Good day,


I am looking to buy a Ford Expedition (2018-2019) equipped with the Heavy Duty Tow Package (in order to tow a travel trailer), however I am having difficulty determining which vehicles are equipped with it. I found the VIN decoder hosted by this website but I am confused by the information it provides for the weight/towing capacities. The following numbers were populated using the VIN decoder tool for an Expedition that I am looking at. What I don't understand is why different numbers are given for each specification. Does the decoder simply provide the different ratings for different vehicle configurations without identifying the actual rating for the vehicle in question? I hope my question makes sense.

Gross Combined Wt Rating-15500, 15500, 12400 lbs 12400.0 min 15500.0 max

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt.5000 lbs 5000.0 min 5000.0 max

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt.500 lbs 500.0 min 500.0 max

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt.9000, 9000, 6000 lbs 6000.0 min 9000.0 max

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt.900, 900, 600 lbs 600.0 min 900.0 max

Maximum Trailering Capacity9000, 9000, 6000 6000.0 min 9000.0 max

I know that the rear axle ratio is also a factor and the VIN decoder provided information indicating the rear axle ratio of this particular Expedition is 3.31. If my information is correct, that means that this vehicle is only equipped to pull up to 6,000 lbs. The Heavy Duty Tow Package is assigned the code 536 but I have not been able to find where I can look for that code on a vehicle. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

Wouldnt this information be stamped into the tow receiver by the factory?

 

https://www.ford.com/suvs/expedition...ition-limited/

Look at the specs section here and it will show you the varying capacities depending on gearing and tow package.

 

Thats just what the hitch is rated for, the same one is mounted on any Expedition that has a hitch but the vehicles towing capacity varies by thousands of pounds depending on how the vehicle optioned.

 

https://www.trailerlife.com/trailer-towing-guides/

 

Thanks for the help but the issue I am trying to resolve is if I go look at an Expedition how do I know which options it has? The sales people the the VIN decoder both appear to give only what the standard numbers are without actually knowing the numbers for a specific vehicle.

 

To simplify it there are only a couple of options, either around 6000#s or around 9000#s. A window sticker will tell you if it has the max tow package and any dealer will be able to provide a window sticker. If it has the package its around 9000#s. Then from there the difference of being a MAX or 4wd only changes the capacity a few hundred pounds

 

Ford doesn't make it easy by VIN. But with the expedition it's easy. You need the 3.73 gear ratio and the HD tow package. Most 3.73 will have it. Here's the Ford charts.
https://www.fleet.ford.com/towing-guides/
Gear ratio is what matters. The HD tow is just a class IV receiver and trail break. Here's a VIN decoder that works good https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/vindecoder.php
Also you can get the gear ratio from the code on the door jam sticker.