Newest version of the Ford family hauler leaves the Suburban, Sequoia, Armada and Yukon in the dust.
When Ford completely overhauled the Expedition for the 2018 model year, it took the big SUV beyond its previous boundaries. In terms of towing, Ford engineers also took the Expedition beyond its competition.
Like the current-generation F-150, the 2018 Expedition has an aluminum exterior. That switch in materials has helped it shed up to 300 pounds, meaning a four-wheel-drive 2018 Expedition should weigh around 5,500 pounds, and its EL sibling should tip the scales at around 5,800. The second-generation 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, which generates 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque in the F-150, is now under the hood of the family SUV. Ford’s tech team threw out the 2017 Expedition’s 6-speed auto and replaced it with the new 10-speed unit that’s already in its pickup cousin.
Less weight and more power means the 2018 Expedition can tow a maximum of 9,300 pounds (when equipped with the Heavy Duty Trailer Tow package)! That not only exceeds the outgoing model’s 9,200-pound limit, but bests the tow numbers for the Expedition’s rivals. A 2WD Tahoe with the Max Trailering Package can pull a max of 8,600 pounds. A similarly equipped Suburban taps out at 8,300 pounds. With its giant 6.2-liter V8 and the HD Trailering Package, the GMC Yukon Denali can tow 8,400 pounds. The new Nissan Armada runs out of grunt at 8,500 pounds. Toyota’s Sequoia pulls even less, only managing to yank 7,400 pounds.
Buyers of the 2018 Expedition will probably be quick to hitch something heavy to the back of it. According to Ford, “More than 50 percent of Expedition customers value towing, and 15 percent tow weekly or monthly.” To make getting those ATVs to the OHV park or that boat to the lake even easier, the 2018 Expedition is available with Pro Trailer Backup Assist. We’ll have to wait until later this year when the 2018 Expedition goes on sale to find out how popular it ends up being.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
