Ford Expedition - towing experiences

[EagleScout-USA]

As I continue my search for a new (or newer) tow vehicle to pull my (6,000 lb) RV and extended family, I was wondering if anyone was towing with a late-model Ford Expedition since the model line move to the turbocharged 6 cylinder engine. I would be interested in any feedback that could be offered. I know many on this forum prefer large trucks, or encourage a large van; however, that is not the direction we are interested in taking at this time. If you are towing with this set-up, please reach out and share your thoughts, whether they be good or bad. We will not be looking at something old, as this will be my wife's primary vehicle, and I want to purchase something that can be covered by an manufacturer's extended warranty. Thank you.

[bartlettj]

falconbrother wrote:
I have a buddy that tows with an Expedition and he's heavier than my rig. I'm towing with a 5.3 Suburban. My next TV will, in all likelyhood, be an Expedition. Totally subjective observation here.. The Ford engine/transmission package gets the power to the road better. The GMs have weaker differentials than Ford. I work at a community college with a robust auto diesel program. I always ask the students who work at transmission shops what they observe about Ford v. Chevy on overhauls and repairs. They always say that they see more GM's needing overhauls. Not scientific research but, just another rock on the pile. The GM design parking brakes have some suck unless they are perfectly adjusted, which I have finally learned how to do. I tend to keep a vehicle a long time. I love my old Suburban but, between GM and Ford I think Ford wins for towing a travel trailer. My observations have only been with the five liter drive trains. The ecoboost ought to really up the game of the Expedition. The undercarriage of the Suburban seems well built. The 5.3 is a great engine and built to last.

My brother is in construction and puts the miles on work trucks. For long term reliability he seems to prefer Chevrolet over Ford. His last Ford was blowing out spark plugs from time to time on the 5.4. I'm sure they addressed that issue but, it soured him to Ford. He's driving Chevrolets now and has had zero issues.

I just went from a '03 5.3L Tahoe with a 4L60E and 3.73 gears to a '12 crew cab Duramax/Allison. The main problem towing with the Tahoe was really the big jump between 2nd and 3rd on the transmission, and the soft coil spring rear. I never had any reliability issues (had the Tahoe 190k miles, about 50k of that towing), but man the Duramax just doesn't even break a sweat and it's so much more relaxing to tow with because it's always in the right gear. The transmission really does make a difference to how well it feels towing. The Tahoe was a very comfortable daily driver but towing up long grades was just tiring, and it pretty much got 9.5 mpg towing no matter what speed. I really like the 5.3L Vortec engine but the transmission is just so-so. If I could have one with a 6 speed manual I would.

[falconbrother]

I have a buddy that tows with an Expedition and he's heavier than my rig. I'm towing with a 5.3 Suburban. My next TV will, in all likelyhood, be an Expedition. Totally subjective observation here.. The Ford engine/transmission package gets the power to the road better. The GMs have weaker differentials than Ford. I work at a community college with a robust auto diesel program. I always ask the students who work at transmission shops what they observe about Ford v. Chevy on overhauls and repairs. They always say that they see more GM's needing overhauls. Not scientific research but, just another rock on the pile. The GM design parking brakes have some suck unless they are perfectly adjusted, which I have finally learned how to do. I tend to keep a vehicle a long time. I love my old Suburban but, between GM and Ford I think Ford wins for towing a travel trailer. My observations have only been with the five liter drive trains. The ecoboost ought to really up the game of the Expedition. The undercarriage of the Suburban seems well built. The 5.3 is a great engine and built to last.

My brother is in construction and puts the miles on work trucks. For long term reliability he seems to prefer Chevrolet over Ford. His last Ford was blowing out spark plugs from time to time on the 5.4. I'm sure they addressed that issue but, it soured him to Ford. He's driving Chevrolets now and has had zero issues.

[H2oSprt]

I tow two trailers with my 15 expedition with hd tow package. One is a high wall tent trailer around 4000 pounds the other is a 6500 pound boat. As far as towing up hills and grades it’s the best tow Vehicle I’ve ever owned, and that includes 2 2500 crew cab trucks. The only negative I’ve found is the rear is a bit soft and will sag a bit with both my trailers. Mirrors are a bit small and could use an upgrade.

