Towing RV with a 2025 Expedition Max

[five o clock]

Here’s a cleaner, more polished version with a clear, professional tone:
I have a 2025 Expedition Max and initially purchased a 25-foot RV that weighed around 5,000 lbs. It towed very poorly. At first, I assumed the issue was due to it being a single-axle trailer that didn’t track well. We installed an Equal-i-zer hitch, which helped significantly and at least made it manageable to tow.
We have since upgraded to a tandem axle trailer that weighs approximately 8,000 lbs. According to the manufacturer’s specifications, this should be well within the vehicle’s towing capacity. However, we still experienced stability issues and ultimately installed a Hensley Arrow hitch. That hitch has been extremely effective at eliminating sway and has made a major improvement in overall towing performance.
The issue we’re now facing is that the Hensley Arrow hitch is quite heavy, which increases the overall tongue weight and causes noticeable rear sag. I’ve been looking into adding airbags to the rear coils for leveling, but after inspecting the suspension, I noticed that the coils appear to be integrated around the shocks.
Does this mean I would need to replace the shocks entirely with an air-assisted setup, or are there airbag options that work with the existing coil configuration? Also, what solutions are others using to properly level a 2025 Expedition Max when towing in this weight range?
If you want it more casual, more “forum-style,” or more direct, I can tweak it

 

[LG_123]

Try following the process here. These guys are the towing experts. https://www.canamrv.ca/blog/post/hitch-hints-setting-your-torsion-bars-441/

Also try proof reading what you paste from Chat GPT

 

[chuck s]

$3000 sway control that doesn't include weight distribution?

2025 Ford towing guide shows the maximum allowable trailer weight is 7,000 pounds with a maximum tongue load (weight allowed on the ball) of 700. Unless you use a WDH (not gizmos like shocks or airbags) which increases this to 9,000 and 900 respectively. Those are the absolute maximum.

Even a simple WDH like the Equalizer (which I use and recommend) will handle this trailer -- if you're giving us the correct weights -- and handle sway. Don't forget there's trailer sway control built into the Expedition.

I hope I'm wrong about the trailer but I suspect you're using the fictitious 8000 pound dry weight of the trailer. You should use the trailer's GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) which I suspect is over 10,000 pounds and too much for this SUV.

BTW: What's the point of your initial paragraph -- completely skewed my thinking -- what you had isn't relative to what you have.

-- Chuck

 

[Grrumpy]

First, the weight of the hitch itself is added to the vehicle capacity, not the hitch/tongue weight. You count its weight as if you were carrying it as vehicle cargo.
Second, if your trailer's dry weigh is 8000 lbs, I can guarantee you will add a lot more weight depending on the "stuff" and necessities you will carry.
We tow a 28 footer that had a dry empty weight of 5600 lbs, but now, with our items loaded, comes in at 7000 lbs./750 lb tongue weight. Expy handles it very well and I have our hitch/trailer/Expy dialed in perfectly.
If your 8000 lb weight is loaded ready to go, than your hitch/bars/hitch height may not be set right. Even set up, you may still get a bit of squat in the rear, and from what I have read on the forum and several other sites....there are no airbag setups for the Expy. with the independent suspension and shock/coil rears. Only heavy duty rear sway bars which will get rid of some side to side roll but will do NOTHING for carrying capacity or rear end squat. There are heavier duty shock/spring assemblies available that may get rid of the squat, but do not add capacity to the truck.

 

[chuck s]

Good advice. But what "Hitch bars?" He doesn't have any that I could determine since he doesn't have a WDH just some sort of magic sway control.

Hopefully we'll find out what trailer he has. I fear the same trailer dealer that sold him the super expensive "sway control" sold him the new trailer based on non-existent "dry weight."

For lurkers Ford's maximum towing capacity is based on an empty tow vehicle -- just fuel and a 150 pound driver. Everything carried in the tow vehicle, even the fossilized MacDonald's french fries under the seats, decreases the capacity.

