2016 Expedition 3.5 Ecoboost looking to buy FC 25RB

[WesVasey]

I own and love a 2016 Expedition 3.5 Ecoboost with the HD trailer option. I’ve crossed country twice pulling utility trailers with no issues. Now want to realize our dream and buy an Airstream. Looking at a Flying Cloud 25RB. If I’m reading right I’m allowed 14900 GCWR which ought to work. So question is, will it? Most of you guys seem to know what you’re talking about.

Oh, we plan on driving wherever we want in US including high elevations. And my decision is which AS model to buy, not whether to buy a new vehicle.

Thanks in advance.

[DKB_SATX]

How heavy (tongue-weight wise) are the utility trailers you've been towing? I don't know what the 25RB tongue weights are like in the real world, Airstream indicates it's about the same as the 25FB and people with those report quite-heavy tongue weights, but attribute it to most of their outside storage being at the front.

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by WesVasey

I own and love a 2016 Expedition 3.5 Ecoboost with the HD trailer option. I’ve crossed country twice pulling utility trailers with no issues. Now want to realize our dream and buy an Airstream. Looking at a Flying Cloud 25RB. If I’m reading right I’m allowed 14900 GCWR which ought to work. So question is, will it? Most of you guys seem to know what you’re talking about.

Oh, we plan on driving wherever we want in US including high elevations. And my decision is which AS model to buy, not whether to buy a new vehicle.

Thanks in advance.

Well, welcome to the Forum...lots of good information on here and also lots of "opinions"! The 3.5EB is a great engine, and surely capable of pulling most AS's with the torque/HP. Where you need to look is the "Payload" sticker on your door...that's where many of us messed up...I know I did not think it important when I bought my F150 Platinum in 2012...it only had 1039 lbs of Payload...I was always overloaded pulling my 25' AS's. You may know this, but "payload" includes your AS tongue weight, all the gear you are going to carry (think firewood, perhaps generator, dog, kids, you and partner...with the tongue weight, you can easily get up to 1,300 lbs for a trip...just saying. The 25' AS's have a hitch weight of 825+ lbs as an example if you are thinking that size...

As for which AS; recommend you go to a dealer several times....spend some time in each model you think you want...then go again... Many of us choose an AS then a year later choose another size, style, etc...just saying...it's your money...take the time to research both TT and TV. Good luck!

[Edistobob]

We have had a perfectly good experience towing a 25 foot rear bed 2013 FC with our 2008 expedition. We now have a 2018 with the eco-boost and are looking forward to good experiences with it as well. It actually has more horsepower and torque than the 2008 V8 did. As someone else mentioned, however, be sure to watch the weight. The payload on my vehicles was similar, rounding to about 1600 pounds on each.

[fclewis]

You should ok. I pull my 2016 25FC with a 2013 F150 with the same engine and transmission. Although it is a 4x4. I have pulled it from Florida to the west coast twice without the least bit of problem. You will need to add an electronic trailer brake system (if not included) and proper tow hitch with weight distribution and stabilization. I use the Equalizer system.

[Captn.Ken]

I tow the 26U with my 2015 Expedition and have no problems after many miles. It actually tows much better than my prior "other brand".

[brick1]

I just traded my 2016 Expy for an F250. I pull a 28 Serenity, with 961 lbs on the tongue and 6140 lbs dry. Your weights will be a bit - but not much - less than my rig. My Expy had plenty of engine power. Eco boost is a great engine. Towed OK, but I could tell that the truck was at capacity. Payload on my Expy Limited was 1319, so not much capacity.
By comparison, the F 250 ties so much easier.
If I had to, I would tow with the Expy, without concern. But happy that so upgraded.
brick

[TruckerFritz]

We have a 28' Safari and have pulled it with, a F350 dually diesel, a F150 3.5 EcoBoost, a F150 3.5 (not turbo) and a 2016 Expedition 3.5 Ecoboost from our perspective, the Expedition does the job, is easy for 8 mid-sized adults to ride around town, and is economical, although the diesel was the best pulling.

[Taroni]

I had a 2015 Ford F-250 last month. It only had 40,000 miles and gave me a lot of problems. It broke down in Arkansas headed from Houston, Texas to Lafayette, Indiana. We traded it in on a 2018 Ford F-150 King Ranch Eco-boost. It got better mileage than the diesel and did just fine in the hills of Kentucky and Tennessee. Headed to Fort Davis next week.

