2015-2016 Ford Expedition EL Owners

[Ron045]

I would like to hear from current owners of 2015 or 2016 Ford Expedition EL owners.

Do you like this as a TV?
What trim level do you have?
HD Tow Package?
Suspension auto level?
Other upgrades or custom work?
What are your towing? Towing Capacity? Hitch Weight?
I need and SUV vice a truck. Would you buy the Ford again or consider GM or other Makes?
Other information worth sharing?

Thanks for your inputs.
Ron

[Ron045]

Should I take this eerie silence to indicate I should buy a GM product?

Ron

[ronheater70]

You know, I had an earlier one with a 4.6 v8 in it. was weak.. However it was one of my favorite vehicles.. I liked the stance of it, was comftorable.. Nothing NEAR what the new ones are .. Saying that, I just dont see them around much anymore, that segment I dont feel is FOrds strong seller and so probably not a lot of feedback compared to say suburban , yukon owners.

[Mikemiller69gs]

I have 2014 EL, I believe they are the same as a 2015/2016. We tow a 2016 Apex 288. Loaded, I'm guessing 6k lbs. it has the 373 gears and the HD tow package and it tows quite well even with 6 people and gear. I had a Suburban previously and the Expo as a better tow vehicle for me. I'm not sure you can get a Suburban with as much towing capacity as the Ford. I could be wrong of course.

Mike

[gtschmidt58]

My wife and I inherited a 1999 Ford Expedition from her parents. Between both if us we had it for 15 years and towed 19 foot boat and 24 Foot Terry Travel Trailer. It had 5.4 Triton with Towing Package

I thought it was a great tow vehicle. Never any issues outside maintenance. We gave it our niece who is still driving it daily.

We had Chevy in 1980's. Too many issues for me back then. just my opinion...many feel that way about Fords

[Ron045]

Originally Posted by Mikemiller69gs

I have 2014 EL, I believe they are the same as a 2015/2016. We tow a 2016 Apex 288. Loaded, I'm guessing 6k lbs. it has the 373 gears and the HD tow package and it tows quite well even with 6 people and gear. I had a Suburban previously and the Expo as a better tow vehicle for me. I'm not sure you can get a Suburban with as much towing capacity as the Ford. I could be wrong of course.

Mike

Thanks for the reply. You are correct, in all the literature I have read, it can pull 9200 lbs. I'm leaning heavy toward Ford due to that and price.

I think I want a 4WD version, but those don't seem as plentiful on the resale market as the 2WD versions.

Ron

[bikendan]

Nearly all v8 SUVs have good towing capacities but poor payload capacities in comparison.
PLEASE research the Expy's payload capacity before you purchase.
They'll run out of payload WAY before they come close to that 9200 number.

[ProfChuck]

Regardless of what brand you get, I would get the 4WD version. We had a 2WD truck for quite a few years and got stuck easily compared to the 4. That extra amount of pull power make it worth the extra gas. We don't pull in 4, or All, but, the extra confidence that we could pull out of a muddy or snowy spot or up a slippery incline or back into a leaf covered campsite, if needed, is worth the piece of mind.

[Jerheye]

Ive had a chev sub 3:42 rearend 5.3 motor and a yukon 3:42 rearend and the 6.2 engine. Both towed great the problem with both of them and probably with ford subs is the cargo capacity. By the time you add tongue weight and two passengers you are near capacity, of course it all depends on tongue weight.

[Joseph Carozzoni]

The current Expedition is Car and Driver's second highest rated full-size SUV (only bested by the much more expensive M-B GLS). However, I'm waiting for the 2018 Expedition which will share the F150's aluminum type body panels, will be several hundred pounds lighter, and have more high strength steel in the frame.

The biggest reason I'm holding off is the 2018 will get the new Ford-GM co-developed 10-speed auto transmission and the second generation EcoBoost V6.
https://media.ford.com/content/fordm...-best-in-.html

And here's a good article testing the new power train in a 2017 F150:
2017 Ford F-150 3.5L V-6 EcoBoost 10-Speed First Drive – Review – Car and Driver

There is nothing wrong with the current Expedition, but if you can hold off until Sep/Oct 2017 it may be worth it. YMMV

[Ron045]

Thanks all for the inputs. I drove home the long way home and ran through the 2 mile gauntlet of car dealerships today.

I found one 2016 Expedition EL, Platinum 4x4 but no HD Tow Package. The Cargo capacity on the sticker said 1744. That is better than the 1134 on my Avalanche.

I want one with the HD Tow Package. I probably won't really be serious about getting one until late summer. By then, I hope so many will be jazzed about the new 2018 Expedition that the '16's or even '17's will be deeply discounted.

I have an interesting story about me experience tonight at the dealer that had the Expedition on their lot. But it's getting late here in the east so I'll save the story for tomorrow. It might even have a better place to be written on this forum than this thread since it's off topic.

But thanks again for the advice. Still leaning hard towards the Ford.
Ron

[windowman]

I have a Forest River Lexington w a Ford E450 chassis. No issues other than gas usage. I also have a 2016 Ford Expedition XLT EL w HD towing package. Replaced a 2003 Expedition XLT w 5.4 V8 that I did tow with. . Have not towed anything yet but this is a very improved vehicle. The 3.5 turbo pulls much stronger than the old V8 and gets far better fuel mileage. Extremely impressive vehicle.

[kittlecat]

I too, would like an Expedition to use as a TV. I currently have a 1998 GMC Yukon 4x4 5.3l and while it does ok for towing my 2015 Rockwood 2608WS, from the research I've done the Expedition will have more tow ability. I have a good friend who has been an engineer for GM for 35 years (he also designs many of the parts GM uses in their vehicles) and obviously GM vehicles are near and dear to him, however; he will tell you hands down that Ford has the better tow ability in the industry amongst the Big 3. At some point I will upgrade to an Expedition but for the time being, my Yukon meets my towing and other needs.

[badge2283]

2016 ELX maxed out. We two a 3400 lb race care in an enclosed trailer. or a super heavy mobile dyno trailer with the race car on it. The TV has a VMP custom tune. Does well, we can run 70 mph, all day, we feel every hill as it downshifts, and slows. Usually not badly. All of this east of the Mississippi. Very comfortable.