You may not get a response since the last post on this thread was 5 years ago and the last time tykateexcursion posted anything was 3 years ago.
We have a 2003 5.4L Exped and tried towing our 7K TH.
Besides the tongue weight issue I just didn't feel comfortable with it.
We bought a 2002 6.8L Excur and after some upgrades it tows very well.
You might want to do more research on towing because upgrading shocks are not going to have much impact.
Items that help are a good weight distribution hitch, higher rated springs, load range E tires, anti-roll bars, rear end gears, good brakes, ....

 

FWIW: just saw this (new guy). I used to tow with my stock 2000 5.4 Expedition XLT a dual-axle 18' Featherlight trailer with a 911 racecar, 8 extra mounted tires, and maybe a cooler or small tool box


this was out West, so there were some steep climbs and descents, high winds, etc. never had a problem with it using a Draw-Tite hitch set-up.

 

Good, old thread...
I'm looking at getting an '03-'07 Expedition, 5.4L, 4wd.
I'm wanting to eliminate my '01 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 crew, and '07 E250 ext/hi-top van (5.4L) I only drove those 2 vehicles for a combined 7k miles in the past 12 months.
I drive a Honda Pilot for back n forth to work, 25k+ miles a year.

I would be pulling a 6x12 V-nose, single axle trailer with 2 sportbikes in it a handful of times a year. 1500 mile round trips at times through some Southern KY, TN and N Georgia mountains.

Do these Expedtions all come with tow pkgs? Any type of suspension help needed in the rear to prevent squatting?

 

I don't know how much sport bikes weigh, but assuming that whole package is less than 2000 lbs, any Expedition will have no problems at all towing that on the highway or in the mountains. Of course if you're expecting it to pull like either of your 2500/250 machines you might be disappointed but I doubt it.

 

Not sure, but I think most come with a tow package, ours did.
Wikipedia has a nice write-up on the differences - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Expedition
The '07s got a 6 speed auto which would be the most tempting item.
I tried towing our 7k TH with the Exped and while it handled ok I was not 100% comfortable with the weight and bought an Excursion V10.
I would stay below 6k with an Expedition.
Heavy duty Hellwig anti-roll bars helped handling a lot.
Load range E tires are a good idea.
An additional trans fluid cooler with 1/2" ports will help keep temps down.
The 1/2" ports will not create as much pressure drop as a 3/8" cooler.
The rear springs are coils making it harder to upgrade, but I think there might be some air bag kits out there.

 

It would be around 2800 lbs loaded. Another 300-400lbs in the rear of the vehicle.

Trying to figure out what years to consider....2v vs 3v vs Navigator 4v, blowing plugs in 2v, breaking plugs in 3v, eliminate the air ride in the navigator and do coil overs, etc.....

I think i should focus on 03-04? I know those motors were a little down on power from the 05....I do like the newer interiors of the 05, and then the 07, but im trying to stay in that $5000 range.

 

On my 04, the HD tow package was definitely an "option", but not sure what it included?
04 Expedition was the last year for the 2V 5.4. Maybe not great hp, but very durable (check the "how many miles..." thread). I towed a (approx) 4000 lb open car trailer with mine for years, never an issue with anything (but nothing like the Rockies near here?). I've switched to towing with our E250, same "low hp" 2V 5.4 motor, but new cars & trailer up to about 6k #, still OK here in the East.
The early 3V 5.4s are infamous for the trouble with the 3-pc spark plugs... not sure what year that was "solved?
I'm sure others will have more input. Good luck

 

The problems with the 5.4L 2v blowing plugs is a bit over blown (pun intended).
Our 2003 Exped has 161k and the 2002 Excur has 110k.
Haven't had any problems with the Exped.
The Excur 6.8L blew a factory installed OEM plug at 108k, bought it with 104k.
After reading a lot of articles, forums, tech papers, etc. my take on the Triton engine with aluminum heads blowing plugs is that it's not really a problem.
It's lack of maintenance.
People tout the plugs will last 100k.
While the plugs may last 100k they are still a steel plug in an aluminum hole.
Ford should have put in steel inserts, but that's another story.
VWs and motorcycles have had plugs blow for many years, this is nothing new.
Change the plugs at a more reasonable 50k along with boots/springs that will probably need changing anyway and there will not be much of a problem.
Retorque them one more time at 10k (I do) and there should be no problems.
After a lot of miles the plugs will work loose, once a bit loose the compression will pound the threads until they strip.
Our 6.8L blew #3 and all the plugs on bank 1 were a tad loose, bank 2 was tight.
The 2003 heads have 8 threads for the plugs, while the earlier ones have 4.
I've read reports of people blowing plugs with the 8 thread heads and the 3v heads, not as many and people are learning.
Some people have no problem leaving plugs in for 200k, but they were lucky.
One guy had a factory installed OEM plug blow at 68k.

The 3v plugs have a replacement plug that "solves" the breaking issue.

 

I haven't read through all of the comments here, but nevertheless I have to put in my $0.02

I bought my '02 Expedition (used, 168Kmi) for the express purpose of towing. I had a project car 1600 miles away that I needed to get back home (long story!) It has the tow package and the 5.4L, with (I believe) 3.55 rear.

Anyway, I got this Expedition on the cheap because it failed emissions testing in northern VA (where I live, emissions testing is not required). That being said, it was an easy fix - one igniter was bad.

After replacing plugs, fluids and the serpentine belt, I went & hitched up the 1500lb trailer I rented and shot off to Texas. After getting the car (and associated parts & equipment) loaded onto the trailer, I began the long trek back to VA.

The Expedition performed *flawlessly* throughout the entire trip. I felt like there was plenty of power & acceleration, even uphill.

Out of curiosity, I stopped at a truck stop to weigh the entire rig on their scales.

The Expedition, trailer and car together weighed 14,200lbs!! I think I busted the limit a bit.

So, to say that I'm a believer in the tow capacity of my Expedition is an understatement. No complaints from me!!

 

^^^ Wow -Cool story... but you've got me curious as to what the "car" was? (sounds heavy to get up to 14k total?) ... and what the tire/axle rating for the "1500# trailer" was?

 

 

​​​​​I rolled across the scale at 16,400 with our 18' dump trailer loaded with shingles. The trailer alone weighs 3800 lbs. And while she didn't hold the weight as well as the (then broken) Dodge dually, she pulled it much better.

At another time I pulled a 24' steel pintle hook trailer with a 2006 F250 crew cab long bed with a plow and salt spreader 140 miles. Not sure of the weight for that load but I was happy with the way she pulled. Even at a measly 8 mpg.