towing with my 2004 4.6 4x2

[reims]

hi...i have a question to which i have searched endlessly and always come up with different answers, here is my situation...i have a hitch rated for 8950 wd, a 4pin plug with blue wire, 4.6l, 4x2, 17inch tires, i am looking at buying a 33' camper trailer weighing 4700lbs unloaded vehicle weight, should i forget about trying to tow this big of a camper or is it practical?..also i do see what looks like a pin too hook up brakes below steering wheel and just below dash level?..any opinions or advice is greatly appreciated..to add i live in saskatchewan where is it primarily flat and not alot of steep grades.

 

[JUST4FUN]

i really think 33' is to long for the short wheel base of the Expedition. remember the towing weight is based on a 150lb driver and thats all add cargo and people to the mix and you will be over weight fast

 

[reims]

so is the tow weight for this set up actually 5000lbs?

 

[JUST4FUN]

4.6 4X2 YES the rear end gear is what 3.31 or 3.08 this has a lot to do with it.

 

[JUST4FUN]

read my posta at the top of the towing page i also tow a camper

 

[reims]

ya ok...kinda what i thought, i will stay away from the long heavy trailer, i just thought maybe with the wd hitch installed it might be ok.

 

[reims]

it actually has a 3.73 rear end does that make a difference?

 

[JUST4FUN]

thats better but the 33' is is what gets me . that my opinion ,email ford

 

[danketchpel]

While you will be able to tow your 33' trailer the 4.6 motor is going to struggle big time with it. That motor does not have all that much torque.

My Bro just picked up a 2008 E-250 van with the 4.6 motor and 4.11 gears and he's complaining about towing his double jetski trailer which weighs around 2,400 lbs or so. He's wishing he had the 5.4 motor like I have in my Expy. His old '96 E-250 van with the older pushrod / injected 350ci motor tows much better.

 

[ELVATO]

I've towed a car before (a Mk 3 Golf, I think), which weigh in at around 2600 lbs, using one of those car towing trailers from UHaul (where all 4 wheels are off the ground).

The Expy managed OK (tuned 4.6L, 2X4, 2003), granted, it was mostly freeway. Stop and go, it managed... nothing unsafely slow, but it obviously wasn't as "fast" as it normally is. Not sure how it'd handle with a 33', 4700+ lbs trailer in the back.

 

[danketchpel]

It also depends greatly on the terrain you will be towing through. I am used to towing over fairly steep mountains around here so that influences my statements. If it's fairly level most of the time it certainly takes less power.

 

[bdvinc02exp]

I have a 02 with the 4.6 and I have a double axle 25' car trailer that weighs about 1300lbs. I have recently pulled the trailer with a 4 dr Dodge Intrepid on it. It did ok in town stop and go but without the overdrive being turned off it does awful on the highway. It has a hard time maintaining highway speeds.