We are trading in our class A motorhome for a pull behind camper. We will be using our 2010 Expedition(8900lb tow). We are looking at the Sundance xlt 291qb ( heartland) and the Vibe extreme lite 287qbs(forest river). Can anyone give opinions on either camper and also pulling a 5500-6500lb camper with this vehicle? Thank you in advance.

I went from a 4,400 lbs. trailer to a 7,300 lbs. (32') trailer with my Expy and I found the new trailer terrifying to tow. With the length and weight of the units you listed, you will be uncomfortable at best. It's difficult shopping when the manufacturers all list "dry weight" and don't include the weight of "mandatory options" in the figures. I would allow a much, much larger safety margin with that tow vehicle due to it's squishy rear end.

Did you get a bigger tow vehicle? We have considered upgrading to a F350 but I hate to give up the luxury/space of my King Ranch. I will rethink my list of campers. I need a bunk house so it narrows my options. Thank you for replying

Also how was towing your smaller rv?

mbutts wrote:I went from a 4,400 lbs. trailer to a 7,300 lbs. (32') trailer with my Expy and I found the new trailer terrifying to tow. With the length and weight of the units you listed, you will be uncomfortable at best. It's difficult shopping when the manufacturers all list "dry weight" and don't include the weight of "mandatory options" in the figures. I would allow a much, much larger safety margin with that tow vehicle due to it's squishy rear end.To find the true dry weight, The weight of the trailer sitting on the lot in front of you. You only need look at the yellow sticker. It tells the weight of the trailer as it sits, and with empty propane tanks, and battery. Of course it won't stay that way when you start loading it. But is a good place to start

Towing with a Ford Expedition | Good Sam Community

Doublemks
Explorer
May 26, 2017
If we decide to stay with our Expedition,ProPride hitch is the brand to look for? Or Hensley? We are second guessing now and considering trading off for F250/F350.
MikeJulieGDImag
Explorer
May 24, 2017
jdrinkh2o wrote:
In January we just purchased a Heartland North Trail 26LRSS (dry weight 5,600)and are pulling it with a 2014 Expedition (towing capacity 9200). I am now looking for a F250 but would really like to be able to use the Expedition since it is nicer to ride around in once we get to our destination and has dry cargo storage. When we are on the highway and ANYTHING passes us (pickup truck) it feels like something is literally trying to push us off the road. I won't even mention what I think when i see a semi coming. I cannot drive more than about an hour due to being totally exhausted from fighting the rig to stay on the road. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Sounds like you might need to do some adjusting of your WDH. I tow with a 2013 Expedition EL and the dry weight of our trailer is 6204 lbs. I had that same feeling prior to getting everyting dialed in and once I did everything was much smoother. I still get that pushing feeling when tractor trailers and big box trucks pass so I've figured out that if I slow down to 50 - 55 mph when they pass everything holds fine. Other posters on this topic have given positive feedback on towing with the Expedition or other full size SUVs.
peoples1234
Explorer
May 24, 2017
mbutts wrote:

I originally purchased a ProPride to try to keep my Expy. It was still a handful to control over 50 MPH. I also stopped by ProPride and had Shawn drive it. He suggested LT tires to improve control. I ended up with a pickup because I didn't want to throw any more cash into an Expy running at its limits.

Not that it matters to the OP, but thanks for this info.

I had a 2017 Expedition that I traded for a 2017 F250. I lost a bundle of money, and I thought about all different ways I could make the expedition tow better (Sumo springs, ProPride, new tires, some type of air suspension I never could find). Instead, I decided to bite the bullet and go with the F250 because I figured after I did all of those things it still wouldn't pull well. The F250 did immensely better than the Expedition out of the box, but still I ended up purchasing ProPride to replace my BlueOx. The F250 and ProPride meets my expectations (which I suppose are rather high). As I will be traveling for 2.5 months this summer with my family, I was going for as comfortable as possible.

