Anyone Towing an Airstream with a 3L GTDI EcoBoost Expey?

[Daniel McManus]

Thinking about getting a 2018 Exepy to tow our 25' Airstream Travel Trailer.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated . Thanks

 

[chuck s]

What's the concern? Unless you want to drive a pickup truck all the time the Expedition seems the only choice. No other SUV offers this towing capacity (9200 pounds).

I have the HD tow package on my '17 (as I did on my '07) and it handles my less-aerodynamic 23' travel trailer with no complaints. WDH of course. No extensive fuel use known on the '17 yet but the '07 was horrible and typically under 10mpg. The EcoBoost wants premium fuel for max towing. No experience with the '18 of course. I elected to get the '17 last month for several reasons including complete familiarity with the truck as it's barely different from my earlier model. Friends have the 10-speed (9 speed?) transmission in their F150 and tow a 28' travel trailer a couple times a month and are pleased. (Has the V8 though.)

HD towing gets you larger radiators, etc. Built-in brake controller and whatever trailer stability does.

-- Chuck

 

[LokiWolf]

What's the concern? Unless you want to drive a pickup truck all the time the Expedition seems the only choice. No other SUV offers this towing capacity (9200 pounds).

I have the HD tow package on my '17 (as I did on my '07) and it handles my less-aerodynamic 23' travel trailer with no complaints. WDH of course. No extensive fuel use known on the '17 yet but the '07 was horrible and typically under 10mpg. The EcoBoost wants premium fuel for max towing. No experience with the '18 of course. I elected to get the '17 last month for several reasons including complete familiarity with the truck as it's barely different from my earlier model. Friends have the 10-speed (9 speed?) transmission in their F150 and tow a 28' travel trailer a couple times a month and are pleased. (Has the V8 though.)

HD towing gets you larger radiators, etc. Built-in brake controller and whatever trailer stability does.

-- Chuck

What he said!

FYI it is a 3.5, not 3.0L TT. Also, not sure it is GTDI. GTDI stands for Gas Turbo Direct Injection. The 2018 Expy has the 2nd Gen 3.5 Twin Turbo, and it has both Port and Direct Injection, so not sure if there is a different designation for it?

I don't think you can go wrong, as long as you stay under the 9200/9100(Regular/Max) Capacity.

 

[Daniel McManus]

Thanks for the good news on the towing ability of the Expey.

We plan to use it as both our towing vehicle and as our everyday.

Thanks for you constructive comments.

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

Thanks for the good news on the towing ability of the Expey.

We plan to use it as both our towing vehicle and as our everyday.

Thanks for you constructive comments.

I use my 17 for my everyday driver and our highway cruiser. I don't do much towing these days, but I do have the HD tow package and I think that helps with engine/drive train longevity because of the extra cooling capability. The 17 is very comfortable to drive and I'm sure the 18s will be great too.

 

[07xln]

You'll have no issues towing with the 2018.

 

[B-McD]

I'll second what the others have said here. I tow a 30' Apex Ultra Light at about 7800 lbs fully stocked. Get a good WDH and you will be fine. The TT engine gets the trailer up and moving a bit better than the 2012 F150 V8 we used to use. Based on the butt dyno of course. Going with the better LT types of tires will help as well. With the P rated tires it's a bit squirmy in crosswinds. Have fun!

 

[brick]

I tow a 6000lb boat and my 2016 Expy tows it easily. You will be fine towing a 25 ft airstream, which likely weighs about 5400lb empty. Your total towed load will be somewhere around 6000lbs.
brick

 

[powerboatr]

mine is a 16, 373 rear gears and hd towing package. the trailer weighs 1800 empty, cross ties 250 each 16 of them on deck so around 6400-6500 lbs, trailer is rated at 10,200 so i was far from full.
never knew it was back there.
your pulling a large bulb through the air, you will know its there.
i wouldn't have any issue pulling a 25 foot alum trailer. tons of tq and you can lock out higher gears.
i am sure the 18 with the ten speed and higher hp and tq gen 2 ecoboost, you will not have any issue, get the towing package and be set.
i am sure the ten speed in tow haul will allow select shift to lock out higher gears if you need to

the guy in front of me had a tandem axle trailer rated at 7500lbs...he overloaded and his tires played lets ride the edge from bending the axle...he had iirc 28

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

I would hate to have to unload those!

 

[bobmbx]

I notice your roof rack bars are in the rear. Do you experience the "drumming" sound at 30-50mph? I did, even with the windows up. I moved the bars forward, and kept them separated more. No more "drumming". I mentioned that to the dealer and they said there was a TSB out about that. I haven't bothered to look it up, yet.

They act like poorly designed wings, and the buffeting impacts the roof...like a drum.

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

Mine were like that when I took delivery. I never noticed any drumming but I did spread them out because of I noticed that the carwash didn't clean the roof with them close together, so I spread them apart when I waxed the roof.

 

[powerboatr]

I would hate to have to unload those!

rope and a tree, pulleed em off, we cut them in half lengthwise and use for landscape timbers around the drip line of house


never noticed drumming at high speeds?? been that way since after first wash when like Andy i discovered being to close didnt let the big spinning thing clean the roof
i have a long high speed trip tomorrow, i will go move them and see.
i get drumming at 25 -30 on not so smooth roads with washboard ridges, i think its the running boards.

 

[bobmbx]

The drumming abates as I approach 50mph, but cruising at lower speeds the sound was quite pronounced.

 

[powerboatr]

The drumming abates as I approach 50mph, but cruising at lower speeds the sound was quite pronounced.

i am going to move one fwd a few feet, to see if 77 makes any noise.
like i said , now they are at the optimal car wash distance apart.

the guts of the cross ties....

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

i am going to move one fwd a few feet, to see if 77 makes any noise.
like i said , now they are at the optimal car wash distance apart.

the guts of the cross ties....

View attachment 21194

Must be a heck of a saw to cut those bad boys in half!

 

[powerboatr]

worm drive 7.5 saw, then air chisel and a sawz all. then drive a 4" wedge and POP they split like a melon. even make noise

 

[theoldwizard1]

Going with the better LT types of tires will help as well. With the P rated tires it's a bit squirmy in crosswinds.

CONCUR !

 

[Barjrob1972]

I notice your roof rack bars are in the rear. Do you experience the "drumming" sound at 30-50mph? I did, even with the windows up. I moved the bars forward, and kept them separated more. No more "drumming". I mentioned that to the dealer and they said there was a TSB out about that. I haven't bothered to look it up, yet.

They act like poorly designed wings, and the buffeting impacts the roof...like a drum.

I never considered this. Thanks!

 

[powerboatr]

after several hundred miles with them spread out even further...cant tell any difference