Understanding towing capactity for Ford Expedition

[Tycho]

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?

[Tycho]

APT wrote:
Your Expy is likely limited by either the as equipped payload or the recevier rating of 890 pounds. Check the driver's door sticker for max combined weight of occupants and cargo shall not exceed weight.

Sticker says shall not exceed 1385#s. How is that number different than max payload number I found or is it the same and the door is just the more accurate number?

[APT]

Your Expy is likely limited by either the as equipped payload or the recevier rating of 890 pounds. Check the driver's door sticker for max combined weight of occupants and cargo shall not exceed weight.

[darsben1]

Your math a little off
Math would be
gross weight of vehicle loaded for your trip, (full tank of gas , all passengers onboard) plus hitch weight of trailer (if unknown estimate at 15% of gross laden weight of trailer) must be less than the GVWR of your truck
IN ADDITION.
The gross weight of your vehicle PLUS the gross weight of the trailer should not exceed the gross combined weight rating.

All should be weighed/estimated with a full load of camping gear/ clothing and water in the tank.

You need to get most of the numbers off your tow vehicle

[LarryJM]

ROBERTSUNRUS wrote:
🙂 Hi, your Expedition is close to what my Navigator is. My Navigator has a payload of 1,600 lbs. and a tow rating of 8,900 lbs. My trailer has a GVWR of 6,300 lbs and an actual tongue weight of 900 lbs. This leaves about 700 lbs for me and my wife and some other stuff in my Lincoln. Also a 35' trailer is 10 feet longer than mine and will become a big sail when the wind hits it. My opinion is to have a trailer close to 25' and no more than 7,000 lbs. for your tow vehicle.


Another way to figure it out is to figure the tongue weight of a maxed out trailer and start deducting everything from your payload rating.

IMO Bob is giving you some very sage advice based on real world experience. Both the length and the TW of that trailer can be issues for your Expy and I agree with his suggested TT limits of around 25 to maybe 28' and 7K or under loaded weight.

Larry

[Old-Biscuit]

MAX TOW Rating is a magical mfg. marketing dept number using a base model, 150# driver and 20# cargo...........you will run out of PAYLOAD, Rear Axle Rating and most likely vehicles GVWR long before you ever get to that MAX TOW Rating.

Payload is going be limiting factor.....1590#
That includes your weight above 150#, all passengers weight (human/pets), all cargo inside vehicle, weight of hitch plus tongue weight of trailer.
1590# gets eaten up real fast.


Best thing to do is load vehicle up 'camp ready' (pack everything/everybody) and go to CAT Scales and get weighed
That will give you Front Axle, Rear Axle and Total.

Then using those real weight numbers you can do some math and see how heavy of a trailer you can go.
Rear axle weight plus tongue weight
GCWR minus vehicles total weight
Etc.

Plan on roughly 6500# trailer or lighter.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

🙂 Hi, your Expedition is close to what my Navigator is. My Navigator has a payload of 1,600 lbs. and a tow rating of 8,900 lbs. My trailer has a GVWR of 6,300 lbs and an actual tongue weight of 900 lbs. This leaves about 700 lbs for me and my wife and some other stuff in my Lincoln. Also a 35' trailer is 10 feet longer than mine and will become a big sail when the wind hits it. My opinion is to have a trailer close to 25' and no more than 7,000 lbs. for your tow vehicle.


Another way to figure it out is to figure the tongue weight of a maxed out trailer and start deducting everything from your payload rating.