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I am considering a tow vehicle and trailer for my 27' Pro-Line Walk. The boat is 27' LOA 8'-6" beam 4200 lbs dry hull, 650 lbs Honda 225, 1025 lbs 165 gals fuel, 1300 lbs trailer, 800 lbs hard top & misc stuff = 7675 lbs. Last year this model was called the 26 Walk.
The new 2005 Expedition with HD towing package has an 8900 lbs towing capacity and the 2005 Durango with Hemi is similar.
I keep the boat on a lift at my dock at home so I would not be trailering every week. I would like to be able to haul the boat out for service and occasionally take the boat to other areas like the Keys or Pensacola.
I prefer the Ford as I have owned many over the years without problems. The Durango looks like it might fit in the garage a little better (5" shorter 3" narrower) but I have no recent experience with Dodge reliability. Also from what I have heard the Ford may do better on gas mileage.
When not towing I would use the new SUV to replace my current 2003 Explorer for day to day business use. I need an SUV in my business instead of a truck so pickups are out for me.
Anyone have towing experience with these two vehicles they can share?
We bought an '05 Durango with the Hemi back in February.* It has the towing package but does not have the 3.92 axle, so the capacity is "only" 8500 lbs or so. (It jumps to 8900 with the other axle).
With my GW*208 (around 4500 lbs. or so) you don't know its back there.**And, without the boat, its*easy to drive around town, and flat fast if you stand on it.**I read somewhere that the only SUV faster 0-60 is a Porsche Cayenne.* The smaller (compared to the Expedition)*size is preferred for us as well, as it will fit in the garage.
From a reliability standpoint, the only issue we've had so far was a recall on the gas tank.* If anything, the Dodge dealer has been more responsive than the Infiniti dealer*I dealt with before.* The 7/70 warranty is going away for 2006, so don't wait too long.
The only downsides are the side mirrors are a little small, and - depending on how you drive it - it can be extremely thirsty around town.* With a soft foot, I can get 14 or so...drive it like you mean it and it will be 12.5-13.* The mileage is decent on the road though...between 18 and 19.
the expedition with the air ride option would handle that trailer much better, and the added weight of the expedition would be very benifitial. the air ride system is very nice and get's rid of the bouncy feel that is common when pulling a trailer.
I have a 04 Hemi Durango to tow my 5500 lb boat. It tows great, but here's a list of things I've been back to the dealer for in 9 months:
1st day something in the steering column broke and made some racket when I turned the wheel.
While it was in for that, I ended up with a big scratch on the front bumper, 1 day old.
Dealer replaced the bumper.
Had some intermittent A/C issues, no prob found, it might be back this summer.
Basically check everything lit up on the dash one day. Dealer reset computer.
Drivers door started with really bad wind noise, dealer replaced hinges on the door.
Numerous probs with dead battery in the last week. Dealer replaced the battery this Tuesday. It was 9 months old, 12000 miles.
So no really big problems here, but lot's of little things and 6 times to the dealer in 9 months is not too good!! Other than that, it rides great, has lots of power, and is a nice truck. My buddy has one also and has had no problems at all.
Keep in mind that those max tow weights are with weight distributing. They only have clase 3 hitches, otherwords the max tongue weight is not to exceed 500lbs. Only if you have weight distributing can you exceed the 500lbs to 890lbs.
Weight distributing relives tongue weight ot meet the vehicles specs. It takes the excess tongue weight and distributes it to the frame forward. So if your tow needs to have more than 500lbs of tongue weight to tow safely, you will need weight distributing. Even if you keep your tongue weight at 5 to 7%, you still will probably need weight distributing hitch setup ( based on your numbers).
I would go with a 2500 suburban with 6.0 liter. I have 8.1 Liter and I think that is overkill. Good thing about 2500's over 1500's is that the parts are much beefier. (Example I have close to 80,000 on my truck and it still has the original break pads installed.)
P.S. I am not just a chevy guy, I also own a Bronco and have had Dodge (panal van) so I show no loyalty.
now for the silly story.
A old ford guy I use to know would buy a Suburban every 5 years. I asked him how he could buy a chevorlet since he loved the blue oval so much. He said "When Ford starts making a suburban I will buy it".
I'll never buy another Dodge. I'm not supposed to talk about it, but I leave it at I don't have it anymore. The problem it had in the 6 months I had it were:
Vibration at highway speeds that could not be cured after a new set of tires and 3 times balancing
A/C issues they couldn't fix after 5 times working on (flashed the pcm 4 times)
The auto temp control never worked--it was always either hot or cold inside--never what I set it on.
replaced front brake rotors at 8K miles
Trans shifting (actually not engaging in gear) when cold
electrical gremlins that "could not be duplicated" (radio changing station, windo went down once buy itself)
HORRIBLE gas mileage as noted above (at least that I kind of expected I had the 3.92:1 gear)
Worst vehicle I have ever owned. If you HAVE to have one (lol)..buy a used '05 with 10-15K on it. The depreciation on those things is incredibly high.
Stay away from the Durango! Had the older version and it was a piece of junk! Was always a Mopar guy, (still have a '72 Duster 340 w/40,000 miles stored in garage), until the eighties when they started producing junk. Switched to Ford and was extremely happy. But wanted more vehicle when it came time to get a new 4wd tow vehicle, and the Durango fit the bill with the third seat and large V-8, (Explorer did not have that option at the time). After long list of problems, and getting stranded/towed 3 times, dumped it for another Ford. Stick with Ford. When you really look closely at a Chrysler product, the quality is just not there compared to Ford.
