Traction options?

[Franklin Jones]

Hello all!

I’m new to the forum, and new to the expedition life. Traded in a 2006 Yukon xl denali with a quarter million miles and bought a 14 Expedition EL King Ranch 4wd.

Sure enough, spent enough time at the dealership that we wound up driving home in a blizzard and I realized I know shockingly little about the traction options on the rig I just bought. I’m used to the GM’s AWD on the Yukon, and never had any issues with it. However, there were a few squirrelly points last night when the traction control engaged.

So here’s my question: Based on the build sheet below, what traction set up do I have, and should I consider adding some sort of LSD or locker?

(PS: A billion thanks to ExpeditionAndy for pulling this data for me!)

Primary Features
Build Date: 13.01.2014
Vehicle Line: Expedition (2003-)
Body Style: Extended Wagon
Version: Cargo 1519 Series
Engine: 5.4L 3V V8
Transmission: 6 Speed Automatic Trans (6R80)
Drive: LHD 4WD (PTD)
Axle Ratio: 3.73
Emission: With 49 State/Non Green State Req
Air Conditioning: HD ATC Air Conditioning
Territory: (+)"USA"
Paint: White Platinum

Minor Features

• Charcoal Black Interior
• Leather 2 Tone
• Less Underbody Protection
• With Power Liftgate
• With Under Floor Stowage
• 131"/3327.4MM Wheelbase
• King Ranch Version
• (-) Version Packages
• Less Special Purpose Vehicle
• Kentucky Truck Plant Build
• Less Convenience Group
• Less Special Value Packages
• With Memory Pack
• Feature Content Group 1
• With Roll Stability Control
• Group Market #1
• With English Language Label
• Owner Hand Book Pack
• With Electric Rear Quarter Window
• With Privacy Glass
• With Front Side Standard Glass
• With Mini Overhead Console
• Flowthru Console With Leather Lid
• Memory Adjustable Foot Pedals
• With Carpet Floor Covering Level 1
• Front Floor Mats - King Ranch
• Rear Floor Mats - King Ranch
• S/V-DU Drivers Illum/Garage Dr Open
• Less Stowage Bins
• With Cargo Area Mgmt System Level 1
• With Power Deployable Running Board
• Chrome-Plated
• With Chrome Roof Rack W/Cross Bars
• With Accent Wheel Lip Moulding
• Lower Painted Cladding
• With Electrochromic R/View Mirror
• Driver Pwr Fold/Pwr Adjust Mirror
• Pass Power Fold/Power Adjust Mirror
• Exterior Mirror Finish - Chrome
• With Signal Mirror System
• With Drivers Heated And Cooled Seat
• With Pass Heated And Cooled Seat
• With Heated Rear Seats
• With Leather 2nd Row Seat Material
• With 2nd Row Dual Captain Chairs
• With Third Row Power Folding Seat
• With Driver 10 Way Pwr Seat Adjust
• With Pass 10 Way Power Seat Adjust
• With Programmable Driver Seat
• With 3rd Row Vinyl Seat Material
• With Heavy Duty Trailer Towing
• With Front Towing Hook
• With Trailer Sway Control (TSC)
• With Chrome Exterior Door Handle
• Extended Wagon
• Frequency - 315MHZ
• Rain Sensitive Windshield Wipers
• Power Tilt/Slide Sun Roof
• Front Bumper Painted Accent Colour
• Rear Bumper - Step Accent Colour
• With Front Licence Plate Bracket
• Belt/Dr & Pa Fr/1,2&3 Row Restraint
• With Steel Spare Wheel
• With 4 Wheel Tyre Pressure Sensors
• 8.5 X 20" Alloy Wheel Style 1
• P275/55R20 A/S
• With Super Engine Cooling System
• Less Immersion Heater
• With 49 State/Non Green State Req
• Self Lvlling Rr Suspensn - Nivomat
• 3.73
• Less Rear Axle Limited Slip Diff
• 5.4L 3V V8
• With Chrome Exhaust Pipe Extension
• With 4 Wheel Disc-Brake
• Integrated Brake Control
• Normal Fuel Fill
• With Remote Starter - FIA
• Heavy Duty Aux Trans Oil Cooler
• 4X4 2 Speed Transfer Case With Tod
• FFV-(Ethanol) Fuel
• With Man Rake/Floor Shift Strg Col
• King Ranch Leather Steering Wheel
• Redundant Controls - Steering Wheel
• With MPH/KMH Speedometer
• With Message Centre
• With Reverse Proximity Sensor
• With Front Parking Aid
• Standard Duty Battery
• 110v Alt Current Oulet-In Cab
• AM/FM Str/CD/Clk/Navig System
• With Satellite Radio Reception
• With NAAO Radio Frequency
• Less Headphones/Sockets - Rear
• Premium Sound System Level 2
• Less Television Package
• With Media Gateway Module
• With Universal Garage Door Opener
• Rr View Camera-Lic Plate Area Mount
• With Complx Refect Headlamp Design
• Less Daytime Running Lamps
• White Platinum
• Generic Country Group 1
• Cargo 1519 Series
• 6 Speed Automatic Trans (6R80)
• Expedition (2003-)
• (-) GVMT Service Administration
• (-)"CDN"
• (-)"GU"
• (-)"BRN"
• (-)"BZ"
• (-)"IS"
• (-)"ATG"
• (-)"PH"
• (-)"AW"
• Less Fleet