-- Chuck

 

[Grrumpy]

He posts that he has a Hensley Arrow WD which is a very good hitch set up. But, it needs to be set up and hopefully the dealer who sold it included the proper spring bars for the supposed tongue weight.
But, is seems like he is looking for a way to beef up the rear suspension to get rid of "sag", and from what I understand, there are no aftermarket airbag set ups for a shock/coil rear suspension. Possibly just a heavier duty shock/coil set up may get rid of it. Also, he may not have the hitch set up properly.
Without more info or possibly pictures of the set up, its hard to give any helpful advice.
I would also advise to get the rig weighed at a weigh station. Weigh it loaded as if you were on a trip. You really need the weight and tongue weight to properly set the hitch up.....without knowing the weight/tongue weight your just guessing as far as the set up goes. The tongue weight is critical in setting the hitch up right. Total trailer weight will let you know if your tasking your truck too much.

.

 

[Grizguy]

Have you checked your rear tires? Tire pressure?

 

[ms136]

I've been towing with Expeditions since they introduced IRS in 2003. You're not going to be able to "level" the Expedition without overloading the front axle. Set your spring bars to restore 50% back to the front axle and let the rear be what it is. I currently tow a 35' camper that weighs close to 9000#, yes my tongue weight exceeds 930# by a good margin. While I don't recommend it to anyone else, it tows quite well.

 

[chuck s]

Seems I misread what the Hensley Arrow hitch could do -- only looked like it did sway control with no mention in that post that it was also WDH. Still $3000 is a lot more money vs something known to work like the Equalizer.

But neither hitch will allow an overweight trailer. Nor do band aids like helper springs or rubber spacers increase capacity. The goal is not "level towing" but proper weight distribution.+

 

[VBreithaupt]

Aftermarket Sumo Springs helped with my sag a little. Easy install. Having the weight distribution set up right is the most important as well as staying with in towing specs. Do we know for sure if vehicle has HD towing package?

 

[Grrumpy]

Aftermarket Sumo Springs helped with my sag a little. Easy install. Having the weight distribution set up right is the most important as well as staying with in towing specs. Do we know for sure if vehicle has HD towing package?

Not familiar with the Max and what it comes with standard.....but dosen't the 2025 Max come standard with a tow pack ??? Or is it option on a 2 wheel drive and standard on a 4x4 like the regular Expys ???
On line spec sheet indicates the 2025 Max comes standard with the complete tow pack....

 

[chuck s]

Five-o-Clock hasn't been back since he asked for assistance so we'll just have to continue to guess about what Expedition options are on the SUV, the trailer, and exactly what WDH he has.

-- Chuck

 

[iaazan]

All i know is that we used our previous 3rd gen to tow a 5k lbs boat up and down the mountains in New Mexico at 7,000 ft no problem, and never had a WDH on it. Towed better than my fleetwood diesel pusher with a jeep behind it. Getting ready for summer and so far the couple times i've towed the boat with the new 5th gen it's been amaze balls. The ecoboost V-6 is always a champ, barely any hint of temp rise in the engine and transmission

 

[chuck s]

Motorboat trailers are different designs than campers and other conventional trailers. Due to all the weight behind the axle a boat trailer only needs a minimum of 5% (five percent) on the loaded trailer's weight on the ball. In the case of your 5,000 boat trailer that's only 250 pounds and I know guys that can put it on the ball with no tongue jack! Less requirement for a WDH.

-- Chuck

 

[Grrumpy]

Motorboat trailers are different designs than campers and other conventional trailers. Due to all the weight behind the axle a boat trailer only needs a minimum of 5% (five percent) on the loaded trailer's weight on the ball. In the case of your 5,000 boat trailer that's only 250 pounds and I know guys that can put it on the ball with no tongue jack! Less requirement for a WDH.

-- Chuck

Additionally a boat has its weight much lower as opposed to a big shoe box on wheels....isn't affected by wind or passing vehicles as much as a big box. I've pulled both and by far a boat is much easier to pull.
What surprised me towing with the Expy is that passing vehicles barely affect the entire rig even at the 65-70 mph speed. Very stable platform.
My rig......