Gonna need a replacement for the Expedition soon and I was thinking......

[Chadx]

Have a truck with the new stability control. I can tell you it is completely worthless! Pretty easy to get stuck in 2" of snow when the truck decides how it is driven...not you. I hate it!

In my experience, getting stuck is usually due to the Traction Control portion of Stability Control. Stability Control takes into consideration vehicle rotation (yaw), lateral acceleration, comparing wheel speeds, etc. to change power or apply brakes to individual wheels to bring the vehicle back in line. Traction control is a part of that and activates when the traction wheels spin (lose traction) and for me has been the frustrating part of Stability Control (and has been on vehicles for quite some time). Luckily, most vehicles with traction control have a button to push to turn it off so you can spin the wheels a bit if needed...or simply for fun. Ha. Most vehicles will automatically turn Traction Control back on once you get up to a certain speed or gear, but for parking lot speeds, just push the button to keep it from activating at an inconvenient time (such as in snow or towing up a lose rocky forest service trail hill in the summer).

 

[Highmarker]

On my dodge..pushing the button only deactivates system if wheels are straight. Yaw system still activated so any steering wheel movement and traction control comes back...button pushed or not. Only way to completely disable is for vehicle to be in park, and 4WD, an hold button for ten seconds.

So for the one little snow drift in the road, that I could hammer through with a little wheel spin in 2WD....I now have to completely stop. Place in park and 4WD then continue.

I HATE this system. Can't find any sort of bypass either

 

[Chadx]

On my dodge..pushing the button only deactivates system if wheels are straight.

Yuck! I prefer the systems that base it on speed or transmission gear. Not being able to crank the wheel back and forth as you spin through mud, etc. or just try to set a new direction as they spin just seems like a bad design.

But I digress. Back on subject...

 

[ndmtnsledder]

I would not want to be in that explorer when a 40 mph side wind hits you on glare ice with a trailer that weighs as much as the tow rig no matter what traction control the tow vehicle has or fancy sway control load leveling hitch you have. In 9 years of going out west only twice that I can thing of have we not hit some chunk of bad road. Thats my opinion though. Why not get a new expedition if she likes it. Wife has a 2012 Expedition EL we hoped to wait for a eco boost version but still haven't heard if its coming. She's getting a solid 15-17mpg with the 5.4 3 valve 13-15 if she leaves it in Auto 4wd and really didn't cost us any more then a equivalently equipped F150 after some excellent rebates last summer. She doesn't miss her Acadia one bit about the same size as a explorer and she got a constant 18mpg with it after 60k miles so no major loss there.

 

[Jeff C]

Well, I finally pulled the trigger on a 2013 Explorer Sport (Ecoboost v6) that had 25,000 miles on it. It has the factory trailer tow option on it.

Had a chance to get some trailer pulling with it. Fully loaded down, two place enclosed trailer, with two sleds on it. It pulls like a friggin freight train. Maintains speed up hills without much if any downshifting.

You can really feel it when the turbo kicks in.

Gets pretty good mileage as well. EMpty on the highway, I am at 22-23 MPG. Pulling a two place I am at 14-15 MPG

Have not hooked up the four place open loaded with sleds yet, but I can tell toungue weight will be an issue.

I also found out why older Explorers can pull 7500 pounds, where the new Explorers can only pull 5,000 pounds. The frame of the new ones are based upon the Taraus frame. Much lighter frame.

The ride quality is really good.

I will give my final impressions on this vehicle when I get a chance to hook up the four place and load it down.

I think the weight of the trailer loaded will be something like:
Trailer 800 pounds
Four sleds 2400
Gear 500

I should be well withing the capacity (On paper), but a real world test still awaits.

 

[Jeff C]

I would not want to be in that explorer when a 40 mph side wind hits you on glare ice with a trailer that weighs as much as the tow rig no matter what traction control the tow vehicle has or fancy sway control load leveling hitch you have.

Frankly, I am pretty sure I would not want to be driving in any vehicle in those sort of conditions.

I have seen plenty of Superduty's/Duramaxes/Rams in the ditch when there has been sidewind blows.

Not to minimize what you are saying though, but I am pulling a four place aluminum open. It still would be sketchy though.

 

[SSWIM]

Frankly, I am pretty sure I would not want to be driving in any vehicle in those sort of conditions.