FYI, we are a family of five (3 teenage daughters whom pack everything they own). While I miss my truck, the expedition does everything very well, all be it an older boring style.

[rowekmr]

I have towed with the older Expedition's cousin Navigator (5.4l) and have also towed a lot with the Ecoboost in the F150 and I can't see you having any issues with that size trailer. I have towed heavier with both.

[Grit_dog]

This is a brothers cousins friend type of reccomendation but a co worker brought a 35’? triple axle enclosed trailer to ALaska from Georgia with his dually truck for a project we had up there a few years ago. Hauled a suv and some furniture up.
He ended up selling the dually in AK and bought one of the first year Eco boost expeditions. 2014 or 15 model.
Hauled that same triple axle trailer back to Georgia with a Corvette, 2 Harleys and some misc furniture. Said it did the job admirably. Even through an “oh shat” moment when a rockslide came down onto the road in front of him. Swerved hard, missed it with the tow rig, one rock center punched the trailer through. Guessing he was north of 12,000lbs worth of trailer.

[Rustycamperpant]

theoldwizard1 wrote:
If you are shopping used vehicles, make sure it has the Heavy Duty Trailer Tow Option. This includes a HD radiator, auxiliary transmission cooler and full 7 pin wiring at the rear bumper plus a connections for brake controller at the dash (I don't know which model year Ford started including the brake controller with the HD Trailer Tow option but the factory version works well).

The biggest complaint people have is fuel economy. To make power, it takes a lot of fuel, even on a 6 cylinder engine !

My daughter's family has a 2012 Expedition EL with a 5.4L. I hauls their family of 6 in comfort pulling more than 7000 lbs. We have 4 adults and 4 children in it with no problem !

^^^ This. My Expy is a 2009 and has less power than the Eco6. We have no issues with our 30' TT.

[theoldwizard1]

If you are shopping used vehicles, make sure it has the Heavy Duty Trailer Tow Option. This includes a HD radiator, auxiliary transmission cooler and full 7 pin wiring at the rear bumper plus a connections for brake controller at the dash (I don't know which model year Ford started including the brake controller with the HD Trailer Tow option but the factory version works well).

The biggest complaint people have is fuel economy. To make power, it takes a lot of fuel, even on a 6 cylinder engine !

My daughter's family has a 2012 Expedition EL with a 5.4L. I hauls their family of 6 in comfort pulling more than 7000 lbs. We have 4 adults and 4 children in it with no problem !

[IdaD]

I have family with a a 2015(ish) EL, 3.5 EB. I can't remember the exact specs but they pull a lightweight travel trailer with it, about 27' and maybe 6,000-6,500k lbs gross. They seem pretty happy with it and it has plenty of power. With two adults and three kids plus a dog and all their stuff I would assume they're pushing it on the weight a little bit but they haven't run into any issues. They mostly just do shorter camping trips as opposed to longer road trips with it.

If you don't need that third row a crew cab pickup is a better value, but I think an Expedition would handle a 6,000 lb trailer just as long as you don't load it up too much and you keep your expectations reasonable.

[alexleblanc]

I had a previous generation Navigator as a rental in Hawaii last month and I was quite impressed by the power and how it drove - says a lot about it since its a nearly 10 year old design. We all know the Ecoboost has the guts required when towing but the chassis felt good too. Good used purchase IMO.

[carringb]

voodoo101 wrote:
My son tows a travel trailer with an Expedition. His only major gripe is the lack of towing mirrors. And none of the strap on ones work well.

It's an easy swap to F150 mirrors. Looks like tow mirrors are an option on the new ones.

[voodoo101]

My son tows a travel trailer with an Expedition. His only major gripe is the lack of towing mirrors. And none of the strap on ones work well.

[carringb]

Have you watched the Expedition towing videos on TFL truck (channel on Youtube)? They've covered the Expedition thoroughly, in several tests recently.

I just helped some good friends buy a 2015 EcoBoost Navigator, but it hasn't towed yet. Pre-redeisgn, the Navigator is worth the price premium over the Expedition (which isn't that much of a premium now they are 2-3 years old). But the new Expedition is every bit as nice as the outgoing Navigator.