I have ordered a 2014 4x4 Ford Expedition with the heavy duty towing package, 15000 lbs GCWR, towing capacity of 9000 lbs. and a rear axle ratio of 3.73. I don't have the vehicle yet so don't know what its curb weight or axle weights are, Ford list the curb weight at around 5672 lbs. and I am thinking 6000 lbs with my wife and I aboard. I have already purchased a Propride 3P hitch recommended by a friend that has one. I am looking at a Flagstaff 831RLBSS that has a dry weight of 7100 lbs and GVWR of 8400 lbs, hitch weight 815 lbs. Also looking at a Salem Hemisphere,hitch weight 845 lbs. and dry weight of 7100 lbs. GVWR TBD but cargo weigh is 2300 lbs. I do not have the room or desire to buy a truck.Just my wife and I will be travelling, i can conceive of putting more than 500-1000 lbs of cargo, not planning on dry camping so no intention of carrying much water.We started out looking smaller but these are the trailers we would like, just wanted to get some opinions as to how this looks to others, I have seen others towing a similar weighted Airstream and Sunnybrook on blogs here and am most interested in someone that has an Expedition to comment. Thanks!

I do not have the room or desire to buy a truck.???? You just did. An Expedition is basically an F150 with a permanent cap on the back, it's no smaller.

Expeditions are great at towing within their limitations, we use two of them.That said, one of the limitations is 900 pounds of tongue weight and both of the trailers you listed will be pushing that limit unloaded and exceeding it loaded. I would look for no more than 5500 pounds dry and 7000 pounds loaded.

Is the EXPY an EL? What I can tell you from experience is that you will be pushed around uncomfortably. That is a long trailer (and heavy) you will be at your limits ( you may be below the actual limits, but still not a safe ride) . The engine and trans will be fine. My TT is just about the exact same specs and after the first trip I was looking for another TV.

Thank you for the responses, the EXPY is not an EL....

I had a 2008 Expy 4x4. My trailer had a dry weight of 6800 lbs, loaded ready to go it came in at 7900 lbs. I could never get the Expy to settle down while pulling our TT. It always felt like it was being pushed around and struggled to make it up any significant incline. The Expy differs from an F150 in the rear suspension. It is a softer independent rear suspension vs a solid rear axle. I looked for an air bag system to try and stiffen it up but they do not make one. i also had a difficult time trying to find LT tires to fit the 20" rims. in the end we ended up with an Excursion and it a huge difference in my towing experience. IMO I would probably look at a 3/4 ton SUV if you are dead set on that trailer or maybe look at a smaller trailer if you really want the Expy.

2014 Ford Expedition Towing Capacity | Good Sam Community

islanders70
Explorer
Mar 21, 2014
Now starting to look at a Forest River 26RLWS. 5665 Dry, GVWR 6690. Even though I said I wouldn't, debating as to whether I should get a F-150 with 11,200 Tow rating and 1120 hitch weight. This is really hard!
DukeAJuke
Explorer
Mar 21, 2014
islanders70 wrote:
I have ordered a 2014 4x4 Ford Expedition with the heavy duty towing package, 15000 lbs GCWR, towing capacity of 9000 lbs. and a rear axle ratio of 3.73. I don't have the vehicle yet so don't know what its curb weight or axle weights are, Ford list the curb weight at around 5672 lbs. and I am thinking 6000 lbs with my wife and I aboard. I have already purchased a Propride 3P hitch recommended by a friend that has one.

I am looking at a Flagstaff 831RLBSS that has a dry weight of 7100 lbs and GVWR of 8400 lbs, hitch weight 815 lbs. Also looking at a Salem Hemisphere,hitch weight 845 lbs. and dry weight of 7100 lbs. GVWR TBD but cargo weigh is 2300 lbs. I do not have the room or desire to buy a truck.

