Towing withn 2017

I have a 2017 Expedition Platinum EL 4X4 and have a question on towing. I have seen several posts on towing but don't know how many pull trailers for extended periods. I would like to hear from those who tow for extended periods for up to 6 months on the road, not just weekend casual towing and any thoughts on long term towing. I know the vehicle CAN tow 9200# with a tongue weight of 920# with a weight distribution hitch. I also know I will need a "tune" and heavier sway bars. Can the expedition tow full time, thoughts??? And how much can it tow. I also know it shows a gvw of 15,200#, and I know that includes the tooth picks in my pocket and all other trinkets.

Do you have the Heavy Duty Towing and the brake controller?

I have towed with a 2017 XLT for a three week long trip that included mountains and flatland. My trailer is about 4000 lbs, and my Expy did wonderfully. Hills were no problem, temps remained normal including some pretty warm days and long climbs. I'm guessing the Platinum has the HD tow stuff (so does my truck). I'm nowhere near max weight and I don't want to be. I started towing my trailer with an '03 Tacoma and that was enough excitement.

I have a friend that a has 17 EL with max tow. They stay gone summers traveling across the country pulling their 27 ft travel trailer and love it. We’re from the Midwest and they’ve been all over, NW, SW , SE and no problems. They love it has room for both kids and pets. They’re usually gone from end of May and on the Road until early August.

LokiWolf. Yes I have the heavy duty towing and the brake controller. I don't know if these are totally electric, which I am guessing they are. I used to haul with a heavier truck and preferred the older hydraulic/electric, but these newer ones may work better than the older style. I also have 22" wheels which only have 4 ply rating. I was thinking of removing the 22" wheels and replacing with 20" wheels which would allow me to change to 6 or 8 ply, but this will probably give me a lot more road noise and probably a rougher ride. My tire guy says by replacing my 285/45R-22 with a 285/55R-20 the speedometer and odometer would be accurate, but is it necessary to replace those tires to tow?

What weight are you anticipating towing? What trailer -- what brakes does it have? The Ford brake controller is electric (of course) and will control electric and electric-over-hydraulic trailer brakes -- all in your owner's manual.

I see no need for a "tune" (whatever that might be) or "heavier (than what?) tow bars." Run 93 octane fuel for more power -- something else in the owner's manual.

Unless you're planning to grossly exceed the towing and suspension limitations the wheels and tires you are fine assuming they're OEM and not bling. "Ply ratings" are 1930s smoke and mirrors, look on the sidewall to see what weight the tires can carry -- that's what maters. My 6000-ish pound trailer tows fine with the P-metric tires it came with. You can use Forscan to correct speedo inaccuracy. There are at least a dozen 20" tires with +/-2% difference to what you have now.

But ya gotta tell us the weights you want to tow before the advice can get meaningful.

-- Chuck

Chuck s I am in the process of wanting to buy a trailer and do not know the exact specs. The book states I can tow 9200#, though I don't want to go to 100% of rating. My thoughts are a unit of 30' or less at max dry weight of 7500#, thought my intent is to add a propane or diesel generator to rear of trailer in an enclosure, thought that exact weight can not be determined until purchased. My question is,what mods need to be done to tow at or near the max weight for the vehicle, which is 9200# with a gvwr of 15,200#, which is the specs of the vehicle. Some on here have stated 1)heavier sway bars are needed, 2) 6 to 8 ply tires are needed, 3) heavier shocks, and 4) a tune to aid in engine pulling and transmission shift. I have towed in the past, but it was a bumper pull livestock trailer and weight was never consistent, though this was with a chevy 1 ton dually with manual transmission and 454ci which is a different world. I just want to know if my expedition can tow the maximum rating for a prolonged period with no additions, or what additions should be made. If it can not, then I may need to go a different route is all.

I'm assuming we're discussing a travel trailer here?

There's another consideration. You also have to consider the cargo capacity of your Expedition because conventional trailers require 10% to 15% of the trailer weight on the ball and that's limited by Ford to 920 pounds at the hitch. And that takes that same weight out of what else you can carry -- like family, dogs, etc. I think my cargo capacity is 1450 pounds -- there's a yellow sticker inside the door jamb.

Weight on the ball is critical and is only determined by trial and error. Somewhere between 10% and 15% is what you must have. My 6000 pound trailer requires 600-900 pounds on the ball for safe towing and 900 is darn close to the 920 max capacity. Currently about 750 pounds which is handled by my Equalizer(tm) WDH.

Trailer dry weight is absolute fiction and meaningless -- ignore it. The weight number you need is the GVWR -- the fully loaded weight -- that's your planning number. It may be difficult to keep the trailer below that weight.

Never, ever place any significant weight at the rear of a trailer it will wag the dog. Weight on the end will magnify any fishtailing (the real word for the kinder-gentler term "sway").

My personal rule of thumb for happy towing travel trailers is the One Ton Rule which states the gross weight of the trailer must be 2000 pounds less than the maximum towing capacity of the vehicle. This allows for loads in the vehicle, high summer temperatures, steep grades, etc. With the 9200 pound capacity Expedition I'd not tow a travel trailer weighing more than 7200 pounds completely loaded weight. You ain't gonna find any 30 footers that weigh that little loaded.

-- Chuck