Ford Expedition 2012 EL Limited 31 foot Trailer

[linchat]

Hello all, new to the forums and new to RVing. Have a small dimemna. We purchased Ford Expedition 2012 EL (131" Wheel) with Tow Package allow for 8900# towing. We are looking at Cougar 31SQB at 7200#.

Do you think it is a good marriage? Any thoughts? Thanks.

[moose44]

Towing involves so many different factors. It is the whole setup instead of just one thing. For example, work you are getting done in exchange of your gas money is moving of air. Most of the engine work goes toward moving air out of the way of the TV and TT. Because of that aerodynamic of TT (low wedge shape vs tall flat front ) matters. I understand that SAE is working on new towing capacity standard that will also specify frontal area. I think your setup is fine. One thing that may be not to your advantage is the fact your Expedition is EL version. That means the distance between your trailer hitch ball and your back tires are longer than typical Expedition.

Swaying happens when the trailer is moved materally by external force ( typically cross wind or positive/negative pressure of passing vehicle). Back wheels of the trailer is used as a pivot and front of the trailer is moved side way. This side force act on the trailer ball and will try to move your back wheel side way. When the weight is right on top of back wheel like a fifth wheel, there is no lever arm and it is very very difficult to sway the TV. Bigger that lever arm is, easier it will be to move the back wheels.

I am not saying your setup has an issue at all. Most likely it is more than fine since I see plenty of Expeditions with long trailers at campgrounds. I am saying that maybe one area EL version of Expedition is not as good as other TV. If swaying happens, you can either increase tung weight as long as added tung weight does not exceed GVW limit. Or properly tuned anti sway bar help too. Or you can slow down.

Another factor is how comfortable you are about feeling the movement of traler. Do you expect to feel like you are towing nothing at all? Unless you tow with Crew Cab F350 Turbo Diesel, you will feel something. Will that freak you out and make you tired in long drive? My previous TV was bit tall and I felt too much of roll motion. I don't think it was unstable but it made me feel uneasy and tired on long drive. I got a new TV that is 6 inches lower and with better suspension.

Bottom line is that most important thing is good setup. Get to know good RV mechanic and make sure you get a setup you are comfortable with.

[CarolinaHokie]

Linchat, no we have the regular length. Shorter wheelbase but more tow capacity. We did get the 3.73 axle ratio to assist with towing.

Wow, you are towing a 35 foot trailer with an expedition??

[linchat]

Ended up with Keystone Passport 3220bh. Towed fine, added equalizer hitch. About 8-9 mpg though. 🙂

[Big_Juan]

We purchased a Jayco Jay Flight 26BH last year. We absolutely love the trailer. It has a front bedroom with a queen bed and a rear bunk bed, with the bottom a full-size. It has no slide so it can get a little crowded if you like to spend more time in the trailer than the outdoors, but that saves weight and money.

Don't pay attention to the website for dry weights. They list the bare minimum (for that class)which in some cases excludes AC, Large refrigerator, oven, awning, etc. I would add an additional 300-500 lbs to any brochure weight unless looking at a premium class trailer which doesn't have a lot of "options."

As far as towing with a 1/2 ton I will give my 2 cents. 1/2 ton SUVs and trucks are a lot more capable than they used to be 15 years ago, but they are still 1/2 ton vehicles. My Yukon XL can safely tow our fully loaded trailer (~6,000 lbs) but I sure know it is there when I hit any incline or head wind. I would not want to pull anything heavier. I have severe 3/4 ton envy. But that's just me! 🙂 Don't give up on the trailer dream because you don't have a truck. Just find a lighter trailer you can safely and confidently tow!

Happy trails and good luck with the purchase!

[Desert_Captain]

linchat wrote:
Expedition EL: 920 Hitch, GCWR 15000, GVWR 7540 (1400# Cargo) GVW:6140

Now looking at the Radiance Radiance 28QBSS
GVWR 7640 Dry 5410
Hitch Dry: 585
Length 32'

After reviewing this TT, even if I max it out, it still keeps me in limits for the TV I think. Though I seriously doubt I will be adding 2k of weight since I will most likely not be doing dry camping.

Seems like a better fit?
Anyone any experience with this brand?

Sounds doable but you will be pushing the GVWR of your Expy. If you only load the TT to 6500# that will generate Tongue Weight of 845# which comes right off your 1400# of payload leaving 555#. Subtract another 100 for the WDH and now you're left with 445 and that is all (bodies and gear), that you can put in the TV. Load both the TT and TV lightly and you should be OK. A 32' TT is still a lot for a 131" wheelbase TV. Good Luck! :C

[linchat]

Expedition EL: 920 Hitch, GCWR 15000, GVWR 7540 (1400# Cargo) GVW:6140

Now looking at the Radiance Radiance 28QBSS
GVWR 7640 Dry 5410
Hitch Dry: 585
Length 32'

After reviewing this TT, even if I max it out, it still keeps me in limits for the TV I think. Though I seriously doubt I will be adding 2k of weight since I will most likely not be doing dry camping.

