Tow Upgrades and Guidance - 2021 Expedition XLT

[expeditionDrvr]

Hi -

I have a new to me (9K miles) 2021 Expedition XLT. It has does not have the max tow package, so here are the configurations:
- 7,200 GWAR with 1760 max cargo weight.
- 3.15 Rear Axle
- 4x2
Hitch Details:
- 4 Pin and 7 Pin
- Weight Carrying Max of 6,000 pounds with tongue weight of 600 pounds.
- Weight Distributing Max of 9,000 pounds with tongue weight of 900 pounds.

Details on towing:

https://www.ford.com/cmslibs/content/dam/brand_ford/en_us/brand/resources/general/pdf/guides/21Towing_Ford_Expedition_Dec3.pdf

I also purchased a 2019 Solaire Palomino 240 BHS. It has a "Dry Weight" (includes LP, but no fluids) of 5,210 pounds. I don't plan to tow it with fluids, but lets assume it will be 6,000 pounds to be safe. GWAR is 6,710. Hitch dry weight of 566 pounds. It has a weight distributing hitch.

Dilemma: I plan to do a long road trip (thousands of miles, hills etc.) I am trying to understand if I can safely modify the SUV to alleviate some towing issues without trading in for a Class IV Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package (536). Here are the upgrades I'm aware of:
- 3.73 rear axle. This cannot be altered on the XLT as I understand it's a complete different process.
- Trailer Brakes. I think this would be an easy installation by myself or the dealer?
- Radiator Upgrade. Is this just auxiliary transmission or a full radiator upgrade? Is auxiliary transmission fairly straight forward to install?
- Backup Assist - Not Required
- Upgraded Sway Bar? Part Number?
- 4x4 - Can't upgrade.
- I miss anything?

 

[mrmustang]

Hi -

I have a new to me (9K miles) 2021 Expedition XLT. It has does not have the max tow package, so here are the configurations:
- 7,200 GWAR with 1760 max cargo weight.
- 3.15 Rear Axle
- 4x2
Hitch Details:
- 4 Pin and 7 Pin
- Weight Carrying Max of 6,000 pounds with tongue weight of 600 pounds.
- Weight Distributing Max of 9,000 pounds with tongue weight of 900 pounds.

Details on towing:

https://www.ford.com/cmslibs/content/dam/brand_ford/en_us/brand/resources/general/pdf/guides/21Towing_Ford_Expedition_Dec3.pdf

I also purchased a 2019 Solaire Palomino 240 BHS. It has a "Dry Weight" (includes LP, but no fluids) of 5,210 pounds. I don't plan to tow it with fluids, but lets assume it will be 6,000 pounds to be safe. GWAR is 6,710. Hitch dry weight of 566 pounds. It has a weight distributing hitch.

Dilemma: I plan to do a long road trip (thousands of miles, hills etc.) I am trying to understand if I can safely modify the SUV to alleviate some towing issues without trading in for a Class IV Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package (536). Here are the upgrades I'm aware of:
- 3.73 rear axle. This cannot be altered on the XLT as I understand it's a complete different process.
- Trailer Brakes. I think this would be an easy installation by myself or the dealer?
- Radiator Upgrade. Is this just auxiliary transmission or a full radiator upgrade? Is auxiliary transmission fairly straight forward to install?
- Backup Assist - Not Required
- Upgraded Sway Bar? Part Number?
- 4x4 - Can't upgrade.
- I miss anything?

Properly set up weight distribution hitch, with anti sway control bar should be done by the selling/servicing dealer of the travel trailer. If not set up correctly, it could do more harm than good.
Electric brakes should be on both axles of the travel trailer, confirm with your selling or servicing dealer.
Buy a digital brake controller, as they can be set for delay and intensity of the braking desired.
Unless you are planning to head over the Rockies, your stock radiator should be just fine. I do suggest you flush the cooling system, and add a coolant booster/lubricant (I personally like Motor Max) to the coolant and you will be fine.
With the weight distribution hitch with sway control (basically an adjustable slide bar on the weight distribution hitch assembly), you should not need an aftermarket sway bar.

Hope you find this helpful.

Bill

 

[JasonH]

There's an aerodynamic limitation for towing without HD Tow as well. It's not just the weight. It's in the towing guide. I think you can upgrade the rear to an aftermarket LSD, like a Detroit truetrac if you have the 9.75 rear. The dealer should be able to install and program a brake controller but you'll need the 7 pin connector as well.

 

[expeditionDrvr]

Thank you @mrmustang . Very Helpful!

1) Your saying anti-sway bar. I have the Fastway Progress Mfg 94-00-1000 E2 10K. It does not have anti-sway I believe. Should I upgrade? Is there a preferred model?
2) Do you suggest a brake controller? I assume it would be better than stock ford?
3) I'll look into motor max.

@JasonH
1) I'll check out the aerodynamic limitations.
2) I'll look into the Detroit truetrac.
3) I have the 7 pin and connection for brake controller. I might look aftermarket though...

