Towing with an Expedition

Question

I have a Nash 22h trailer and plan on pulling it with our 2004 Expedition. We live in Southern California and go on long vacations every year into the Sierra Nevada's over some very long steep grades. These grades are typically around 6% and sometimes some back roads are around 8%. Our current trailer is a 1996 Aerolite that weighs 3200 lbs loaded. Will the Expedition be able to pull the trailer safely? If I avoid the back roads, will I be able to pull the 6% grades without putting to much stress on the tow vehicle? Does anybody have this same setup? If so, how much pulling power do you have?

2004 Eddie Bauer Expedition- 5.4L V8, 3.73 axle and tow package

GVWR- 7100 lbs
Front GAWR- 3150 lbs
Rear GAWR- 4128 lbs
GCWR- 14,500 lbs
Tongue weight max- 895 lbs
Max tow weight- 8950 lbs

Trailer

UVW- 4610 lbs
Hitch weight- 545 lbs
GVW- 7000 lbs. (the trailer will not be loaded to this. I plan on about 5600 to 5800 loaded)

Thanks

openrangepullen · Answer

That SUV should do OK. Keep it around 40mph on those grades and just let the engine and transmission do its job. Good Luck!!!

skipnchar · Answer

I towed our 7,500 lb. Rockwood over 50,000 towing miles with our 2004 model F 150 with the same engine (3 valve 5.4 V8) and this included just about every mountain range in the US and some in Canada. Never had any problems doing this. No reason you would have any issues either as long as the trailer and tongue weight are within your available payload and trailer tow ratings.
Good luck / Skip

fla-gypsy · Answer

It should be adequate. Watch the tongue weight and payload to keep it under the rated capacity. The 5.4L engine is very reliable and a good smallblock motor.  Use the tow/haul feature to help with braking on steep grades.

jimindenver · Answer

We tow a 25 ft bunk house with either a 03 or 07 Expedition. The trailer weighs 4200 lb dry and has the same 7000 lb max weight. We tow all over the Colorado rockies with the grades you are talking about, even steeper on the back roads and they do fine.

I can say the 03 is slower up the steep grades than the 07 due to the higher HP and better tranny. I still prefer the 03 for it's ride on the open road where I tend to forget the trailer is there.

mbutts · Answer

My previous trailer was 4,400 lbs. at the scale and I towed it with a 2004 Expy with the 5.4 for five years. It will do an adequate job and you'll need patience when going up those loooong uphill stretches.

Although the Expy didn't get the three valve engine until 2005, your version should be up to the task.

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Towing with an Expedition

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