wildwood 28dbud

[Scottsmenn]

I am leary of any dealer telling me, yes your car can haul this or that. So I thought I would ask you all if you think it's safe for our 2004 expedition to pull this rig. Would a hitch weight of 805 be too close to the limit even with the equalizer hitch? I think the dry weight of this TT is 5800. Anyway thanks. Btw we do have a brake controller and tow package.

[KMP44]

Originally Posted by Scottsmenn

I am leary of any dealer telling me, yes your car can haul this or that. So I thought I would ask you all if you think it's safe for our 2004 expedition to pull this rig. Would a hitch weight of 805 be too close to the limit even with the equalizer hitch? I think the dry weight of this TT is 5800. Anyway thanks. Btw we do have a brake controller and tow package.

Not sure which engine you have - the 4.6 is only rated to tow about 5500 lbs but with the 5.4, you should be OK on tow rating. The payload capacity may be an issue based on the truck's ratings. Varies a little from 2wd to 4wd, but round numbers, you have 1700lbs of payload capacity. So if your empty tongue weight is 805, then you add gear, even if the WDH can shift some load back onto the trailer axles, you still have somewhere around 1/2 your available payload or more in tongue weight.

Then when you have passengers, a full gas tank, and any gear that goes into the tow vehicle, you can easily go over the available payload.

I would say get your best estimate of the weight of people & gear in the tv (or stop at a scale for that) then you have to do a best estimate on tongue weight and see how it comes out against the specific ratings for you engine/trans combination.

In this scenario, a quick look says you are going to be Ok on the CGVW and the towing capacity would be OK with the 5.4, GVWR that need more evaluation. (GVWR = empty weight + tongue weight + passengers and cargo)

Never run across a salesman that mentions that - they seem stuck on the generic tow rating - or worse, just say "oh yeah, you can tow that"...

[Scottsmenn]

Gotcha, it is the 5.4. Thanks for the input. Seems to be too heavy for my liking.

[KMP44]

Originally Posted by Scottsmenn

Gotcha, it is the 5.4. Thanks for the input. Seems to be too heavy for my liking.

I have the same 5.4 in my F-150. Our trailer is 5200 empty and about 6000 loaded. Tows nicely, but I wouldn't want to go too much more. Plus, with it being an '05, I'd like to keep it out of the shop and on the road a few more years. Towing is tough on the drive train.

[crkelley1973]

We tow ours with my husbands 2012 Ram Hemi and when we're going up through the mountains you know your towing something behind you...Ordinarily its smooth sailing...I never drive it so I'm the best for info but just my input from the passenger seat.

[woozy]

I'm looking at the same rig, and I'm also concerned about the weight. I have a Tundra 5.7, but I don't want to be constantly thinking about what I'm putting in the trailer.

I think I'm going to go with an X-Lite in the same size instead. There are some nice ones.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Scottsmenn

Gotcha, it is the 5.4. Thanks for the input. Seems to be too heavy for my liking.

check the actual yellow sticker weight, which is what it weighed from the factory including the forced "options".
i'll bet its actual sticker weight will be close to 6200lbs.
then you have to add for the weights of the battery, propane, water and cargo.
so, it'll easily weigh over 7000lbs. loaded for camping.

NEVER use brochure/website "dry" weights. either go by the trailer's GVWR or its yellow sticker weight or weigh it yourself.

[Scottsmenn]

We picked up a used 2013 Forest River Cherokee Grey Wolf 29BH last week. It does just okay pulling it. Wouldn't want to take it into any major hills for sure. I have pulled it three times so far and I am getting 8.5 mpg. I am thinking the trailer is around 6000 pounds. We need to weigh it, I'd like to know what the actual weight is loaded. Has anyone weighed this rig for the true numbers? The only thing I don't like is the wind it catches. I can really feel the wind gusts hit it.

[bikendan]

is it the actual brand name 4-point Equal-i-zer or a regular WDH that you are calling an equalizer?

[Scottsmenn]

Sorry, it is not the equalizer brand, but it is almost exactly the same.

[bikendan]

then that's where i'd start. is it the chain link style of WDH and how many friction anti-sway bars does it have, one or two?
if you posted the brand and model of WDH, maybe someone that has the same one, could help with determining if that's where some issues are.

[Scottsmenn]

The brand is E Hitch. It's a 1000/10000 4pt hitch, just like the Equalizer brand.