Expedition tow vehicle

[Dmich91]

Hi all. We are looking to buy our first travel trailer. Our tow vehicle is a 2013 Ford Expedition with the tow package. Up to 9200 pounds. We are looking at a travel trailer with a dry weight of 6400 pounds and a gross weight of 8500 pounds. Our salesman seems to be confident that we won't have issues because we won't travel with all tanks full. We are new to this and want opinions from people that have experience. Any info is appreciated. We want to be able to pull on all terrains in the US.

[horton333]

mbutts wrote:
I towed with an Expy and went from a 4,400 lbs. 25' trailer to a 7,700 lbs. 32' trailer. The rear of the Expy was just too squishy (independent rear suspension and non-truck tires) and I was very uncomfortable towing with it.

I would suggest keeping your shopping list down to trailers with a gross weight of 6,000 lbs.

The independent rear suspension is a significant advantage of the SUV in that weight class, more stable, maybe you needed a bit more air in the tires ...

[Lwiddis]

"They don't tend to tow long distances or go very fast."
Tires NEVER blow if you don't go long distances or very fast...NEVER!

"but it does okay with the load."
And that means they will never have an issue..cuzz its "okay with the load."

[Lwiddis]

"Our salesman seems to be confident that we won't have issues because we won't travel with all tanks full."

Sure! Travel with empty tanks, then if you find a really nice spot that doesn't have water...you can keep driving until you find water and another spot...when you wanted to stop 40 miles back. Sounds fun!

[mbutts]

I towed with an Expy and went from a 4,400 lbs. 25' trailer to a 7,700 lbs. 32' trailer. The rear of the Expy was just too squishy (independent rear suspension and non-truck tires) and I was very uncomfortable towing with it.

I would suggest keeping your shopping list down to trailers with a gross weight of 6,000 lbs.

[horton333]

Dmich91 wrote:
Hi all. We are looking to buy our first travel trailer. Our tow vehicle is a 2013 Ford Expedition with the tow package. Up to 9200 pounds. We are looking at a travel trailer with a dry weight of 6400 pounds and a gross weight of 8500 pounds. Our salesman seems to be confident that we won't have issues because we won't travel with all tanks full. We are new to this and want opinions from people that have experience. Any info is appreciated. We want to be able to pull on all terrains in the US.

When you see people replying as if weight is the only issue then take it as suspect (you'll see lots of that). What height of trailer, length, axle type, hitch setup and expected live weight. These are typically the important criteria for an SUV and a medium weight trailer like this.
If you just plop it on the hitch you will be headed for the ditch even if your weights are fine, add adjusted weight distribution and almost for sure add some sway control (the overhang ratio on SUVs tends to dominate over weight carrying ability) then I suspect you will be fine but again there is not enough information for an informed reply in this post.

[IdaD]

My sister and brother in law have a 3.5 Ecoboost EL and they tow a 6000 lb gross weight trailer with it. I'm sure they're over their GVWR with it loaded to camp when you add in the tongue weight, dog, three kids, two adults, coolers, etc., but it does okay with the load. They don't tend to tow long distances or go very fast.

I don't recall the axle ratings off hand, but the payload on it is pretty silly - 1350 lbs or so. I remember because it because it's the same as my wife's Pilot. It is a pretty loaded model.

[colliehauler]

bikendan wrote:
Look for the payload capacity, on the driver's door yellow sticker.
Come back and post that amount.

Tow vehicles run out of payload capacity way before coming close to towing capacity, ESPECIALLY SUVS.
You'll never come close to the 9200lbs.

Agree with this. Your Expedition has a max rear axle weight rating. Everything in the vehicle counts as payload except a 150 pound driver. Trailer tongue weight and hitch weight count as well. As stated you will exceed that rating before you get to the 9200 pound tow rating. As a general rule 13 to 15 percent of the trailer's total weight for figuring tongue weight.

[Arcamper]

I have a 14 Expedition Limited and even though I have never pulled a travel trailer with it I have pulled my boat( 7,000 lbs and 680 lbs of tongue weight). This is all the load I would ever want to pull with it because the suspension is to soft. Going down the road it is ok but I am always afraid in the event I have to make a quick maneuver the boat would decide where we go. The power from the 5.4 comes in at a high RPM and a boat has very little wind drag so it may have a harder time with the large frontal area of a travel trailer. If I were in your shoes I would not do it based on the fact you will be at the top of its capacity and owning one myself think that 9200 lbs is a stretch to begin with. And yes mine has the heavy tow package also.

[KD4UPL]

For towing that much weight in the Rockies I would want a vehicle with a turbo. Otherwise you will lose a lot of HP as the elevation increases.
You need to load your family and gear in the tow vehicle and weigh it, preferably with a separate rear axle weight. Then, using the vehicle's GVWR you can determine how much payload is left for hitch weight. Hitch weight wi" be at least 10 percent of trailer weight, likely more. I suspect you don't have enough payload for anywhere close to that size trailer.

[MFL]

If you just load that trailer to 7,500 lbs, you will have a tongue wt around 900 lbs, plus another 100 lbs for the hitch. Your payload will be the issue, depending on family size, and gear in the tow vehicle.

This sounds like a 30' trailer, that may not handle the best, in the wind, or mountains, being towed by a SUV.

More info is needed, but this trailer may be too much for your intended use.

Welcome to the forum! You are wise to do some research before purchase, not just taking the sales person word that it will be okay.

Jerry

[bikendan]

Look for the payload capacity, on the driver's door yellow sticker.
Come back and post that amount.

Tow vehicles run out of payload capacity way before coming close to towing capacity, ESPECIALLY SUVS.
You'll never come close to the 9200lbs.

[b17drvr]

The salesman would tell you it is no problem to tow the trailer with a Prius. Don't believe them.