Just my wife and I will be travelling, i can conceive of putting more than 500-1000 lbs of cargo, not planning on dry camping so no intention of carrying much water.

We started out looking smaller but these are the trailers we would like, just wanted to get some opinions as to how this looks to others, I have seen others towing a similar weighted Airstream and Sunnybrook on blogs here and am most interested in someone that has an Expedition to comment. Thanks!

That vehicle will tow that trailer just fine however, technically you will be over on your rated cargo capacity by as much as a quarter ton or so when you load up for camping. This usually is not a big deal as long as you know this ahead of time and drive slow and safely.
handye9
Explorer II
Mar 21, 2014
JJensen79 wrote:
I had a 2008 Expy 4x4. My trailer had a dry weight of 6800 lbs, loaded ready to go it came in at 7900 lbs. I could never get the Expy to settle down while pulling our TT. It always felt like it was being pushed around and struggled to make it up any significant incline. The Expy differs from an F150 in the rear suspension. It is a softer independent rear suspension vs a solid rear axle. I looked for an air bag system to try and stiffen it up but they do not make one. i also had a difficult time trying to find LT tires to fit the 20" rims. in the end we ended up with an Excursion and it a huge difference in my towing experience. IMO I would probably look at a 3/4 ton SUV if you are dead set on that trailer or maybe look at a smaller trailer if you really want the Expy.

Agreed. Either of those trailers, would be a lot for your Expedition to handle.

Gross weight of the Salem, is actually more than your tow capacity.

Loaded tongue weight of either trailer, will be pushing 1000 lbs. The Salem could hit 1100.

The Expy's payload could be as low as 1200 lbs. Out of that, you have to take 100 lbs for hitch weight, the weight of driver and passengers, any cargo in the Expy, and trailer tongue weight.

There is a general rule of thumb that is, trailer gross weight should not exceed 80% of tow capacity. There are several reasons for this. One of which is, it keeps tongue weight down to where it works in your payload.

With 9000 tow capacity, that 80% number would be 7200 lbs gross weight on the trailer. Gross weights on what you are looking at -- 8400 and 9400.

Something with dry weight between 5500 and 6000 lbs, would probably fit.
islanders70
Explorer
Mar 21, 2014
Good advice, thanks!
JJensen79
Explorer
Mar 21, 2014
I had a 2008 Expy 4x4. My trailer had a dry weight of 6800 lbs, loaded ready to go it came in at 7900 lbs. I could never get the Expy to settle down while pulling our TT. It always felt like it was being pushed around and struggled to make it up any significant incline. The Expy differs from an F150 in the rear suspension. It is a softer independent rear suspension vs a solid rear axle. I looked for an air bag system to try and stiffen it up but they do not make one. i also had a difficult time trying to find LT tires to fit the 20" rims. in the end we ended up with an Excursion and it a huge difference in my towing experience. IMO I would probably look at a 3/4 ton SUV if you are dead set on that trailer or maybe look at a smaller trailer if you really want the Expy.
islanders70
Explorer
Mar 21, 2014
Thank you for the responses, the EXPY is not an EL....
modern_family
Explorer
Mar 21, 2014
Is the EXPY an EL? What I can tell you from experience is that you will be pushed around uncomfortably. That is a long trailer (and heavy) you will be at your limits ( you may be below the actual limits, but still not a safe ride) . The engine and trans will be fine. My TT is just about the exact same specs and after the first trip I was looking for another TV.
JiminDenver
Explorer II
Mar 21, 2014
Expeditions are great at towing within their limitations, we use two of them.

That said, one of the limitations is 900 pounds of tongue weight and both of the trailers you listed will be pushing that limit unloaded and exceeding it loaded. I would look for no more than 5500 pounds dry and 7000 pounds loaded.
camp-n-family
Explorer
Mar 21, 2014
I do not have the room or desire to buy a truck.

???? You just did. An Expedition is basically an F150 with a permanent cap on the back, it's no smaller.

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