The 9,000-lb Club

For most SUVs, “towing” means pulling a small utility trailer with a lawnmower. For the 2026 Ford Expedition, towing means moving a house.

In Sidney, we see customers who need one vehicle to do two very different jobs: haul the travel baseball team during the week and pull a 28-foot travel trailer to Indian Lake on the weekend. The Expedition is one of the few vehicles on the market that can legally and safely do both.

The magic number is 9,600 pounds.

But you can’t just buy any Expedition off the lot and expect it to pull that weight. You need the right equipment. Here is the engineering breakdown of what makes the Expedition a towing beast.

 

What is the “Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package”?

You cannot simply add a hitch ball and call it “heavy duty.” This factory-installed package (Option Code 536) changes the physical hardware of the SUV:

• 73 Electronic Limited-Slip Differential: Gives you better leverage to get a heavy load moving.
• Pro Trailer Backup Assist™: The knob on the dash that steers the trailer for you.
• Integrated Brake Controller: Essential for stopping heavy trailers safely.
• 360-Degree Camera with Trailer Reverse Guidance: Shows you exactly where your trailer wheels are.

Engine Specs: Torque is King

You don’t need a V8 to tow. In fact, for towing, you want low-end torque, and that is exactly where the EcoBoost® shines.

	Standard 3.5L EcoBoost® V6: 400 hp / 480 lb-ft torque. High-Output 3.5L EcoBoost® (Timberline/Stealth): 440 hp / 510 lb-ft torque. That 510 lb-ft of torque kicks in at just 2,250 RPM. This means the engine doesn’t have to scream at the redline to pull a boat up a boat ramp; it just grunts and goes.

Real-World Towing in Sidney

What can 9,600 pounds actually haul?

• A 25-foot Fiberglass Boat: Typically 5,000–6,000 lbs.
• A Two-Horse Trailer: Typically 5,000–7,000 lbs fully loaded. No problem.
• A Large Travel Trailer: Many “half-ton towable” campers weigh 7,000–8,000 lbs. The Expedition handles this with stability thanks to its Independent Rear Suspension.