Forgetting about what the manufacturer claims are with regard to towing weights, and about cubic inches under the hood, I believe the expedition is a bigger and heavier truck than Durango.
Durango is closer in body and chassis build to the ford explorer (or at least it was a few short years ago) and for sure the explorer is not the vehicle that expedition is for towing.
The new durango is definitely beefy enough for towing; it has huge brakes and a huge boxed, hydro formed 3/16" steel frame. 335 hp and a 5spd auto tranny (that is questionable). But its all the other stuff it has that doesn't do so well.
Two very different vehicles, Expedition is a way whole lot bigger, so it should tow better, never owned a Ford so I can have no comment on the mechanical side.
I have a Dodge truck, 05 q-cab, Hemi, 3.92 gears, so far I am extremely pleased with it, no mechanical problems what so ever. Tows like a dream, plenty of power. When not towing it will pass anything on the road, except a filling station. gas mileage 16.5 if you baby it, with a tailwind and down hill driving only.
The questions you have to answer for yourself is, how much towing are you really going to do? 10% of the time. Less than 10% of the time. Will the larger vehicle serve the purpose without causing problems? Will the smaller Durango work better for you? Like I said if you are only going to tow 10% or less of the time maybe you could use the smaller Durango. I think the Durango is a way lot cheaper than the ford too.
__________________ Cape Horn 17, Yamaha F115
with
Elmo the Boat Dog
Don't do the Dodge! My brother has one and is sounds like crap while he is driveing. The engine seems to surge forward when he hits the brakes fast. He's out of warranty and the truck works so he is living with it. He tries not to brake fast, though. The interiaor also has worn very ugly. Lots of plastic and cheap leather. Get the Ford. I would not worry about the towing capacity on either one if you rarely tow your boat. Either would work. Dodge just doesn't make a quality product. I personally have a GMS YUKON. 2000. % years now and not one problem. Excellent ride. Cusumer reports alsorates these very high. But if you like the Ford, do it over the Durango. Good Luck!!
I have a 2004 Expedition and a Proline 251 walk, probably the same hull as yours, great combination. Has plenty of power and is a little heavier than the Durango which helps with our size boat, my last truck was an 1997 F-150 4x4 with the 4.6 v8....... dog I used to dread long trips with the boat, the Expedition with the 5.4 v8 is a night and day difference. My complaint would be the gas milage when my wife drives it in town 14 mpg or so, I have gotten 20 mpg out of it on a long trip, the towing milage is still about 14 mpg. I have the 4x4 off road package with the stability control.
Keep in mind that those max tow weights are with weight distributing. They only have clase 3 hitches, otherwords the max tongue weight is not to exceed 500lbs. Only if you have weight distributing can you exceed the 500lbs to 890lbs.
Weight distributing relives tongue weight ot meet the vehicles specs. It takes the excess tongue weight and distributes it to the frame forward. So if your tow needs to have more than 500lbs of tongue weight to tow safely, you will need weight distributing. Even if you keep your tongue weight at 5 to 7%, you still will probably need weight distributing hitch setup ( based on your numbers).
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Interestingly the Ford Towing Guide shows a maximum tongue weight of 600 lbs for the Expedition with the standard hitch and heavy duty towing option. That is more than any other Ford in the guide except the F350 dual rear wheels model.
I have a 2004 Expedition and a Proline 251 walk, probably the same hull as yours, great combination. Has plenty of power and is a little heavier than the Durango which helps with our size boat, my last truck was an 1997 F-150 4x4 with the 4.6 v8....... dog I used to dread long trips with the boat, the Expedition with the 5.4 v8 is a night and day difference. My complaint would be the gas milage when my wife drives it in town 14 mpg or so, I have gotten 20 mpg out of it on a long trip, the towing milage is still about 14 mpg. I have the 4x4 off road package with the stability control.
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Thanks for the reply. That sounds like just what I want. The Admiral is also indicating approval for the Ford and disdain for the Dodge so it it looks like I will have to eke out a little more room in the garage for the Ford.
I was planning on a limited slip 4 x 2 version. The gas mileage doesn't sound too much worse than I get with my V6 Explorer (21 hwy/16 city)
Before I got my new boat that required a bigger tow vehicle, I had a 2000 Expedition with the 5.4 L and tow package. My old boat was almost the exact same weight. It towed it pretty well. I didn't have 4 wd and the tires slipped just a couple times at low tide on some poor ramps, but I never had any major tow problems. The gas mileage is pretty bad, though. Maybe the newer Expeditions are better, but I think I got around 8-9 towing the boat. That Expedition was solid, though. Other than normal wear and tear items (tires, brakes, etc), the only thing I ever replaced on that vehicle was an alternator and that was about 2 years after I bought it new. I had it for 5 years, put over 100,000 miles on it and never had any other issues.
I had the last gen Durango. Relatively reliable, but cheap trim and brakes were marginal with no load. (just took a long way to stop). I do line the new Fords with independent rear suspension. This is a nice feature and they have good pwoer choices too. My brother and boss have the new Expeditions and they both rave about the power 3rd row seat (great for families).
I have an 04 Durango with 25,000 miles on it. I tow a 22 foot CC and I really like it. It seems to tow better than my 1997 Chevy 1500 4X4 with a 350. That Hemi loves the highway but hates city driving (gas wise). I have had no real issues with the dodge and I think they are much better in every regard than the older style. Good Luck
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Ford Expedition vs Dodge Durango 
