Am I overloaded? 28' Bunkhouse...

k-bl · Feb 17, 2021

The trailer: Cruiser Radiance 28qbss - https://www.rvusa.com/rv-guide/2014-cruiser-rv-radiance-travel-trailer-floorplan-r-28qbss-tr18500
The hitch: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00W919FL8

The Expedition is a 2014 XL, mostly stock, 2 wheel drive, with tow package.

* Hitch Weight: 745 lbs (I know that basically means nothing, and is dry)
* I never plan on driving full speed with full tanks.
* I always plan on loading it light.
* 2 Adults, 2 kids.
* Most of the stuff in the rig.

Kjhawkeye1 · Feb 17, 2021

Looks like it is 32 feet? You'll want an anti sway bar with that hitch. Also are you an EL?

B-McD · Feb 18, 2021

You should be fine. I tow a 30' camper - about 33' to the ball. 6500lbs or so plus maybe 750lbs of "stuff". The WD hitch is the key. Get it set up and maybe some fine tuning adjustments you should be good to go. I pump up my tires to 40psi and trailer tires at stated max. Remember - most trailer tires are rated at 65-70mph max. Invest in some Goodyear Endurance or similar for the trailer tires.

Bigfishfin · Feb 18, 2021

Yes, your tow vehicle is not adequate! I tow a 25' ORV trailer and consider it the maximum I would tow both for weight and wind effects on TT surface areas...You need to jump to at least a 3/4 ton pickup, you and your family are worth it!...

k-bl · Feb 18, 2021

Kjhawkeye1 said:
Looks like it is 32 feet? You'll want an anti sway bar with that hitch. Also are you an EL?

The hitch has anti-sway built in from what I see on their website. That was one of the main reasons I went with it.

From their website https://www.huskytow.com/husky-towing-32218-weight-distribution-hitch it reads: "Includes Sway Control With Built-In Sway Control".

Bigfishfin · Feb 18, 2021

If you want advice from others with extensive towing experience, Google for the several RV forums...

John Kohler · Feb 19, 2021

I like the "80%" rule. Stay within 80% of your max tow and you should be fine. That RV has a 7,745# GVWR which is over 80% and good place to start. BUT this RV has 2,090# payload capacity. Towing with empty tanks it's hard to imagine you'll load it down with 2,000# of gear. More than likely you'll be under about 6500# fully loaded. Unfortunately, the only way to know for sure is to pack it full of everything you'd take and go to scale.

shinysideup2 · Feb 19, 2021

You may find the heavy tongue weight with family in the car will make the rear end pretty bouncy. You'll likely end up with about 900-1000lb on the tongue/hitch, leaving you only about 400-450 lb for cargo in the Expedition.

I would recommend upgrading the rear suspension. Some options:
- Rancho ReadyLift (comes w/ springs & adjustable shocks which can be dialed up while towing to quell the bounce.
- SumoSprings (different for stock vs. Ranchos) to improve dynamic load (slightly higher effective spring rate)
- Hellwig 7688 upgraded rear sway bar makes it more stable with crosswinds, and as a bonus, improves handling while not towing.
- Load Range E (LT) tires to stiffen up the ride and handle heavy loads.

I tow a 2018 Rockwood Mini-Lite 2509S, sometimes with water in the front tank. 6500lb fully loaded with tongue weight between 900 to 1100 lb depending on if we're carrying water (yes, a tad overloaded). The Expedition barely does the job. I really wish I had stiffer springs and shocks all around, but the adjustable shocks definitely help. I'm not quite yet ready to go with Kings as they're quite expensive.

JasonH · Feb 19, 2021

k-bl said:
The hitch has anti-sway built in from what I see on their website. That was one of the main reasons I went with it.

From their website https://www.huskytow.com/husky-towing-32218-weight-distribution-hitch it reads: "Includes Sway Control With Built-In Sway Control".

I use that model Husky and it works well when configured correctly. The biggest issue you'll encounter is that the trailer is going to chew through your payload. You'll need to add around 80 lbs to account for the WDH weight...now you're at least at 825 on the receiver. I can't tell if that hitch weight from the manufacturer is dry or weight. If it's dry that's a problem, because you have to add battery, propane, etc. There's no margin to add anything else. Also, to minimize sway, you need at least 10% of the trailer weight on the tongue, but higher is better. You won't be able to go any higher if your payload is maxed.

I suggest renting a trailer close to what you're seeking, loading it up, and visiting a scale. It's much cheaper to do that than to make a purchase and find out it doesn't work. I see people posting all the time about white knuckle trips. Some of it is probably improper loading, but I think they also purchase trailers that are too large. Try before you buy.

Jamo · Feb 20, 2021

My sister and Bro in Law took their 4 young kids on a camping trip from upstate NY down along the east coast and back, about 25 years ago. They rented a smaller trailer to tow behind their Chevy Astro van. When they got back, other that the good memories, he said he towed a $1500 mistake for 3,000 miles and was reminded of that with every mile...

Am I overloaded? 28' Bunkhouse...

k-bl

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