 

[mrmustang]

Thank you @mrmustang . Very Helpful!

1) Your saying anti-sway bar. I have the Fastway Progress Mfg 94-00-1000 E2 10K. It does not have anti-sway I believe. Should I upgrade? Is there a preferred model?
2) Do you suggest a brake controller? I assume it would be better than stock ford?
3) I'll look into motor max.

@JasonH
1) I'll check out the aerodynamic limitations.
2) I'll look into the Detroit truetrac.
3) I have the 7 pin and connection for brake controller. I might look aftermarket though...

1: Anti Sway bar for the truck, not the trailer
2: Reese Towpower is what I would suggest, plenty of others on the market equally sufficient
2A: The wiring is under the dash for the brake controller, Ford parts has an adapter for the plug to the brake controller unit. If you can change a light bulb, and are not color blind, it's a few minutes of your time to wire up and install.
3: Motor Max (I use it in my road race cars) is just one brand, Redline Water Wetter, Purple Ice, Hyper Lube, or any number of coolant additives for your 50/50 mix.

Cooling System Additives - Turbo and High-Tech Performance Magazine

We find out how well cooling system additives really work and which is best - Turbo and High-Tech Performance Magazine

www.motortrend.com

 

[expeditionDrvr]

Thank you again @mrmustang . The safety of my family is paramount and i'll have the items professionally installed.

For a sway bar, are you just saying a robust aftermarket version? Something like this? https://www.hellwigproducts.com/our-products/search/?searchq=expedition

For the brake controller, etrailer recommends this kit.

 

[JasonH]

@JasonH

2) I'll look into the Detroit truetrac.

Just to clarify, technically the LSD isn't required. I included it because it was an option with some 3.73 gearing packages and I assumed you were trying to mimic that configuration. You could just get the 3.73 ring and pinion. But I can't imagine going that far and not having the LSD added too.

 

[Deadman]

The rear axle is actually larger on the 3.73 tow pack units from what I understand!

 

[LokiWolf]

Let's be clear, NO aftermarket brake controller is as good as the built in. It gets its marching orders from the ECM/BCM in the Expedition itself, and can actually pulse the trailer brakes independent to the truck to stop sway. It communicates directly with the ABS also.

 

[duneslider]

Let's be clear, NO aftermarket brake controller is as good as the built in. It gets its marching orders from the ECM/BCM in the Expedition itself, and can actually pulse the trailer brakes independent to the truck to stop sway. It communicates directly with the ABS also.

I have a prodigy and redarc pro that I use in other vehicles and I would have to say the factory ford brake controller is top notch. It also isn't expensive and is easy to install from what I have read and it looks WAY better than anything else you will put on.

 

[shane_th_ee]

What’d you miss? Rear springs, the HD tow package includes different rear springs. (And now that Ford has the non-eLSD version of the 3.73 rear differential available, it might be do-able to change out the rear differential/axle.)

 

[sjwhiteley]

Without HD tow you will be at MAX towing capacity.

I recommend having the brake controller installed by the dealership - it's pretty cheap to do - unless you are very familiar with doing that work. The Sumo Springs (rubber donuts which go between the coil springs on the rear) will help a little. Make sure the weight, spring rate and height of the WDH is set perfectly, since you are at max capacity.

Those are the easy things, barring serious replacement of radiator, diff, etc.

 

[duneslider]

Your shocks are going to leak so when you replace them put in some better shocks, I put bilsteins on and they made a noticeable difference when towing for me. I tow a camper that is about 5k and don't feel like it is even working hard most of the time.

 

[Av8r]

One thing I haven't seen mentioned in a few of these "can my Expy tow this" threads is. Charging for your TT battery!

I have the max tow package on my 2019, so I can not check for this. But on my 2005 Expy I did not have any towing package on it. It had the 4-pin connector but not the 7-pin. After researching how to add the 7-pin to it I found out that some of the 1st gen Expys had a 7-pin connector but did not have the fuses and relays for charging the trailer battery. I wired in the power for the 7-pin but didn't add the fuse or relay. After a "short" 100 mi trip, approx 3 hrs, it almost completely drained my TT battery.

Just check with a volt meter to see if you are getting power from Pin 1 (Ground) to Pin 4 (Charging +12V). IDK if they include the necessary fuses and relays in the Expys w/o a tow package. You don't want to lose power for the trailer brakes.

 

[lurch]

Besides the content of the max tow package switching to LT tires with an E load rating really helped my towing experience. The stiffer sidewalls and high PSI helped reduce sway when pulling in heavy wind.

 

[chuck s]

I believe, based on posts here, the Ford OEM brake controller will physically "snap in" where the little bin sits on the dash and electrically "plug in" to the connector under the dash. 20 minutes.

The Prodigy proportional brake controller I used with my '07 was wonderful; the Ford controller in my '17 is even more wonderful!

-- Chuck