How big of a TT can an Expedition safely handle?

We have been researching bunkhouse style TT's for awhile now and are ready to purchase. Our TV will be my 2013 Expedition EL with HD tow package with max of 9200lbs/920 tongue. The most limiting factor is my 1502 payload. We have two children and will be using this TT for horse shows. Tack will primarily be loaded in the trailer with the horses so we'll just be adding clothes and food for about 3 days, paper plates, plastic cups, utensils etc so I don't think I'll be adding much weight, might occasionally have to fill water, and will have weight of batteries and at some point in the future a generator. We will use a WD hitch with sway control. I am worried about weight and the length as I've read the "rule of thumb" which puts us safely at 25' with the EL's 131" wheelbase. Is that the box or hitch to bumper 25'? I ran the TV's actual numbers on the changinggears calculator and figuring a 12% tongue weight it put loaded trailer max at 7077/ tongue 920 and with a 20% safety cushion 5662/tongue 736.
Passport has two models the 2810BH (5145/565) and 2920BH (5385/625) that would meet our needs and be within our weight/tongue range. My concern is the length. The 2810 is tip to tip 31'10" and the other 32'10". Is this too long or manageable because of the lower weight? We also like the Salem Cruise Lite 272QB which is heavier and has a tongue weight of 735, the one on the lot is 5883 dry, length 32'10". Also considering a Jayco 26BHS which shows 5470/675, though it's been our experience the Jayco's tend to leave the factory about 400lbs heavier than the stated dry weight because of options. This one is 29'11" hitch to bumper. Are any of these feasible? Short of a hybrid expandable which my husband refuses to consider I can't sleep all of us ( would prefer not to use dinette or couch) in 25', the closest is a less than ideal master situation in the Jay Feather X254 @ 27'4". I'd love opinions from others on what I can safely tow, particularly from other Expy owners. All the numbers get mind boggling to a newbie and after visiting the three local RV dealers each time we were told we could haul things I know we have no business even looking at. Sorry so long, thank you in advance for input/opinions.

18 Replies

Ron_Gratz
Explorer
Jul 29, 2014
handye9 wrote:
1502 - (400+100+100) = 902 lbs available payload

902 / .13 = 6938 lbs loaded trailer
Since you're allowing for the weight of the WDH, you might as well use the WDH for its intended purpose.

The purpose of a WDH is to remove load from the TV's rear axle and transfer some of that removed load to the TV's front axle and some to the TT's axles.

A properly sized and adjusted WHD can transfer a load equal to approximately 25% of tongue weight to the TT's axles.
That means, with WD applied, the vertical load imposed on the TV is not equal to the tongue weight.
With WD applied, the vertical load imposed on the TV is equal to approximately 75% of the tongue weight.

Therefore, for the above example, the maximum allowable tongue weight -- based on payload -- would be 902/0.75 = 1203#.
The corresponding maximum allowable trailer weight (assuming 13% TW%) would be 1203/0.13 = 9254#.

But, the OP's Expediton has a receiver tongue weight limitation of 920#.
Therefore, for the above example, it is the receiver capacity rather than payload capacity which limits the maximum allowable trailer weight.
Assuming 13% TW%, the trailer could weigh 920/0.13 = 7077#.

In this case, the difference between 7077# and 6938# is not huge.
OTOH, if the "available payload" had turned out to be 800# instead of 902#, properly accounting for load distribution to the trailer axles would allow the calculated trailer weight to be 7077# versus 6154#.

Ron
APT
Explorer
Jul 29, 2014
There are people comfortably towing 35-37' 8000-1000 pound TTs with 130" wheelbase 3/4 ton SUVs. While they may have premium hitches, they are still comfortable. Length is not enough of a factor given the weigh limits of 6k dry.
horseshowmomma
Explorer
Jul 28, 2014
Probably at the top of our list is the 2015 Jay Flight 26BHS (unfortunately not one on lot to see in person) which is shorter than others and meets our needs, has options for a sofa sleeper and outdoor mini fridge which we'd get and also the enclosed underbelly for late fall/ early spring shows. Bath and bunks are flipped from Cruise Lite 262BH that has an outside door in the bathroom which would be nice, but of all the brands we've been in, that have models within our desired weights, hubby just likes the Jaycos the best.
horseshowmomma
Explorer
Jul 28, 2014
Heavy Metal Doctor wrote:
What features are pushing you to 28 / 30 footers? I have a 31 footer (35 w/tongue) and have found a few spots that make me appreciate the value of a shorter TT. I deal with the length because the unit has all the comforts to make any stay anywhere relaxing to us - which is the point for us. If I where "event camping" as you describe, where the TT is more a place to crash at the end of a busy event day, then I'd be more inclined to have less amenities / extras (extra space) in my TT and keep it as easy to tow / park as possible.

