I'm looking to buy one next month and was curious about their towing capacity. I will definitely be buying the 5.4 Liter Automatic.....and was told that Ford released the Triton in 1999, although the '98's are cheaper. Any advice? I already did some research and have learned that the Fords out-tow the Chevys hands down, so no Ford v/s Chevy talk please :flipoff2:

camo does, and my parents have towed with theirs before too with ease, theres has the triton in it. comfy ride too! jiMMy

We recently bought one w Tow Package. Your right on the 5.4 avoid the other motors they are junk. I've heard that 97's had a lot of problems including tranny issues. I'd go 99 or 00 if you are looking used, but there are a lot of deals to be had on new ones. Before I start towing the rig with the Expo I am going to add air bags in the rear, and better shocks. Our Expo squats a little without a load.

Joe

I tow my toyota on a trailer with my 5.4L '99 Expedition, JackA can run away from me with his super duty. I will call it marginal for towing a car trailer and a rig. It sqats pretty good, and weight placement on the trailer is critical to limit wandering and sway. I am going to try air bags and switching to a 3.73 axle ratio. If I were to do it over again, I'd step up to an Excursion.

I have a 98'. All I can tell you is that my Uncle's 00' is what we take on trips. Mine is a doggggg. It is weak and you have to push it so hard that you get horrible fuel mileage. We use my Uncle's 00' over Dad's Tahoe. Just MHO.

i towed aprox 15k miles last year with mine. 7000 pound of rig and trailer. i added air bags and rs9000 shocks and eletric trailer brakes. no its not a f350 but it works for me.

oh ya mine is a 2000

I think if it's going to be purchased primarily as a daily driver that'll see a lot of miles with no trailer, it'd do "okay". If it's being purchased primarily as a tow vehicle, you should really consider stepping up to a 3/4 ton vehicle. And actually, the Tahoe & Expedition are pretty evenly matched. The 5.4 out-torques the 5.3 (pretty handily), but the 5.3 is available with 4.10's. Call it a wash - meaning both are at best "marginal" tow vehicles & it really comes down to personal preference. And really, the problem with both isn't under the hood. I never had problems towing my Toyota behind a 210HP TBI V8 as far as "power" goes. But, I've had plenty of times when I wished I didn't have a "1/2 ton tow" vehicle - I don't anymore ;)

TEX

If anything its the brakes and lightweight of the vehicle that'll get ya. Never towed with an Expedition.. but I've towed with a 1/2 ton truck before.. and the 1 ton I have now is a world of difference.

Originally posted by camo
i towed aprox 15k miles last year with mine. 7000 pound of rig and trailer. i added air bags and rs9000 shocks and eletric trailer brakes. no its not a f350 but it works for me.

oh ya mine is a 2000

Camo,

What air bags did you use? I want to add them to the expo this year when I do the shock swap.

Thanks Joe

Originally posted by jdjanda


Camo,

What air bags did you use? I want to add them to the expo this year when I do the shock swap.

Thanks Joe

Joe- My '99 came with air bags stock. Is that because I got the trailer package?

I have a 2000 4x4 eddie bauer expedtion, 5.4L, 4R100 tranny, Sterling 10.25 rear, 4 corner Load leveling suspension, 3.55 gears, gibson headers, Magnaflow exhaust, Air raid intake, Superchip. I have about 51,000 mile on it and i tried to tow my 83 CJ about 4000 pound on my 2 axle US cargo car hauler about 1750 pounds. the expedtion has a great tranny and a great rear end for this type of towing but the 5.4L sucks! i am trading it in ofr a 2002 F350 PSD CC LWB SRW in the spring. i cannot even tow it around town without geting about 7 mpg. if you think it can handle a hill, forget about it. i have not towed it any distance because of how much trouble it has pulling. i tow my trailer around with my buddies 2001.5 dodge HO cummins 6 speed. the dodge pulls my trailer with the truck on it like my expy pulls the trailer empty. foprget about a expedition for towing you will be throughly disappointed. if you are towing a boat/jetskis/or sled around it will be fine. but once you go over 5000 pounds have fun.

I am selling my expy for $23000 if you want it

I would buy it in a sec if I could bring it into California and not have any problems, costs associated with the SMOG.

