High Point draws the most anglers, and for good reason. Two wide concrete ramps, a pavilion, restrooms, and the best northern lake access. The lot runs unmarked, though, and fills fast on fall weekends. Ira Hutchinson's 21 marked trailer lanes move traffic more predictably, so you'll wait less. When the other ramps are slammed, we point people to McCall-Everitt South, a large gravel lot with room for 40-plus rigs. Bay Head North and South handle smaller outfits fine, but 5-8 trailer spots go quickly. An Expedition-length rig takes the full slot.
The Maneuvering and Fit Play
For an Expedition, the size is noticeable but it stays manageable at every ramp on this lake, since the lots here give you enough room to set up a straight backing run instead of a blind squeeze into a narrow gap with people watching. The standard body measures 209.9 inches long with a 41.0-foot turning diameter. What trips people up isn't the SUV itself. It's rolling up to a crowded ramp cold, with no plan, and trying to back in while everyone waits.
The Expedition's rear cargo layout pulls its weight here. Compare it to a smaller three-row like an Explorer and you'll notice the Expedition's Ford Split Gate (separate power upper liftgate and lower tailgate) lets you reach your gear at the ramp without swinging a full hatch into the next lane. Load your coolers, tackle boxes, and life vests before you pull into the staging lane, not after.
How much can it tow? Properly equipped with the 4x4 drivetrain and the Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package, the 2027 Expedition is rated by Ford at up to 9,600 pounds, which handles most bay boats, pontoons, and bass rigs on Deer Point without breaking a sweat. The 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 puts out 400 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque, so you won't think twice about pulling a loaded trailer up the slight grade off CR-2311.
The trade-off is worth naming up front. The standard Expedition's 209.9-inch length and the MAX's 221.7-inch length both want a long enough driveway or street in front of your house to stage the rig the night before. In a tight subdivision lot, you'll find unhitching gets fiddly. A used Ford F-150 does the same job with a shorter footprint. The Expedition earns its keep when the whole family is coming. That third row isn't optional.
Go-Enjoy-It Checklist Before You Leave the House
Run through this list the night before, at home in the driveway where the light is good and nobody's waiting, and you'll breeze through the morning at the ramp off US 231 instead of fumbling in the dark at 6:30.
The rig:
- Hitch ball torqued, safety chains crossed and clipped
- Trailer lights tested, with someone walking behind while you cycle brake and signal
- Trailer tongue weight distributed, boat gear centered low
- Tire pressure checked on the tow vehicle and the trailer
Inside the Expedition:
- Rods broken down or secured, since the 40/20/40 third-row split folds to open a channel; fishing rods ride cleanly along the driver's side wall when that seat section folds on its own
- Cooler loaded and latched before departure
- Life vests out on top and easy to grab, kept clear of the tackle underneath
- Sunscreen, hats, bug spray. October mornings at Deer Point are comfortable, but the midday sun surprises people
At the lake:
- Pull fully into the parking area before unhooking
- Stage and prep the boat away from the ramp
- Back slowly, use a spotter if you have one
- Once the boat is in, move the Expedition immediately and let the next rig set up
Browse our pre-owned inventory to see which Expeditions and other capable used SUVs we've got on the lot right now.
Check Financing Options at Bay Cars
Fall's the right time to be on Deer Point Lake, and the Expedition is the right rig for taking the whole crew. Get there early, know your ramp, and go catch something.