 

[John Kohler]

I believe the 3.73 is limited slip and standard on the EL version. I'm curious what drive mode you were in. In my experience, your tires are much of the blame for poor traction in snow. I haven't had my Expedition out in the snow yet, but my Kia Borrego had a similar system and did well in the snow. The Kia didn't have 2H. The standard drive mode was 4A and the owner's manual stated I could drive up to 50 MPH in 4H. I used 4H in heavy snow, but usually 4A handled the snow fine.

 

[jkayca]

Snow tires will get you the traction you need. I drove home last night in a blizzard too. With my snows on I barely used 4 auto or full time 4 wd.

 

[Derp]

+1 for winter/snow tires or at the very least, a top rated All Terrain tire for snow conditions.

No LSD in any 2015s. From a quick look at the brochure for 2014s, they don't have an LSD either. Most likely you just have a center lock/ 4x4 transfer case with open diffs in the front and rear. I don't think a locker should be looked at as a solution for on-road conditions. LSD, maybe, if you are still struggling with proper tires.

 

[Icemanjones]

Adding a locker is a quick way to snap IFS/IRS shafts. Does the 2014 4wd not have control trac? i thought those worked decent? Anyways I would agree with choosing the right tire. Short of snow chains they are your best bet for traction on-road.

 

[p38fln]

I literally just traded a 2006 Suburban for a 2008 Navigator and the Navigator blows the Suburban's traction control away. They both had about 50% remaining on the tires, and both vehicles go just fine in a straight line, but whatever the Navigator does so that you can have 4WD and turn at the same time is freaking amazing. The Suburban had auto 4x4, but it completely locked the front and rear together as soon as it engaged so it was nearly impossible to use it in a slippery parking lot (while trying to maneuver with the wheels turned) because it would LURCH into 4x4, the thing would suddenly jump sideways - it was just no fun. The Navigator seems to pulse it on and off or something and will pull into a slippery parking spot with ease. It's a shorter vehicle, but this has nothing to do with vehicle length.

 

[chuck s]

Quoting from your build sheet: "Less Rear Axle Limited Slip Diff."

-- Chuck

 

[Franklin Jones]

Thanks everyone.

The tires on the Expy are... awful. A mix of brands, tread between 3 and 5 32nds. Replacing them is likely going to be #1 on the list.

I was on the interstate, started off in 4x2, and as things got bad and I didn’t feel safe over 45mph, I switched to 4H.

Honestly, the roads were just bad, visibility was worse, and the worn tires weren’t up to the task. I was just literally driving home from the dealer, and wanted some expert opinions on the traction situation.

The 14 *does* have traction control, it just threw me off to actually see it and feel it kick in.

Thanks again, all!

 

[bobmbx]

Thanks everyone.

The tires on the Expy are... awful. A mix of brands, tread between 3 and 5 32nds. Replacing them is likely going to be #1 on the list.

I was on the interstate, started off in 4x2, and as things got bad and I didn’t feel safe over 45mph, I switched to 4H.

Honestly, the roads were just bad, visibility was worse, and the worn tires weren’t up to the task. I was just literally driving home from the dealer, and wanted some expert opinions on the traction situation.

The 14 *does* have traction control, it just threw me off to actually see it and feel it kick in.

Thanks again, all!

Wait till you experience the RSC engaging. Its unnerving to say the least.

 

[ExplorerTom]

The tires on the Expy are... awful. A mix of brands, tread between 3 and 5 32nds. Replacing them is likely going to be #1 on the list.

Your tires are essentially bald.

 

[JExpedition07]

Wait till you experience the RSC engaging. Its unnerving to say the least.

Last week I going around a winding turn (off ramp) pretty fast, nothing excessive. I hit the brakes slightly on my 2007 and then the brake pedal applied itself harder than I was and the pedal pulled away from my foot on its own. The truck basically took it away from my foot and said “you aren’t braking enough”. That was weird.

