duneslider
Full Access Members
I just wanted to post up some observations of differences that I have noticed between the 2019 XLT max we had and the 2020 Platinum max we have now.
I have now made several trips with the 2020 and feel I am certain in my observations. The 2019 XLT did have Bilstein shocks set at the stock ride height which DID improve the towing performance/handling.
The CCD shocks DO NOT handle a trailer as well as the Bilsteins. This is for sure. Unfortunately, I don't currently see an easy way to improve the damping of the Platinum. If I can figure out a way to trick the platinum to not know the CCD shocks are gone I would for sure put bilsteins back on. From the moment I drove the Platinum I did not feel the CCD was a better ride than the bilsteins. Anyway, due to the soft rear shocks there is more bounce/movement from the trailer. The bilsteins controlled it much better. I also understand why others felt the ride had issues and added the heavy duty sway bars.
I have the sway bars on my list of things to change. I think it will help with some of the movement I feel but I don't know if it will solve all the issues. Sway bars are easier to add than the shocks though so it shouldn't be a tough add.
Thus far, fuel mileage has not been as good around town and towing as the XLT was. I am going to attribute this to the 22" wheels. I am still watching the classifieds for a set of take off 18" wheels. The 18" wheels fit my use case better than 22's anyway. I am not extremely worried about gas mileage but I seem to be 1-2mpg less everywhere with the platinum compared to the xlt. I had nearly 60k worth of data on the XLT and only about 5k worth on the platinum, so hardly a scientific comparison but thus far I have not seen numbers as good as the XLT.
We also just picked up a newer and slightly bigger trailer. It is only about 1200# heavier than our last one but it is wider and taller. I can feel it a bit more than the last one but it handles nearly the same. It is a rockwood roo 233s. Dry weight of 4900# and loaded weight of 6300#. We took it out this last weekend and there was one bigger pass we climbed up to about 8000' and I was able to maintain 65 but the temps got up there right at the top, it showed 237 on the dash as we crested the top and then it quickly cooled off once I was off the boost. I have climbed that same pass with the xlt and the lighter trailer and not had any temp issues. Still guessing it was just the extra weight putting extra load on it. I will watch this and be more mindful of speed on bigger climbs. I never had any temp issues with the xlt at higher speeds, just low speed steep grades. My previous hemi would heat up on climbs even at highway speeds though.
I am going to look at for sure doing the thermostat replacement and see if I see any improvement with that. I am also more seriously considering the aftermarket intercooler and the louver mod.
I am still really happy with the expedition and towing. I don't think there is anything better currently available. The new big Wagoneer might be close but having towed with a hemi I don't think it is "better" than the eco boost.
So, the changes that I want to make to hopefully improve towing are:
18" wheels and Load E tires
Sway bars
Thermostat
Intercooler and Louver mod
I have now made several trips with the 2020 and feel I am certain in my observations. The 2019 XLT did have Bilstein shocks set at the stock ride height which DID improve the towing performance/handling.
The CCD shocks DO NOT handle a trailer as well as the Bilsteins. This is for sure. Unfortunately, I don't currently see an easy way to improve the damping of the Platinum. If I can figure out a way to trick the platinum to not know the CCD shocks are gone I would for sure put bilsteins back on. From the moment I drove the Platinum I did not feel the CCD was a better ride than the bilsteins. Anyway, due to the soft rear shocks there is more bounce/movement from the trailer. The bilsteins controlled it much better. I also understand why others felt the ride had issues and added the heavy duty sway bars.
I have the sway bars on my list of things to change. I think it will help with some of the movement I feel but I don't know if it will solve all the issues. Sway bars are easier to add than the shocks though so it shouldn't be a tough add.
Thus far, fuel mileage has not been as good around town and towing as the XLT was. I am going to attribute this to the 22" wheels. I am still watching the classifieds for a set of take off 18" wheels. The 18" wheels fit my use case better than 22's anyway. I am not extremely worried about gas mileage but I seem to be 1-2mpg less everywhere with the platinum compared to the xlt. I had nearly 60k worth of data on the XLT and only about 5k worth on the platinum, so hardly a scientific comparison but thus far I have not seen numbers as good as the XLT.
We also just picked up a newer and slightly bigger trailer. It is only about 1200# heavier than our last one but it is wider and taller. I can feel it a bit more than the last one but it handles nearly the same. It is a rockwood roo 233s. Dry weight of 4900# and loaded weight of 6300#. We took it out this last weekend and there was one bigger pass we climbed up to about 8000' and I was able to maintain 65 but the temps got up there right at the top, it showed 237 on the dash as we crested the top and then it quickly cooled off once I was off the boost. I have climbed that same pass with the xlt and the lighter trailer and not had any temp issues. Still guessing it was just the extra weight putting extra load on it. I will watch this and be more mindful of speed on bigger climbs. I never had any temp issues with the xlt at higher speeds, just low speed steep grades. My previous hemi would heat up on climbs even at highway speeds though.
I am going to look at for sure doing the thermostat replacement and see if I see any improvement with that. I am also more seriously considering the aftermarket intercooler and the louver mod.
I am still really happy with the expedition and towing. I don't think there is anything better currently available. The new big Wagoneer might be close but having towed with a hemi I don't think it is "better" than the eco boost.
So, the changes that I want to make to hopefully improve towing are:
18" wheels and Load E tires
Sway bars
Thermostat
Intercooler and Louver mod