I have seen plenty of Superduty's/Duramaxes/Rams in the ditch when there has been sidewind blows.

Not to minimize what you are saying though, but I am pulling a four place aluminum open. It still would be sketchy though.

No kidding. Perfect response. Your Explorer will work great.

Sam

 

[tadder52]

I will give my final impressions on this vehicle when I get a chance to hook up the four place and load it down.

I think the weight of the trailer loaded will be something like:
Trailer 800 pounds
Four sleds 2400
Gear 500

I should be well withing the capacity (On paper), but a real world test still awaits.

Should be in within the towing capacities, but what about the payload: fuel, tongue weight, and a crew of 4 (assuming you are putting four guys) in the Explorer. This is the where most half tons and smaller run out of weights.

Congrats on the rig man. Not trying to rain on the parade everyone loves a new/new to them vehicle Just don't want to be hearing about a bad accident from a fellow flat lander heading West.

Good luck with the new rig!

 

[TJ427]

tadder52 is right about how easy it is to overlook four guys (most of us tend to be large these days), gear, trailer, sleds, etc. We were towing open 2 place with 5.4 L 2011 expedition EL and decided ended up buying a '14 Super Duty with Powerstroke engine. We should have never taken the diesel truck for a test drive. We have a bigger trailer that would have been within the towing capacity limits for the Expedition, but the expedition was working hard at 80 mph with 2 place open when 30mph headwind considered and 7.5 mpg's. Nothing gets good mpg at 80 with a headwind, but the diesel handles tremendously better and we can stop with minimal effort now. Our other trailer has brakes on four wheels so that makes a big difference with either diesel truck or expedition but it is much easier and lower stress towing with the diesel truck, even if the max. capacity for towing wasn't needed on paper. The surface area on snowmobile trailers is substantial despite the low weight of our aluminum trailers with light mountain sleds. We tow from Bismarck and usually 5/6 trips per year encounter poor road conditions also. Certain conditions the vehicle doesn't matter when traction is inadequate (we probably shouldn't be on the road then) but all other times both my wife and I love towing with the diesel truck and find it a lot more user friendly despite less in vehicle capacity that we have with the expedition EL.
Good Luck!

 

[Nytroty]

Well, I finally pulled the trigger on a 2013 Explorer Sport (Ecoboost v6) that had 25,000 miles on it. It has the factory trailer tow option on it.

Had a chance to get some trailer pulling with it. Fully loaded down, two place enclosed trailer, with two sleds on it. It pulls like a friggin freight train. Maintains speed up hills without much if any downshifting.

You can really feel it when the turbo kicks in.

Gets pretty good mileage as well. EMpty on the highway, I am at 22-23 MPG. Pulling a two place I am at 14-15 MPG

Have not hooked up the four place open loaded with sleds yet, but I can tell toungue weight will be an issue.

I also found out why older Explorers can pull 7500 pounds, where the new Explorers can only pull 5,000 pounds. The frame of the new ones are based upon the Taraus frame. Much lighter frame.

The ride quality is really good.

I will give my final impressions on this vehicle when I get a chance to hook up the four place and load it down.

I think the weight of the trailer loaded will be something like:
Trailer 800 pounds
Four sleds 2400
Gear 500

I should be well withing the capacity (On paper), but a real world test still awaits.

Nice Choice! I really like the way those sports look! and tons of power with the eco boost!

One thing on your numbers too. I think your 4 place trailer weighs more than 800 lbs... Bet it's in the 1200-1400 pretty easy. With everything fully loaded and 4 guys in the explorer you will be over the 5000 but i bet it would still tow it fine around MN, but gettting it out on the open road going west might be sketchy... Suspension and Tires would be my concern with that weight. Can't wait to hear a report though!

 

[Blu Du]

I think most minnesotans bring 500# just in beer

 

[Jeff C]

I think most minnesotans bring 500# just in beer

Now Blu Du, we are trying to change the perceptions of the "Snowest Nation" about us Minnesota folk.

And you go and do that!! LOL

 

[Jeff C]

Dont have a four place tow under my belt yet, but with a two place enclosed, and loaded to the gills, the Explorer sport performs extremely well. I get right at about 12mpg, and I rarely come out of over drive. I am glad so far that I got the 6 cyl ecoboost.