FORD EXPEDITION--BIG THUMBS UP

[williamlayton]

I have long been a Ford fan--especially their trucks.
This last spring I was in contemplation about giving up my truck. I just like a truck.
Lifestyles change though. My wife, The Hen, has retired, and I also. We are planning to travel some and in fact we were planning a lengthy trip during the summer.
I was getting the oil changed at the dealer and they had some 2005 Expeditions on closeout (whatever that means). I have never been a fan of SUV's but the thought of traveling was causing me some second thoughts.
In the past I just put the luggage in the back seat of the F-150 or in a carrier in the bed. Neither situation was the best for long hauls though. I had to unload the luggage if it was the bed, when we stopped for the night. The back seat program was poor, to say the least and only ample for day or weekend trips.
I had considered a top for the bed and had actually found one I liked. This meant giving up the utility of a truck, however.
I bought an Expedition (Eddie Bauer edition).
I miss the PU but I will tell you folks that this Expedition is the best traveling vehicle we have ever owned .
We took it to the Tetons, Yellowstone, Glacier, Canyonlands and Arches during 16 days and 6200 miles. It drove like a dream and I was doing some fast driving at times. No other vehicle I have ever owned has come close to the comfort and handeling I have experienced from this Expedition.
Blessings

[Graybeard]

I bought my first Ford Bronco new in '85. Since then I've actually driven a Bronco more than all others put together and have had three in that time period, the '85, an '88 and a '92 model. It is a bit shorter and more off road worthy than the Expedition which was Ford's replacement for the Bronco but it's also a bit less road friendly than the Expedition. The Bronco fits me better than any vehicle I've ever owned. I'm sure a full size SUV of some sort will again come home with me. For now I drive a full size Toyota Tundra and have a fiberglass shell for it that goes on in winter and off for the summer. Works well enough but sure isn't a Bronco.

[30-30man]

My sister owned a 2001 model and it was sweet with the 5.4 Triton.  It would tow more than you would think, it just had soft springs in the rear.  A weight distributing hitch solved that.  It would tow just as much as my Dodge.   The only complaint that she had was the gas mileage.  I did think it was about the same as my Dodge with the 5.9liter.  In fact, I think it had more power than my Dodge while trying to pass (upper RPM).  It fell behind the Dodge on steep grades and a low RPM pull.  We pulled the same camper with both vehicles to the mountains on three different occasions.  There is a very steep grade between 1-26 and I-40 in North Carolina around Maggie Valley I think.  The camper was a 27 foot Terry that weighed about 6000lbs.  The Ford handled it with ease.  Congrats on a fine vehicle.