....I thought I could handle it but apparently the Expy disagreed and slowed me down...lol

 

[bobmbx]

Last week I going around a winding turn (off ramp) pretty fast, nothing excessive. I hit the brakes slightly on my 2007 and then the brake pedal applied itself harder than I was and the pedal pulled away from my foot on its own. The truck basically took it away from my foot and said “you aren’t braking enough”. That was weird.

....I thought I could handle it but apparently the Expy disagreed and slowed me down...lol

My first experience with RSC was in an Explorer. I entered a 'round-a-bout' with a slight right turn, then switched to a left turn to execute the circle, and immediately turned right to get out of the circle. The RSC didn't like that, and basically took over.

 

[jkayca]

RSC is pretty amazing. Gets in the way though if you deliberately try to drift through a corner. I know, you're not supposed to do that, but sometimes I just want to have some fun in the snow.

 

[chuck s]

I must lead a sheltered life as I can't recall RSC ever reacting in my 2007 nor (whatever) in my 2017. Had traction control activate a couple of times in deep snow.

Tires are what's in contact with the road. Way back when I can recall starting in D2 (remember that setting?) in slippery conditions to help prevent wheel spin.

All season tires with a "mud/snow" logo is all I've needed thru Ohio and New York "Lake Effect Snow Belt" regions for decades. P-Metric (not light truck) Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo 3 On-/Off- Road all-terrain tires (and their predecessors) have been my choice when tire replacement time came in several Ford (and non-Ford) SUVs.

-- Chuck

 

[Scott Carden]

I put new tires on my 2014 el king ranch and it helped a lot. No 2014 came with a locker but you can put in.they help a lot! Traction control helps but yours should have 4x4 auto. Any time the roads are wet I put mine in 4x4 auto and I’ve never used 4x4 high mode. The low gearing makes the truck quick to loose traction. They are very stable though and when I lived in the north I put more miles on in 4x4 than in 2wd, and never got stuck. I even chained it up to my kenwoth t600 studio sleeper truck and pulled it out of the mud in 4x4 low mode. Tires and a locker change everything.

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

Thanks everyone.

The tires on the Expy are... awful. A mix of brands, tread between 3 and 5 32nds. Replacing them is likely going to be #1 on the list.

I was on the interstate, started off in 4x2, and as things got bad and I didn’t feel safe over 45mph, I switched to 4H.

Honestly, the roads were just bad, visibility was worse, and the worn tires weren’t up to the task. I was just literally driving home from the dealer, and wanted some expert opinions on the traction situation.

The 14 *does* have traction control, it just threw me off to actually see it and feel it kick in.

Thanks again, all!

4A should do for most scenarios, but if it's actually a blizzard you might as well go right to 4H.

I wouldn't even get on the road with those tires in the snow. The aforementioned Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo 3s are a great A/T tire and should fare well in the snow. If you want a highway tire that also happens to be good in the snow, I can personally recommend the Pirelli Scorpion STR. While the Michelin LTXs I am running now are a solid all-around tire and are acceptable in the snow, the Pirellis I used to have blew them away in the snow. Their treadwear was abysmal (bald at 35K), but if I lived somewhere where it snowed a lot I would go back to them in a heartbeat.

 

[star-art]

As far as I know, a limited-slip rear axle didn't become available until 2016 which is why I constrained my search for a new truck to 2016-17 models. According to the Ford brochure, it was standard on EL 4WD models (all trim levels) and not available on "shorty" trucks -- even those with 4WD.

 

[chuck s]

Limited slip 3.73 axles in my (former) '07. Not sure if it was a separate option or included in HD trailer tow package on the truck. Not on my '17 and I don't miss it (yet ).

-- Chuck

 

[max78]

I just recently experienced traction control for the first time and color me impressed!

First I have good extreme weather rated A/T tires (with the snowflake).

Went up north in some mountains with lots of snow and Ice. Driving in town on unplowed roads was a bit unnerving, but handled it great! No issues, no slipping or sliding, no drama. My sister got the father-in-laws 99 4runner stuck when we got snowed in. The Expy went around through a ditch without any issue what so ever. The snow all melted and it turned to mud, well the traction control kicked in a lot on the FS roads and I had an easier time getting around than my brother-in-law's jacked up 99 F150 on brand spanking new 33" KO2s. Great times!

Good tires are vastly more important than traction control, but my experience is the Expys traction control is great!

 

[JExpedition07]

Amen, I’ve had mine down closed roads and trails down at the cabin. 4H and I leave AdvanceTrac enabled and it’s amazing what the truck can go through without hiccups. I followed everyone on their 4-wheelers down the closed seasonal trails they call roads for one run and the Expedition had no problem in the mud.