The Ford Expedition has been taking lucky drivers out on excursions since 1997. This full-size SUV has always provided solid performance with plenty of room for up to eight passengers with all the ruggedness and dependability you’d expect from a Ford vehicle. But all of that is going to get a whole lot better for 2022. If you search for “Ford dealer near me,” you are going to get a chance to try out the newest Ford Expedition: the 2022 Ford Expedition Timberline.
This model combines the features you’d expect in a full-size SUV with off-road capabilities you’d never anticipate from a big vehicle like this one. That is because Ford has designed the Expedition Timberline from the ground up with an eye toward making it the most capable three-row, full-size SUV on the road today. This is why if you are seeking to go out exploring the great outdoors or are just looking to get around town with the advantages provided by a larger vehicle, then the 2022 Ford Explorer Timberline may be the model for you. Let’s take a closer look to see what makes this very capable vehicle roll.
More Turbocharged Power
To get you where you need to go, either on or off the road, you know your full-size SUV has to be equipped with an engine and transmission with exceptional power and torque. Ford has seen fit to equip the 2022 Expedition with not one, not two, but three different versions of its exceptional 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine. The base model gives you 380 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, while the higher trims come with a version that boosts these numbers to 400 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque. The 24-valve aluminum block engine uses a double overhead camshaft configuration with port and direct fuel injection. The enhanced performance of this engine is due in large part to its twin turbochargers.
If that is not enough power for you, Ford has an available 3.5-liter High-Output EcoBoost Turbo V6 that comes standard on the Timberline model. Taken from the 2022 Ford Raptor high-performance pickup truck, this beast offers a best-in-class 440 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. That’s the kind of performance that can get you up and over every obstacle in your path as you burn down the trail past all the other off-road pretenders.
Ford has equipped each of these engines with a 10-speed automatic transmission with SelectShift. Not only will this give you superior control over your engine’s performance, but it will also provide for more efficient travels. The SelectShift feature gives you the option of having a manual approach to shifting, so you get the best of both worlds with your Expedition.
Built for Off-Road Performance From the Ground Up
A true rugged vehicle designed for the toughest trails needs to be built from the ground up. You can’t retrofit gear and equipment to make your SUV capable of doing serious off-roading. This is why the engineers at Ford made sure that the new Timberline trim of the 2022 Expedition is ready to hit the trail as soon as you drive it off the lot at your local Ford dealership. As the chief engineer of the Ford Expedition, Mike Kipley, explains, “Timberline sets a new standard with full-size SUV customers who need more passenger space, great off-road capability and a basecamp for life’s journeys.”
The 2022 Ford Expedition Timberline has a standard 4×4 drivetrain. This will give you the ability to transfer horsepower and torque to each axle and wheel as needed. The 4×4 drivetrain on the Expedition Timberline also features Ford’s latest Trail Control technology with a two-speed transfer case. This is an interdisciplinary system that combines the 4×4 drivetrain with the braking system and engine throttle to give you enhanced control in some of the most difficult terrain.
The Expedition Timberline model has been designed with a higher ground clearance of 10.6 inches, a step up from the still impressive 9.8 inches offered by the other trims of the 2022 Expedition. This represents the highest factory ground clearance of any full-size SUV, beating the GMC Yukon AT4 by over half an inch. As a result, the Expedition Timberline has the capability to get you on, up, and over practically every rock and log you encounter on the trail.
The Timberline has an approach angle of 28.5 degrees, significantly higher than the 23.3 degrees on other models of the Expedition. The departure angle is 23.7 degrees, a full 2 degrees more than standard Expedition models with a 4×4 drivetrain, and the ramp breakover angle is a breathtaking 21.9 degrees on the Expedition Timberline.
Ford shows its attention to detail by making sure the Expedition Timberline rides on a set of 18-inch high-gloss ebony-painted aluminum wheels fitted with 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler all-terrain tires. These wheels and tires will combine to give you the performance you need in your 2022 Ford Expedition Timberline on or off the road.
All models of the 2022 Expedition feature an independent short and long-arm front suspension with a stabilizer bar. The rear suspension is an independent multi-link type with a stabilizer bar. Mechanical load-leveling is available as an add-on to the rear suspension system. All shock absorbers are gas-charged with available continuously controlled damping. The Expedition Timberline goes further by providing unique shock lengths and tuning calibration with a specialized stabilizer bar to provide better trail performance.
Ford has given the Expedition Timberline a plethora of additional features to make sure you have an ideal experience when you go off-roading, including Trail Turn Assist (first introduced on the new Ford Bronco). This system will tighten the turning radius on your Expedition Timberline so that you can handle tight hairpin turns out on the trail without literally going off the road when off-roading. A heavy-duty skid plate will protect the undercarriage of your Expedition Timberline so you won’t have to worry about damaging your oil pan or crankcase when you’re in particularly rough terrain.
Take Your Camper With You!
One complaint many folks have about off-road vehicles is that they sacrifice trailering capability in order to provide you with the performance features you need when you’re hitting the trail. Fortunately, the folks at Ford have addressed this concern by making sure that the 2022 Expedition Timberline hasn’t sacrificed towing capability in order to provide the 4×4 drivetrain and other gear needed for off-roading. The Timberline can tow up to 9,200 pounds, so you will have no problem taking your camper, ATV, or boat with you when you head out into the country.
If trailering is your thing, then there are plenty of optional features on the Expedition Timberline model that might interest you. Pro Trailer Backup Assist will make reversing with a trailer hitched to your Expedition easier than you can imagine. The available 360-degree Camera gives you the ability to check all angles when trailering, so you can have a better sense of the road when changing lanes on the highway and backing into and out of parking spots. The available Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package on the Expedition not only gives you the ability to maximize your SUV’s towing capacity, but it also includes Trailer Reverse Guidance to improve the safety and ease of trailering with your Expedition Timberline.
A Special Interior for a Unique New SUV
Ford’s designers have carried the rugged looks of the 2022 Expedition Timberline into the SUV’s interior. The seats feature Ford’s ActiveX trim with specialized stitching and Timberline logos, and the leather-wrapped steering wheel is heated to make it easier to handle in cold weather. One way that Ford has carried the unique design throughout the Expedition Timberline is to add Deep Tangerine stitching on the interior to match the same colored trim on the vehicle’s exterior.
Completing the package is the Ford SYNC 4A infotainment system with an available 15.5-inch touchscreen. This will help you and your passengers stay connected through smartphone integration, while the Connected Built-In Navigation will help you get wherever you are going, whether on the trail or out on the highway.
Get Above the Clouds in Your Expedition Timberline
In nature, the timberline is the place when you get above the clouds, where there is only sky, rock, and sometimes snow left to traverse. The aptly named Ford Expedition Timberline has been designed to get you to the top wherever you may go. As the most well-equipped off-road SUV on the market, the 2022 Ford Expedition Timberline gives you room for up to eight people and the ability to drive them as far up the hill or out in the country as your expedition and imagination can take you.
