Expedition EL vs Navigator L

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

LJ4174

Full Access Members
Joined
Oct 16, 2012
Posts
73
Reaction score
11
Location
Berks County, PA
Can I ask Navigator questions on this forum? :) After looking for an Expedition EL, Considering a 2012 Navigator L. Essentially the same truck correct? I know it doesn't have the low range 4X4, however I have an Excursion for that. :) Anything I should look for, consider or stay away from on the Navigator?
 

dlcorbett

Full Access Members
Air Force
Joined
Mar 26, 2014
Posts
3,082
Reaction score
1,149
Location
tx
If in good condition and you like it, get it. I was looking at an expy el a few yrs back and they are great. While taking one on a test(close to buying it) i stumbled upon a navi l. Same truck but better implemented, better headlamps, better seats, better ride, quieter, better interior and more soundly built. Only thing i didnt like over the expy the navi gives up some interior storage and cupholders oddly enough(expy has cupholders in doors and more storage up front). Both great, if you want a softer cushier more road ready car the navis fit that for me, though the expy is a far better looking car(if you get air springs, the expys ride will be almost as good)
 
OP
OP
L

LJ4174

Full Access Members
Joined
Oct 16, 2012
Posts
73
Reaction score
11
Location
Berks County, PA
What about flat towing? There is a very likely possibility we will flat tow this behind an RV. There is a thread that talks about a newer (2015+) expy, but how about the older ones? Just as good/easy? Any difference between the Navi and the Expy on this?
 

Muddy Bean

Full Access Members
Joined
Oct 19, 2017
Posts
818
Reaction score
508
Location
Michigan
Can the earlier models be flat towed at all? We flat tow our 2015 but not sure about the earlier ones...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 

Adieu

Full Access Members
Joined
Dec 22, 2016
Posts
3,717
Reaction score
798
Location
SoCal
Gator has nicer electronics, smoother ride (somehow, despite seemingly using same suspension parts), much nicer audio... no 4L, and -4 cupholders

Oh and much better sound insulation


PS power boards and power liftgate are hella OBNOXIOUS though. I haaaaate that shit
 
OP
OP
L

LJ4174

Full Access Members
Joined
Oct 16, 2012
Posts
73
Reaction score
11
Location
Berks County, PA
Gator has nicer electronics, smoother ride (somehow, despite seemingly using same suspension parts), much nicer audio... no 4L, and -4 cupholders

Oh and much better sound insulation


PS power boards and power liftgate are hella OBNOXIOUS though. I haaaaate that shit

HAHAHAHA!!! I think the power boards are cool, but I understand they break, etc. and not necessary. My wife really likes them. One of the reasons we are looking at the Navigator or the Expedition is my wife has neck and back issues and lifting the heavy lift gate and throwing groceries up in the Excursion has started to become an issue. She LOVES the power lift gate!!! :)
 

dlcorbett

Full Access Members
Air Force
Joined
Mar 26, 2014
Posts
3,082
Reaction score
1,149
Location
tx
Power boards and liftgate are also available on the expys.
 
OP
OP
L

LJ4174

Full Access Members
Joined
Oct 16, 2012
Posts
73
Reaction score
11
Location
Berks County, PA
I "think" almost every Expy we looked at had the power liftgate, even the ones I look at online. Almost seems standard at some point...
 

coolzzy

Full Access Members
Joined
Apr 16, 2018
Posts
374
Reaction score
168
Location
Idaho
+1 for the power liftgate. My wife loves that she never has to touch the backside of the car as it's usually dirty. Now if only Ford had thought to put a lip on the inside floor so that things don't roll out when you open the liftgate. A gallon of milk pulled that escape trick last week and we've now learned to pop the glass before unloading groceries and make sure nothing is gonna sneak out.

I had the power boards on my F150 and loved them but always in the back of my mind worried about them failing. They are not serviceable and must be replaced as a complete unit at an astronomical price from Ford. I wish amp made a power step for the expedition then you could just add them and buy parts to service them.
 

Flexpedition

Full Access Members
Joined
May 26, 2015
Posts
1,339
Reaction score
665
Location
midwest
They are not serviceable and must be replaced as a complete unit at an astronomical price from Ford. I wish amp made a power step for the expedition then you could just add them and buy parts to service them.

FYI, AMP Research is and has been the OEM mfg of the Explorer and Navigator power boards, and replacement parts are available thru your Ford dealer as well as elsewhere.
 
OP
OP
L

LJ4174

Full Access Members
Joined
Oct 16, 2012
Posts
73
Reaction score
11
Location
Berks County, PA
I "thought" I seen somewhere where they said you could replace the motors on the power boards?
 

Flexpedition

Full Access Members
Joined
May 26, 2015
Posts
1,339
Reaction score
665
Location
midwest
I "thought" I seen somewhere where they said you could replace the motors on the power boards?

Ford part numbers 9L7Z-16A507-A (drivers side) & 9L7Z-16A506-A (passenger side).

Dorman, for example, makes part #747-900 for the drivers side, on Amazon for about $150.

Standard Motor Products part #Z10600.
 

coolzzy

Full Access Members
Joined
Apr 16, 2018
Posts
374
Reaction score
168
Location
Idaho
Need to let all those F150 owners out there know about this. My understanding was Ford used a version of the amp steps but modified just slightly enough to be unique to ford. Maybe it's different for the expedition power boards, which would make sense since amp doesn't make a power board for the expy but does for the F150 despite them having similiar or identical mounting points.
 
Top