Newbie towing question

[tpagolfnut]

I am a newbie to this forum and towing in general. I recently purchased a 2019 ford expedition XLT with the heavy tow package which means I should be able to tow 9300lbs. I also recently purchased an MLE22 that weighs 6300lbs loaded. Should there be any issues towing this trailor through the mountains? I was pulling it today from Phoenix to Flagstaff to get out of the summer heat and the vehicle over heated. Was this just a case of a bad hose or something else or was it too much for the vehicle to pull up the 6% incline mountain passes? Need to know if I should get a bigger vehicle, smaller trailor or if I should be fine

 

[geotex1]

I'm sure some Ford enthusiasts will be along to get into the specifics of your Expedition capabilities. However, I figured I'd ask the question of whether the Expedition was in service-ready condition? In other words, what kind of mileage is on it, did you change all the fluids and filters as the new owner and not knowing the history, is the fan and water pump original, were you letting the Expedition pull as it could or did you bury the pedal trying to keep with traffic? All these things matter too.

 

[Soundsailor]

I am a newbie to this forum and towing in general. I recently purchased a 2019 ford expedition XLT with the heavy tow package which means I should be able to tow 9300lbs. I also recently purchased an MLE22 that weighs 6300lbs loaded. Should there be any issues towing this trailor through the mountains? I was pulling it today from Phoenix to Flagstaff to get out of the summer heat and the vehicle over heated. Was this just a case of a bad hose or something else or was it too much for the vehicle to pull up the 6% incline mountain passes? Need to know if I should get a bigger vehicle, smaller trailor or if I should be fine

Hey, it looks like you're new here, welcome to the forum. There are a few points to consider from your post. As [MENTION=26275]geotex1[/MENTION] asks, is your tow vehicle (TV) in good condition? I've driven from Phoenix to Flag, there are some long grades there. And then there's the weight consideration. While Ford may list 9,300 pounds as the XLT's towing capacity, what you can theoretically pull is not the same as what you can tow safely. You'll want to look at the actual payload for your XLT, what you're carrying inside the truck, as well as the tongue weight of the trailer. There are many threads on the forum dealing with weight, this article gives a good overview. Hope you enjoy your new Imagine and successfully escape the Phoenix heat.

 

[Second Chance]

Thread moved to Tow Vehicles.

Rob

 

[tpagolfnut]

Thank you for the reply. Vechicle has 60k miles and I just had the 60k service done. I was keeping it around 60 - 65 trying to keep the RPMs as close to 2k as possible. Being new to towing I am not sure if I should have used the manual drive mode and switched gears myself, i was using the vehicles tow/haul mode instead. I also guess next time I should make sure to not use the a/c as it might have also played a factor in this mishap.

 

[geotex1]

Thank you for the reply. Vechicle has 60k miles and I just had the 60k service done. I was keeping it around 60 - 65 trying to keep the RPMs as close to 2k as possible. Being new to towing I am not sure if I should have used the manual drive mode and switched gears myself, i was using the vehicles tow/haul mode instead. I also guess next time I should make sure to not use the a/c as it might have also played a factor in this mishap.

Post the Expedition's actual ratings from the driver's door and take your camper and it, in full camping form, including family and pets, to a truck scale and get real numbers. Way back in the day I towed an 8800# and then a 9600# TT with a 99 C2500 Suburban with 7.4L big block and 3.732 and then a 05 Yukon XL2500 with the 8.1L big block. Both of those SUVs were factory ordered for maximum towing and payload and towing either trailer was no chore with the 3rd seats out and jambed full of gear and bikes or canoe or both on the roof! However, the same SUVs luxuried out would have not had the capabilities. If you're only going by book numbers versus build on your Expedition, you may be beyond its means. I do know they're heavy and they never pulled like GM's big-block, full-size SUVs could...

 

[Timmer]

Adding a question as it might benefit the OP. How much of the vehicle towing GVWR and payload specs actually apply to engine capabilities vs the suspension? I've always considered those more related to suspension ratings.

And to the OP, perhaps you could share engine specs? I think that is a V-6 Ecoboost?

 

[Joe1967]

Using the tow/haul mode and locking out gears so you are doing 45 mph at 2,500 to 3,000 RPM would have helped. That way the engine would not be working as hard and your coolant flow would be much better. Depending on the grade, you might need to go slower (RPM range the same).

 

[Riverbug]

All good previous responses, but like [MENTION=14763]Joe1967[/MENTION] I latched onto the speed you were trying to maintain. You are not required to maintain speed limit going up a long grade. Put your hazard lights on and go slow like the big trucks do. That will definitely help with overheating. I like to look around at the scenery and never in a hurry (since I retired) so I typically just get behind the slower rigs and follow along, even though with my current setup I can easily maintain speeds up pretty steep grades. It's more relaxing and would be much easier on your vehicle to slow it down use the gears to run 2K-3K RPM and ease your way up.