I know its not the ultimate tow rig and is probably sluggish compared to a Cummins Turbo Diesel, but the price is right and it does fit a larger crowd. I will be using it to tow a boat, Jeep, etc. but I also need to fit a bunch of people. I'll live with the poor mileage and sluggishness. Wish they had one with a Diesel :rolleyes:

might consider a suburban if mileage isn't a concern. I tow my 62 on my trailer behind mine and average 10.5 with no problems. I also pull a 4 horse trailer loaded same mileage. and it can seat 9

Originally posted by ExtremeCJ
I have a 2000 4x4 eddie bauer expedtion, 5.4L, 4R100 tranny, Sterling 10.25 rear, 4 corner Load leveling suspension, 3.55 gears, gibson headers, Magnaflow exhaust, Air raid intake, Superchip. I have about 51,000 mile on it and i tried to tow my 83 CJ about 4000 pound on my 2 axle US cargo car hauler about 1750 pounds. the expedtion has a great tranny and a great rear end for this type of towing but the 5.4L sucks! i am trading it in ofr a 2002 F350 PSD CC LWB SRW in the spring. i cannot even tow it around town without geting about 7 mpg. if you think it can handle a hill, forget about it. i have not towed it any distance because of how much trouble it has pulling. i tow my trailer around with my buddies 2001.5 dodge HO cummins 6 speed. the dodge pulls my trailer with the truck on it like my expy pulls the trailer empty. foprget about a expedition for towing you will be throughly disappointed. if you are towing a boat/jetskis/or sled around it will be fine. but once you go over 5000 pounds have fun.

I am selling my expy for $23000 if you want it

maybe the reason your expo engine sucks is all that mail order engineering you have bolted onto the motor. :D LOL like i said mine hauls ass and i can easily tow my 7000 lb trailer at 80 mph down just about any highway and only the steepest grades.(vail pass) does it drop below 50mph. of course it is not a power stroke but how much faster than 80 mph ya gotta go?

the trick is to get a rig without the factory air bag load leveling b/s and put in your own bags. i used the air ride ones but any will do fine.

Dodge Deisel.

I mean come on.....how do you beat that?

Originally posted by IH8MyIFS
Dodge Deisel.

I mean come on.....how do you beat that?


EASY get a FORD POWER STROKE!

:flipoff2: :flipoff2:

Originally posted by IH8MyIFS
Dodge Deisel.

I mean come on.....how do you beat that?

Dodge SUCKS!
Ford TRUCKS!:flipoff2: :flipoff2:

My wife has a 2001 Expedition that I ordered w/ the 5.4, AT, and 3.73 rear end. I wouldn't try to pull a greased string out of a cat's ass with it. Of course I have a '00 F350, Powerstroke, 6spd, 4.11 to get the string outa the cat's ass.
Bottom line: Super Duty Ford is the ONLY way to tow. My '02 F350 will be ordered next week(anybody need a Ford at invoice, e-mail me. Ordered units only).

Originally posted by Rubicrawler


Joe- My '99 came with air bags stock. Is that because I got the trailer package?

Good question, ours came with the receiver setup, don't know if that makes it a "tow package" equiped Expo. I assume the tow package has a larger rad, and tranny cooler, the air bages, and a few other goodies. We have the XLT model, is your's an EB?

Joe

BTW, wish the family a happy holiday.

Originally posted by Rock Toy
I would buy it in a sec if I could bring it into California and not have any problems, costs associated with the SMOG.

I'm no smog guy, but I hears that in the last few years, the majority of the vehicles are actually built to CA standards.. don't know for sure or not, but it may be worth lookinf into if your serious about it...


:usa:

Originally posted by Blue 84



EASY get a FORD POWER STROKE!

:flipoff2: :flipoff2:

You do mean PowerJOKE don't you?

Get a 99 or up. 97 and 98 are WAY down on hp.

99 they are ok, but no 3/4 ton big block burban :) or superduty

Ron

Fellows,
He aint lookin for a $50,000.00 work truck - None of which seat 7 legally. Anyhow...

I own a 98 Eddy Bauer 5.4, 3.73 w/tow package and it tows quite admirably - as in 6,000 lbs of tandem axle Cobalt boat to Tahoe (sea level to 7,000ft), with a weeks worth of kiddy crap in the rig too. I dont think I dropped below 47mph on the steepest parts.

Extreme - Not to be questioning your experience but do you have a decent well balanced trailer? Did you have air in all the tires? Maybe the 3.55's are just to tall, do you have bigger tires? Maybe there's somethin extra in the "tow package". Just curious cuz I've seen how Camo loads his and I know what I've done, Jimmys' a straigt shooter, and it just seems whacked for you to say it sucks even around town.
PS whats in do in the quarter?

