Towing with a 2017 Ford Expedition EL

[John and Debbie]

1 hour ago, John E Davies said:

9200 is plenty, just pack more of your stuff in the trailer, keeping in mind that your tongue weight goes up proportionally (about 10%). NOT buying the tongue tray helps in this regard, keep the TW as low as practical. You still may run out of cargo load capacity in the Ford, but the towing number is fine. Try it for a season, then decide if it is going to be good long term TV.

FYI if you don’t need all that extra seating, remove the third and possibly second row seats and store them. Together that might give you another 150 pounds of cargo load. Plus more actual space…. Install a cargo barrier and be safe. These are most excellent. They weigh nothing and can be rolled down and stored on the floor when not needed.

https://raingler.com/collections/ford-expedition/products/1997-2017-ford-expedition-behind-front-seats-barrier-divider-net

John Davies

Spokane WA

 

 

Thanks for your comment.   Initially I was thinking of the tongue storage box,  but after reading comments, it appears that might not be a good idea afterall. 

[John and Debbie]

9 minutes ago, John E Davies said:

Depends…… 

Most likely it would be required due to the TW and also to minimize passenger discomfort on bumpy roads. I would order it, for sure. There are countless Andersen hitch threads, search and do some reading. It is the only WD hitch approved by Oliver.

https://www.ford.com/cmslibs/content/dam/brand_ford/en_us/brand/resources/general/pdf/brochures/17RV&TT_Ford_Expedition_Sep7.pdf

John Davies

Spokane WA

I am sold on the Anderson WDH then.   I much prefer quality over price.   If the ride experience is better with a wdh,  then that's a key factor.   It also lessens the tw also as I understand. 

[curlyag]

On 7/25/2021 at 6:45 AM, BackofBeyond said:

This should be required viewing for any question related to the ? - will my TV handle the EII.  

A very good primer - 

RB

My husband and I are looking at smaller trailers, after realizing last summer that our new F150 with turbo boost had no trouble PULLING our trailer, but steep mountain grades were nerve wracking. I wish we'd seen this video long ago! Thanks for sharing...we now have a spreadsheet as we continue our search. Ollie's high on the list...

[ScubaRx]

On 7/26/2021 at 10:20 AM, John Welte said:

I am sold on the Anderson WDH then.   I much prefer quality over price.   If the ride experience is better with a wdh,  then that's a key factor.   It also lessens the tw also as I understand. 

But it won't decrease the tongue weight as it applies to reaching your max cargo carrying capacity. It transfers part of the weight to the front axle, but the total tongue weight is the same.

[John and Debbie]

4 hours ago, ScubaRx said:

But it won't decrease the tongue weight as it applies to reaching your max cargo carrying capacity. It transfers part of the weight to the front axle, but the total tongue weight is the same.

Our max tongue weight we can have is 920 pounds.   I thought the Oliver was about 700 pounds.    I am thinking of the 30 pound propane tanks and no front basket.   Will I be ok? My do not exceed number is 1404 pounds occupants and cargo.   If 700 pounds for tongue weight and my wife and I are 340 pounds combined,  wouldn't that give us about 364 pounds for our CCC?   I thought the wdh helped us.   I am new to all this. 

[Xkimo]

 We live out west in Northwestern  Arizona . We travel to Eastern Colorado / Kansas via I-70 across the Rockies on occasion . We have decided we will need at a minimum an F-250 / Ram 2500 for an L.E.II . As a retired long haul reefer driver the combination is so important . I have seen so many rigs along the side of the roadway approaching Vail / Eisenhower pass .. Not a good feeling .. Just remember folks when it comes to the rubber hitting the road ; it is the total loaded weight of BOTH vehicles ( combination )  one needs to consider .

[ScubaRx]

On 7/27/2021 at 4:46 PM, John Welte said:

Our max tongue weight we can have is 920 pounds.   I thought the Oliver was about 700 pounds.    I am thinking of the 30 pound propane tanks and no front basket.   Will I be ok? My do not exceed number is 1404 pounds occupants and cargo.   If 700 pounds for tongue weight and my wife and I are 340 pounds combined,  wouldn't that give us about 364 pounds for our CCC?   I thought the wdh helped us.   I am new to all this. 

