Captainjerky
Member
Hello all-
We're going to be buying a 25' travel trailer with a max weight of 5000 lbs. I've been searching for a suitable tow vehicle and it really seems like the Expedition is a great deal for that purpose.
Some background: It will be a tow vehicle for camping, maybe some winter driving, but definitely not a daily driver, so miles aren't as big a concern as if it was my work truck. I'm buying the trailer and tow vehicle almost at the same time, so I need to keep the price reasonable on the Expedition. I've seen nice Eddie Bauer models from 2003-2006 at around my price point: $10,000 or so with anywhere from 80K to 100K miles on them.
That said, I studied the sticky on what to look for when buying a used one and was hoping you could answer a couple questions before I drop the hammer and go looking to buy one.
1. Aside from the things to look for before buying, are there any long term maintenance issues I'd need to look out for or save up to do? I'm talking tranny work, suspension/joints, etc. Seems like the 5.4 has a reputation for long life, but I'm thinking rust and suspension/underbody are top concerns.
2. I'm learning about the HD trailer package, but I see talk about the pneumatic air-ride and leveling system. Is that a substitute for an aftermarket weight-distributing hitch and sway controller setup?
3. Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but the Expeditions seem like a great bang for the buck. They're less expensive, with more options and fewer miles than the Chevy/GMC equivalents of the same year. Were there just fewer made, or are people hanging on to theirs longer? I see fewer Expeditions for sale than Tahoes and wonder what's driving supply.
Thanks to all for your help; I look forward to dragging around a nice new camper and will need a reliable, manly vehicle to do it, and as far as I can tell the Expy fits the bill! Might have to install a louder exhaust or push grille as well...
Cheers!
Ryan
We're going to be buying a 25' travel trailer with a max weight of 5000 lbs. I've been searching for a suitable tow vehicle and it really seems like the Expedition is a great deal for that purpose.
Some background: It will be a tow vehicle for camping, maybe some winter driving, but definitely not a daily driver, so miles aren't as big a concern as if it was my work truck. I'm buying the trailer and tow vehicle almost at the same time, so I need to keep the price reasonable on the Expedition. I've seen nice Eddie Bauer models from 2003-2006 at around my price point: $10,000 or so with anywhere from 80K to 100K miles on them.
That said, I studied the sticky on what to look for when buying a used one and was hoping you could answer a couple questions before I drop the hammer and go looking to buy one.
1. Aside from the things to look for before buying, are there any long term maintenance issues I'd need to look out for or save up to do? I'm talking tranny work, suspension/joints, etc. Seems like the 5.4 has a reputation for long life, but I'm thinking rust and suspension/underbody are top concerns.
2. I'm learning about the HD trailer package, but I see talk about the pneumatic air-ride and leveling system. Is that a substitute for an aftermarket weight-distributing hitch and sway controller setup?
3. Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but the Expeditions seem like a great bang for the buck. They're less expensive, with more options and fewer miles than the Chevy/GMC equivalents of the same year. Were there just fewer made, or are people hanging on to theirs longer? I see fewer Expeditions for sale than Tahoes and wonder what's driving supply.
Thanks to all for your help; I look forward to dragging around a nice new camper and will need a reliable, manly vehicle to do it, and as far as I can tell the Expy fits the bill! Might have to install a louder exhaust or push grille as well...
Cheers!
Ryan
