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How Much Can A Ford Expedition Tow? A Simple Guide

How Much Can A Ford Expedition Tow? A Simple Guide

Do you have a Ford Expedition and want to know how much you can tow with it before you attempt to do so? Well, we have found the Ford Expedition towing capacity and can help you out. 

The towing capacity for the Ford Expedition ranges between 5,900 to 6,000 pounds on average. Allowing you to tow some types of boats, trailers, and fifth wheels, depending on the total weight of the item that you want to tow

Though this seems to be a tight range, there are many different things to consider when deciding what to tow, and how much weight the item is with all your equipment and cargo added.

So, if you want to know everything about towing with a Ford Expedition, then keep reading!

Ford Expedition Towing Capacity 

There are towing capacities for vehicles for a reason and these numbers are determined by the men and women who know the most about the manufactured vehicle. So, the towing capacity is not something that is just made up. 

In fact, this number is very important when it comes to figuring out what items you can tow, and with what equipment. A small boat might be 5,000 pounds and under the capacity, but if you need a hitch to tow it and all the cargo will be stored in it, then this could actually reach passed the limit.

If you attempt to tow more weight than is recommended, then you could be risking damage to your vehicle and its engine. You don’t want to spend good money on a car only to have it damaged the first time that you tow with it. 

Take the towing capacity seriously and figure out what items are out of reach by checking their weight while taking into account all of the other items that you will bring along with you. 

So, with the towing capacity being between 5,900 and 6,000 pounds, then you will have to find out what the exact capacity is for the model you are driving. Take a look into the owner’s manual to find this out for sure. 

Once you have that number, you can see which items will be too heavy for the vehicle, and which ones will be light enough for your SUV. However, before you try to tow a trailer that is 5,500 pounds, weigh all your equipment to see if the added weight will go over the 5,900-mark.

If it does go over the allowed towing capacity, then you will need to opt for something lighter. It is better to be under the weight than to be over and risk damaging your vehicle. 

Can You Tow What You Want?

Well, this will be determined by the weight of the item you want to tow.

The weight of multiple items can vary due to the specifics of the model!

This is true for trailers, boats, and campers, so you will need to get the exact weight. You will also want to ask about the weight of the item when there is gas in the tank, only if applied to the item you will tow. 

Boats and campers often have full tanks that you will need to fill up, which will add to the overall weight and will not be included in the original weight number. So, you will want to adjust the weight to this addition as well as all your gear. 

For example, a camper will likely be around 5,000 pounds on average. However, you will want to add around 800 pounds to account for all the items that will be stored in the camper as well as the gas that will be put into the fuel tank. 

All of this adds up to around 5,800 pounds, which is still under the Ford Expedition towing capacity. However, it is pretty close to the capacity, so you will want to ensure that your storage items aren’t excessive enough to go over the weight limit. 

If you include all the items you will take along with the total weight of the item you will tow and it is under the capacity, then you will be fine.

What Can You Tow With a Ford Expedition? 

When it comes to towing certain items, you will be able to know if you’re able to do so by taking a look at the weight. With items that are smaller, you will need to think about whether you need a trailer to tow them, which could add to the total weight. 

So, let’s take a look at what items are under the weight limit for the Ford Expedition and what can be towed with this vehicle. 

1. Campers 

The average weight of a camper is around 5,000 pounds, which will be under the weight limit of your SUV. Even with the added 800 pounds of weight to account for storage items, you will be under the towing capacity. 

This makes it one easy thing for you to tow when you want to take your friends or family on a camping trip. Just make sure that your load in the interior of the camper is balanced to keep your vehicle easy to control. 

2. Boats 

When it comes to boats, you will likely need a boat trailer, which will be around 1,500 pounds. Then, you will add the weight of the boat, which will depend on the exact model. 

Kayaks or canoes are very light, weighing only between 50 and 80 pounds. Motorboats are about 2,500 pounds, which would still be about 1,500 to 2,000 pounds under the towing capacity.

However, sailboats are much heavier and can weigh around 7,000 pounds. This will be over the limit, so you will not be able to handle towing a sailboat and you will need to stick to the lighter boat options. 

Attempting to Tow Too Much Weight 

If the weight of the trailer or camper and all your storage items add up to over the towing capacity, then you should pair down on your things to keep the weight under the limit. If not, you will be risking damage to your vehicle. 

This can be dangerous because of what this extra weight could do to your vehicle. Not only will this add extra stress to the engine because it will have to work harder to tow the weight, but it could also cause the steering to become difficult, slowed acceleration, and affected braking.

All of these issues could be dangerous when you are on the road because your driving will be affected. If you are unable to accelerate fast enough to avoid a car, then you could get into an accident. 

In the same way, if you are not able to brake in time, then a sudden stop could cause you to hit the vehicle in front of you. The steering is also affected, which could make it much easier to lose control of the vehicle. 

When you are towing extra weight, this makes driving more dangerous for you and your passengers, but also other drivers around you. If you end up losing control, that could end up affecting the vehicles around you if you cause an accident, which could result in injury.

This will also affect your engine, which will have to work extra hard to be able to accelerate and brake. This could cause your engine to become overworked and overheat. 

You will also need to ensure that your load is well-balanced when you have more weight. This will affect your driving ability, and if the load is lop-sided, you will have trouble controlling the vehicle. 

The load will end up pulling the SUV to one side, which will cause you to constantly have to correct the direction of the vehicle. This will get tiring and could be dangerous when there are other drivers around you that you could hit if you drift too far to one side. 

However, if you take precautions to ensure that you stay well within the Ford Expedition towing capacity, then you will stay safer on the road and avoid these situations. 

Conclusion on Ford Expedition towing

Having a Ford Expedition can be a good choice for towing medium-sized items when you are on the road, but knowing the towing capacity and how much the vehicle can handle will make a difference between being safe or dangerous on the road. 

With the Ford Expedition towing capacity of 5,900 to 6,000 pounds, there are many different items that you will be able to tow. However, you want to do so safely and make sure that you don’t go over the weight limit that is set for the vehicle. 

So, when you are trying to find out whether you will be able to tow a certain item with your Expedition, check the total weight of the item with the suggested storage weight to see if your SUV can handle the total weight of the item with all your equipment. 

If the weight is in the acceptable range, then you will be able to tow the item safely. 

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Zach Reed

Hi, I'm the founder of VehicleAnswers.com! Having owned a wide variety of vehicles in my life, I was astounded at how hard it can be to find answers to common automotive questions. Rather than sit idly, I decided to create this website to help others!