We did alot of trailer camping when I was a kid, but haven't been on a trip since 1997. Now I have my own kids and I want to start getting them out camping. Now I have a 2003 Expedition with the 5.4, 3:73, and tow package, but various web searches indicate that the Expedition is not really worth a crap as a tow vehicle.

The trailer I am interested in is 23' long with a GVWR of 6500 and a dry hitch rating of 505. With a WD hitch it seems to be well within the limits set forth by Ford, but will it in the real world work? It will take a day to get out of Texas, but at some point we will make it to New Mexico and or Colorado. Will it pull it in the mountains? I have no expectations of getting in the mountains and running like on the highway. I am used to getting a good running start and going to the appropriate gear, then taking it easy and not over doing it.

 

My TT is 25' and about the weight you described, the XP does a credible job.
It goes up the hills in the appropriate gear, does not get hot, rides nice but you're are not going to blast up the hills like a diesel powered F-250.
We have some decent hills here in CA, little 'grades' that put some stress on the rig but we've always got where we were going.
The drive through Texas, NM and eastern CO is pretty flat and you shouldn't have a problem.
I do have an anti-sway bar on my trailer tongue, it really helps in windy conditions.
Your gas mileage might excite you though, I get about 8-10mpg depending on the conditions.

 

Probably not the first year, but at some point I want to get back to Southwest Colorado and the Silverton area. That requires making it over Wolf Creek Pass, Molas Pass, and Coal Bank Pass, all nearly 11000 ft at the top end. I don't expect to run to the top, I just wanna have a bit of confidence that my Expedition will just make it to the top without dying on me for good.

 

That is a heap of rocks, for sure.
Went that way two years ago and know what you're talking about, but I was in my Mustang GT - easy.

If you're going to regularly try that type of trailering (winding roads/high altitude) maybe a dedicated towing vehicle is a better bet - like that diesel F-250 I mentioned.

 

I had 454 Suburban and towed a 10,000 lb travel trailer. It was at the limit for that engine/chassis. It did fine at lower altitutude and lower speeds. Getting over I-70 in the rockies and maintaining 70-75 mph on the way to California was where it struggled. I switched to a diesel F350 and then went to a bigger trailer. I pull a 4500 lb flat bed and car to the races with my Expedition, and it does fine. With the diesel, I forget it's back there. With the Expy, you feel the extra weight and I'm out of overdrive, but it is up to the job. My guess is your combo will be at the upper end of it's realistic ability. Sea level and flat roads it will be fine. Altitude and hills, you'll be slower. My biggest complaint about half tons as pullers, is the softer suspension (for empty comfort). Equalizer hitch and better shocks will go along way to help control the pull package.

 

I Tow a TT or boat quite often without any real issues other than speed on long, steep mountain routes. My 99 5.4 Expedition had almost 183K when I replaced it with another 5.4 Expedition, both have gotten the job done. My latest has the Air Suspension, the 99 didn't, but a good hitch still makes a big difference. Was it a "GM" or "Mopar" site knocking the Expedition?.... had to ask.

 

We always went on trips with a Suburban with a 3:73 rear end and 350 engine. My grandmother still has her 88 with the above engine and rear end. That truck and one that my uncle has with same engine and a 3:42 rear end have pulled trailers all over that part of the country. That is my base reference.

Everyone talks about towing out of OD. I was taught that driving in OD while towing is ok as long as its not shifting back and forth alot. That being said, in the mountains I generally would start out in D which is 3rd in the that 4 speed auto transmission. Then manually shift down to 2nd when the sound of the engine indicated it was needed. Then shift between 3rd and 2nd manually as needed until over the pass. I never really was too concerned with my speed on the way up, just tried to keep a steady speed and transmission temp reasonable. On the way down, used the transmission the same way and kept off the brakes as much as possible.

So, I have no expectations of the Expedition pulling the pass while towing at normal highway speed. The GVWR of that trailer is 6500 and I it won't ever be loaded that heavy, I travel light. Its a good 2400 lbs less than the 8900 limit on the Expedition. And the Expedition has a hitch weight at 800 something with a WD hitch. As far as the numbers go, it seems like I am well within range. I don't see a F-250 in my future just to tow a few times a year. If what I have isn't up to the task I will have to re-think the trailer we pick up.

