Ford expedition max

[Nautiqueusername]

Hey is anyone out there using a new Ford expedition max to tow a 23 foot or larger boat around? Just curious if that’s a good option as I may be replacing my pick up with a 6.2 V8

[RDT-G23]

I suspect this thread will be moved...but - are you asking to pull a G23? A 23' bowrider is not the same weight. If you want to pull a Regal, Cobalt or Sea Ray, I'm sure it would be fine. I wouldn't tow an ~8-8.5k lb rig (inc trailer) with it, if that is what you are asking...

[GeoffW]

Hey is anyone out there using a new Ford expedition max to tow a 23 foot or larger boat around? Just curious if that’s a good option as I may be replacing my pick up with a 6.2 V8

We bought a new Expedition Max a few months ago. I've had a ~6K load behind it and it was fine with it, but I'd have trouble believing a few thousand more would not throw it around without some soft of weight distribution setup. Ours has the tow package. If you do go this route, be care on what you buy - the HD tow package comes with not only trailer brakes, but a larger rad and lower gearing. Without HD trailer package unit is only rated for 6,500ish lbs. With HD tow kit, 9,300ish. I wanted a middle bench in ours and that was a difficult combo to find. Little Ecoboost in there has more than sufficient jam to tow with. Nice vehicle otherwise. I'm a Dodge guy but I can say this one impresses me so far. Wish it sounded more like my Nautique though!

[jjackkrash]

23 foot or larger boat around?

That's really too vague. You need to look at the weight of the actual loaded boat and trailer running down the road, the actual tow and hitch capacity, and hopefully leave some room to load gear and people in the rig and boat still have a little safety margin. And regardless of what the tow numbers say for the rig, I personally would not want to tow any more than around 7k lbs. with any 1/2 ton based SUV plus passengers.

[Luebowski]

My first thought is 230 yes, G23 no...

[sixcampbells]

Guys- You may be wrong. I have a 2019 Expedition Max with tow and it’s rated at 9000# or slightly higher. You will need WDHitch. I also put electronic disc brake kit on it. It’s 100% legit. PM me if you need more data.


Sent from my iPhone using PLT Nautique

[sixcampbells]

Sorry - I tow a 2018 G23


Sent from my iPhone using PLT Nautique

[sixcampbells]

I have towed with this set up for over a year and a couple thousand miles - down to Lake Shasta from Seattle, etc. This is a nice and comfortable set up. You will have to pay attention to GCVW ratings. I ran it pretty close on that rating. The disc over hydraulic kit and weight distr hitch make it work well.


Sent from my iPhone using PLT Nautique

[jjackkrash]

You will need WDHitch. I also put electronic disc brake kit on it. It’s 100% legit.

Sent from my iPhone using PLT Nautique

Smart move on the brakes and WDH. I am curious if you've ever scaled the boat and trailer and what the actual weight is running down the road. Those G's just look big and heavy.

[sixcampbells]

I haven’t but have wanted to in order to get the Gross Combined Weight of vehicle and boat. I know the boat is 5800# and trailer 1800# dry - if I believe specs from Nautique and Boatmate. I figure half a tank of gas (never more) and 500# of gear and I am pushing close to 8500#. No lead. If I tow a long trip the boat is near empty on gas so that I can add items to boat for camping or similar.


Sent from my iPhone using PLT Nautique

[sixcampbells]

I also own a 2017 F350 with tow package and 3.55:1 - I can pull 15000# without WDH and my payload is huge compared to Expedition BUT I can’t take my entire family. Not enough seats. So we use that setup for shorter trips where we can take two vehicles or just me and my 4 boys head out.


Sent from my iPhone using PLT Nautique

[jjackkrash]

The "dry weight" is an estimate and based on no options in the boat; it also doesn't account for variations in the amount of glass and gelcoat applied to the boat. Most people who weigh their boats find that number to be fairly low.

[NautiqueJeff]

Actually, the dry weight from Nautique includes ALL options available on the boat.

Here's a screenshot from the brochure.

[mcosub]

Actually, the dry weight from Nautique includes ALL options available on the boat.

Here's a screenshot from the brochure.

Jeff nails it again.

[mooneywa]

My 230 pulls behind my Land Cruiser (8100lb rating) beautifully, but I’m not planning to take it up to 75mph or through the mountains. I get the impression it’s about at the limit of where one would say it’s comfortable to tow and the Expedition Max will have a longer wheel base and in theory should be more stable than the Cruiser. The EcoBoost is a pretty solid tow machine if you can deal with the occiaionally more finicky reliability of that engine.