jlrmfc21
Midlothian, VA
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Joined: 05/02/2009
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Anyone tow with a Lincoln Navigator?
I have a 2018 Navigator 4x4 with heavy duty tow pkg. it’s rated at 8100 lbs tow capacity.
I had a 2002 2500 Suburban 8.1 and 4.10 gears prior to this.
Just was curious to get some real reviews of anyone that used a navigator as their tow vehicle and how they like it?
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ROBERTSUNRUS
Salem, Oregon
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Joined: 06/16/2010
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![[emoticon]](https://forums.trailerlife.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/smile.gif "smile") Hi, I towed a 25' Airstream with my 2000 Lincoln Navigator for over ten years. Went from Southern California to Alaska and back. This was for 50 days and over 10,000 miles. I thought that the Colorado mountains were going to kill my Lincoln, but they didn't. Many other trips, none of them less that several hundred miles each.
Starting in 2015, I retired my Lincoln from towing and now tow with an F-150 Ecoboost. My Lincoln is still used daily for local driving.
"> Bob ">
2005 Airstream Safari 25-B
2000 Lincoln Navigator
2014 F-150 Ecoboost
Equal-i-zer
Yamaha 2400
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theoldwizard1
SE MI
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Joined: 09/07/2010
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My daughter's family uses an Expedition (twin of the Navigator) for towing primarily because they have 4 kids. You can save a few lbs by purchasing the standard version 8bstead of the long/extended version.
Like most trucks, the towing capacity is a bit "optimistic".
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APT
SE Michigan
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Joined: 06/09/2010
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Power should be fantastic, better than your 8.1L/4-spd combo! Suspension will not be as great, so I'd stick to about 6k dry and learn how to adjust the WDH for 100% front axle weight restoration.
A & A parents of DD 2005, DS1 2007, DS2 2009
2011 Suburban 2500 6.0L 3.73 pulling 2011 Heartland North Trail 28BRS
2017 Subaru Outback 3.6R
2020 Chevrolet Bolt
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dodge guy
Bartlett IL
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Joined: 03/23/2004
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Is the Navigator an L model (long wheel base?)
Wife Kim
Son Brandon 17yrs
Daughter Marissa 16yrs
Dog Bailey
12 Forest River Georgetown 350TS Hellwig sway bars, BlueOx TrueCenter stabilizer
13 Ford Explorer Roadmaster Stowmaster 5000, VIP Tow>
A bad day camping is
better than a good day at work!
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Groover
Pulaski, TN
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Joined: 10/17/2007
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APT wrote:Power should be fantastic, better than your 8.1L/4-spd combo! Suspension will not be as great, so I'd stick to about 6k dry and learn how to adjust the WDH for 100% front axle weight restoration.
The towing guide calls for 50% weight restoration. They don't say why but I suspect that is has something to do the energy absorbing crumple zone in the frames for the lighter trucks. See page 36 for hitch setup.
3018 Ford Towing guide
My brother had an older Expedition with air suspension and loved it for trailer towing. The air suspension can make setting up a weight distributing hitch a little trickier since the back axle is always going to end up at the same height regardless of tongue load. If you have air suspension you may want to put a pressure gage on the air bags to get a feel for how much weight you have added to the rear axle.
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Bionic Man
Colorado
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Joined: 04/03/2009
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I have a 2019 Expedition MAX that we use to tow our 7000 pound boat. I also had a 2003 2500 Burb with the 8.1.
I never fell in love with the 8.1 for towing the way so many have. IMO, both the 6.2 Yukon Denali and the 3.5 EcoBoost in the Ex are better engines.
Anyway, I think you will really like the power of the engine. And the 10 speed is one of the better transmissions I have driven. Towing MPG isn't very good, but the power is always there. Most of the time, the engine and transmission temps are fine, but towing through the Rockies, they get higher than I would like (I've seen over 240 in both engine and tranny).
The towing package has some nice features. I like how you can adjust for different trailers, and still use the blind spot warnings in the mirrors. I've played around with the back up assist, and while I haven't been patient with it, I also haven't been able to get it to work when showing it to someone. Personally, I wouldn't rely on it.
I don't think that the Ex gives anything up to the 2500 Burb in towing manners. It is way more stable than my Yukon was.
Within it's limits, I think your Navigator will make a very nice tow vehicle.
2012 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn DRW CC 4x4 Max Tow, Cummins HO, 60 gallon RDS aux fuel tank, Reese 18k Elite hitch
2003 Dodge Ram 3500 QC SB 4x4 Cummins HO NV5600 with Smarty JR, Jacobs EB (sold)
2002 Gulf Stream Sea Hawk 29FRB with Honda EV6010
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APT
SE Michigan
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Joined: 06/09/2010
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I would still aim for 100% front axle weight restoration for towing a TT. If not, then the rear axle will likely be overloaded and steering a little oversensitive.
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