Regular WB vs. EL/MAX for towing

[LovinPSDs]

So we are in the process of upgrading from our 2012 to something with an Ecoboost (2015+) to pull a travel trailer. The trailer itself is 26', 5150 Dry. We have two W/D hitches, and i'll be upgrading to LT tires, new bilsteins and maybe Sumo Springs on whatever truck we end up buying...

My real question, how much difference in stability will we feel between a regular WB and an EL/MAX?? The numbers I've looked up for wheel bases are below... Perhaps one of the biggest variables is I'd REALLY like the EL/Max's bigger fuel tank.

2015 - 2017 regular - 119"
2105 - 2017 EL - 131"
18+ regular - 122.5"
18+ MAX - 131.6"

Thoughts?

 

[JExpedition07]

With 26’ I’d go with the EL or Max but it’s not an absolute necessity, the extra wheelbase doesn’t matter so much for weight...but when you are talking about a travel trailer at that length the things tend to be sails in wind, the extra 1 foot isn’t much but it helps. If your 2012 has the HD tow package it is rated to tow that trailer, my 2007 Expy EL with the 5.4 Triton and HD tow package is rated @9,000 lbs towing weight distributing. I’m not sure the specs of your current ride though.

In my experience the biggest limiting factor for the Expedition is the suspension, they squat. If you are looking at XLT models be on the look out for the oem 7 pin connector and 7 row tans cooler, you don’t want one that was just added after the fact.

The 34 gallon tank in my ‘07 EL is one of my favorite parts, filled up I get 520+ miles of range and can cruise the highway endlessly. Range goes up to insane levels if all highway, I do an even mix of city too though normally.

 

[JExpedition07]

Also watch payload ratings carefully

 

[JasonH]

Extra wheelbase will help with stability. I tow 30 feet with an EL and would not want anything shorter. Regarding squat, proper weight distribution will mitigate this by distributing weight between axles. You can probably reduce sway by spending more on a hitch, and going with something like a Hensley or Arrow. I tow with a Husky Centerline and it works well enough for the price. We got an EL for the cargo space (and wheelbase), as two of my kids are in athletics and we need space for luggage, even when the 3rd row is in use. If this is your situation, I'd advise springing or the EL/Max.

 

[LovinPSDs]

With 26’ I’d go with the EL or Max but it’s not an absolute necessity, the extra wheelbase doesn’t matter so much for weight...but when you are talking about a travel trailer at that length the things tend to be sails in wind, the extra 1 foot isn’t much but it helps. If your 2012 has the HD tow package it is rated to tow that trailer, my 2007 Expy EL with the 5.4 Triton and HD tow package is rated @9,000 lbs towing weight distributing. I’m not sure the specs of your current ride though.

In my experience the biggest limiting factor for the Expedition is the suspension, they squat. If you are looking at XLT models be on the look out for the oem 7 pin connector and 7 row tans cooler, you don’t want one that was just added after the fact.

The 34 gallon tank in my ‘07 EL is one of my favorite parts, filled up I get 520+ miles of range and can cruise the highway endlessly. Range goes up to insane levels if all highway, I do an even mix of city too though normally.

Thanks for the feedback. Our current Expy does have the HD Tow Package, but I think it's got 3.31 gears (2wd as well). It's barely turning RPMs at 80 MPH on the highway. I thought about giving the trailer a shot with our current Expy.. I guess if I bought shocks, tires and Sumo Springs, I could swap the gear to the new EL/MAX if needed. I just hate the idea of putting money into the 2012 if we're going to upgrade. I really want an Ecoboost, I just love the look of that torque curve!


I think for the upgrade I'll just suck it up and hold out for an EL/MAX, if not for the larger fuel tank alone. It only makes sense, and really no negatives outside of trying to find a smoking deal on one...

