I won’t tell you how to live your life, but consider this bit of free advice. Don’t get a vehicle with a tow rating that’s less than your camper. One man might destroy his brand-new 2025 Ford Expedition by towing a load that’s way too heavy. 

Man tries towing 12,000 lbs with Ford Expedition 

TikTok user and 2025 Ford Expedition owner, @jenzi_g, is pushing limits. He explained that he had gotten rid of a diesel GMC Sierra 2500 that he used to tow his 12,000-pound camper with. 

Now he wants to see if the 2025 Ford Expedition can handle the load. But there’s a slight catch: the Expedition can only tow up to 9,600 lbs. 

That’s if the SUV is equipped with the Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package. Otherwise, don’t tow more than 7,000 lbs. 

He lowers the tongue on the 10,000 lb hitch, and the Expedition pops a squat. The front end is nearly sticking up. Also, he mentions that a stabilizer bar might help, but he didn’t use his. 

Plus, he worries about the tongue weight of the camper, which is about 1,800 lbs. The Ford Expedition has a tongue weight capacity of up to 960 lbs. He incorrectly shares that it’s 1,500 lbs. 

He asks for experts to weigh in on whether his Expedition can tow the trailer, and then you can see him slowly crawl across the gravel driveway. 

I’ve reached out to jenzi_g to see if this damaged the Expedition. But I’m thinking he should have kept his truck. 

What happens if you surpass the tow rating? 

Towing more than an SUV’s rated towing capacity can lead to catastrophic failure. It could blow the engine, destroy the transmission, impact the brakes, and damage the suspension system. 

The extra weight places excess strain on the engine and transmission, leading to overheating and permanent failure. Plus, the brakes work harder, increasing the stopping distance while increasing the risk of overheating and failure. 

Also, the suspension can compress under the extra weight, causing the chassis and frame to warp. 

Towing over capacity could void your warranty, leaving you responsible for the cost of repairs. Plus, driving an overloaded vehicle is illegal in many states. It causes the vehicle to become unstable, increasing the risk of losing control and flipping over. 

What did people say in the comments? 

People in the comments shared that this man should have never gotten rid of the GMC Sierra and warned about the amount of weight being put on the chassis. 

They recommend getting stiffer springs, airbags, and leaf springs, or upgrading the rear suspension. Others suggest getting a weight distribution hitch. 

Others worry that the rig won’t be able to stop and share concerns about flipping. Instead of asking if he can tow his camper with the Ford Expedition, he needs to ask if he should. The answer is no.