Seems like a better fit?
Anyone any experience with this brand?

[Aluminum_Siding]

I'd go with a lighter trailer

[mister_d]

SprinklerMan wrote:
I pull a 30 ft sunset creek with a v10 excursion . Its a 3/4 ton truck basically . My truck is rated for 10k towing , camper weighs 8400lbs loaded .I know its back there. What always concerns me when towing is braking , I can stop with the 3/4 tons brakes , I wouldnt trust a 1/2 ton vehicle with towing weight with family on board .

Your tow vehicle should not be using it's brakes to be stopping the TT.

OP - there are many lighter trailers out there - I would do my best to stay away from the limits. We towed our current TT with an Expedition at every limit and it wasn't pretty. I would also try to keep it 30' or under.

[linchat]

What expedition do you have? The EL?

[CarolinaHokie]

We have a ford expedition and we tow this lightweight model. We had some problems with it initially (bought it new), but just want to show you that there are lighter bunkhouses out there. I would not tow anything bigger than this with my expedition! (this is 5085 lbs dry and 7530 gvwr)

http://cruiserrv.com/shadow-cruiser/s_280qbs/specifications.html

[bedell]

Speaking to the question of interior height: I am 6'6" and we have an Open Range TT which has lots of headroom for me; even good clearance under the speakers and lights. I think it has as much headroom as the main level of a fifth wheel. On the other hand, the trailer is 32ft long and weighs just under 7000# empty weight. We tow with a long bed Silverado 2500HD so it is a pretty comfortable tow.
Happy trails.

[Mickeyfan0805]

Make sure you consider the long-term implications if you plan to keep these for a while. You may have 4 'small' children now, but they won't stay that way. As your children grow, the weight on your TV will grow with them. People will argue over length, adjusted ratios, and all sorts of things. IMHO, however, there is no getting around that a family of 6 will far exceed the GVWR of a 1/2 ton vehicle long before they exceed anything else!

FYI - We are a family of 5 with 3 small children, and I figured we had to be under 5k 'dry' in order to fit within the GVWR's of an Expedition.

[Terryallan]

SprinklerMan wrote:

Terryallan wrote:

SprinklerMan wrote:

Terryallan wrote:

SprinklerMan wrote:
I pull a 30 ft sunset creek with a v10 excursion . Its a 3/4 ton truck basically . My truck is rated for 10k towing , camper weighs 8400lbs loaded .I know its back there. What always concerns me when towing is braking , I can stop with the 3/4 tons brakes , I wouldnt trust a 1/2 ton vehicle with towing weight with family on board .

Again. Neither the brakes on your Excursion, OR a 1500 truck , are rated to stop the trailer. The brakes on the Ex are only rated to stop the GVW of the Ex. Not the TT. That's what the TT brakes do.

Don't be fooled in to thinkin a bigger truck is rated to stop a bigger tailer. It's not. Anything over the GVWR of the TV, the TT brakes have to stop.

He Did , his trailer connector came loose , no brakes on a 15,000 lb tripple axel fifth wheel . he had to replace his brakes and dry off his seat.


They may not be rated to but they will , The brakes and calipers are bigger on my excursion vs my old f 150 , yes the ex has a greater curb weight . but it will stop both rather well with out the trailer brakes. Accidents happen , as well as mistakes , a friend had his trailer plug come loose on his tripple axle 5th wheel pulling with a f 350 dually , going down an good incline , he stopped safely , found a parts store spent the next 2 hours replacing all the brakes and front rotars. Bigger brakes , better stopping .

Overloaded barkes are overloaded brakes no matter what they are on. As for the down grade. I use very little brakes on a down grade. I let the engine hold it back, Touching them only briefly for turns. Sounds like he rode his all the way down.

Lessions, and a exhaust brake could be his friend

[APT]

The dry tongue weight at 925 pounds is more than your receiver is rated. Loaded, it will only go up. For a large family, I estimate the TT will be at 8500 pounds with about 1000 pounds of tongue weight. That is far too much for your Expedition.

You need to look at two different limits for estimating how much RV you can tow, not tow rating. Open the driver's door and look for this sticker on the door or door jam.



Subtract your estimated weight of family and stuff you think will be inside the Expy.

Then look at your receiver for something like this sticker:



Take the lower of the two and multiply by 7.7 for an estimated loaded TT weight.

My guess is you need to stick to TTs under 6k dry with under 650 pounds of dry TW.

[BigBoy11]

linchat, you are running it REAL close! I have a 2011 Expedition XLT and a 31 ft. Kodiak that is 5900# dry weight and once we get loaded, full of gas, supplies, all the "stuff" we carry in the TT, there are times I wish I had more uuumph! The brakes are no problem but the pulling power up some of the mountains are a bit of a struggle.