Hi, thanks for reading this.I'm new here and to TTs.I'm looking at buying a TT very soon. We are going to live in it in our driveway for two to three months while we do renovations to our house. After that we (wife, kid 1, kid 2, kid that's on the way and myself) will be using it to go camping.We are also looking at buying a new SUV. We have a growing family and need a bigger SUV (currently own an Explorer). We like Ford products so we are thinking of the 2016 Expedition with HD tow package (or a Navigator). However we are still open to suggestions. It does have to be an SUV though.I (like a few others) only looked at TV max towing capacity and TT weight while shopping. I didn't consider other factors in this.I'm fortunate that I haven't purchased anything yet. I had a list of about 4 or 5 models that I was really considering, I'm glad I found this forum or I could have been in a bit of trouble.I should note, that I have read a post, which is very very similar to what I'm asking: ***Link Removed***. Requests: My wife would like something as long (big) as we can get while still towing with an SUV (most likely the Expedition). She'd like a bunkhouse that has a door (for the kids). I'd like an outside kitchen. Outdoor shower. 'Extended season'.Any ideas on any models we could consider? Any other factors I'm missing? Is weight the main deciding factor or does length have a lot to do as well. Sway etc.. Not sure if it matters or not, but we live in Los Angeles. Thanks again,ShawnTL;DR Looking for 'biggest' TT that can be towed with large SUV, most likely 2016 Expedition.

My sister and brother in law have 3 kids and a 2015 Expedition 3.5 EL. I think the official tow capacity is 9200 or something but you can't realistically go that heavy when you factor in the axle and payload ratings. Their trailer weighs 6k gross and is 27' long and I don't think you want to go any bigger with that tow vehicle and a family of five. Their trailer actually has a quad bunkhouse up front and a rear queen that slides out of the back so it's reasonably comfortable for the five of them. However there is no side slide so it's kind of tight inside, it has very low ceilings and very little ground clearance. Go drive a heavy duty crew cab pickup, or at least give it some thought. We also have three kids and fit really well in it, and all you really give up is that third row. If you need extra covered storage a canopy is always an option, or it also opens up the possibility of fifth wheels either now or in the future. The towing experience even with a larger trailer (or especially a fifth wheel) is far better compared to a half ton SUV, and it opens up way more options that may make your wife a lot more willing to use it frequently. I had a longer version of this same conversation with my sister/BIL before they bought their Expedition and they obviously blew it off, but I think it warrants consideration.

IdaD wrote:Go drive a heavy duty crew cab pickup, or at least give it some thought. We also have three kids and fit really well in it, and all you really give up is that third row. If you need extra covered storage a canopy is always an option, or it also opens up the possibility of fifth wheels either now or in the future. The towing experience even with a larger trailer (or especially a fifth wheel) is far better compared to a half ton SUV, and it opens up way more options that may make your wife a lot more willing to use it frequently. I had a longer version of this same conversation with my sister/BIL before they bought their Expedition and they obviously blew it off, but I think it warrants consideration.+1. You aren't realistically going to safely tow anything that will house a family of 5 in comfort with an SUV. To meet safety margins, you will have to settle for substantially less TT unless you get a 3/4 ton pickup.

Check out the KZ Spree 240bhs--it has beds for 5 with a max weight of 6500lb, which should give you about 800lb on the hitch.When looking at SUVs, you want the maximum payload (yellow sticker on the driver's door frame) that you can find. I bought a 2015 Expedition without knowing to look for it, and mine only has 1364lb payload, which really limited my options. I still went with the Spree, but I'm closer to my limits than I would like.

IdaD wrote:My sister and brother in law have 3 kids and a 2015 Expedition 3.5 EL. I think the official tow capacity is 9200 or something but you can't realistically go that heavy when you factor in the axle and payload ratings. Their trailer weighs 6k gross and is 27' long and I don't think you want to go any bigger with that tow vehicle and a family of five. Their trailer actually has a quad bunkhouse up front and a rear queen that slides out of the back so it's reasonably comfortable for the five of them. However there is no side slide so it's kind of tight inside, it has very low ceilings and very little ground clearance. Go drive a heavy duty crew cab pickup, or at least give it some thought. We also have three kids and fit really well in it, and all you really give up is that third row. If you need extra covered storage a canopy is always an option, or it also opens up the possibility of fifth wheels either now or in the future. The towing experience even with a larger trailer (or especially a fifth wheel) is far better compared to a half ton SUV, and it opens up way more options that may make your wife a lot more willing to use it frequently. I had a longer version of this same conversation with my sister/BIL before they bought their Expedition and they obviously blew it off, but I think it warrants consideration.(Sorry if I didn't quote properly, new on this forum)We do need the third row. Our children are younger (all in car seats) and we frequently either have my father or my mother visiting from out of town. If we end up using the trailer enough, I'd buy a truck for it (can't do it at the moment though). I'm going to keep researching and I'll try to find something that I think could work and post a follow up.Thanks.Shawn

