Tycho wrote:
We are noobs to buying and owning TTs but we are learning. What continues to confuse us is the advice/research into what exactly is our max trailer capacity for pulling. What size trailer can we get. If I read the black and white numbers then it looks really good for us. But when I do deeper research including older posts on this board, I get really confused as I am not sure what we truly can and can't do.
Here is what we have for a TV:
2012 Expedition EL Limited (5.4L V8 and 3.73 Axel) with HD towing package (Trans cooler, Trailer brakes, class IV hitch).
The numbers Ford gives:
GCWR 15,000#s
Max Trailer size of 8,700#s.
Max tongue load of 890#s
Other numbers I have found:
Curb Weight: 5781#s
Maximum payload:1590#s
As an example TT, here are the specs on one we like the most so far.
UVW 5638#s
GVWR 7600#s
CCC 1962#s
Hitch Weight 639#s
Full length 33'5"
On the surface we look fine and should be able to pull it considering we are 1100#s under the max rating for our TV.
But if I do the math (I believe correctly...)
Curb weight + Max Payload + Trailer GVWR + Hitch Weight = 15,610#s
This means my GCW is over the GCWR rating if I was to fully load the TT and TV down. Does this then mean that I should avoid the TT and look for something smaller? Or since this is the extreme high end that I am ok?
The other concern I have is the tongue. If I again do the math, according to Ford I should be 10-15% of loaded trailer weight.
So calculating that it would be 760(10%)- 1140#s(15%). It will obviously exceed the rating of the tongue then at about 11%. So how do I interpret this? If I would go by the percents then I would be looking for a TT under 6000#s to accommodate the 15%. Why does the vehicle even get a 8700# rating. Confusing....
Are there other concerns I may be overlooking? Perhaps I missed something in my calculations and it is better than it looks?
Your tongue weight will be the concern as you have said. As to why the vehicle gets a 8700# rating? Because not all trailers=travel trailers. Boats are routinely happy with 10% tongue weight, but campers certainly won't be.
Travel trailers are the most difficult type of trailer to pull. Keep this in mind when you consider exceeding the ratings of the TV.