Looking back through all your previous posts in this thread. You stated: "The combined weight of occupants and cargo should not exceed 1408 pounds." I'm not sure where the max tongue weight of 920 pounds comes from. Your tongue weight probably won't be 700 pounds. But it probably will be around 600 pounds give or take. But, your stated calculations are correct.

[Patwv]

I have a 2018 Ford Expedition with the 3.5 l turbo charged engine.  We have only towed in the east (Appalachian Mountains) so I have no experience with the big mountains out west.  The Expedition with max tow is rated at 9000lbs/900 lb tongue weight.  We use an Anderson hitch.  The Expedition tows quite nicely.  Our payload rating is 1600 lbs.  We have towed Oliver with a full tank of water and fully loaded with food and clothes, etc and have never had a problem with a lack of power.  We have the cargo box on the front of the trailer, but we don't haul much in it.  We generally travel with two slightly overweight adults and a 100 lb dog and other stuff in the Expedition.  We haul 2 mountain bikes on the roof.  Hope this helps.

[John and Debbie]

It's reassuring to me.   Thanks for your response. 

[TexasGuy]

Not sure where they put in 2017 on Expedition but in addition to payload in drivers door see if you have this one on the  hitch. Tell you max weight with and without WDH.  

[John and Debbie]

Thanks

[ScubaRx]

On 8/3/2021 at 4:02 PM, Patwv said:

I have a 2018 Ford Expedition with the 3.5 l turbo charged engine.  We have only towed in the east (Appalachian Mountains) so I have no experience with the big mountains out west.  The Expedition with max tow is rated at 9000lbs/900 lb tongue weight.  We use an Anderson hitch.  The Expedition tows quite nicely.  Our payload rating is 1600 lbs.  We have towed Oliver with a full tank of water and fully loaded with food and clothes, etc and have never had a problem with a lack of power.  We have the cargo box on the front of the trailer, but we don't haul much in it.  We generally travel with two slightly overweight adults and a 100 lb dog and other stuff in the Expedition.  We haul 2 mountain bikes on the roof.  Hope this helps.

I suspect that if you weighed everything that you've introduced to that vehicle since 2018, you'll find that your payload capacity is full...

Andersen hitch  60 pounds

Oliver Tongue Weight  600 pounds

Two slightly overweight adults and a 100 lb dog  460 pounds

Two mountain bikes  60 pounds

Mountain bike roof rack  30 pounds

These things alone will put you over 1200 pounds. That still gives you almost 400 pounds to play with, but be careful if you are overloaded and have an accident your insurance company could abandon you.

Please watch this video, it should open your eyes.

 

[Patwv]

Thanks for the video link.  It is eye opening and the guy explains things very clearly.  I'm going to make my own spreadsheet and see how it all comes out.  I also know that we carry much more stuff than we need when we travel (mostly me--my husband is more of a minimalist) so I can lighten our load if need be.  

[John and Debbie]

On 7/24/2021 at 7:07 PM, FrankC said:

We towed with a 2017 Expedition EL initially.  It was ok for towing as equipped with the Ford factory max tow package, but on long steep grades the 3.5 liter V6 eco-boost engine was really working hard.  And your tow rating of 6,600 sounds really low to tow an Elite II.    The 4,600 lbs Elite II weight number you quoted is the empty dry weight without any options, with empty tanks, and with no personal belongings, food, etc.  Most people end up well over  5,000 lbs if not closer to 6,000 lbs.  Do you have the full factory max tow package?  Ours as equipped with the Ford factory max tow package was rated at 9,000 lbs towing or so.  But it did require the Andersen weight distribution hitch.   But we upgraded though to a Ford F-250 because of cargo / payload capacity.  Most people overlook that rating in their tow vehicle selection.  Check the sticker on your Expedition driver’s door jamb for the cargo/payload capacity.  Ours was only about 1,500 lbs.  And with 2 adults plus luggage, a loaded cooler of food, camping gear plus the tongue weight of the Oliver of 500 to 600 lbs, and you’ll find that you hit your cargo / payload limit pretty quickly.   The F-250 as ours is equipped has 12,600 lbs towing and 3,334 lbs payload capacity. And it doesn’t require the Andersen weight distribution hitch.