Welcome to the forum and congrats on the new rig. Safe travels.

 

[RV2600RB]

OP, sounds like you need more truck. Try a 2500 Suburban or Excursion if you want an Expedition SUV like vehicle.
Rich

 

[JPS350]

I towed our 22mle with a Ford expedition the first year we had it. Mine was an older one (2007) with the 5.4 v8. It towed it fine for the most part, but the short wheelbase made things less than ideal, especially in the hills in TN. The overheating on yours would concern me. I never had issues like that on the 6-7%grades we had it on. You may want to check and blow out your radiator fins.

If you have the 3.5 l Ecoboost you have about 100 hp more than I had with ours, so you should have plenty of power.. Keep in mind, gas engines make the most power at higher rpm's, so don't try to keep it at 2k on the hills on purpose and let it sing at higher rpm's if it wants to. Put tow/haul mode on and let it do its thing.

FWIW. I replaced our expedition with a newer Ram 1/2 ton truck and it makes for a much better, solid feeling tow vehicle, but not as nice of a ride as the expedition had. That said, it's way less sketchy and less stressful towing with the truck.

 

[jleonard]

When you say it overheated, what happened? Did the gage read high? What was the temperature? Or did it actually start spewing coolant?

 

[Stealth13777]

I am a newbie to this forum and towing in general. I recently purchased a 2019 ford expedition XLT with the heavy tow package which means I should be able to tow 9300lbs. I also recently purchased an MLE22 that weighs 6300lbs loaded. Should there be any issues towing this trailor through the mountains? I was pulling it today from Phoenix to Flagstaff to get out of the summer heat and the vehicle over heated. Was this just a case of a bad hose or something else or was it too much for the vehicle to pull up the 6% incline mountain passes? Need to know if I should get a bigger vehicle, smaller trailor or if I should be fine

You may be pushing it on payload / length with that trailer. You can determine that based on comfort pulling and a trip to the scales.

However, you specifically asked about the vehicle overheating. It should not have overheated, even with the pedal mashed. In that regard you are within capacity. The 3.5 eco has a known issue doing this although I apologize that I don’t remember the specific causes. I do know one possible fix is an updated thermostat.

Your engine is also likely running warmer than it should be all the time, with cooling fans on when they shouldn’t be needed. Regardless, a good mechanic can get your truck running right and then you could decide from there if it pulls the trailer well. Right now, the truck is not fully healthy.

 

[JLW Idaho]

We have a 2018 Ford Expedition with the 3.5 and pull a 2600RB. Over 4 seasons of camping all around the NW, we have never had a problem. This includes climbing 7% grades in 98 deg temp. The engine has never come close to overheating. It is maintained per the recommended maintenance schedule, and was bought new and now has 49,000 miles. We stay well under the vehicle max payload.

 

[RV2600RB]

Thank you for the reply. Vechicle has 60k miles and I just had the 60k service done. I was keeping it around 60 - 65 trying to keep the RPMs as close to 2k as possible. Being new to towing I am not sure if I should have used the manual drive mode and switched gears myself, i was using the vehicles tow/haul mode instead. I also guess next time I should make sure to not use the a/c as it might have also played a factor in this mishap.

Small v-8s need to rev. Forget manual shifting. Leave tow/haul on and stay in drive. The transmission/pcm will take care of the rest.
Keeping a small v-8 at 2000 rpm on a grade isn’t going to work. That rpm range is for turbo diesels.
Rich

 

[robertlanajean]

I'm towing a 240ML (very similar size to yours) with a '21 Expedition and have zero problems. Not too much trailer for the rig according to spec. Its why we bought the Expy. I've towed that road many times. Used to overheat my 96 Ram until I figured out low and slow... the post about taking your time rang true ro me.
Also on the f150 forums I've read a lot of folks switch out their thermostats to a lower temp one to help out. They're mostly concerned with Trans temp but same situation may apply. Can't remember the #s off hand but I want to say they are going to a 180 tstat.
Last resort I'd consider a coolant system flush just to be safe.

Good luck and enjoy. I sure miss camping up there.

 

[[email protected]]

I used to own a ecoboost F-150. I had the same problem one day pulling up a 6.5% grade with outside temps about 95. After that, I read some Ford forums and they suggest using 93 Octane fuel when towing in high heat. Go figure the engine runs cooler. I also believe speed plays a factor as you can't hide from drag.

 

[Scott_Trailer_Newbe]

I’d say long term you may want to consider a more capable towing platform. With that being said, I don’t think you should be overheating. I live in Arizona and have traveled almost all the worst grades so I understand what you were driving through. In my opinion the transmission is usually what runs hot even when in perfect working condition. Engine overheating despite the grades should be under control if the cooling system is in proper condition. A slightly fouled radiator internally, faulty, plugged thermostat, bugs on the exterior, or faulty fan is where I would look. Something in the cooling system not being near 100% to the good is all it would take to start overheating on the heavy grades.