What is the Towing Capacity of a 2005 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer Edition

Updated 05/20/2013 | Published 05/18/2013

Products Featured in This Question

2-5/16" Hitch Ball - 1-1/4" Diameter x 2-3/4" Long Shank - Chrome - 12,000 lbs

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2" Hitch Ball - 1-1/4" Diameter x 2-5/8" Long Shank - Chrome - 10,000

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$20.94

Reese Steadi-Flex Weight Distribution System w/ Sway Control - Trunnion - 6K GTW, 600 TW

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$665.95

Question:

I have a 2005 Ford Expediton Eddie Bauer Limited Edition I bought it used. It has a tow package. Can I tow a travel trailer that weight 3500 lbs with my suv?

asked by: Juana G

Expert Reply:

The best place to look for the towing capacities of a vehicle is in the owners manual. The manual will give you what the vehicle is capable of. Usually on the hitch there is a sticker with the hitches capacities. Which ever is lower, the vehicle or the hitch, is the capacity you need to go by.

Based on a manual I found online through Ford, the tow capacity of the vehicle is as follows:

With a 5.4 liter engine, standard tow package, 2-wheel drive the gross trailer weight capacity is 6,000 pounds. With optional tow package it is 8,900 pounds.

If it is a 4x4 then with standard tow package the capacity is 6,000 pounds. With optional tow package the capacity is 8,600 pounds. The manual does not say what makes up the standard tow package and what makes up the optional tow package. Either way no matter how the vehicle is equipped it can more than handle the 3,500 pound trailer.

If you decided to go with a weight distribution system make sure the trailer hitch can be used with weight distribution. The manual seems to indicate that you can. The maximum towing capacity with weight distribution is 8,950 pounds and max tongue weight capacity is 895 pounds.

You will need to know the tongue weight of the trailer, when loaded and ready to tow, and then add the weight of anything loaded behind the rear axle of the tow vehicle to that to get the total tongue weight. A system rated for up to 600 pounds tongue weight, like # RP66558, might be a better option than one rated for up to 800 pounds. You will need a ball, # A-90 for a 2 inch or # 19286 for a 2-5/16 inch.