Expedition towing the Elite II

 

The F-250 towing the Elite II

 

The do not exceed number on the door jam of the 2017 Expedition is 1408 pounds.   Because it's a 4x4 EL they list max towing capacity of 9,200 pounds.   Maybe keep the weight in the trailer and the tv weight low. 

[John and Debbie]

On 7/24/2021 at 7:07 PM, FrankC said:

We towed with a 2017 Expedition EL initially.  It was ok for towing as equipped with the Ford factory max tow package, but on long steep grades the 3.5 liter V6 eco-boost engine was really working hard.  And your tow rating of 6,600 sounds really low to tow an Elite II.    The 4,600 lbs Elite II weight number you quoted is the empty dry weight without any options, with empty tanks, and with no personal belongings, food, etc.  Most people end up well over  5,000 lbs if not closer to 6,000 lbs.  Do you have the full factory max tow package?  Ours as equipped with the Ford factory max tow package was rated at 9,000 lbs towing or so.  But it did require the Andersen weight distribution hitch.   But we upgraded though to a Ford F-250 because of cargo / payload capacity.  Most people overlook that rating in their tow vehicle selection.  Check the sticker on your Expedition driver’s door jamb for the cargo/payload capacity.  Ours was only about 1,500 lbs.  And with 2 adults plus luggage, a loaded cooler of food, camping gear plus the tongue weight of the Oliver of 500 to 600 lbs, and you’ll find that you hit your cargo / payload limit pretty quickly.   The F-250 as ours is equipped has 12,600 lbs towing and 3,334 lbs payload capacity. And it doesn’t require the Andersen weight distribution hitch.

Expedition towing the Elite II

 

The F-250 towing the Elite II

 

Thanks.   I thought that I had responded earlier to you,  but being a newbie,  I thought I would respond again.   Our Expedition has the factory max towing so your experience was good to read.   We may find that the Expedition won't have adequate power.   I was hoping that we wouldn't need to change tv as I do like the vehicle.   I can live with a vehicle having to work harder as long as it doesn't ruin it,  but I don't want to get halfway up a hill and find out it can't make it up. 

[Aluecker]

We have towed our ELII (Hull 835)a few tousand miles now with our 2020 Expedition Max. Power to pull is no problem. I think payload is a problem. The car sags slightly in the rear with approximately 600 lb tongue wt. I started to feel like the trailer wanted to push the car on sweeping highway curves a bit. Could have been my imagination, but I did not feel comfortable going 60 mph. We decided to get an f250 with 7.3 godzilla gas engine that was on the lot. Looking forward to see how this feels towing. We will keep the Anderson WD hitch.

[topgun2]

5 hours ago, Aluecker said:

Could have been my imagination, but I did not feel comfortable going 60 mph. We decided to get an f250 with 7.3 godzilla gas engine that was on the lot. Looking forward to see how this feels towing. We will keep the Anderson WD hitch.

If you did not feel comfortable then it is most likely you were not comfortable and THAT is never a good thing.😉

My guess is that with the F-250 not only will you feel comfortable but (for the most part) you will not even know that you are towing the Ollie.👌

Unless there are other things going on - with the F-250 you are not "required" to use the Andersen.  Do you have a specific reason for continuing to use it?

Bill

[Aluecker]

I don't mind it, we can take it off and put it on with minimum of effort. Seems to do its job with anti sway.

[topgun2]

I've never heard of, nor have I experienced, any Oliver that swayed even under fairly violent circumstances.

Having said this - I'm a firm believer in that it is not a bad thing to have as many contact points as possible between the tow vehicle and any trailer.  Certainly the Andersen helps on that front.  Also, I agree with you that the Andersen is really not that big of a deal (most of the time) to put on and take off.

Bill

[Aluecker]

I have not experienced any sway wIth the OLIVER. Nor do I want to. I just want to know who is boss. You know what I mean?

[topgun2]

27 minutes ago, Aluecker said:

I just want to know who is boss. You know what I mean?

Sure do! 

I've been married for almost 50 years and she lets me know all the time.🤣