Fitting the 'tow max' radiator in a 2023 non tow max Expy

[mbrown1]

For me the Expy is my personal car. Over the winter months and in the fall we'll make a few trips. The winter trip is the big one. We'll tow from Southern Washington State to Arizona. About 4 days travel. Mountains. Some big, some not so. I tow like a grandpa... I am the reason there is a left lane ;-)

I have towed with the Expy and simply put, power is not going to be a problem...

In my quest to make this beastie a better tow vehicle I'm now interested in upgrading the radiator.

My understanding - which may be wrong - is that the oil and transmission coolers are part of the radiator 'system'. So upgrading the radiator 'system' - there are several components involved whould get me the larger capacity trans and oil coolers... maybe stronger fans as well.

I'll be towing a Falgstaff Microlite 22FBS. We'll be up against the 6000 lbs rating after loading. I tow with minimal in the tanks. Enough fresh for a couple of days. We've learned to pack light..

So far I drpped from the 20" wheel package to 18's off a Timberline. Loaded those with Michelin Defender LTX in the XL rating.

Added the Helwig antisway bar, sumo spring coil helpers, Tekonsha brake controller. Now it rides like a truck ;-) Yes, we have a weight distributing hitch with passive antisway.

Radiator looks to be about $500 plus labor.

Worth it ?

Is there a better aftermarket approach ? Would I do as well to go for an oversized transmission pan (and a transmission skid plate).

Also considering the Powerstop Z26 brake upgrade kit from Summit Racing.

(and yes, had I known more I would have held out for an Expy with the TowMAX package. I got sick as a dog right after the purchase and didn't really come to understand the sitution until my return ability had expired, so I'm trying to see if I can make do...)

 

[Hellwig]

For me the Expy is my personal car. Over the winter months and in the fall we'll make a few trips. The winter trip is the big one. We'll tow from Southern Washington State to Arizona. About 4 days travel. Mountains. Some big, some not so. I tow like a grandpa... I am the reason there is a left lane ;-)

I have towed with the Expy and simply put, power is not going to be a problem...

In my quest to make this beastie a better tow vehicle I'm now interested in upgrading the radiator.

My understanding - which may be wrong - is that the oil and transmission coolers are part of the radiator 'system'. So upgrading the radiator 'system' - there are several components involved whould get me the larger capacity trans and oil coolers... maybe stronger fans as well.

I'll be towing a Falgstaff Microlite 22FBS. We'll be up against the 6000 lbs rating after loading. I tow with minimal in the tanks. Enough fresh for a couple of days. We've learned to pack light..

So far I drpped from the 20" wheel package to 18's off a Timberline. Loaded those with Michelin Defender LTX in the XL rating.

Added the Helwig antisway bar, sumo spring coil helpers, Tekonsha brake controller. Now it rides like a truck ;-) Yes, we have a weight distributing hitch with passive antisway.

Radiator looks to be about $500 plus labor.

Worth it ?

Is there a better aftermarket approach ? Would I do as well to go for an oversized transmission pan (and a transmission skid plate).

Also considering the Powerstop Z26 brake upgrade kit from Summit Racing.

(and yes, had I known more I would have held out for an Expy with the TowMAX package. I got sick as a dog right after the purchase and didn't really come to understand the sitution until my return ability had expired, so I'm trying to see if I can make do...)

My 2024, with the heavy duty tow package, came with a standard size radiator from the factory. So, you may do not have to upgrade the radiator like what Ford did for 2022 model year and prior vehicles with heavy duty tow packages. The fan on my vehicle is marked with heavy duty fan, although I don't know what that means.

 

[DieselMonk]

Are fine with 6000lb rating, or do you need 9000lb? The trailer tow hd package was a different heavier rear end with 3.73, heavier sway bars, heavier springs, the HD radiator, tow hooks. You already got the updated radiator thermostat, you should be all right.
All that on my SPP and the 22” rims, non CCD make the ride really stiff.
The regular radiator is a ML3Z-8005-A
The HD tow, better cooling radiator is the ML3Z-8005-B

 

[mbrown1]

I need to make do with the vehicle I have for the time being. So I'm trying to incrementally optimize. I'll be near the 6k pound limit. Hopefully the upgrades I did will provide bit more 'beef' to this rig. 9300 pounds would be overkill for me. That said, in towing there really isn't any such thing.

When we get our built out Transit van sold I'll start looking for a mid life F series pickup to act as tow vehicle.

In the mean time, we want to do at least some local trips.

 

[jar0023]

Can’t speak to the radiator but I’ve been very happy with Power Stop Z36 brakes on my 18 FX4. To me they feel significantly better than the factory pads. I got 100k out of the first set of PS pads. Have about 125k total in the rotors. No noise. Minimal dusting. Braking is feel is more progressive. More foot on the pedal and more heat in the pads and they stop better.

 

[Going_Going_Gone]

Not sure when the change occurred, but if yours still has the old version of the thermostat, I would change that out too when you have the cooling system drained.

 

[Calidad]

Not sure when the change occurred, but if yours still has the old version of the thermostat, I would change that out too when you have the cooling system drained.

I was told some time in 2022 the updated thermostat was rolled into production vehicles. I think he’s probably ok.

 

[HILLY]

If you're gung ho on getting a bigger radiator, spending ~$500 for the Ford unit may not be as good bang for buck wise.

If I were you, I'd go with a Mishimoto unit or similar.

Performance Aluminum Radiator, fits Ford F-150 2015-2020

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