First big RV towing trip and stranded in Midland TX

JasonH · Apr 30, 2022

Deadman said:
I'd assume you possibly warped the brake rotors on the expedition if you braked it much in the heat. You'll know if the car shakes when you hit the brakes lightly.

He might be ok on brakes. The big campers are sails. If you're not driving in heavy traffic you don't brake very often and the rig slows immediately because of all the air being pushed. I let my kids help hook up once and didnt know the 7-pin wasn't connected properly until I got off the highway. Notice I said they helped once, lol. He definitely needs to get that controller installed though. It would be good to have all the other towing goodies as well. Dealerships can't be trusted in these matters. They let people pull off the lot with anything.

keny01998 · Apr 30, 2022

I tow about 4000 lbs with my boat and trailer. I have been using this brake controller.

https://www.amazon.com/Tekonsha-90195-Electronic-Brake-Control/dp/B000P17NXQ?th=1

Goclmbmnt · May 2, 2022

X BRONCO OWNER said:
That’s terrible hopefully ford will put you in a loaner that you can tow that trailer back with.

My waste gate failed on my first towing outing on my 2020. 3,000 miles on the truck and I didn’t make it 50 miles before I limped to the next town and found the dealership. They wouldn’t help with a tow vehicle. Had to end up renting a Yukon, wasn’t supposed to tow with it but it did great.

chuck s · May 2, 2022

Class IV Tow Package? You mean HD Tow (option 536)?

Easy to tell if you have the HD Tow option, the electronic brake control is a standard part of the HD Tow Package (along with upgraded radiator and rear axle). No Ford brake controller? No HD Tow.

2019 owners manual indicates maximum trailer weight is 6000 pounds withOUT HD tow. What makes you think your rented trailer weighs 5000 pounds?

-- Chuck

WEDGE · May 2, 2022

According to the OP's VIN #, he does NOT have the HD towing package. Does have the 3.31 axle ratio, standard duty transmission cooler and radiator. Not ideal for towing big trailers at all. I would either get a smaller trailer, or trade in and get a vehicle that has the capability!

Steve Hartman · May 2, 2022

BMW2FORD said:
I’d do like Fastcar said and disconnect the battery for about 15 minutes to see if whatever fault is set in the trans will un set so at least you can get going. May or may not work but worth a try in the situation your in with the trailer. Unfortunately when you get it to a dealer, that might erase codes and they may not be happy to fix it but at least you can drive. If you start driving and it happens again, try to pay attention to what gear it’s happening in and use manual mode and don’t shift into it anymore. Good luck and man that sucks!

Upon disconnecting the battery, don't you have to ground the positive for ten to fifteen minutes to make sure the capacitors in the system discharge? Just askin'.... ?

Wnomis · May 2, 2022

skydiver said:
So it looks like you are correct mr_dave. I have axle code 15

I really worked hard to get the 373 axel when I made the purchase. I am upset I missed this.
Do you know if I can purchase the OEM brake controller feature?

Yes you can. I installed the factory brake controller myself on my previous 18 expedition it only took about an hour or two. I ordered it online for around $110 from a out of state ford dealer. I got the dealer program it and it worked as it should.

Larry McNeil · May 2, 2022

That sounds to me like it COULD be a pretty simple fix. See it you can get a code reader on it. I’d be willing to bet (well, not bet, but at least hypothesize!) you have one or more bad spark plug coils. Even one bad one will knock engine performance right in the tubes! COULD be the tranny, but the code reader will tell you that too!
Good luck!

BMW2FORD · May 2, 2022

Steve Hartman said:
Upon disconnecting the battery, don't you have to ground the positive for ten to fifteen minutes to make sure the capacitors in the system discharge? Just askin'.... ?

You could pull the positive and negative and place them together to bleed off all the capacitors and get them to reset quicker but it seems newer cars are smarter and just pulling the negative for about 15 minutes usually clears most sporadic faults.

X BRONCO OWNER · May 3, 2022

chuck s said:
Class IV Tow Package? You mean HD Tow (option 536)?

Easy to tell if you have the HD Tow option, the electronic brake control is a standard part of the HD Tow Package (along with upgraded radiator and rear axle). No Ford brake controller? No HD Tow.

2019 owners manual indicates maximum trailer weight is 6000 pounds withOUT HD tow. What makes you think your rented trailer weighs 5000 pounds?

-- Chuck

I took my fx4 with no HD tow to an rv dealer when looking at RV’s. The computer program they used said as long as I had 3:73’s and added a brake controller the truck was good to tow up to 9200lbs. I think i remember reading somewhere on here that there was no difference in the hd and non hd radiator part numbers I could be mistaken.

First big RV towing trip and stranded in Midland TX

JasonH

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