 

[LovinPSDs]

Extra wheelbase will help with stability. I tow 30 feet with an EL and would not want anything shorter. Regarding squat, proper weight distribution will mitigate this by distributing weight between axles. You can probably reduce sway by spending more on a hitch, and going with something like a Hensley or Arrow. I tow with a Husky Centerline and it works well enough for the price. We got an EL for the cargo space (and wheelbase), as two of my kids are in athletics and we need space for luggage, even when the 3rd row is in use. If this is your situation, I'd advise springing or the EL/Max.

The trailer came with a EAZ-Lift Recurve R3 setup, and I found a killer deal on a Blue Ox that's sitting in the garage...hopefully one of these do the trick, as much as I'd love a Hensley. I think the space and extra fual capacity will be helpful as well. I guess EL/Max it is.

Part of our "downsizing" project here was to go from a 5th wheel and 1-ton truck to our Mini Lite and an Expedition. Still have the 1-ton in the driveway, so we'll see. I think if I'm going from a 1-ton to an Expy I should go EL as I'm sure my expectations are high coming from a diesel and 5er.

Thanks again for the Feeback.. now just gotta find a smoking deal on an EL/Max

 

[JasonH]

The trailer came with a EAZ-Lift Recurve R3 setup, and I found a killer deal on a Blue Ox that's sitting in the garage...hopefully one of these do the trick, as much as I'd love a Hensley. I think the space and extra fual capacity will be helpful as well. I guess EL/Max it is.

Part of our "downsizing" project here was to go from a 5th wheel and 1-ton truck to our Mini Lite and an Expedition. Still have the 1-ton in the driveway, so we'll see. I think if I'm going from a 1-ton to an Expy I should go EL as I'm sure my expectations are high coming from a diesel and 5er.

Thanks again for the Feeback.. now just gotta find a smoking deal on an EL/Max

Since you have the Blue Ox, it sounds like you're ready to go. The only other suggestion I have is to visit a scale and get your actual loaded trailer weight, and to purchase a tongue weight scale, as small shifts in the location of weight within the trailer can change the tongue weight substantially. Our tongue weight was much lower when we first purchased our trailer, because we had not put anything in it yet. Once we added an upgraded mattress, television, extra power cords, tools, etc, our tongue weight increased substantially.

Finding a deal on an Expedition EL/Max shouldn't be a problem. Many of these vehicles are used in rental fleets and there are many low mileage ones on the market. The depreciation on these vehicles is horrendous, which works in favor of the 2nd owner.

 

[LovinPSDs]

Finding a deal on an Expedition EL/Max shouldn't be a problem. Many of these vehicles are used in rental fleets and there are many low mileage ones on the market. The depreciation on these vehicles is horrendous, which works in favor of the 2nd owner.

You comfortable buying one of these rental cars? I'm assuming most of these 3-4 yr old cars with 75-100K miles are all rentals.

Me... I beat on rentals lol. I'm not sure that's the used rig I want to buy yet.

 

[JasonH]

You comfortable buying one of these rental cars? I'm assuming most of these 3-4 yr old cars with 75-100K miles are all rentals.

Me... I beat on rentals lol. I'm not sure that's the used rig I want to buy yet.

Rental and fleet vehicles undergo routine maintenance. As compared to an off-lease or other vehicle...who knows what, if any, maintenance was done, and what materials were used? I've put around 40K on my former rental Expedition. No issues yet, apart from the blower motor connector, which has nothing to do with the vehicle history. I am curious to see what my oil analysis will show. I have the oil changed using 5W30 or 10W30 Magnetec based on the oil life minder. My plan is to get rid of the vehicle when the extended warranty expires at 125K. Not because I anticipate issues, but because the Max models have some decent upgrades, such as 10 speed transmission, better 3rd row access, adaptive cruise, etc. Just waiting for prices to drop a bit more.

 

[shane_th_ee]

You will want the bigger fuel tank. Expect about 10mpg while towing.

 

[JExpedition07]

Thanks for the feedback. Our current Expy does have the HD Tow Package, but I think it's got 3.31 gears (2wd as well). It's barely turning RPMs at 80 MPH on the highway.

