2011 Ford Expedition 5.4l no tow package (edit)

[jwmettlen]

I just purchased a z-1 291rl. Dealer says my Excursion will pull itno problem. New to RV and only pulled utility trailers in past. Any Advice or Warnings?

[johnboytoo]

Hmmm,
started to offer some advice having owned and loved 3 ford Excursions... 2002, 2003, and 2005... the last year of them,
so not sure what a 2011 is

If it's a 2001, my suggestion is to find out the weights ready to travel for your rv and ex...
on my diesel excursions, even tuned, worked just pulling themselves around, so when I put a 35' tt behind it, it was too much work for it... both in payload and gvw....

Have always heard 5.4l was too small an engine for the Ex's so good luck with it !

[mark5w]

If it is a 2011 Expedition your good for only 6000 lbs. Won't work.
If it is a 2001 Excursion your good for around 6300 - 7300 (7300 if you have a 3.55 axle ration) Very close depending on how you pack the Excursion with people and supplies.
Still not a good choice.

If you have other facts that could help us, like the exact vehicle, axle ratio and year, let us know.

[WildWildWest]

I know this isn't what the OP has, but here is a custom built 2011 Excursion from a 2011 f350 donor truck with a 6.7L diesel and an excursion rear body and rear frame. This guy does nice work. This excursion will pull almost any TT out there. They do exist! Probably over $70,000 USD for a one of truck. Sorry, off topic, but I've been watching his build over at PowerStroke.org.

[mnsunset]

Will it pull it? Yes.
Will it pull it well....No.
I had the same motor in a ford prior to our latest TV. It just didn't have the power to fight even a mild head wind. Not sure what your gearing is as that would factor in as well.

[RADMiller]

Johnboytoo, I also heard the 5.4L is a little light on pulling. Had a 2005 f150 that had it in it, and it pulled a 4300# popup, but took a beating in the wind and hills. A good friend has a 2001 Excursion with a 7.3PSD and it's a flippin animal! I think the 5.4 is a solid engine, but agree that in an Excursion, it's already pulling around an awful lot.

My two Lincolns

[jwmettlen]

Great information from knowledgeable folks. Thanks for your comments and suggestions. I however, am a complete idiot. You are correct 2005 was the last of the excursions, my EXPEDITION was however sold as a 2011 model. Info I can find says that 15000lbs CGVW with a 9200lbs towing/payload cap. can't find solid info on GVW on my Z1

[WildWildWest]

From the CrossRoads website, but you can also look on the sticker on the trailer. It should be the same as this.

ZT291RL
SPECIFICATIONS
Dry Weight: 6190
GVWR: 7678
Carrying Capacity:1488
Hitch Weight: 678
Axle Weight: 5512
Exterior Length: 32' 7"
Exterior Height (with A/C): 10' 11"
Fresh Water: 40
Black Water: 26
Gray / Galley Water: 26
Tire Size: 205/75R15C

Your WILL NOT be siized appropriately for this unit if you don't have the Tow Package. Given what you indicated above it should be, but that assumes max tow capacity with the tow package. You need to confirm this by looking on the door sticker of your Expedition (inside driver door jamb). That will tell you what your GVWR is on your specific vehicle.

With the newer style transmission in the Expedition you will have more power for towing. Since you don't have the tow package you are probably missing the overload springs and the heavy duty transmission cooler. I'm not sure if the Expedition came with an integrated brake or not but that is easily replaced by a good Trailer Brake Control (TBC) unit. You would still need a very good weight distribution hitch and sway control for a trailer that length. Don't cheap out on this part. A trailer that length will push the vehicle around quite a bit if you don't have proper sway control.

Without the tow package, you need to find a trailer with a GVWR of no more than 6,000lbs or look at a different TV.

[WildWildWest]

Here are the towing specs for the 2011.

[avvidclif]

Different animal but same breed, 2003 Expedition. A 25' BP with the WDH and anti-sway. Trailer weight abt 5000 lbs. The trailer pushed the TV all over the road, not a good experience and didn't happen but once. I won't even address the gutless wonder they call the 4.6 engine. The TV was rated to pull it by the sticker. Maybe across the parking lot?

[anaro]

You will be limited by your payload and hitch ratings. If you have the factory installed hitch, it states it is limited to 600 lbs tongue weight load bearing (no wdh) or 920 lbs with a weight distribution hitch (wdh). With that trailer you are limited to just under 1500 lbs cargo weight. On average people tend to add 1000-1500 lbs of gear to a tt, some more, some less. Ideal tongue weight is 13-15% of loaded trailer weight. So that means you are easily looking g at 7000-7600 lbs loaded. This means a tongue weight range of 910-1140 lbs. You will be over the hitch rating alone here.

Payload is everything that goes in or on a vehicle. Look at the tire loading sticker inside the driver door. It will say all occupants and cargo should weigh less than x lbs. Subtract the weight of all passengers, pets and gear that will be in your truck when towing from thAt number. Your tongue weight needs to be less than this number. I believe you will likely be over.