I can’t decide between the regular Expedition and the Max. What are your thoughts? I have 2 kids in big car seats, so I need captains chairs for sure. I’m looking at the XLT trim since it’s the most affordable for me. Has anyone been able to get one under MSRP?
We have a 2020 XLT standard length. There are a few times I wish we had gone with the Max, but not enough to make me upgrade. We just use a hitch carrier for extra cargo space when we really need it.
Which hitch carrier do you use? I’m trying to figure out which one to buy.
We got this one: https://www.harborfreight.com/automotive/trailers-towing/hitch-cargo-carriers/500-lb-capacity-deluxe-cargo-carrier-66983.html. It’s affordable and works great. We’ve used it about half a dozen times without issues. When we’re not using it, we hang it on hooks in the garage.
Thanks, that’s super helpful!
No problem, glad I could help!
Appreciate your input, thanks!
The seating is identical between the regular Expedition and the Max. The Max just gives you more space behind the third row. If you take a lot of road trips and need extra cargo room, the Max is a good pick. But double-check that it fits in your garage before deciding!
Thanks for pointing that out! I do park in the garage, so that’s definitely something I need to think about.
We’ve got a 2021 Max and absolutely love it. It’s perfect for road trips, big shopping runs, and hauling stuff like plants or donations. It can be tricky to park at times, but it’s not much harder than our old non-Max. The turning radius is surprisingly tight for its size.
That’s great to hear, thank you! I’m torn between this and the Tahoe/Suburban, but Ford’s financing offers on the 2024s might seal the deal for me.
I had a 2012 extended and just got a 2024 Max. It’s a little tougher to park and fit in the garage, but the extra space is absolutely worth it.
Thanks for sharing! I’m having such a hard time deciding!
I had the same debate. Unlike the Suburban, the only difference with the Max is more cargo space. I went with the standard length because it’s easier for daily driving and parking. On vacations, I use a Thule roof box to make up for the lack of trunk space. Since we only vacation 2-3 times a year, the standard size made more sense for us.
That’s exactly my struggle. Do I plan for the few trips a year where we’d need more space, or pick something easier to manage daily? I’m leaning towards the standard size for now.
If you’re not using the third row regularly, you’ll have plenty of luggage space. We’ve got three kids and needed the third row up during a trip, which made space tight. But if you can fold the third row down, it’s more than enough.
Will you use the third row often? Do you need a lot of cargo space while using it? If not, the regular size is easier to drive around. But if you’re on the fence, go with the Max just to be safe.
That’s good advice, thanks! I’m leaning toward the regular size but don’t want to regret not going bigger.
We went with the regular one because the Max wouldn’t fit in our garage. The trunk space is pretty small in the regular Expedition if you have the third row up, though.
Garage parking is a must for me too. Ours can fit the Max, but I’m trying to decide how big of a vehicle I want for daily use.