I have an Expedition and the third row seating and while it is a great vehicle the only way I would tow a trailer that weighed more than 6500 gross, (5000 dry), is if the Expy was empty other than me. Sorta defeats the purpose unless you just want it for a people mover when not towing.SUVs by their nature are softly sprung so they can haul people comfortably. They used to make some with heavier suspensions,(3/4 ton), but I don't believe they do any longer.For the size trailer you want that will be comfortable to live in for a couple months you need a minimum 3/4 ton tow vehicle. And remember that all the things they do to make a trailer robust and sturdy are HEAVY. Ultra-light trailers are trading sturdy materials for size.

Travel Trailer and SUV (yes another thread on this)

22 Replies

Andy_F
Explorer
Jul 13, 2016
Right with you DavidP!

We've done two trips to Yellowstone, 1 trip to Florida, and we leave for South Dakota and the Black Hills this Friday. Great 1/2 ton SUV towing experience with the proper set up.
DavidP
Explorer
Jul 13, 2016
I tow a 29 ft. trailer (35 ft. when rear slide is open) with two slides that weighs 6400 lbs. loaded with 900-950 on the tongue. The truck is a Nissan Armada 5.6 Liter V8 with over 300 HP and 385 lbs. torque. No shortage of power/torque and I tow heavily in the NC mountains as well long trips to Florida the past 7 years. My Payload is 1600 and max tow capacity is 9200. We are a family of 4 and I am under my trucks limits in all capacities when towing. I have towed with it since 2005 and currently have 110k on the ODO. I don’t post much on this topic since many just bash folks towing safely with SUVS who in many cases have no idea of the trucks specs/capacities. I’m here to state it is a misconception to say you cannot tow a substantial trailer with a ½ ton or ½ ton SUV…..you can. There are several very robust and capable ½ ton SUV’s that will match a trailer for your family. Stay within the limits and go camp.
Andy_F
Explorer
Jul 13, 2016
JoeTampa wrote:
IdaD wrote:

Go drive a heavy duty crew cab pickup, or at least give it some thought. We also have three kids and fit really well in it, and all you really give up is that third row. If you need extra covered storage a canopy is always an option, or it also opens up the possibility of fifth wheels either now or in the future. The towing experience even with a larger trailer (or especially a fifth wheel) is far better compared to a half ton SUV, and it opens up way more options that may make your wife a lot more willing to use it frequently. I had a longer version of this same conversation with my sister/BIL before they bought their Expedition and they obviously blew it off, but I think it warrants consideration.

+1. You aren't realistically going to safely tow anything that will house a family of 5 in comfort with an SUV. To meet safety margins, you will have to settle for substantially less TT unless you get a 3/4 ton pickup.

We are living proof this is misinformation......Thanks for the PM Shawn, I sent you a lengthy reply detailing our great 1/2 ton SUV towing experience.
APT
Explorer
Jul 13, 2016
Simply, to get all the things your wife wants is likely not going to tow well with a half ton SUV. That's 6500-8500 pounds dry, or 7500-10k loaded with 950-1300 pounds of TW. No SUV after 2006 has a receiver limit over 1000 pounds and they all cannot be replaced/upgraded. So much for 9000+ tow ratings, at least for large families and RVs.

The practical limits for towing with half ton SUVs while carrying a larger family are payload and receiver rating. Most half tons have 1300-1500 pounds of payload. Subtract the weight of family and some things to occupy travel time and the rest can be used for trailer TW. Your children are little for now, even with child seats under 100 pounds each. You and wife, say it all adds up to 600 pounds. That would leave 700-900 pounds for TW, or somewhere around 4500-5500 pounds dry.

Our 3/4 ton Suburban would be perfect for you and allow a very nice TT up to 7k dry, maybe slightly more. But the last one was made in 2013 and you prefer Fords.

What works for towing an RV with 3-rows of seats? Full sized 1-ton vans. GM has some. Nissan NV3500 is better appointed.

Taking two vehicles is another option. Keep the Explorer and get a very cheap HD pickup, regular cab even. Could get for about $20k as dedicated tow vehicle and last 20 years!
PAThwacker
Explorer
Jul 13, 2016
I have a 2500 series suburban and a 6400lb ultra light bunkhouse. A garbage keystone Zeppelin I 291 I snagged off a repo auction. It only cost me $3400 and got me back into the game. You can not load every seat of a half ton SUV and expect it to tow. My 2400lb payload, 4 captains, 7000lb curb weight has a paltry 7600lb Max tow rating.
rbpru
Explorer II
Jul 13, 2016
A TT weights a certain amount when it is loaded and ready for the road. It has a certain tongue weight when loaded for the road.

