I have finally found what appears to be the perfect trailer, a Keystone Outback 301QB, until I looked at the weight 7k empty with 2k capacity. The main selling point is the bedroom. I am 6'7" and all the TTs with the bedroom in the front have a 74" mattress with 6" clearance between the mattress and the wall at the foot of the bed. This trailer appears to have 3'+ at the foot when the slide is out and it gives us more privacy than a curtain from the rest of the trailer and our kids. I have a 2007 Ford Expedition EL 4x4 with a tow rating of 9100-8900 lbs depending on where you look. I know I have to have a WD hitch with sway control. I don't do any boondocking so I won't be traveling with very much water (enough to flush the toilet a few times). I have towed many trailers ranging from jet ski to a large 14k lbs deckover steel trailer so I can maneuver a large trailer without much of an issue. Is there anything I can do to help my TV? I plan on putting an oversize trans oil pan on it and a scangaugeII or other programmer for trans temp.

Like they say, take it to the scales. TT advertised weight might be a bit off.My TT advertised is 3600# scale says 4100#.

You may not like the performance of the old 5.4 toing 9,000 lb. and remember all weight being carried in the tow vehicle ALSO counts against the tow rating. You will no doubt be well over your rating but at least it MAY not be over on a safety number. It all depends on the tongue weight of the fully loaded trailer (not the meaningless brochure weight) plus the weight of passengers, cargo etc. because those weights all count toward PAYLOAD numbers also.Good luck / Skip

You are in 3/4 ton territory here. At 6'-7" there is no point telling you to look at light weight trailers, most of them have interior heights less than 6'-7".

aarond76 wrote:You are in 3/4 ton territory here. At 6'-7" there is no point telling you to look at light weight trailers, most of them have interior heights less than 6'-7".I don't have an issue in the newer trailers that have the arched ceiling, I do hit my head in the older flat ceiling ones.

What is your GCWR? What is your GVWR? Curb Weight of your Expedition? How many people will be going with you (Include Scruffy if he goes)? How much gear will you put in the Expedition (not trailer)? GFAWR? GRAWR? Your payload is 1745# from what I could find online and your weight of the expedition is 6155#. However, your towing capacity is 8750#. (not as much with 4X4) With those other weights you can determine safe towing weights.

Too much trailer for my TV? | Good Sam Community

ficksters
Explorer
Nov 11, 2013
ficksters wrote:
tkoden wrote:
ficksters wrote:
tkoden wrote:
Dog Folks wrote:
Use a premium hitch with built in sway control to keep the tail form wagging the dog. (Trailer wagging the TV) You won't regret it.

I definitely plan on putting out some serious money on a hitch and brake controller. Any recommendations?

How much you looking to spend on the hitch/brake controller?

I figure a prodigy controller is about $140 with harness and probably around $500 for a hitch.

I would say spend the extra couple hundred bucks and get the Equalizer 4 Point Sway WDH that is rated at 12000#. It should be around 6-700 I am guessing. I worked mine in with the deal on my trailer. If your Expy doesnt have integrated Brake Controller I would recommend the Tekonsha P3. I opted for the cheaper Primus and will be upgrading to the Tekonsha. (around $150)

The reason I ask, is because you can spend 2-3K on a hensley arrow or ProPride hitch.
ficksters
Explorer
Nov 11, 2013
tkoden wrote:
ficksters wrote:
tkoden wrote:
Dog Folks wrote:
Use a premium hitch with built in sway control to keep the tail form wagging the dog. (Trailer wagging the TV) You won't regret it.

I definitely plan on putting out some serious money on a hitch and brake controller. Any recommendations?

How much you looking to spend on the hitch/brake controller?

I figure a prodigy controller is about $140 with harness and probably around $500 for a hitch.

I would say spend the extra couple hundred bucks and get the Equalizer 4 Point Sway WDH that is rated at 12000#. It should be around 6-700 I am guessing. I worked mine in with the deal on my trailer. If your Expy doesnt have integrated Brake Controller I would recommend the Tekonsha P3. I opted for the cheaper Primus and will be upgrading to the Tekonsha. (around $150)
tkoden
Explorer
Nov 11, 2013
ficksters wrote:
tkoden wrote:
Dog Folks wrote:
Use a premium hitch with built in sway control to keep the tail form wagging the dog. (Trailer wagging the TV) You won't regret it.