Curious what does yours run at 65 mph with 3.31? They are supposed to be a good cruising gear. My tach sits @1,700 rpm in 6th gear with the 3.73 ratio at 65, at 75 mph it runs an even 2,000 rpm.

 

[JasonH]

Twelve percent difference in gearing so twelve percent difference in RPM.

 

[Boostedbus]

Curious what does yours run at 65 mph with 3.31? They are supposed to be a good cruising gear. My tach sits @1,700 rpm in 6th gear with the 3.73 ratio at 65, at 75 mph it runs an even 2,000 rpm.

This is why I’d definitely recommend 3.73’s for towing. Remember max torque on these gen. 1 EcoBoost’s is at 2,500 rpm’s. The closer you are to the engines sweet spot in the power band during cruise,the better the power and fuel economy. Work smarter not harder theory.

 

[wingrider]

..... Many of these vehicles are used in rental fleets and there are many low mileage ones on the market. The depreciation on these vehicles is horrendous, which works in favor of the 2nd owner.

Most rental fleets don't offer SUVs that they ordered with tow packages. They are sourced to be body movers, so watch out when hunting there...

 

[Scott Hunter]

Make sure you get the 3.73 axle ratio. I tow a 33' trailer and did so with a 2004 Expy. With 210,000 miles on it, I decided to get a new one. The EL/Max models are rated at about 200 - 300 lbs less for towing. My trailer weighs 8500 loaded, so decided against the EL. I use an Equalizer WD hitch and have never had a problem with sway. Finding a truck with the 3.73 axle and HD Tow pkg was not easy. There were only 6 in California. Most of the new models are 3.31 axles, which drop the tow rating to a ridiculous 6,000 lbs or something. I am not happy that they dropped the gas tank from 28 gals in 2004 to 23 gals in the new 2019. After market expanded gas tanks just aren't available on the market.

 

[JasonH]

Most rental fleets don't offer SUVs that they ordered with tow packages. They are sourced to be body movers, so watch out when hunting there...

I think most of the 2017 Limited models all came with HD Tow. When I was shopping for an Expedition EL at Carmax, nearly every vehicle I looked at had it. Interestingly, it's a 4x2 so it's 3.31 gearing instead of 3.73. But it tows my 7K trailer with no problem. Never had an issue with acceleration or keeping up with traffic. Most of the time it's in 6th gear and even passing isn't an issue. And since I don't tow that often, I get the added benefit of slightly improved MPG when not towing.

 

[JExpedition07]

I think most of the 2017 Limited models all came with HD Tow. When I was shopping for an Expedition EL at Carmax, nearly every vehicle I looked at had it. Interestingly, it's a 4x2 so it's 3.31 gearing instead of 3.73. But it tows my 7K trailer with no problem. Never had an issue with acceleration or keeping up with traffic. Most of the time it's in 6th gear and even passing isn't an issue. And since I don't tow that often, I get the added benefit of slightly improved MPG when not towing.

All Limited models are HD tow unless it was deleted. It was only not standard on XLT trim.

 

[JasonH]

All Limited models are HD tow unless it was deleted. It was only not standard on XLT trim.

Whelp, that would explain why finding a fleet w/ HD tow was easy. They were all Limiteds when I was searching. Should make the choice easier for anyone else.

 

[LovinPSDs]

Curious what does yours run at 65 mph with 3.31? They are supposed to be a good cruising gear. My tach sits @1,700 rpm in 6th gear with the 3.73 ratio at 65, at 75 mph it runs an even 2,000 rpm.

Sorry, late to respond!! I don’t drive the truck much, it’s my wife’s.

65 is about dead nuts 1500rpm. She is a highway beast, I run in the high 70s pretty often and it just eats up the miles.

 

[shane_th_ee]

Careful with assuming options on fleet units. Fleet buyers can get custom builds unavailable to retail buyers. For example, there are a lot of rental F-150s that do NOT have a receiver, which is standing on all retail F-150s.