A TV has certain tow weight and max cargo capacities.

Either the two are compatible or they are not.

Wishing, hoping, wanting and the opinions of others do not change the numbers. The greater the mis-match the greater the strain on the TV and handling.

People have shown many times you can pull almost any TT with with almost any TV. The question is, do YOU want to ignore the factory TT and TV ratings because they do not meet your needs or do you want to adjust your needs to fit the situation at hand. This is not rocket science.
Need-A-Vacation
Explorer
Jul 13, 2016
Shawn,

Welcome!!!

Unfortunately though as it has been mentioned you will be very, very limited on trailer choices if you go with the Expedition!!! For the majority of 1500/150 trucks and the advertised "tow rating" is useless. As mentioned look for the yellow sticker in the drivers door jamb that states the payload for that truck/suv. This amount is the max payload per the manufacture which includes: all passengers, all cargo (coolers, bikes, firewood, etc), any accessories added (step bars, mud flaps, truck cap/topper on truck bed, etc), the wdh (weight distribution hitch), and the tt tw (travel trailer tongue weight). While you have 3 younger kids now, they will only continue to grow, which equals more passenger weight.

Check this thread out, it has a ton of info regarding what you will be up against. While it is a different tow vehicle, it all comes down to payload.

Realistically I would think your only option if you want a new vehicle is to look at a 250/2500 or 350/3500 van. This will give you the seating capacity you need, and the payload you will need for a large enough trailer. Used there is the Excursion or a 2500 Suburban. Though the Burb is limited on the newer models to 1000lbs tw due to the hitch.

The other option may be taking a second vehicle for most of the passenger, though not very practical.

Good luck!!!
keymastr
Explorer
Jul 13, 2016
I have an Expedition and the third row seating and while it is a great vehicle the only way I would tow a trailer that weighed more than 6500 gross, (5000 dry), is if the Expy was empty other than me. Sorta defeats the purpose unless you just want it for a people mover when not towing.

SUVs by their nature are softly sprung so they can haul people comfortably. They used to make some with heavier suspensions,(3/4 ton), but I don't believe they do any longer.

For the size trailer you want that will be comfortable to live in for a couple months you need a minimum 3/4 ton tow vehicle. And remember that all the things they do to make a trailer robust and sturdy are HEAVY. Ultra-light trailers are trading sturdy materials for size.
shawnc
Explorer
Jul 13, 2016
IdaD wrote:
My sister and brother in law have 3 kids and a 2015 Expedition 3.5 EL. I think the official tow capacity is 9200 or something but you can't realistically go that heavy when you factor in the axle and payload ratings. Their trailer weighs 6k gross and is 27' long and I don't think you want to go any bigger with that tow vehicle and a family of five. Their trailer actually has a quad bunkhouse up front and a rear queen that slides out of the back so it's reasonably comfortable for the five of them. However there is no side slide so it's kind of tight inside, it has very low ceilings and very little ground clearance.

Go drive a heavy duty crew cab pickup, or at least give it some thought. We also have three kids and fit really well in it, and all you really give up is that third row. If you need extra covered storage a canopy is always an option, or it also opens up the possibility of fifth wheels either now or in the future. The towing experience even with a larger trailer (or especially a fifth wheel) is far better compared to a half ton SUV, and it opens up way more options that may make your wife a lot more willing to use it frequently. I had a longer version of this same conversation with my sister/BIL before they bought their Expedition and they obviously blew it off, but I think it warrants consideration.

(Sorry if I didn't quote properly, new on this forum)

We do need the third row. Our children are younger (all in car seats) and we frequently either have my father or my mother visiting from out of town.
If we end up using the trailer enough, I'd buy a truck for it (can't do it at the moment though). I'm going to keep researching and I'll try to find something that I think could work and post a follow up.

Thanks.
Shawn
Aron
Explorer
Jul 13, 2016
Check out the KZ Spree 240bhs--it has beds for 5 with a max weight of 6500lb, which should give you about 800lb on the hitch.

When looking at SUVs, you want the maximum payload (yellow sticker on the driver's door frame) that you can find. I bought a 2015 Expedition without knowing to look for it, and mine only has 1364lb payload, which really limited my options. I still went with the Spree, but I'm closer to my limits than I would like.

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Travel Trailer and SUV (yes another thread on this)

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