2017 Expedition Heavy Duty Trailer Tow Package

Hello everyone new guy here.

I love my Expedition but I have got a towing problem and I am hoping someone in this forum could help me out.

I have a 2017 Ford Expedition XLT. After reviewing the Specification from Ford it appears I have the base XLT with Equipment Group 200A and the only added option I have is the Power Moon Roof. The Specifications detail a "Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package" as an "Available Option & Package".

The specifications list the following items as included in the "Heavy-Duty Tow Package"

• Class IV hitch receiver (please note that this is also listed as a Standard Feature only with a 4 pin connector)
• 7 & 4 pin connectors
• Heavy Duty Auxiliary Transmission Oil Cooler
• Heavy Duty Radiator
• Electronic Braking Wiring Kit
• Integrated Trailer Brake Controller

Also the 3.73 limited slip rear axle is included as a separate add option as well.

The "2017 Expedition Trailer Towing Selector" shows that a Ford Expedition XLT 4x4 with the 3.31 Axle Ratio can tow 9,300 lbs (GCWR 15,200 with a 150 lbs driver and no cargo) if it has the optional Class IV Heavy Duty Trailer Tow Package. (6,600 lbs GCWR of 12,300 lbs without it).

The Trailer Towing Selector includes a list of items included in the "Trailer Towing Package" that mirrors the items included in the "Heavy Duty Trailer Tow Package" from the specifications. Can anyone confirm that these are the same packages and that there are not more items included in the "Heavy Duty Trailer Packages" versus the "Trailer Tow Package"?

I purchased a 26' Jayco Feather Light Trailer this past Summer (5,500 empty with full propane cylinders)

Unfortunately as my vehicle stands it appears that I am not quite rated to tow this with the family and all of our camping gear.

(I know what you are thinking as you are shaking your head...all I can say is that mistakes were made).

After running the numbers it appears that I need a GCWR of close to 14,000 lbs between the loaded Expedition and Trailer.

Am I correct in assuming that if I can get a Heavy Duty Auxiliary Transmission Oil Cooler and a Heavy Duty Radiator installed I would have essentially added the "Heavy Duty Trailer Towing Package to my Expedition" and would be good to tow my trailer?

*(Note I have already installed the 7 Wire Harness, Electronic Brake Wiring Kit and Trailer Brake Controller and the vehicle came standard with the Class IV Hitch Receiver and Trailer Sway Control)

Even though the "2017 Trailer Towing Selector" shows that a Ford Expedition 4x4 XLT with the 3.31 Rear Axle Ratio and the Heavy Duty Trailer Package can tow 9,300 lbs should I be towing with an Expedition that has a rear axle ratio of 3.73 instead of the 3.31 I have now?

Is there anything different about the body frame of the Expedition if it was meant to have the Heavy Duty Tow Package?

Should I have different Suspension?

• I spoke with some who suggested installing a Timbren Package to beef up the suspension and help put more weight on the front of Expedition while towing. (Seemed like a good idea no mater what we are towing.)

I don't have read out for the transmission temperature in my display so I would need to install an aftermarket gauge so I could monitor the transmission temperature as I am towing as well. Are there any suggestions on what gauge I should use?

I believe by adding the HD Auxillary Transmission Oil Cooler, HD Radiator, Transmission Temp Gauge and Timbren Package I should be able to safely tow my trailer. Any insight would be much appreciated. I screwed the pooch once...I don't want to do it again.

Not sure about the other additional parts, but I have a 3.31 gear in my 2017 EL Limited. Power isn't the towing limitation with these vehicles. Mine tows 7K just fine and often loafs in 6th gear at highway speeds. I think there's a power steering cooler, along with the tranny and radiator upgrades. Might also need some Forscan programming done for the brake controller? I'm sure someone else will weigh in.

I have a 2017 Expedition EL that did not come with the max towing package.

I added the following:

Factory brake controller (need to use Forscan to activate this)
7 pin connector (I only put the trailer brake wire and the other 4 that were already back there, I was not looking to charge the camper when pulling)
Factory transmission cooler (this is a two hose, and one cooler addition, everything is pre-plumbed for it, see below link)
https://www.expeditionforum.com/threads/2015-upgrade-to-heavy-duty-towing.33493/page-2

I'm not sure if you need to bother with the HD radiator upgrade, I didn't see temperatures getting higher than normal driving.
You should have a transmission temperature gage on your dash, mine is under the screen that switches from MPH, to whatever the other options are. (I have an XLT with no options).
I believe all 2015-2017 EL have the 3.73 gears. Even with that being said, power was not a problem when towing. I don't expect you'll have a problem with the power.

We decided this year to get a 1 ton truck to do our towing. Our toy hauler is 7,200 lbs dry, and has a tongue weight of 1,230 so I had some "waggle" when towing that I didn't like.

Thank you guys very much for the information this has been very helpful! I also learned that my Expedition was a rental before I bought it. The dealer I bought it from installed the Class IV Hitch after they got it. Did your EL's have the Class IV Hitches installed at the factory? Even if I add the transmission cooler am I still not rated to tow ot am I just over thinking this? One more question did your EL's have a Transmission Temp Readout already programmed in the dashboard display? For what ever reason I don't have a read out. Is this something that Forescan can activate?

All Expeditions have the hitch from the factory. It is basically part of the frame.

Technically your towing capacity is whatever is printed on the door jamb I believe. With the proper equipment you would be equipped the same as a vehicle with the higher towing capacity. So you might be overthinking it a little.

For the transmission temperature I am assuming you have the instrument cluster with 2 large round gauges, and two smaller gauges inside these, and the LCD screen between them. This is what my 2017 has, and it was also a rental before I owned it. If you use the left hand side arrow keys, and ok button you can get to the display mode screen, from there you can go up and down to the following: Distance to E, Digital speedometer, oil pressure, oil temperature, transmission temperature. This should be on all Expeditions I believe, 2015-2017. It is on page 92 of the owners manual.

I have a base XLT 2017. Added trans cooler, brake controller, and 7-prong wiring, thanks to all the awesome walkthroughs this site has provided. Towing my 8000#+ boat/trailer in southwest Florida summer showed only 3 degrees higher than normal trans temp, and couldn’t even feel the trailer behind me. Add the equipment you need, and you should be good to go, I would think. I agree that the upgraded radiator is of limited utility, based on my experience. Have fun!

Thank you for the insight! I wish I had joined this group years ago!

So please correct me if I am not reading this correctly.

According to the chart. A 2017 Expedition EL 4x4 with the heavy duty tow package (both 4 and 7 pin) maxes out at 9,200lbs?

Not that I plan on towing a trailer that heavy.




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guspech750 said:

So please correct me if I am not reading this correctly.

According to the chart. A 2017 Expedition EL 4x4 with the heavy duty tow package (both 4 and 7 pin) maxes out at 9,200lbs?

Click to expand...

That is correct. In practice, the payload will run out before you hit the tow limit.