Do you remember the 2019 add?

[Grizguy]

Not sure if it was 2018 or 2019 advertisement for the Expedition MAX. Room for the kids. the really big uncle and his brother then it showed the expedition pulling a horse trailer. That add helped me decide to purchase the Expedition MAX. I really wanted / expected something more like the Excursion. I like the 19 plus MPG running the interstates driving too fast. I like the acceleration available when needed. I DONT LIKE the 8 MPG while pulling even a small enclosed trailer. It pulls it OK but normally down a gear or 2. A recent trip from Erie PA to Mississippi pulling my motorcycle in the small enclosed trailer. I would have gotten better gas milage with my F550! I took almost the same trip pulling my equipment trailer in September with a small back hoe. I did get better milage with the F550 dump truck! Why does the milage suck so bad pulling even a small trailer. Does not make much, if any, difference what drive mode I use.

 

[Left Coast Geek]

slow down a little when you're towing. if I cruise at 55-60 instead of 65-70 while towing my ~5000 lb camper, I get closer to 15 MPG.

 

[DieselMonk]

That’s actually not that bad.I had a 00 6.0L gas. Had a small 26ft camper trailer on it, and it sucked just about all of the 39 gal of fuel on a 186 mi trip! I thing it was something like 5mpg. Gas vehicles are absolutely not fuel efficient towing, head winds etc. I notice that on my SPP. God forbid winter time and a strong headwind, my fuel mileage goes fully down the drain. On the other hand, being semi retired, I don’t care what my Expedition slurps.

The new diesels aren’t that fuel efficient either anymore and than that add that urea solution, etc. Here, Diesel is now way higher than gas. Makes it very unaffordable justifying the higher price from purchase to maintenance and daily driving.

 

[byathread]

slow down a little when you're towing. if I cruise at 55-60 instead of 65-70 while towing my ~5000 lb camper, I get closer to 15 MPG.

This! Even at 60 if you keep an eye on the turbos they are inducting much more than at 55! Just a lot more drag (weight/air/rolling resistance w/addtional axles, etc.) - It's exponentially higher with more speed. You do sound like me, I simply can't stand driving that slow! My MPG towing was at best 8 with a strong tailwind and at worst 5 when running 87 octane (out west/boonies nothing else available) w/both cats and resonator cooked/shot at 35K or so. 3.73 rear eLSD, HD tow, Max (for the fuel capacity alone), etc. Run highest octane premium fuel/max tire pressures on Expy and Trailer and set the cruise at 55/drive like you are in no hurry - GOOD LUCK! I couldn't stand not going ~78 if limit is 70 and conditions allow it, especially on longer trips the time vs mileage is just ridiculous. Mileage is the only thing that sufffered, our 2019 pulled our TT about 30K miles without issue (well, to the Expy anyway!). I just bought the fuel and chalked it up as a leisure expense given it was a TT and I'm on vacation with family... Also, what's up Erie! Took said TT to Sara's on the Peninsula and then our RV every year we had it for a week or so.

 

[LanceExp2025]

This! Even at 60 if you keep an eye on the turbos they are inducting much more than at 55! Just a lot more drag (weight/air/rolling resistance w/addtional axles, etc.) - It's exponentially higher with more speed. You do sound like me, I simply can't stand driving that slow! My MPG towing was at best 8 with a strong tailwind and at worst 5 when running 87 octane (out west/boonies nothing else available) w/both cats and resonator cooked/shot at 35K or so. 3.73 rear eLSD, HD tow, Max (for the fuel capacity alone), etc. Run highest octane premium fuel/max tire pressures on Expy and Trailer and set the cruise at 55/drive like you are in no hurry - GOOD LUCK! I couldn't stand not going ~78 if limit is 70 and conditions allow it, especially on longer trips the time vs mileage is just ridiculous. Mileage is the only thing that sufffered, our 2019 pulled our TT about 30K miles without issue (well, to the Expy anyway!). I just bought the fuel and chalked it up as a leisure expense given it was a TT and I'm on vacation with family... Also, what's up Erie! Took said TT to Sara's on the Peninsula and then our RV every year we had it for a week or so.

Yes! I have found the same gas guzzling situation with our Expeditions (2012 [non-turbo V8] & now 2024). They NEVER got decent gas milage when towing anything! When my wife and kids were all Horse Showing, we used both a 2002 Ford/Fontane F550 PU w/ a 10'-6" Cab-Over Camper loaded in it and, later, a 2008 F450 PU (both diesels) plus we towed a 3-horse slant-load horse trailer that altogether totaled 26,000 #, on the scales. Both of those diesel trucks would get 5-8 MPG and we drove across the USA and a portion of Canada at 65-75 MPH all the time. So, I have always wondered why our Expy's got the same poor milage just towing our 21' Day Cruiser boat or the horse trailer w/ just 2 horses in it ??? Seems like the Expy's should have gotten 12-15 MPG but, they never did. But, we always had lots of fun & adventure and just PAID to gas bill! Lance

 

[Grizguy]

I pulled the same trailer with my 2017 LONG TALL Transit van last year. Has the 3.7v6. MPG went from 15 mpg down to 14 MPG Same route, same speed. A few months ago pulled a small back hoe on my 15,000 pound rated equipment trailer and got the same MPG with my 2024 F550.