I definitely plan on putting out some serious money on a hitch and brake controller. Any recommendations?

How much you looking to spend on the hitch/brake controller?

I figure a prodigy controller is about $140 with harness and probably around $500 for a hitch.
tkoden
Explorer
Nov 11, 2013
APT wrote:
I have always liked that TT floorplan as well. And I like this Diamond pacakge now! I believe your issues will be receiver weight limit, payload, and rear axle weight. At 7k dry, 790 dry TW, that ill be 8500 loaded with 1000 pounds of loaded TW. Your receiver is only rated to about 900 pounds and I do not believe there are any aftermarket ones for current Expy, same as current GM SUVs too. Next payload, 1000 pounds of TW takes up much of your payload. I doubt you have 1700 pounds, 1500 more likely. Take off 1000 pounds of the hitch and how much does your family weigh? Confirm with this sticker on your driver's door or door jam where it lists max weight of occupants and cargo:

Last, rear axle weight. Expy owners with heavier TTs say their rear axle weight is a little low at/near GVWR with a TT.

Are you willing to upgrade the TV first?

Unfortunately from what I have seen, they don't make a TV that can haul 6 people and tow more than an expedition does. I am really hoping the 2015 model will be able to handle 10 or 11k like the new F150s can do.
APT
Explorer
Nov 11, 2013
I have always liked that TT floorplan as well. And I like this Diamond pacakge now! I believe your issues will be receiver weight limit, payload, and rear axle weight. At 7k dry, 790 dry TW, that ill be 8500 loaded with 1000 pounds of loaded TW. Your receiver is only rated to about 900 pounds and I do not believe there are any aftermarket ones for current Expy, same as current GM SUVs too. Next payload, 1000 pounds of TW takes up much of your payload. I doubt you have 1700 pounds, 1500 more likely. Take off 1000 pounds of the hitch and how much does your family weigh? Confirm with this sticker on your driver's door or door jam where it lists max weight of occupants and cargo:

Last, rear axle weight. Expy owners with heavier TTs say their rear axle weight is a little low at/near GVWR with a TT.

Are you willing to upgrade the TV first?
ficksters
Explorer
Nov 11, 2013
tkoden wrote:
Dog Folks wrote:
Use a premium hitch with built in sway control to keep the tail form wagging the dog. (Trailer wagging the TV) You won't regret it.

I definitely plan on putting out some serious money on a hitch and brake controller. Any recommendations?

How much you looking to spend on the hitch/brake controller?
Heavy_Metal_Doc
Explorer
Nov 11, 2013
Our TV wight limit was similar. We ended up trying to stay well under 7K with a goal of 6K dry -- knowing we would add 1K in gear / supplies and ultimately trying to stay well under our TV limits.
We ended up with a Passport series TT.

You already looking at the same base MFR - just try the lightweight series of trailers.

Try this:
http://www.keystonerv.com/passport/
tkoden
Explorer
Nov 11, 2013
Dog Folks wrote:
Use a premium hitch with built in sway control to keep the tail form wagging the dog. (Trailer wagging the TV) You won't regret it.

I definitely plan on putting out some serious money on a hitch and brake controller. Any recommendations?
tkoden
Explorer
Nov 11, 2013
ficksters wrote:
What is your GCWR? What is your GVWR? Curb Weight of your Expedition? How many people will be going with you (Include Scruffy if he goes)? How much gear will you put in the Expedition (not trailer)? GFAWR? GRAWR?

Your payload is 1745# from what I could find online and your weight of the expedition is 6155#. However, your towing capacity is 8750#. (not as much with 4X4) With those other weights you can determine safe towing weights.

I will check into these numbers. They will be on the doorjam of the vehicle right? As for weight in the TV, I would say close to 1200 lbs with scruffy(150lb rott). I don't see any reason to put any more weight in the TV than you have to.
Dog_Folks
Explorer
Nov 11, 2013
Use a premium hitch with built in sway control to keep the tail form wagging the dog. (Trailer wagging the TV) You won't regret it.

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