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.
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.