 

[Jamo]

I have a 2014 EL LTD, looking to upgrade to a '22-24 when I find one that strikes my fancy. Mine is a work truck half the time, pleasure for the rest. I didn't buy the thing for the fuel mileage, and I'm not shopping for fuel efficiency on my next one. To me, it is what it is and I really enjoy my time behind the wheel. I just hope I don't miss my V-8 when I bite on the upgrade...

 

[LanceExp2025]

I pulled the same trailer with my 2017 LONG TALL Transit van last year. Has the 3.7v6. MPG went from 15 mpg down to 14 MPG Same route, same speed. A few months ago pulled a small back hoe on my 15,000 pound rated equipment trailer and got the same MPG with my 2024 F550.

I also have a work van, 2023 Ford Eco-Boost Transit T350, Low Roof, 148 std. length and it weighs in at 8600-8900# loaded w/ tools and parts. It gets 11-13 MPG NOT towing and 9-11 MPG towing a 7X12 tandem open cargo/construction trailer (max wt. 7000#). With the 6 cyl turbo and very little towing hours, it still seems to tow just fine when needed but, I never got milage like you have gotten! Maybe more smog stuff on 2023's?? Don't know? Thanks for the info, Lance

 

[Fastcar]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. You bought a truck! Not a economy car. It is what it is, please enjoy it for what it is. I also hate the speed limit, I have a V1 in each vehicle for that reason. If I had to consider the cost of fuel I probably would have gone back to a Cummins powered truck.

 

[Grrumpy]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. You bought a truck! Not a economy car. It is what it is, please enjoy it for what it is. I also hate the speed limit, I have a V1 in each vehicle for that reason. If I had to consider the cost of fuel I probably would have gone back to a Cummins powered truck.

THANK YOU !!!! Totally agree, and I have been biting my tongue trying not to respond to this thread in a negative way. Been towing and RV'ing since my first camper in 1970, and I remember buying cars and trucks with huge gas drinking engines that got, if you were lucky, 5-6 mpg when towing and only 8-10 solo (remember the Olds and Buick 455 and Ford 460 ).
So now you have a 6000 lb truck, powered by a Twin Turbo that puts out 400 or so hp, and your towing a big box and your complaining about mpg ????? Of course the Expy is gonna drink gas....did you think it was gonna be an economically rig to tow with especially when those twin turbos spool up ??? It is not the weight your mpg is fighting, its the big box/frontal/side area that its working against your truck.
If you don't like it, get a Prius and a 1000 lb teardrop trailer !!!!!!!

 

[Fastcar]

I pulled the same trailer with my 2017 LONG TALL Transit van last year. Has the 3.7v6. MPG went from 15 mpg down to 14 MPG Same route, same speed. A few months ago pulled a small back hoe on my 15,000 pound rated equipment trailer and got the same MPG with my 2024 F550.

I'm thinking the height and sides of the van cut the wind. 1mpg difference is virtually the same. You did good.

 

[Fastcar]

Yes! I have found the same gas guzzling situation with our Expeditions (2012 [non-turbo V8] & now 2024). They NEVER got decent gas milage when towing anything! When my wife and kids were all Horse Showing, we used both a 2002 Ford/Fontane F550 PU w/ a 10'-6" Cab-Over Camper loaded in it and, later, a 2008 F450 PU (both diesels) plus we towed a 3-horse slant-load horse trailer that altogether totaled 26,000 #, on the scales. Both of those diesel trucks would get 5-8 MPG and we drove across the USA and a portion of Canada at 65-75 MPH all the time. So, I have always wondered why our Expy's got the same poor milage just towing our 21' Day Cruiser boat or the horse trailer w/ just 2 horses in it ??? Seems like the Expy's should have gotten 12-15 MPG but, they never did. But, we always had lots of fun & adventure and just PAID to gas bill! Lance

I'm totally with you Lance! Pay the gas bill and enjoy!!

 

[byathread]

I have a 2014 EL LTD, looking to upgrade to a '22-24 when I find one that strikes my fancy. Mine is a work truck half the time, pleasure for the rest. I didn't buy the thing for the fuel mileage, and I'm not shopping for fuel efficiency on my next one. To me, it is what it is and I really enjoy my time behind the wheel. I just hope I don't miss my V-8 when I bite on the upgrade...

You won't miss the V8 (maybe the sound, that's it). The only replacement for displacement is forced induction... This engine is terrific for most applications, IMO.