Just a some food for thought, here's one with 2 bunks for the kids that's under 25' (maybe 26/27 w/tongue) and just might be light enough to not even need WDH:

http://www.forestriverinc.com/TravelTrailers/MicroLite/default.aspx?page=floorplandetails&floorplanid=2992

I actually showed the 25BHS you mentioned to my husband a couple weeks ago and it was eliminated because of the Murphy bed. He definitely wants a separate bedroom and prefers plans with a dinette and couch as opposed to large dinette. Chances are we will have extra kids sleeping in our trailer who are traveling without parents so quad bunks or double bunks would be nice to sleep 4 without turning the couch or dinette into beds. A slide is a must for us because my kitchen will probably be feeding the group and even if I kick them outside to eat, it will get busy with everyone coming in. Horse shows tend to be a lot of hurry up and wait, classes at different times etc so chances are people will be coming and going to grab snacks, use the bathroom, watch tv or just get in out of the heat/cold throughout the day. Hubby wanting a couch to have while the kids take over the dinette really limits my options in the shorter models.
handye9
Explorer II
Jul 28, 2014
Easy way to calculate max trailer weight. Add up weight of family, gear to be carried in or on tow vehicle, and 100 lbs for a WD hitch. Subtract that weight from your payload. What is left is available payload for the trailer. Then divide your available payload by .13. The result is max loaded trailer weight.

Example:

1502 payload

400 lbs family
100 lbs cargo
100 lbs hitch

1502 - (400+100+100) = 902 lbs available payload

902 / .13 = 6938 lbs loaded trailer
SprinklerMan
Explorer
Jul 28, 2014
If you have a older expedition , you may want to crawl under and look at the trailing arms on the rear axle . My neighbor drove out of his driveway and one broke , it was rusted , so was the other but , only one broke . He had a 2006 and the rust was only on the trailing arms everything else was fine . He was just lucky it happened there and not driving down the road .
therink
Explorer
Jul 28, 2014
My take is that if you stick with a trailer with a loaded tongue weight under 1000 using a good well adjusted WD hitch, you will be ok. Remember that the optimal tongue weight to minimize sway potential is 13 percent of loaded travel trailer. A trailer with 7000 gvwr will likely have a loaded hitch weight of around 900 to 1000 lbs. Therefore, the consensus of a 7000 lb or less loaded trailer seems fitting for your TV.
Heavy_Metal_Doc
Explorer
Jul 28, 2014
What features are pushing you to 28 / 30 footers? I have a 31 footer (35 w/tongue) and have found a few spots that make me appreciate the value of a shorter TT. I deal with the length because the unit has all the comforts to make any stay anywhere relaxing to us - which is the point for us. If I where "event camping" as you describe, where the TT is more a place to crash at the end of a busy event day, then I'd be more inclined to have less amenities / extras (extra space) in my TT and keep it as easy to tow / park as possible.

Just a some food for thought, here's one with 2 bunks for the kids that's under 25' (maybe 26/27 w/tongue) and just might be light enough to not even need WDH:

http://www.forestriverinc.com/TravelTrailers/MicroLite/default.aspx?page=floorplandetails&floorplanid=2992
bobbyg123
Explorer
Jul 28, 2014
I'm not an Expy owner, but I face similar challenges with my F150. My truck is rated to tow 9200lbs, but my available payload is around 1600lbs. I've been towing a 32' 6500lb (loaded) trailer for 6 years without any issues, but I'm moving up to a 35', 7000lb trailer. Assuming the hitch weight will be around 850lbs, I'll need to carefully monitor my payload.

You'll get a lot of doom and gloom from some people on here, but my take is this...if you stay below all of your critical numbers and drive cautiously (60MPH tops), you'll be just fine. Keep your tow vehicle and trailer well maintained, especially the brakes and tires. Make sure your brake controller is set up and functioning as intended. If the weather is iffy, if the winds are high, slow down. It's all good. :)
BubbaChris
Explorer
Jul 28, 2014
I have the same basic Expy as you. My trailer has a 25' box and is about 30' overall (actually a bit longer with the rear platform pulled out). We had our rig weighed back in April and loaded for travel was 6,200 lbs.

Our Expedition has the power to get us where we want, but I have to be willing to shift down and let the RPMs do the job (e.g. 6-8% grade climbing up to 8,000' elevation I was in 2nd doing 40 MPH).

I'm light on tongue weight and I'm using an Andersen WD hitch. We currently have issues with sway above 60 MPH. I need to see if changing tongue weight is my issue, or if I need a different WD hitch system.