97 ford expedition tow a 27' trailer?

ByTheRvr wrote:

NJRedneck1986 wrote:
Hello i have a 1997 ford expedition XLT 4X4 5.4 V8 has tow package. I bought a 27 foot fleetwood mallard. And the guy towed it to my house with a single cab dodge pickup truck. and my uncle keeps telling me im gonna have a hard ass time towing it cus only pickups can tow trailers. i know it depends on the weight etc, im just wondering in gerneral what do you guys and gals think? Any fellow Expy owners here? Me personally i think i can tow it with my truck but want some more opinions. ill post my GVWR from trailer and truck in a few since i have to go out to the truck to make sure. thanks.

You haven't provided enough information for anyone to provide an informed opinion. The 5.4 V8 strikes me as a small engine for a 27 foot trailer but it really depends on the weight of the trailer and the towing capacity of your truck. Towing capacity will depend on the features your truck has. You most definitely will need a weight distribution hitch and sway controls are a great idea also. I completely disagree with anyone who suggests just hooking up and giving it a go... Wow. If your manual says the truck is rated to tow 6,000 lbs and the gross weight of your loaded trailer is 8,500 lbs. you're on incredibly shaky ground. Not only would you be putting you and your family at risk but other innocent people who happen to be on the road if you lose control and crash. Also, if you have a mishap your insurance may be invalid opening you to huge personal liability. It's better to be safe than sorry. You are doing the right thing by asking questions first and gathering data before actually trying to tow. Good luck with your new trailer.

my 2004 EB Expy with the 5.4 and tow pkg. did ok with our previous TT....a Jayco 25E Hybrid that was 29'11" from tounge to bumper.....5500# dry and 6200# loaded(and she struggled on those hills)....we used a Reese Dual Cam WD/AS....the only concern I ever really had was the wheel base of the Expo being alot shorter than most trucks(obviously) but since most of our trips were short range it wasn't a huge issue....with the Silverado I have no issues and tow 1000# more than with the Expo.....however the Expo did develop a rear main leak just before i traded it in for the Silverado......you should certainly put some form of WD/AS on and just give it a try locally for a short trip.......good luck and enjoy.