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Old 07-14-2013, 05:28 AM   #1
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<table ="normal" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="98%" style=": rgb255, 255, 255; padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; text-align: left; "><t><tr><td valign="top" width="100%" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, 'sans serif'; font-size: 13px; "><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="98%"><t><tr><td align="left" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, 'sans serif'; font-size: 13px; "><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><t><tr ="#cccccc"><td valign="top" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, 'sans serif'; font-size: 13px; "><table border="0" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="9" width="100%" ="forum"><t><tr ="#ffffff"><td valign="top" width="78%" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, 'sans serif'; font-size: 13px; ">We have a 2012 For Expedition EL with the V8 engine, 4x4 and upgraded class IV tow pkg.

Max loaded trailer = 8700#
Hitch &amp; receiver capacity with a WD hitch = 890#
Max Occ &amp; cargo (payload) = 1422#
Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) = 7720#
Gross combined weight rating (GVW + loaded trailer) = 15000#
RGAWR = 4250#
FGAWR = 3700#
curb vehicle weight = 6078#

Our GVW we calculated to be:
6078 + ~700 (4 passengers, dogs and some cargo) = 6678# so we are OK here since max is 7720#

Our Gross Combo weight (GVW + loaded trailer) was estimated at:
6678 + 5800 (the selected TT wts) + 1000# stuff = 13478# so we are OK there since max is 15000#

Payload was calculated to be:
350# (2 adults) + 150# (2 kids) + 150# (2 dogs) + 100# misc. stuff = 750# so we are OK there and have room to factor in the hitch weight.

So here is the "debated part" as to what would be OK for the LOADED trailer weight. If we use the 13-15% range advised, our LOADED trailer should be between 5930-6850#. Ford book does advise 10-15% for the weights but we'd like to stay on the side of not pushing it to the max.

The trailers we are looking at all seem to hover in the 5500-5800# dry weight (this is not just the listed weight, these are actual on-the-lot weights - the ST290QB vs. the Jayco WhiteHawk). The dry hitch weight of the ST is 564# and the unit they had was within 100# of the advertised catalog wt (5800#) so I'm guessing it's nearly the same for the hitch. The WhiteHawk was listed at 5300# but on the lot was 500# heavier so I'm guessing the 590# hitch weight will be higher as well. Allowing 1000# buffer for stuff, brings us right up to or desired max of 6200-6800#.

What do you guys think? Initially my husband had really hoped to be lower in weight and have more buffer. I have decided these salesman know nothing - they keep trying to show us trailers in the high 6000# weights!!!! Telling us we are looking way lower than we need to. This would be our first experience with a TT. We are more "weekend warrior" type campers and will certainly do some week long trips but by no means living in this. We are camping mostly in the Pennsylvania and other East-coast areas.

Has anyone pulled this trailer with the Expedition and can speak to it?</td></tr></t></table></td></tr></t></table></td></tr></t></table></td></tr></t></table></span>

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Old 07-14-2013, 06:38 AM   #2
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I have been pulling my sunset trail which is 7400 dry with my 2010 limited expedition. The totalgvwtowable is 9300.The limited does however have an airsuspension which is amazing.
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Old 07-14-2013, 07:56 AM   #3
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I think you will be fine. The payload accounts for 150# for driver so you can subtract that. Your tongue weight will probably end up between 900-1000lb once you add LB, battery, distribution with sway and fill your front pass through. Just don't load up the truck fill the trailer and you should be OK.
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Old 07-14-2013, 10:45 AM   #4
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you are going to be tight. The loaded tongue weight should be 13-15% for stability. with 2 kids and 2 dogs i think 1000 lbs is gonna be on the light end for where you end up. You will probably be closer to 1500 lbs or gear and north of 7000 lbs loaded.My zinger was 5700 lbs dry sticker and is now 7000 lbs loaded for a family of 3 with 1 dog. I can tell you that my zinger requires the tongue weight to be on the heavy end, when I lighten it even a little I get sway. I used to tow it with an armada rated for towing 9100 lbs. I was however over on payload by about 200 lbs. It did not make for a pleasant towing experience. I was pushed all over the road by any vehicle passing us. think tail wagging the dog sensation. I had enough truck to tow it but controlling it was a whole different issue. I struggled going up 7% grades in VA and NC mountains. I really had trouble keeping it under control coming down the mountain. there wasn't enough engine or weight in the truck to hold the trailer back resulting in excessive brake use. Not good. Same road, new tow vehicle, touched brakes 1 time going down the mountain. I swore I would never be marginal or over limits again. If it were me I wouldn't get that heavy of a TT for your TV.
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Old 07-14-2013, 10:54 AM   #5
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looking at your numbers, you have gvwr 7720- 6778 (est vehicle weight)= 942 lbs of available payload.
gcwr of 15000-6778= 8222 lbs adjusted towing capacity.
You need to be within both of these numbers.
7000 lb TT x 13% =910 lbs tongue weight. 7000 lbs x 15%= 1050 lbs.
This is tight and gives zero breathing room as you have to load a light tongue weight setting you up for possible sway issues. if you do get this set p I would get a top of the line hitch like Hensley arrow or propride as I don't think Reese dual cam or equal-i-zer will make you very happy. I would be prepared for a less than comfortable driving experience but that is just my 2 cents having been in an overload situation. best of luck to you.
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Old 07-14-2013, 11:25 AM   #6
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I have a 290QB. Here's what I came up with.Sorry for all the numbers.
The brochure dry weightis listed at 5774#and the sticker on the side of my trailer says 5888#. So Ifigure another 130# for full propane tanksand singlebattery and that's roughly 6020#. The brochure listed tongue weight for the 290QB is 664#. Based on their numbers that means the TWis 11.5% of dry weight or (11.5% x 6020# = 692#).