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by Taroni

I had a 2015 Ford F-250 last month. It only had 40,000 miles and gave me a lot of problems. It broke down in Arkansas headed from Houston, Texas to Lafayette, Indiana. We traded it in on a 2018 Ford F-150 King Ranch Eco-boost. It got better mileage than the diesel and did just fine in the hills of Kentucky and Tennessee. Headed to Fort Davis next week.

I need to save this somewhere to link to when one-tonners inevitably claim "no one ever went from a 250/350 to a 150!"

[Marchitect]

Hi. Welcome... good info on all the above.
Also remember to check your max axle loads.
Especially the rear axle.
When you’re loaded up (both vehicle & trailer) !
You can use the weight distribution to add more weight to the front axle so that the rear axle isn’t loaded past it’s specs.
Go use a highway weight check, or one at a truck stop. Get all the weights! Take your time!

[pjshier]

Gyspsdad X2. I made the TV mistake (not enough payload) but avoided the selection of the wrong trailer by repeated visits to a well-stocked dealer. We changed our minds twice after showing up to the lot convinced the 26U was the trailer for us. Bonus: the dealer relationship led to a reasonable deal on a lightly used 2017 Serenity 27FB.

[mckenej]

Just pulled a 25' FC from Florida to Illinois with my 3.5 F150 no problem what so ever.

[keweenawbee]

This config pulls like a dream. On good pavement I feel safe and confident at 75mph and it delivers around 15 - 16 mpg. Normally in 2wd solo I get 17 - 18

[Life is a Highway]

I was talked out of a F-250 by sales and my wife. Two days into our first trip she looks at me and says I should have let you get the 250

While we like the truck it tows well however as others have said it feels like it’s at its max with the 25.

13-14.4 mpg towing 62-65 flatland. I do not feel confident taking it over The Rockies.

Although the settlers did it with oxygen power. I am trying to deal on a 250 now



QUOTE=brick1;2145230]I just traded my 2016 Expy for an F250. I pull a 28 Serenity, with 961 lbs on the tongue and 6140 lbs dry. Your weights will be a bit - but not much - less than my rig. My Expy had plenty of engine power. Eco boost is a great engine. Towed OK, but I could tell that the truck was at capacity. Payload on my Expy Limited was 1319, so not much capacity.
By comparison, the F 250 ties so much easier.
If I had to, I would tow with the Expy, without concern. But happy that so upgraded.
brick[/QUOTE]

[WesVasey]

Thanks to all of you for the quick, insightful replies. The consensus is that we should be OK with this combo provided we watch payload and have a good weight distributing hitch. It’s nice my prospective dealer wasn’t BSing me. Also appreciate the thoughts on a bigger TV, but “it is what it is” as they say (unless someone is willing to contribute to my go fund me account). What a great group of folks! Thanks again.

[richb359]

I recently picked up a 2016 3.5 Ecoboost Expedition to replace my 2005 5.4 V8 Expedition. We put about 100,000 towing miles (2007 28 Safari) on the old one (177.000) total. The Eco-boost seems every bit a powerful and accelerates even better consistent with its higher torque rating. I also get about 1GPH better over the road

[BlueVelvet]

Originally Posted by DKB_SATX

I need to save this somewhere to link to when one-tonners inevitably claim "no one ever went from a 250/350 to a 150!"

Amen

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by Taroni

I had a 2015 Ford F-250 last month. It only had 40,000 miles and gave me a lot of problems. It broke down in Arkansas headed from Houston, Texas to Lafayette, Indiana. We traded it in on a 2018 Ford F-150 King Ranch Eco-boost. It got better mileage than the diesel and did just fine in the hills of Kentucky and Tennessee. Headed to Fort Davis next week.

Not enough data here...you had a 7-8 year old F250, with low mileage and it broke down; that's very few miles in 7 years as these Super Duties are usually purchased for towing and/or work trucks. Did you purchase it new or used? Were you towing your 25' AS at the time? What exactly happened; please share details.

[jcl]

Originally Posted by gypsydad

Not enough data here...you had a 7-8 year old F250, with low mileage and it broke down; that's very few miles in 7 years as these Super Duties are usually purchased for towing and/or work trucks. Did you purchase it new or used? Were you towing your 25' AS at the time? What exactly happened; please share details.

Lots of data. Recounted elsewhere, but that thread was locked after the diesel or not discussion turned political.

Four dealers couldn’t fix it under warranty.

The thread is four years old.