. Dealer cut me a really good deal to make up for the issues. It was much better than the Buy Back option from Ford.

I just love the 2012. Even though it shares the body, it's drivetrain and accessories were completely redesigned in 2011.

I have had much more issues with GM as have my parents and in-laws. I would buy a Dodge or Toyota before a GM product.

I would try for a Expedition with the 5.4L 3 valve engine with a 5 speed or a 6R75 transmission and avoid the 2009/2010 transmission troubles.

Here's my experience with both;

I was a partner in a towing company in the early 90's, we had both Ford & GMC/chevy wreckers. The late 80's early 90's Fords never had any trans or rear problems. The late 80's / early 90's GMC did. We stopped buying the GMC's & stuck with Fords.

I will only have a Ford for towing my 7500 LB TT & 5000 LB Boat.

I have a 98 Lincoln Navigator (Expedition) w/ 107K miles on it for towing. I tow 8K-10K (back hoe & trailer & loaded dump trailer) with it, too. I'm happy with it's performance.

Personally I'd lean towards the Expy, but that's just personal preference. I think the 3V 5.4L is a great motor.

If buying a Sub I would only consider the 3/4 ton version.

harmanrk wrote:

uzikaduzi wrote:
if you're comparing the el expedition and the 1/2 ton suburban, i think you likely won't get answers beyond brand preference. with the expedition you can get the ecoboost and get better mpg's when not towing but i hear they are having overheating problems. i doubt you'll be disappointed with either. if you're considering the 2500 suburban i would go with that... i don't hear too many people complaining about too much tow capacity.

So, who had been telling you the Ecoboost Expy has overheating problems? Cause I hate to break it to them, but its the 5.4L only. No engine choice on it any more, and never an ecoboots.

i could have swore that it was an option but you're right... looks like it may be an option for 2014... as far as over heating, they've had the issues with them in the f-150's and the ones they put in the cars.

uzikaduzi wrote:
if you're comparing the el expedition and the 1/2 ton suburban, i think you likely won't get answers beyond brand preference. with the expedition you can get the ecoboost and get better mpg's when not towing but i hear they are having overheating problems. i doubt you'll be disappointed with either. if you're considering the 2500 suburban i would go with that... i don't hear too many people complaining about too much tow capacity.

So, who had been telling you the Ecoboost Expy has overheating problems? Cause I hate to break it to them, but its the 5.4L only. No engine choice on it any more, and never an ecoboots.

if you're comparing the el expedition and the 1/2 ton suburban, i think you likely won't get answers beyond brand preference. with the expedition you can get the ecoboost and get better mpg's when not towing but i hear they are having overheating problems. i doubt you'll be disappointed with either. if you're considering the 2500 suburban i would go with that... i don't hear too many people complaining about too much tow capacity.

I take tow ratings with a grain of salt, and then apply common sense. On paper, a new regular cab f-150 is better suited to towing and will pull more than my diesel Excursion.
however TV size/wheelbase will always be a factor to keep in mind.