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PDX_Zs's avatar
PDX_Zs
Explorer
Mar 05, 2014

New to the forum. SUV towing questions

First off, thanks for this forum. I have learned a ton lurking here.

Everyone seems very friendly and helpful, so I figure no harm in putting my particular scenario out there.

I have been towing longer than I care to admit. Mostly experienced with heavy car haulers behind a 3/4 ton truck. Which is quite frankly as easy as falling off a log. My TT experience is limited. We had a smaller single axle unit last year. You all see where this is going???

My point is that I have always been well over gunned when towing. Kind of fun passing cars uphill in our V10 Ram while towing our other off-road rig on a car hauler.

So had to go the SUV route as we added people. Two adults and two kids. We have a 2006 Expedition with the tow package. I have added thicker sway bars front and rear. It is running LT tires on wheels that give about 3" more track. I have a tranny temp gauge installed and am kicking around a larger trans cooler, although it comes with one for the factory. Gears are 3.73 and tires are basically stock diameter.

Ford calls the curb weight at about 5,500 lbs.

From the Ford book...
4X4. 5.4L with optional trailer tow package
GCWR 14,500 Trailer weight 0–8,600
Weight Distribution
***These are hitch ratings only; actual vehicle ratings are dependent on
engine, transmission and axle combinations.***
Weight carrying
Max trailer weight 6,000 Max tounge weight 600
Weight distributing
Max trailer weight 8,950 Max tounge weight 895

OK, now I know you all are way smarter than me. I want to have some good reserve for safely in my capacities. Even though I went to public school my math is OK. But I wanted to ask you all to check my work. Please.

Looking at a Salem 26BH. Nice unit for four. They claim about 4750 dry, but we know how that goes.

So based on what we think we know about two adults, two kids, one big friendly dog, gear, food, clothes, toys, etc...

Does this seem like a reasonable and prudent setup? Remember want to be conservative.

What do you all think?
  • handye9's avatar
    handye9
    Explorer II
    Mar 05, 2014
    PDX.Zs wrote:

    Ford calls the curb weight at about 5,500 lbs.

    From the Ford book...
    4X4. 5.4L with optional trailer tow package
    GCWR 14,500 Trailer weight 0–8,600
    Weight Distribution
    ***These are hitch ratings only; actual vehicle ratings are dependent on
    engine, transmission and axle combinations.***
    Weight carrying
    Max trailer weight 6,000 Max tounge weight 600
    Weight distributing
    Max trailer weight 8,950 Max tounge weight 895

    What do you all think?



    Forget about the 8950 max tow weight, it's not a realistic number. You will exceed payload and GVWR on tow vehicle, before you get close to 8950 trailer weight. Also, towing a travel trailer is a different animal, compared to a car hauler. It has much more wind resistance on all sides.

    Add the weight of your family, plus the weight of any cargo you may put in / or on the tow vehicle, plus 100 lbs for a WD hitch, plus the 5500 lbs curb weight. Subtract that total weight, from your GVWR, as printed on drivers door post sticker. The result will be your payload available for trailer tongue weight.

    Divide available payload by .12, and that will tell you max loaded trailer weight. That is the point where you will be maxed out on GVWR and payload. If you want a comfort zone, subtract 150 - 200 lbs from the available payload, prior to calculating max trailer weight.

    Example:

    Lets say your GVWR is 7200 lbs.

    Your curb weight plus cargo, plus family, plus WD hitch, add up to 6400 lbs.

    Available payload would be 800 lbs.

    800 lbs divided by .12 = loaded trailer weight should not exceed 6666 lbs. This is the point where GVWR and payload are maxed out.

    For comfort zone - subtract 200 from that 800 available payload.

    600 lbs divided by .12 = 5000 lbs loaded trailer weight.

    You will need to decide how much comfort zone is good for you. I can tell you, from experience, towing at or near max weight, is not a pleasant ride, even on a nice day. Windy days can be very unpleasant.
  • PDX_Zs's avatar
    PDX_Zs
    Explorer
    Mar 05, 2014
    Gman22 wrote:
    2006 Expy here as well w/ OEM tow group. LTs are a good move, with proper attention to hitching I think you'll have a good setup.

    Ignore your fantasy tow rating and watch the 900 lb tongue weight limit and scale regular to stay within the 4100 lb. RAWR, that will get you first.


    What are you towing? What sway control are you using? Thanks, eh!
  • Gman22's avatar
    Gman22
    Explorer
    Mar 05, 2014
    2006 Expy here as well w/ OEM tow group. LTs are a good move, with proper attention to hitching I think you'll have a good setup.

    Ignore your fantasy tow rating and watch the 900 lb tongue weight limit and scale regular to stay within the 4100 lb. RAWR, that will get you first.
  • Mickeyfan0805's avatar
    Mickeyfan0805
    Explorer
    Mar 05, 2014
    Spent a lot of time looking at Expeditions when we were entering the camping life. You likely have 1,400 pounds, or so, of payload available. This is probably your only area of concern. Without knowing exact weight of your family and dog, it is hard, but you could look at it something like this...

    Available payload - 1,400
    Family (if they are young, don't forget to given them room to grow) - 550
    Large Dog with crate - 100
    Misc books, gear and snacks - 50
    WD hitch - 75
    Tongue Weight (assuming roughly 6k loaded at 12.5%) - 750

    This would put you overloaded by 125 pounds.

    Now, there are some caveats:
    -SOME of your tongue weight, if set up correctly, should be transferred to your TT tires, reducing the impact on the payload by 100 pounds or so
    -You MAY have more than 1,400 pounds available, but likely not much
    -Your family and/or dog weights may be lower than listed.

    In other words, yes, it IS possible, and you can probably stay near, or just below, your GVWR. However, you will need to pack the Expedition very light, keep fluids in the trailer at a minimum, pack the trailer carefully, and watch your tongue weight diligently to do so. Only you can decide if that is a scenario with which you are comfortable.
  • ependydad's avatar
    ependydad
    Explorer
    Mar 05, 2014
    IMO, if you want to be conservative- that says staying within all of your ratings. That means, you'll run out of GVWR long before GCWR/maximum towing capacity.

    I have a couple of tools that will help:
    1) Get a feel for what your actual payload capacity is:
    http://www.towingplanner.com/Calculators/TowingPayloadEstimate

    2) Then, get a feel for what real-world tongue weight may be by using the dry weights of the Salem and extrapolating from there:
    http://www.towingplanner.com/Estimators/TonguePinWeightFromDry

    Good luck!
  • azrving's avatar
    azrving
    Explorer
    Mar 05, 2014
    I think you are ok but I wouldn't load it to the max. I have a half ton Chevy pickup with tow rating of 9600 and pull a TT loaded at 4800 and the truck carry capacity is near the 1600 limit (500 Tongue weight, cap, tools, battery, etc). I could go 1000 pounds more total but that would be my limit. It also depends on where a guy is going. Its one thing to be local as compared to hating towing mile after mile as you cross the country.
  • ChooChooMan74's avatar
    ChooChooMan74
    Explorer
    Mar 05, 2014
    Sounds like you are doing your homework. TO me, looks like it should work. I think it will be close with the Tongue Weight and The family on the TV GVW, but what is a few pounds between friends.

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