Looking at a possible purchase and any input from the groupTrailer is a Grand Design xls 22 rbe 4997 dry weight498 hitch weight6500 gvrw26 ft longLooking to pull it with 2018 Ford Expedition 3.5 v6 EcoBoost 9200 lb towing capacityLooks to me to be well within safety specs What would also be the best hitch for this do you all thinkThanks for any help

How many bodies in the X? Remember, everything you add to the base model reduces its towing capacity. You never mentioned its GCWR either.6500 GVWR is pretty light for the trailer, but you still will have around 900 pounds hitch weight. Does the Expo have that much capacity once you have family and stuff on board?

2 people in the exp. xlt model. Light travelers looking at some boondocking10 percent tongue weight should be at most 650 lbs shouldn’t it?

Figure closer to 13-15% tongue weight, 10% is the minimum to be safe but most will be heavier by design and will tow better with more tongue weight. I know my trailer is designed to be right around 10% when empty but most storage other than water is forward of the axle and so tongue percentage is higher, and it actually tows better the more loaded it gets.

I just did a very quick internet search for your intended trailer and tow vehicle. Trailer is nice. I think you'll enjoy it.But I was taken back when I hit the first dealership that had s 2018 Ford Expedition with a 3.5 v6 EcoBoost and the listed "internet" price is $53,915.Click here.Personally, I think the vehicle is not hefty enough, but that's another issue. What I'm suggesting is, for $53,915 you could easily go just a little bit more and get a Ram 2500 crew cab truck that would serve well for years and years and never, ever have to guess, "is this truck able to tow this trailer?" $54,995. Click here.Think about it!

Do you really need want an Expedition? A nicely equipped 2500 series gas motor truck might serve you as well. Add a nice color matched canopy and it ends up looking like a Exp. This time of year you should be seeing some really attractive prices.We towed with a E350 Ford van. Could pull a mountain but could not pass up a gas station. A Eco Boost Exop might be lucky to get 10 MPG overall. Those rigs can be real heavy for such a small motor. A 2500 series pickup with a reasonable sized V8 could pull more, better with equal fuel economy, and give you room to grow. Remember, if your in the valley, any direction you go will be up hill.

Travel trailer / tow vehicle combo question | Good Sam Community

64 Replies

Mickeyfan0805
Explorer
Dec 18, 2018
Firetraveler wrote:
OP here

Just to update everyone we have decided against this tow setup. I appreciate all of the help, and we are going to a light weight 5th wheel and 3/4 ton truck.

I feel the expy could pull the trailer but no room left over.

Safe travels everyone

An extraordinarily reasonable conclusion found amidst a bunch of crazy antics. Well done and good luck!
Grit_dog
Navigator II
Dec 18, 2018
Ha, OP got so tired of the bickering he bought a completely different setup!!
Lol
drsteve
Explorer
Dec 18, 2018
BarneyS wrote:
I give up! I'm done with this one.
Barney

X2
Firetraveler
Explorer
Dec 18, 2018
OP here

Just to update everyone we have decided against this tow setup. I appreciate all of the help, and we are going to a light weight 5th wheel and 3/4 ton truck.

I feel the expy could pull the trailer but no room left over.

Safe travels everyone
BarneyS
Explorer III
Dec 18, 2018
I give up! I'm done with this one.
Barney
Huntindog
Explorer
Dec 18, 2018
valhalla360 wrote:
rjstractor wrote:

Yet another important factor is that if the WD hitch is adjusted correctly, the entire hitch weight is not carried by the vehicle alone- a portion of that hitch weight is transferred back onto the trailer axles.

This is incorrect.

A WD hitch does not transfer weight to the trailer axles.

What it does do is shift some of the hitch weight from the rear axle to the front axle.
Ummm. Run your rig across the scales. Get axle by axle weights, with and without WD.

Then get back to us.
valhalla360
Navigator
Dec 18, 2018
BarneyS wrote:
Valhalla,
What do you think happens when you draw up the chains and apply WD to the hitch? Do they not pull down on the A frame? If so, where does that "pulling down" force go if not back to the trailer axles?

As I said, the Hitch Weight is the combined result of the two forces. It's already accounted for.

In addition you posted:
There is an upward force on the socket the ball goes into and and a downward force there the bar is connect at the back of the "A" frame. The addition of those two forces (subtraction in reality) is the hitch weight as the result is the force pushing down on the truck. . (my bold)

The thing you are forgetting in your description is you are not accounting for the force (weight) leveraged off of the front axle when the trailer tongue is dropped on the ball. Where do you think that weight goes?
Barney

The leverage from a non-WD hitch transfers weight from the front axle to the rear axle of the truck. It doesn't transfer to or away from the trailer.

Where you are getting confused is WD Hitches typically carry higher hitch weights...of course if you increase the hitch weight, it takes load off the trailer axles (all else being the same).
BarneyS
Explorer III
Dec 17, 2018
Valhalla,
What do you think happens when you draw up the chains and apply WD to the hitch? Do they not pull down on the A frame? If so, where does that "pulling down" force go if not back to the trailer axles?

In addition you posted:
There is an upward force on the socket the ball goes into and and a downward force there the bar is connect at the back of the "A" frame. The addition of those two forces (subtraction in reality) is the hitch weight as the result is the force pushing down on the truck. . (my bold)

The thing you are forgetting in your description is you are not accounting for the force (weight) leveraged off of the front axle when the trailer tongue is dropped on the ball. Where do you think that weight goes?
Barney
valhalla360
Navigator
Dec 17, 2018
BarneyS wrote:
Valhalla,
You really need to study that linked sticky thread carefully! Your last statement is completely wrong.
Barney

No you need to read my comment.

If the hitch weight is unchanged, the weight on the trailer wheels is unchanged.
drsteve
Explorer
Dec 16, 2018
BarneyS wrote:
Valhalla,
You really need to study that linked sticky thread carefully!
Barney

Lots of people know how to set up their WD hitch, and how to dial it in so it works perfectly. But few understand the actual physics behind it.