I add about 1000# of gear to the trailer so assuming11.5% TW from a loaded weight of approx 7000#is a TW of 805#. Most say 12-15% for TW, so with a loaded trailer weight of 7000# that would be a low of 840# and high of 1050#. Of course the only real way to know for sure it to take it to the scales or buy a TW scale. (I may invest in a Sherline TW scale myself approx $150)

So if my calculations are accurate and you load yours witha similar amount of gear then Ibelieve your Expedition will be within all rated weightlimits...except possibly the tongue weight.
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Old 07-14-2013, 02:40 PM   #7
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Your Expedition will pull that trailer no problem. Your key to control of any travel trailer is to get a good weight distributing hitch with sway control. When we had our TT I really liked the Eqal-i-zer brand hitch with integrated sway control.
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Old 07-15-2013, 03:11 AM   #8
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As a former tow-with-an-Expedition person, I'd advise keeping the trailer weight below 6,000 lbs. We went from a 4,400 lbs. unit to a 7,400 lbs. Sunset Trail and it became a handful to drive. My Expy was a 2004 with 5.4 l engine &amp; HD tow package. The independent rear suspension along with the non-truck tires allowed a lot of side to side motion. I spent some time at the truck scales trying to get this set up to work. We were under the 8,650 lbs. trailer weight limit and 35 lbs. over on the tongue weight so it "should" have worked.

I was pushed around by winds &amp; passing traffic too much for my comfort.
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Old 07-15-2013, 09:54 AM   #9
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Trailer towing is a mix of physics and safety. As you get closer to the "MAX" of your tow vehicle you diminish the safety margin. One of the things I have noticed - as the summer progresses you tend to add more weight (especially with kids). We tend to underestimate our weight. As you add more mass behind your truck, it becomes more difficult to manage in an emergency situation. There are a lot of great posts with good info - lots of numbers. Choose wisely young grasshopper!!!

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Old 07-15-2013, 10:33 AM   #10
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well, you have gotten just about as I expected, a mix of yes and no answers. You will always see that with a marginal set up. What it will finally come down to is your comfort level being really close to that marginal mark and knowing that if you underestimated the Weight of what you add, you could be over.The stories I ave you above are with 20+ years experience towing horse trailers so I knew that what I felt was not good. DH got behind the wheel having never towed a trailer and managed it but not comfortably. if I hadn't told him this wasn't good he would have thought that was what towing a trailer should feel like. Again in the end it all comes down to what you are comfortable with.
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Old 07-15-2013, 11:39 PM   #11
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For comparison, I tow mine with my '12 Titan Crew 4x4. 9300 lb tow rating, 930 lb max TW, GCVWR 15,100 lb, GVWR 7200 lb, Curb Weight 5600 lb. It has plenty of power to spare even with A/C blasting and the Equalizer 1200/12K kept sway negligible even with my long 32+ft ST290QB. Didn't have any braking issues either using a Prodigy P2. First trip was 2+ hrs each way thru PA mountains and winding rural roads. It towed much better than I expected. Second trip in a couple weeks.

This is the largest thing I've ever towed and with the whole family along I want it to be as safe as possible. Keep your wits about you, stay alert, don't get complacent and you will be good.
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Old 07-16-2013, 12:23 AM   #12
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My suggestion would be to hit the scales in route to a campground where you will be spending 3 or 4 days and see where your actual weights are. You will be surprised. When we bought our PF30CK I already had my 2500HD, 6.0L with the 4:10 rearend. My first towingimpression was, this is all the truck wants. After speaking with several RVers that have plenty of trailering experience the opinion was my truck can handle the trailer. Well after a few camping trips and adjusting our needed supplies I decided to hit the scales loaded with everything (bikes, coolers, wood, tank of fuel........) needed for a 4 night camping trip. My GCVW tallied to 17,800#, my truck manual says 16,000# is max, maybe thisis why I feel exhausted after an hour and half pull to our favorite campground.The truckgets the job done but I have set a limit on how far we go and where we go just for the safety factor. I have enough power and my Prodigy controller stops us just fine.

Right now we are consumed with travel baseball andcheer competitions so we onlycamp 2 or 3 times a yearbut whenwe can finally get to useour camper on a regular basis I will be buying a 3500HD (srw) diesel. Even if you are "just under" the limit I would suggest going with a smaller trailer or a bigger truck. Rving ismeant to be relaxing, if you arrive at your destination totally wiped out from the pull it isn't a good experience. Hope this helps.
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Old 07-16-2013, 02:44 AM   #13
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My suggestion is to load the expy with everything that you would normally load in it to go camping...people, dogs, snacks, drinks, full tank of gas, toys, books, car seats whatever your family will want in the truck while travelling... and go to a Cat scale and get your weight. Subtract that weight from your GVWR and that is how much room you have for the trailer hitch and tongue weight.
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