Towing with a Ford Expedition

[Jeffrunken]

We have a Flagstaff 27rlss dry weight is 6,048 lbs. We live in the Mtns and with our Chev 1500 step side short wheel base it is just too much camper to travel far with stability. We are contemplating selling both vehicles and going to one being an SUV that can pull the camper. We are looking at a Ford Expedition that is rated to pull 9,200 lbs and I was wondering if anyone out there has a similar setup and if the towing is good and stable even traveling up Mtns. Thanks for your help!

[SuicideSaints]

Do a search on this forum, numerous weight threads. Some basics though.... dont go by dry weight on the TT, get it weighed (ready to camp weight) and research weights of whatever TV you want, things like gcwr, gvwr and payload. More to it than just max trailer weight rating. I dont know if going to a SUV over a truck would be "better" for stability.

[chicagoslick]

I am traveling with a Yukon Denali that is rated at 8200 lbs...We recently went from Indianapolis to Hickory NC and everything traveled well. Be prepared to get very bad gas mileage. I averaged 8mpg and I normally get about 10mpg. My biggest gripe is not about power, but shear size of my load and the inability to see around the trailer well...Get truck mirrors if at all possible and opt for heavy duty towing package plus largest fuel tank...Pickup truck is probably best solution...


Check out this link to see some pics of my setup and you will see why it can be a pain....

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...tml#post904676

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Jeffrunken

We have a Flagstaff 27rlss dry weight is 6,048 lbs. We are looking at a Ford Expedition that is rated to pull 9,200 lbs and I was wondering if anyone out there has a similar setup and if the towing is good and stable even traveling up Mtns. Thanks for your help!

SUV's are notorious for having great towing capacities but low payload capacities, along with having soft suspension.
check the driver's door sticker for the Expy's payload capacity and post that amount here.

most 1/2 ton SUV's and trucks run out of payload capacity, WAY before they even get close to the max towing capacity.

[kho6658]

Originally Posted by Jeffrunken

We have a Flagstaff 27rlss dry weight is 6,048 lbs. We live in the Mtns and with our Chev 1500 step side short wheel base it is just too much camper to travel far with stability. We are contemplating selling both vehicles and going to one being an SUV that can pull the camper. We are looking at a Ford Expedition that is rated to pull 9,200 lbs and I was wondering if anyone out there has a similar setup and if the towing is good and stable even traveling up Mtns. Thanks for your help!

I don't have any experience traveling in the Mtns. so can't help there. I have no issues with stability and the switch to LT tires has made the ride even better. I will say that I am glad to have a 33gal tank. It does like stopping at gas stations just to check the prices.

[prof_fate]

Not enough tow capacity..you need a 2500/F250 size vehicle.

Check GCWR of the tow vehicle - my 2013 sliverado is 14,000lbs. Rated to tow 9600 lbs.
BUT the weight of our truck is 5700lbs so the math (14,000 - 5,700) means our REAL tow rating is 8,300 lbs as you can't (legally or perhaps ethically) go over the GCWR.

Now we add 800lbs of family in the TV, and 700 lbs tounge weight and the truck (GVWR) of 7,000 lbs (it's a 1500 sliverado) and we're at or 100lbs over it's legal limit.

And our TT? 6700 lbs loaded to go. WAY below the 8300 or theoretical 9600 lbs.

And our last TV was an expedition and it had a much lower GCWR than the silverado.

[Alberta8311ss]

Gcwr is 15,000# on the expedition with optional tow package. Towing 9200# is for the short wheel base model 4x2. We have the long wheel base 4x4 and I believe we are rated at 8800#. It is a little soft when towing with the air bags and 20" passenger tires but power wise it will Handel your trailer. Depending on the grades in the mountains you should do fine with that size trailer. We use a pro pride hitch on ours. If you have the tow package you'll have the 3:73 axle.

Watch your hitch weight on the trailer make sure you have the payload for it. Our set up on the scales is just under the max rear axle rating.




2014 Rockwood 8311SS

[Alberta8311ss]

2014 Rockwood 8311SS

[Jeffrunken]

Thank you all for the information. It is very helpful and now I can gather some more information to make a good decision! Thanks again!

[mike.t]

Go to a RV park/campground and take a tally of the tow vehicles. That should answer all your questions.

[tsmcmillen]

We have a 2011 expedition el. We just pulled thru the smoky mountains Monday and Tuesday. We pulled a Cherokee Lite 28a loaded 7500lbs. I problems plenty of power going up the mountains. It gave us between 8-10 miles a gallon. After our trip I will list our true avg.

[pnwbrg]

Had a 2007 Expedition when we got our 2102W Windjammer and it towed well except for gas mileage no complaints. We towed through the Smokies quite a bit and it worked well.

[yogi1944]

I towed a 7k trailer with a 2006 Expedition and would not recommend it.
It had trouble going through Kentucky and Tennessee. I just bought a 2014 F150 and what a difference it made. We had no trouble. It was like it was on flat ground. The F150 is the v6 egoboost max towing 11.3k.
Have a great time.