Thinking of buying a 2012 Keystone Cougar XLite 31SQB

[neilc88]

Hello,

I have a family of 5 with the kids age 13, 13 & 9. Our pop-up is just too much work anymore.

Here is a long video of Keystone Cougar XLite 31SQB. It is nearly 36' long bumper to hitch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZvhszbxeJk

I am nervous going to such a big heavy unit. 7100 lbs dry, 9000 lbs max. load.

I do have a 2002 Ford Excursion 6.8L V-10 gas engine.

1. Any thoughts on the Cougar 31SQB?

2. What upgrades would I need on the Excursion to tow? (I believe I would need a weight distributing hitch. I would need to get it home 180 miles.

3. What about getting this set-up thru campgrounds? Will it be hard being this long?

Any comments are greatly appreciated.

[TheGriswolds]

We have that rig in 2013 model. Love it. Never had problems with quality. I have scraped the spare tire twice not realizing how steep a dip in the road was but no harm. I will say the tongue weight from the factory was listed at 925lbs but as it sits now it weighs in at 1,240lbs! Lots of stuff in through storage, but still room in there for more. Tows like a dream though.

[neilc88]

Thanks for all the input. I have not purchased, but still interested.

[patdrury]

majorgator wrote:
The Excursion is either a 3/4 ton or 1 ton truck, depending on how it's built. It has ample payload and towing capacity.

I would still check out the max payload. Better safe than sorry.

[Robby9]

I have a 31SQB and think it's a pretty good rig. All travel trailers are compromises and there are things we really like and things we don't care for. The 31SQB has about the roomiest bathroom you can get and my wife and daughters love it and all the mirrors. The kids also really like the bunkhouse setup. Personally, I don't like the short closets in the master bedroom.

Overall, the quality is pretty good. The only warning I'd give you is to make sure it has a 15k btu air conditioner. The 13.5 btu unit doesn't get the job done in 95+ degree weather.

[majorgator]

The Excursion is either a 3/4 ton or 1 ton truck, depending on how it's built. It has ample payload and towing capacity.

This forum is a funny place. People will talk until they're blue in the face trying to defend a 1/2 ton F150's ability to pull almost anything, but then start to advise caution to someone with a 3/4 ton or 1 ton for the same size trailer.

[dadmomh]

Just because folks have towed with such a rig with no problems doesn't mean that it's safe....maybe luck is just on their side for now. Strongly suggest you do your homework, get ALL your numbers together with the specifics for your vehicle, then you can get more precise help that "with no problem". Load up the family in the vehicle with whatever stuff you'd normally take and head for the scale at a Pilot, Flying J, Love's or similar. It'll cost you maybe $5 for a real number to work with. Don't forget to add about 1000# wiggle room to your numbers. That's a BIG trailer and it's your family we're talking about here, no room for guessing or letting emotion cloud your thinking. You're doing this the right way. Good luck.

[patdrury]

You may also wish to look at the max payload of the TV. I'm sure it can tow it but with you, the wife, the kids and stuff you may exceed the payload.

I know my 2013 Ram 1500 4x4 crew cab is rated to tow 10100# but the payload is only 1400#. After loading my 7100# TT and running to the local scales I found out I exceed the payload. This is with Blue Ox WDH. Sale people always only look at the tow rating not the max payload. Three sales guys said I could tow it with no problem...but guess what...problem.

Now I have to buy a bigger truck or leave the wife and kids home to say under the max payload and GVWR 🙂

[neilc88]

Thank you for the link to the guide.

I do see per the guide 9600 pounds for a 3.73 gears in a 4x4 V-10.

[McDaddy]

I just did a quick search and found the Ford 2002 towing guide which says that with a 3.73 rear end that he can pull a trailer with a max loaded weight of 10,100 with a 4X2 and 9600 with the 4X4. If he has a 4.10 rear end, then it goes up to 10,500 with the 4X2 and 11,000 with the 4X4 (this does seem a bit strange that the 4X4 is higher for the 4.10 rear end, but that is what it says).
check here https://www.fleet.ford.com/resources/ford/general/pdf/towingguides/2002_All.pdf

[majorgator]

I am nervous going to such a big heavy unit. 7100 lbs dry, 9000 lbs max. load.

I do have a 2002 Ford Excursion 6.8L V-10 gas engine.

Read this forum long enough and you'll see that people are pulling that much weight with half as much truck. I think you'll be OK. 😉

a quick web grab showed a towing capacity of 6200 lbs. don't know if it is exactly the same as your however. what is your tow rating?

I would highly doubt the accuracy of that. Are you sure you weren't looking at an Expedition? A 6.8L V-10 should be about equal to the common diesel engines we're seeing. However, that V-10 probably has never seen a gas station it doesn't like :B

I work Fire & Rescue and every TT accident I have worked has been towed by an SUV, never a PU. Please ba aware that all those people and their stuff in your vehicle adds weight, plus your wheel base may be shorter which affects control of your trailer.

I can agree with every part of that statement. But the Excursion is basically a truck with more seats and a permanent bed topper. I don't even know if it could be classified as a SUV.

[Bumpyroad]

neilc88 wrote:
My hitch is rated for 12,000 pounds.

is that what your unit is rated to tow? not the hitch rating.
bumpy

[neilc88]

My hitch is rated for 12,000 pounds.

[Bumpyroad]

a quick web grab showed a towing capacity of 6200 lbs. don't know if it is exactly the same as your however. what is your tow rating?
bumpy

[bamagirl]

This is just my observation and I have nothing to back it up. I work Fire & Rescue and every TT accident I have worked has been towed by an SUV, never a PU. Please ba aware that all those people and their stuff in your vehicle adds weight, plus your wheel base may be shorter which affects control of your trailer.