Mine does have a simple Gibson Cat back system and a K&N - but thats it.

The sticker says it gets 12mpg/16mpg and I got better than 7.5mpg on my trips to Tahoe - glad I dont have the chip.

YellowSupper- I agree other than the fee to transfer a vehicle from out of state (used to be a flat 400). I doubt there's seperate smog requirement, HOWEVER, mine did list "California Emissions System" on the sticker msr $170. Not that this means it was any different than the rest of the ones built that yr.

Rock - I opend the hood just now, and yes its a 1998 TRITON. From what I remember it was rated at 230HP @4250rpm, and 325lbs-ft torque @ 3,000rpm. Compression is 9.0:1
No, the badges on the outside just say Expedition and Eddy Bauer right underneath. The 4 corner load leveling suspension was an option, mine doesnt have it. The gas tank holds 30 gallons. I've got a transferable 100,000 mile warranty too.
You got my number.

They were all Triton, but 99 you get like 30 more HP.

Look it up.

I looked at them but I ended up with a 1/2 sub. It never pulls more than one truck and it is a DD and I am east coast. I would get like 14 pulling 5000lbs and 18-19 without a trailer highway.

with a 44 gallon tank you can go a LONG way

BTW it is a 98

Ron

Don't try towing with a 4.6L they are way too underpowered. '97-'98 5.4L were 230 horsepower. '99-up are 260 horsepower. The difference is very noticable.

Originally posted by ExtremeCJ
I have a 2000 4x4 eddie bauer expedtion, 5.4L, 4R100 tranny, Sterling 10.25 rear....

just out of curiosity, how do you get a 3/4 - 1 ton rearend in a 1/2 ton vehicle from the factory?

several things......

1) reliability. A close friend of mine bought a 98 expedition brand new and it has been in the dealership at least once a year for more than 2 weeks at a crack to solve a MAJOR mechanical problem every year since they bought it.

After watching their experience I seriously question ford reliability on any/all but the superduty line of trucks.....they are bulletproof.

2) Safety. correct me if I am wrong, but isn't teh expedition based on the f-150 platform and underpinnings (slightly reworked of course) ? If so...I don't want any one of my friends or family members owning one let alone riding in one. If you remember back when one of the companies in america performed the frontal offset crash test on all major pickups about a year ago and there was all the talk about fords lack of safety....I have the pictures from that test and will post if you would like me to. btw Toyota tundra ranked the best.

3) as far as teh airbags go..they are standard on all of teh Navigators I have seen so I assume that it is a recently introduced upscale option to the expedition to improve ride quality.

RockToy - I have a 2000 Expo (actually my wifes) that we are going to be selling - goes in the Classifieds next week. Has the 5.4 engine and tow package. Only 24,000 miles(mostly around Redding with 2 trips to Jackson, WY). All options except Eddie Baur package. Gonna ask $24,500. The truck is in Redding - if interested, PM me for phone number/more info.

To answer the question/thread: I have not tried to tow with this truck, so I can't offer an opinion on the tow capability (other than it had the higgest tow rating for the fullsized SUV's when we purchased it). I did try to talk my wife out of selling it so I could use it to haul my FJ40 around, but she wants something smaller.

Originally posted by Paul Gagnon
Don't try towing with a 4.6L they are way too underpowered.

I'll second that. Had one as a rental in San Antonio. Now, San Antonio is pretty flat. But, running with 6 passengers & no trailer, the slightest hill required a downshift to 3rd & then quickly to 2nd (4,500 RPM's!!) to maintain 70 MPH. The downshift to 3rd I expected, going to second with no trailer & no "real" hill was inexcusable IMO.

TEX

Originally posted by 500 HORS
Fellows,
He aint lookin for a $50,000.00 work truck - None of which seat 7 legally. Anyhow...



Not sure if he needs 7-passenger space or not, but I thought I'd throw out my opinion on that. IMO, the Expedition is NOT a legitimate "7 or 8 passenger" vehicle. For a soccer mom yes. For trips where LUGGAGE or CAMPING GEAR is included, no way. There's just about no useful space behind the 3rd seat. With 6 people & carry-on luggage for a 2-day trip, we piled most of the bags in the 3rd seat next to a passenger. The one I rented had buckets, so 2 passengers up front, 3 in the middle, 1 in the back with most of the bags, purses & briefcases only behind seat 3. I think if you had 4-5 people in one with the 3rd seat removed, then it would be just the right size. But, for more passengers on a regular basis, I'd step up to a Sub, a Van, or an Excursion.