So if nothing else, this makes me feel better with my decision. Thanks.
mbutts
Explorer
May 24, 2017
jdrinkh2o wrote:
In January we just purchased a Heartland North Trail 26LRSS (dry weight 5,600)and are pulling it with a 2014 Expedition (towing capacity 9200). I am now looking for a F250 but would really like to be able to use the Expedition since it is nicer to ride around in once we get to our destination and has dry cargo storage. When we are on the highway and ANYTHING passes us (pickup truck) it feels like something is literally trying to push us off the road. I won't even mention what I think when i see a semi coming. I cannot drive more than about an hour due to being totally exhausted from fighting the rig to stay on the road. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I originally purchased a ProPride to try to keep my Expy. It was still a handful to control over 50 MPH. I also stopped by ProPride and had Shawn drive it. He suggested LT tires to improve control. I ended up with a pickup because I didn't want to throw any more cash into an Expy running at its limits.
peoples1234
Explorer
May 24, 2017
jdrinkh2o wrote:
In January we just purchased a Heartland North Trail 26LRSS (dry weight 5,600)and are pulling it with a 2014 Expedition (towing capacity 9200). I am now looking for a F250 but would really like to be able to use the Expedition since it is nicer to ride around in once we get to our destination and has dry cargo storage. When we are on the highway and ANYTHING passes us (pickup truck) it feels like something is literally trying to push us off the road. I won't even mention what I think when i see a semi coming. I cannot drive more than about an hour due to being totally exhausted from fighting the rig to stay on the road. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

If you really want to keep the Ex, then look at either the ProPride or the Hensley. Probably cheaper than losing money on another vehicle. I have an F250 and still use a ProPride with my trailer.
jdrinkh2o
Explorer
May 24, 2017
In January we just purchased a Heartland North Trail 26LRSS (dry weight 5,600)and are pulling it with a 2014 Expedition (towing capacity 9200). I am now looking for a F250 but would really like to be able to use the Expedition since it is nicer to ride around in once we get to our destination and has dry cargo storage. When we are on the highway and ANYTHING passes us (pickup truck) it feels like something is literally trying to push us off the road. I won't even mention what I think when i see a semi coming. I cannot drive more than about an hour due to being totally exhausted from fighting the rig to stay on the road. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Terryallan
Explorer II
May 23, 2017
Doublemks wrote:
Does it matter that we have the air ride(air bag) suspension?

There are instructions on how to setup a Expe with air ride. It is in the book, but is something like this. tow the TT to a level area. Raise the tongue OFF the ball. start the Expe, and let it level itself. After it does. Turn off the air ride before it can settle back down. Then measure the distance from the front bumper to the ground, and the rear as well. Drop the tongue back on the ball. Measure again. Attach spring bars, and adjust until you have returned at least 1/2 of the distance raised back to the front. Example. If the front raised 1", you want to adjust until it is only up 1/2" or less.

And the rear should be no higher hooked up than it was unhooked. Yes a WDh "CAN" raise the rear higher than it started out to be. but in general. IF you get the front right, the rear will take care of itself.

Once you are done. Turn the air ride back on, and you won't have to mess with it again.
RinconVTR
Explorer
May 23, 2017
As an SUV driver pulling similar size (32') trailer (GD Imagine 2800BH) with LT tires on the SUV I would never consider towing without a Hensley or Propride WDH. I've tried the standard Equalizer with this unit and a smaller 23' unit we had and there is simply no comparison for super comfortable standard TT towing. Coming from a motorhome, you will not enjoy towing with anything less, I can practically guaranty it.

Regarding prices. It's fairly common to expect 20-30% off MSRP.
falconbrother
Explorer II
May 23, 2017
Doublemks wrote:
OK great, I'll check it out.
One last question (for now, lol)
Should I expect to pay the asking price at the dealer or is there always a little wiggle room ( in your experience)??

It depends.. From what I have experienced, if the unit is already on sale they won't wiggle. If it's not on sale they will wiggle unless there's someone itching to buy it out from under you. RV sales are red hot right now and there's lots of sales. We bought ours last month on sale and it was already way off of MSRP so, they wouldn't wiggle. But, they were selling RVs faster than they could get them on the lot so.. I feel like we got a decent deal.
Doublemks
Explorer
May 23, 2017
OK great, I'll check it out.
One last question (for now, lol)
Should I expect to pay the asking price at the dealer or is there always a little wiggle room ( in your experience)??