Greetings, all.

I currently own a 2008 Honda Odyssey, and I tow a 1425-pound popup camper with it. The Odyssey will tow, sure (3500# towing capacity), but it wasn't made to tow, and it shows: my years of towing are wearing on it. As such I am looking for a replacement vehicle that was made to tow, and I think what I'm saying is I want a truck-based vehicle.

I have been considering a Suburban/Tahoe and hadn't really considered a Ford. To be honest I am not partial to either make, having owned only Honda Odysseys and Volkswagen Jettas for 20 years. My daily walk this morning took me past my favorite used car lot, and today I noticed that the owner currently has a 2010 Ford Expedition, Eddie Bauer edition (RWD, not 4x4), and it looks to have the heavy duty towing package. I know the guy to sell quality vehicles for a reasonable price, and this one appears to be no different.

As I said, I hadn't really considered an Expedition, but upon seeing this one I began to wonder if it would meet my needs. Here's what I want: I want something with a minimum 6,000 pound towing capacity (I want to swap my popup for a travel trailer), and it needs to haul at least 5 people (2 adults and 3 kids, currently ages 7, 10, and 11) and our stuff. We tow our popup on at least one cross-country tip a year (3,000 miles round trip at Thanksgiving or Christmas), and this trip takes us through the mountains and this trip often involves snow. We travel with a small pug dog.

He's asking $12k and it has about 125k on the clock. Based on KBB this looks like a fair price.

I'm wondering if that Eddie Bauer unit might be a good vehicle for me to consider. I would love to get the group's thoughts about replacing the Odyssey with an Expedition, using it as our daily driver, and towing a travel trailer with it.

Thanks.

 

What are your concerns?

 

My main concern is for vehicle longevity: I have basically destroyed the Odyssey by towing well within its tow capacity. I've towed a light trailer (with trailer brakes and brake controller) for 3 years, and the van is basically done now. How well will an Expedition hold up to real-world towing of a travel trailer? (My towing is always properly outfitted and well within the vehicle's tow capacity.)

Thanks.

 

Another concern: The 5 of us are used to traveling in the Odyssey; how does the Expedition match up to an Odyssey, size-wise? I guess the best way to know is for us to all sit in the vehicle, which we can do later this week, but maybe others here have thoughts on real-world cross-country travel in an Expedition.

 

Probably my biggest concern is: Is there anything to be concerned about regarding an Expedition of that age, with about 125,000 miles on it? I will be towing a 3500+ pound trailer, and I don't know what I should look out for with a used Expedition.

Thanks.

 

With any used vehicle it's nice to know the maintenance history. If it checks out take it for spin with the family and see how it works.
Being a Ford guy my whole life, if the maintenance history looks good, I wouldn't hesitate.

 

2WD plus snow plus a full travel trailer probably isn't a great combination.

125,000 on an Expedition that's been kept up halfway decent isn't bad. Start it cold (like they haven't started it in days then you show up) and listen for clattering. Definitely get a Carfax.

Also, most of the folks that know about this kind of thing don't frequent the "New Member Introductions" forum. You might want to post this kind of thing in the "2007 - 2014 Expedition & Navigator" forum.

Welcome aboard!

 

Yeah, I should have clarified that the times we have pulled the trailer we went in July. Silly me.

Thanks, I'll listen as I start it. I have a Carfax and it looks reasonable. I figured that 125k miles on an Expedition should be fine. These days, 125k on anything is probably fine. My main concern about the mileage is that I'm going to start towing with it right away, that's all.

[quote[Also, most of the folks that know about this kind of thing don't frequent the "New Member Introductions" forum. You might want to post this kind of thing in the "2007 - 2014 Expedition & Navigator" forum.

Welcome aboard![/QUOTE]
Thanks! And yeah, I debated which forum to put this in.