TEX

Thanks for all the encouraging words. I think 500 HORS understands my position the best. I am NOT looking for a Superduty or Cummins Truck. I KNOW they are better equipped for towing and if I lived on a farm or was buying a truck solely for the purpose of towing a trailer, that is what I would buy. I AM looking for a large SUV that is affordable, can tow my Jeep and that I can pile 7-8 friends into when going to the lake, the mountain or out on the town. I don't need them to be comfortable....I just need them to fit :flipoff2:

My original question was on the towing ability of the Expedition.....and I think I have my answer. It will do just fine, but I need to stick with a 99 or newer model. I'm not racing to the trail.....just getting there. Thanks for your input.

please do me, yourself, and your family a favor by at least looking at the following page.

http://www.autocolorado.com/offsetfrontal

like I said...aren't the expeditions based on the f-150 platform?


as for towing though, throw a strong motor (the 5.4) in a heavy rig (they are, I've driven 'em) with a strong rear axle (comparatively) and you are going to have a good tow rig reduardless of make/model.

to each his own, I am personally not a ford man...maybe you are. How hard would it be to swap in a corp. 14 if this is your tow rig?;)

8.1 liter (498 cubes) and an Allison transmission rule the gasoline powered towing rigs hands down - end of subject.

Originally posted by CJSteve
8.1 liter (498 cubes) and an Allison transmission rule the gasoline powered towing rigs hands down - end of subject.

It's also a combination that isn't available in a utility vehicle of any kind newbie :flipoff2:


TEX

Originally posted by Rock Toy
I AM looking for a large SUV that is affordable, can tow my Jeep and that I can pile 7-8 friends into when going to the lake, the mountain or out on the town. I don't need them to be comfortable....I just need them to fit

Oh they'll fit & in reasonable comfort. They just have to leave all their schit at home. Now, add a 5X8 enclosed utility trailer to the equation & that's another story :smokin:

TEX

Originally posted by TEX


It's also a combination that isn't available in a utility vehicle of any kind newbie :flipoff2:


TEX

whatever...

Just did a search and found that the 8.1 liter is indeed offered..

Tahoe comes in a half-ton 1500 payload series, Suburban in 1500 and 3/4-ton 2500 models. All offer base, LS, and LT trim levels and standard V8 power. The base Tahoe uses a 4.8 liter with 275 horsepower. Suburban 1500s and Tahoe LS and LT use a 5.3 liter with 285 hp. Standard on Suburban 2500s is a revised 6.0 with a new camshaft and aluminum rather than cast iron cylinder heads that raise horsepower to 320 from 300. Newly optional for Suburban 2500s is an 8.1-liter V8 with 340 hp and 455 pound-feet of torque.

Another link:
http://4wheeldrive.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fcarpoint.msn.com%2Fv ip%2FOverview%2FChevrolet%2FSuburban%2Fnew.asp

Probably should do your research before you open your mouth...
:flipoff2: :flipoff2:

Originally posted by CJSteve


whatever...

Just did a search and found that the 8.1 liter is indeed offered..not sure what trans is there though..

4L80E

Standard on Suburban 2500s is a revised 6.0 with a new camshaft and aluminum rather than cast iron cylinder heads that raise horsepower to 320 from 300. Newly optional for Suburban 2500s is an 8.1-liter V8 with 340 hp and 455 pound-feet of torque.



If you're trying to argue the merits of Chevy vs. Ford, you're fightin' with the wrong guy. Brought this home just 5 days ago:

http://bbs.off-road.com/wwwthreads_uploads/53-623338-Dsc00563.jpg

;)

TEX

Hell no! I'm not trying to argue with anyone!

Nice truck BTW...

Right. How much? A year 99 or 2000 Expedition Eddie Bauer Fully loaded runs about 20-25K. I'll bet the Suburban you just listed sells for over 40K Easy. If you wanna be a jackass and pretend that you're cool, go ahead and spout off about the biggest damn motor in the biggest SUV. You're not helping me.

Originally posted by Rock Toy
Right. How much? A year 99 or 2000 Expedition Eddie Bauer Fully loaded runs about 20-25K. I'll bet the Suburban you just listed sells for over 40K Easy. If you wanna be a jackass and pretend that you're cool, go ahead and spout off about the biggest damn motor in the biggest SUV. You're not helping me.

Wasn't my intention to be a jackass, or help you for that matter...just stating the fact that an 8.1 liter is available in a Suburban. You are probably right about the cost BTW.