Thanks

 

I have a 2000 Expedition 4x4 5.4 3.55. I towed my 27 foot tt wieght 6500 lbs. THe expedition did a good job as long as it was flat road and no head wind. I had a ditribution hitch with sway bars i really never felt comfortable with the way it towed. I traded my 88 mustang GT covert for a 2000 excursion 2wd v10 3.73 for a tow vehicle it was a night and day difference. The trailer and excursion work very well together. I can enter the interstate and up to speed at the end of theon ramp. Granted not a disel but works good

 

Let's face it, the 2v 5.4@260hp is definitely not over powered, even in the reviews at the time it was mentioned that GM and Dodge had stronger motors.
However, going fast isn't the only thing to consider when you tow, little things like reliability are immensely important.
My Ford trucks have had what I considered 'tractor' motors, less horsepower - but they last.
When I sold my '82 F-350 4x4 it had more than 300k miles with the same 400M engine and C4 transmission, a real workhorse - towed it's brains out.

This XP has big axle bearings, large brakes, heavy frame, built-in frame Eq 2" receiver, strong transmission and A4WD, with coolers for the various hardware that need it.
It was meant to tow moderate loads and it does. I value the reliability that I feel this vehicle has given me and if going slower is the price, I gladly pay it.

I tow downhill in 4th gear OD, unless I need more braking. I always use 3rd gear (or less) in other terrain.
I've climbed a 8,000' pass with snow and gone thru hot deserts, it has done the job.
My skiboat was about 4,000lbs, this TT is rated at 6500GVW (although I travel light too).

The other consideration for a long towing trip is vehicle condition and preventative maintenance.
Of course, the less weight you haul, the easier it is on everything - a smaller trailer might be something to consider.
To give you an idea of what I tow...

 

I tow a 23' fishing boat that weighs close to 5000lbs and I absolutely love the way my Expedition handles it. Mine is a 2002 with the 5.4, trailer towing pkg and 3.55 gears. Nice thing about it is when the trans drops out of overdrive into 3rd, the RPM's are right at 2800 at 60mph, which I have read is close to the peak torque of the engine. She pulls hills flawlessly. I can't comment on the 2003 and newer models, though.

 

In my opinion you should do just fine towing the trailer you have described, but if you are not satisfied with the trip due to the weight you could get a smaller enclosed utility trailer and camp with a tent or tents. I've camped both ways and prefer the tent style of camping and with a small trailer you can carry everything you might need in it.
I really enjoy motorcycle touring (without a trailer) and tent camping. I carry all the gear I need (tent, sleeping bag, air mattress, hatchet, entrenching tool and a small cooler) on the bike and buy anything else I might need when I get where I'm going. I have proved to myself that I don't have to have a T.V., fridge, kingsize bed or a roof over my head to enjoy a few days in the woods or on the road.
Just take the family and go enjoy yourselves.

 

By the time we get to go next one kid will be 4 and the other will be almost 2. Some may think that's too young, but I was 4 the first time I went and think the other one will be fine.

Anyway, I have been camping in a tent a few times and its just not my thing. I like to bust butt getting someplace and then stay for 5 or 6 days and then head home. Back when I went with my grandparents who didn't have to worry about work, we would be in the campground for the full 14 days allowed and about four on the road getting there and back. People get really ripe during that amount of time with no shower. I dont think a week with kids on the ground would be much fun anyway. A couple of the trailers we are looking at have a shower outside to hose the kids off if the need arises. I looked at my brochures again and there is one trailer that is something I could live with that has a GVWR of 5000.

 

I think they are the right age to get started camping and developing a love for it in a tent or a R.V. they should enjoy it a lot. I camped at Lake Packtola outside of Rapid City S.D. and it was beautiful, they had a bath house with hot showers and a nice lake with several types of boats available to rent. Only about 30 miles from Mount Rushmore as well as several private fish farms where there are lots of trout eager to take the bait, a good place to start the kids fishing. There is nothing like the first fish they catch. Also lots of buffalo to look at and to eat.
I also camped at Rocky Mountain National Park. The deer will come right into your campsite as they are well protected and seem to know it. They also have several herds of big horn sheep that wander the park escorted by their own ranger so they are not bothered by the campers. I was stationed near Leadville when I was in the army and loved the mountains.
The 5,000 lb. trailer will tow just fine with your truck, I hope you and your family have a great time camping.

 

well i towed a mitshubishi diamante and a mazda mx3 on a 24 foot trailer which on the cars it was 5700lbs on the trailer i really dont know? i think mabye 2000lbs? so thats a total of 7700 lbs and my navigator towed it flawlessly as for my 98 expedition.... i towed it before with the same car trailer but 2 similar cars and i can say that she struggled ....

 

When towing a great deal depends on the tow vehicle's condition and state of tune and a 32 valve DOHC engine should easily out perform a 16 valve SOHC, all else being equal.