What are you towing?

[rocco TN]

I pull my 31' Palomino Ultralite with my expy. Have pulled it all over southeast and mid atlantic. Granted its dry weight is only 6750 Lbs but we have taken 4 of our six kids on our last few trips. So, six adults (my kids are well fed ) and a well stocked trailer. We have to cross a few mountains leaving home, regardless of the direction.
I drive 55-65 mph, use one sway bar and a distribution hitch. Yes, I feel it when certain cars, trucks, suvs, and tractor trailers pass me going ten to fifteen mph faster than me. But for the most part, she rides steady and true.

 

[GJarrett]

'08 Expy with heavy duty tow package and 3.73 gears. I tow a 6,500lb boat/trailer combo and have no problems. I do stay out of O/D and 65mph or below.

 

[rollinstone]

So, I get confused with the gearing...some say 3.73 is good, 4.xx better...others say 3.34 is best. Which is it? I tow a 3100 lb camping trailer currently with an Explorer with weigh distribution setup...fairly solid ride, but want to upgrade to the Expy.

 

[BIG GREEN FORD]

3.73 is a lot better then 3.31 but the higher the number the better it is.

 

[01yellerCobra]

Think of the gearing like a lever moving a load. The higher the number the longer the lever. So a 3.73 will have an easier time moving a load then the 3.31. But that comes at the expense of mpg. I couldn't tell you how much though.

 

[GJarrett]

An Expy should be able to easily haul a 3,100lb load no matter what the gear ratio is: though as others have said, a higher ratio will work better. 3.73 is a stock ratio but going to 4.xx ratio would require re-gearing an axle ($$$).

Mine gets what I consider great milege with the 3.73 axle, so I am not too sure I would have saved anything with a 3.31 anyway. I'm very happy with the 3.73

 

[rollinstone]

Been doing a lot of internet searching and can't seem to find anything within 75 miles with more than 3.31 gearing...what gives? If 3.73 is stock, no one around these parts seem to think so...

 

[01yellerCobra]

Been doing a lot of internet searching and can't seem to find anything within 75 miles with more than 3.31 gearing...what gives? If 3.73 is stock, no one around these parts seem to think so...

The 3.73 is an option for the standard Expy. Even if it has the HD towing package. But the 3.73's are standard on the EL.

 

[GJarrett]

The 3.73 option seems to not have been a popular one. It took me awhile to find mine when I started shopping for a used Expy. Be patient - they ARE out there, you just have to keep looking. I do think it was silly to not make it standard with the HD towing package, but that's how they were sold.

 

[daoud elmassri]

this is what I tow with my beast

2000 ford expedition all stock with 2001 expedition 5.4
motor she now has 59,000 miles on her . 2001 supercharger new 8 inch lower pulley 60 lb ****** injectors 340 stealth air motive fuel pump 11 pounds of bust . I tow 24 ft Grady Whit center console boat ways 11,000 lb .