Alright, finally got around to getting the truck home. I was impressed at how the Expedition towed. Not quite like the SD it replaced, but still really impressive. The power was definitely adequate in city driving, no overheating issues as it was 80 here yesterday and I was towing in stop and go traffic for a solid half hour with the A/C on. The airbags I put in helped it so the rear does not sag out hardly at all. This would no doubt tow like S#*T and be dangerous without them. I HIGHLY recommend anyone who tows with their expedition or any truck for that matter installing a set. Braking was good as well.

After the rush hour hell, I got out on the freeway. Also has good power at freeway speeds and even some of the larger hills didn't affect it much. I didn't beat on it, no need to, I don't mind losing a few miles an hour up a hill to save the life of my trans.

My only complaint was at higher speeds, about 55 or higher, it seems when pavement changes camber or the steering quickly changes the rig's direction the trailer definitely likes to direct the rear of the expedition around a bit. I wouldn't call it sway, more just really heavy trailer making not quite as heavy truck move in the lane a little. Tongue weight was MORE than adequate as I had the truck in the same spot on the trailer as when I used to tow with the SD. Probably will just take some getting used to.

The trailer is still going uphill about an inch or so and I have adjustment left in my hitch so I'm going to lower it down one notch at the ball and see if that helps.

Overall I'm happy with it.

Oh yeah and no comments about the extremely tiny tires on my trail rig. It's the only way I can fit it in my garage lol

 

Hence my comment on a sway bar but some smart *** made a comment about tongue weight ... i sold trailers was not the issue.... one reese sway control fairly snugger and that will tow straight as an arrow.

 

It tows straight, I wouldn't really call it "sway" I think it will just take some getting used to. I've always used 3/4 ton trucks with longer wheelbases to tow with and this lighter basically 1/2 ton truck has a much shorter wheelbase and higher center of gravity to begin with so towing is going to feel different.

I'm gonna tow a few more times and see how it goes. I will look into sway control a bit too. I figure it's not gonna make it worse lol. I wouldn't mind having EVERY towing advantage I can get

 

So FTE Herman, a moderator of this forum, is a smart *** for asking a simple question?
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post10278962

 

Looks to me like you still have a little sag in the Expy which may contribute to the tail wagging the dog feel. You may want to try turning the F series around to try and put more of it's mass over the trailers wheels and reduce the push down on the tongue. You still want to have around 10% on the tongue, I'm just armchairing this, but it may help. It definately won't help mileage with the back light catching all the wind.

 

Now Now ...... Let's play nice LOL

Yeah, it's gonna sag. My SD with AirLift5000's used to still sag an inch or so. That's just how suspension works. With the trailer on it's about an inch lower in the rear than normal ride height. That's not the issue really. If it was smashed down near the bumpstops, yeah that's gonna handle like s#*t but. Towing it with the truck backwards would cause WAAY more problems than alleviating some tongue weight is worth. The trail-rig has hardly any weight on the rear axle and that combined with the brick wall I'd be towing would no doubt make the thing full out dangerous.

What I need to do is finish making all the final adjustments to the trailer hitch. I need to scale the tongue weight and get it accurate. Then I will know where to put the truck on the trailer so I'm getting accurate tongue weight. I can then set my weight dist. bars to lift the proper amount getting that 100% dialed in.

I still think it's ok. I'm not afraid to tow with it. It's gonna get the job done. All in all I'm using the Expo at it's max towing ability and can't expect it to tow like my SD did because, well it's not a SD. That said it tows WAAY better than I though it would .... I'm just picky and have too much time to think of how to perfect something that probably can't be perfected.

 

TenHoles,

You can perfect it. I tow a 7500# travel trailer with my '03 Navigator and it took me a while to perfect it, but it can be done.

It took me a week or more of trying different angles and heights on the hitch itself and finally found a perfect sweet spot. My Nav. tows the trailer great. No sway and goes right down the road straight. Im thinking you are alot like me, you want it perfect and it can be done with a little work and patients.