tow question

The Kroc wrote:
I appreciate everyone's comments, does the length of either of these trailers have any influence on the safety of the tow? Or is it all just a matter of the weight?

Length will matter when dealing with wind or vehicles passing you, depending in part on the style of WDH you have.

My TT has a 26' box and weighs 6,000lbs ready for travel and I don't feel as stable as I'd like. But I'm new to this and still need to do some testing regarding tongue weight balance. Trips are "just" comfortable at 60mph and below, but it wiggles with vehicles passing us.

my TT is 32' hitch to bumper, don't worry about the length. watch your payload. good luck.

I appreciate everyone's comments, does the length of either of these trailers have any influence on the safety of the tow? Or is it all just a matter of the weight?

Payload (1500-ish) and receiver ratings (900-ish) are your limitation. At 5000-ish dry, both of your options should be fine. Get a WDH with integrated sway control and enjoy.

I, too, think you will hit your payload capacity before you reach tow limits. You might also think about changing your 3.73 gear if you're going to be spending quality time in the Rockies.

You will have no problem with either one of those TTs. You will be limited by your payload first as already mentioned, my Expy payload is about 1,500# and I put only my petite wife and three small kids in the truck, everything else goes in the camper. We pack very light and never put water in the tanks ... we always go to full hook ups.

7000 lb loaded is the upper end of the tongue weight limit if not over depending on how you load. Some use the nicer, heavier hitches to control the larger trailer, just remember the weight comes out of both the tongue weight and payload considerations.

After that you will have between 600 and 900 lbs of payload depending on the truck. (my 07 has a payload of 1745 lb, 03 1565 lb)

Out trailer is 4200 lb dry with a 7000 lb gross. We have it loaded down pretty well and always travel with a full tank of water. We were considering upgrading to a trailer with a 5500 dry weight but that would be it.

You need to check the payload (cargo carrying capacity) on the Expy. You will run out of that, before you get close to towing a 9000 lb travel trailer.

Tow capacity is what Ford says your Expy could tow, if the driver weighed only 150 lbs, and had no cargo, or passengers. Ford also says there is a max weight rating on what the Expy can carry.

As you load people and cargo into (or on) the Expy, the tow rating and payload go down, pound for pound.


Loaded for camping, the Whitehawk trailer will weigh approximately 6500 lbs and requre about 900 lbs of available payload.

The Jay Flight will be about 800 lbs lighter and require about 700 lbs of payload.

Your payload number should be on the tire / loading sticker on your drivers door post. Find that number and subtract the weight of driver, passengers, and cargo. What ever is left over is payload available for trailer weight. You want some cushion here. Towing at max weight can be unpleasant, even on flatlands.

I have the exact Expedition and I would not feel comfortable towing over 7500#s. And at that weight you don't want 7 people in the Expy. Plan on one front seat passenger and a couple kids but that will max your capacity.

Good thing to do is to do some research on your tow ratings and get your rig weighed as if you are traveling, complete with fuel, family and whatever you plan to carry in your TV.

Plan on adding 1,000lbs, easy. By the time you add plates, bedding, toilet paper and whatever makes you comfortable you will have come close to 1,000 pounds and even over.