2015 Ford Expedition - Largest TT I can pull SAFELY?

tama2112 wrote:
Hi Everyone,
I am brand new to this forum and TT's. I've been doing some reading here and its all be very helpful. I'm not sure there is a topic specifically on the newer Expedition so wanted to post here. I am trading in for a 2015 Ford Expedition (not EL) w/ HD towing package. Specs:

4x4 3.5L V6 EcoBoost
GCWR: 15,200 lbs
Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight: 9,200 lbs

I do NOT want to push the limits of the Expedition. I have a family of 4 and want to get the largest that I can safely tow (both in weight and length.

Could I get your recommendations please?

Matthew

you're leaving out the most important spec, PAYLOAD capacity from the yellow sticker on the driver's door.
ESPECIALLY important on SUVs, since they usually have lower payloads compared to their towing capacity.

you'll run out of payload capacity WAY before you get close to the max towing capacity.

tama2112 wrote:
Hi Everyone,
I am brand new to this forum and TT's. I've been doing some reading here and its all be very helpful. I'm not sure there is a topic specifically on the newer Expedition so wanted to post here. I am trading in for a 2015 Ford Expedition (not EL) w/ HD towing package. Specs:

4x4 3.5L V6 EcoBoost
GCWR: 15,200 lbs
Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight: 9,200 lbs

Load up the TV with everything as if going to tow. Everything as in
people, pets, luggage, toolbox, etc and weigh it

Then take that actual weight, add WD Hitch weight and the trailer
tongue weight. Then subtract it from your GCWR. That will then
provide the actual MTWR (max tow weight rating) of the actual weight
for the trailer

NOT the 'dry' weight of any trailer, but the ACTUAL weight of the
trailer...if you do not have the trailer, then use the trailer's
GVWR that you are looking at. That is the maximum weight that the
trailer OEM says it can hold

I do NOT want to push the limits of the Expedition. I have a family of 4 and want to get the largest that I can safely tow (both in weight and length.

Could I get your recommendations please?

Matthew

But...that will NOT have the tongue weight in your calculations above.

Again, you need the actual weight of that tongue to figure and again
if you do not have the trailer yet...use the brochure tongue weight
of that 'dry' weight trailer

That will provide the percentage range the tongue weight vs the dry
weight of the trailer...then using the trailer GVWR...use the same
percentage to give you the number needed to figure the above

In the end...there is only one person responsible for the setup and
that is the driver...none of the advisors here has any skin in that
game...

tama2112 wrote:
I do NOT want to push the limits of the Expedition. I have a family of 4 and want to get the largest that I can safely tow (both in weight and length...

There is waay too much wishy washy in those two statements. I'd suggest you educated yourself on towing and how that relates to the various weight ratings on your vehicle.

There are people here who would find running at the limits of vehicle ratings as safe and acceptable, others not so much.

In the end you are the only one that can make that determination.

As a former Expy owner, I would suggest keeping below 6,000 gross (not dry) weight for shopping. Once you find a trailer you like, you can weigh your Expy loaded with people & stuff to determinensure your available payload.

You did mention length. I wouldn't want anything longer than 24' nominal length, about 27' overall. JMHO.

bikendan wrote:

tama2112 wrote:

you're leaving out the most important spec, PAYLOAD capacity from the yellow sticker on the driver's door.
ESPECIALLY important on SUVs, since they usually have lower payloads compared to their towing capacity.

you'll run out of payload capacity WAY before you get close to the max towing capacity.

Good point! I updated the details to show payload capacity of 1,650 lbs.

braindead0 wrote:

tama2112 wrote:
I do NOT want to push the limits of the Expedition. I have a family of 4 and want to get the largest that I can safely tow (both in weight and length...

There is waay too much wishy washy in those two statements. I'd suggest you educated yourself on towing and how that relates to the various weight ratings on your vehicle.

There are people here who would find running at the limits of vehicle ratings as safe and acceptable, others not so much.

In the end you are the only one that can make that determination.

Hi - I don't the statement is very wishy washy. I want to get as big as possible without pushing the limits of the Expedition. I don't want to get a 20 ft trailer if the Expedition can easily tow a 28 ft. I'm basically looking for a recommendation on length and weight where fully loaded I can tow to the beach and though the mountains.

I went to a dealer today, and the salesman said verbatim "if you can tow 9,200, then just make sure you keep everything under 8,200". I don't think that is accurate... I can't rely on a salesperson to give me information about keeping my family safe on the road..

Hi All,
I updated the original post to include the payload capacity.

The TT's I'm looking are the:

1) Dutchmen Aerolite 250KBHS. Its a 32' w/ shipping weight of 6,036 lbs. Dry hitch weight of 774 lbs.
2) Dutchmen Aerolite 242BHS; Its a 28.6' w/ shipping weight of 5,575 lbs. Dry hitch weight of 735 lbs.

What are your thoughts?

Take the 1,650 and subtract the weight of your family plus anything else you carry in the Exp. The result is the tongue weight the Exp can carry (make sure to stay below the receiver max with a WDH). Divide that by .15 and that is the largest GVWR trailer to look for. This calculation should give you some buffer.

Say your family weighs 650#.
So, 1650 - 650 = 1000.
1000 / .15 = 6667# gvwr.
6667-1500 = 5167 dry weight.

tama2112 wrote:
Hi All,
I updated the original post to include the payload capacity.

The TT's I'm looking are the:

1) Dutchmen Aerolite 250KBHS. Its a 32' w/ shipping weight of 6,036 lbs. Dry hitch weight of 774 lbs.
2) Dutchmen Aerolite 242BHS; Its a 28.6' w/ shipping weight of 5,575 lbs. Dry hitch weight of 735 lbs.

What are your thoughts?

You can easily tow either of these campers with the Expy. I tow a 29 ft TT in my signature without issue. I do not put water in the tanks though. I have an '09. Get rid of the Scorpion tires that are on it (if that is what it has) and get a good WD hitch. It may take a few tries to tune in the WD hitch.

Sometimes I envy those that have a 3/4 ton based SUV, but there aren't many around. Set your rig up right, sont take too much stuff and enjoy yourself.