2012 XLT EL, HD tow package, 3.73 axle, weight distributing hitch and 7000# camper questions

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LanceR

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Okay, I'm new to the forum and am still getting used to navigating using the search function. Normally I'd wait and snoop around the archives longer before asking questions but I'm in a bit of a time crunch. There's a really nice camper for sale a couple of hours away that I'd like to jump on as soon as I can.

I have a 2012 Expedition XLT EL with the HD tow package, 3.73:1/4250# rear axle with an 8900# stated towing capacity. I'm looking to upgrade to a 7,000# camper that has a 700# hitch weight. Most of our camping trips are less than 150 miles (usually 80 miles or less) but we do some hauling in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

It's just the two of us and our dog so there's not all that much weight in the truck when we're towing a camper. I use a weight distributing hitch so I'm not all that concerned with the hitch weight. And I appreciate that the 5.4L engine is going to be somewhat sluggish in accelerating that much weight.

My biggest concern is whether the transmission is up to the task. I haven't had to use the TOW/HAUL setting with our current 4000# camper and have scary memories of an old gas powered F-350 dually with an E4OD tranny getting 7-8 MPG in the TOW/HAUL mode

Any thoughts or advice would be welcome.


Lance
 

sjwelds

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Should be fine. Transmission is probably least of your worries. It's the same trans they put behind the Ecoboost and it holds up fine .
 

VBreithaupt

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I wouldn't even use the Tow/Haul mode. In the next gen. expy only difference I found was it would down shift when I was slowing down. Why, when I have electric brakes? It suppose to help with not shifting as much but when I'm pulling my camper I like to use the manual mode and shift it when I want to. You will have to play around with what the best set up is but I would think you would be fine with weight distribution and sway bar set up.
 

chuck s

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Should work if the trailer only weighs 7000 pounds. Use the trailer's GVWR as the planning number and keep in mind it's often hard to keep it below that.

The One Ton Rule (I made that up) requires the trailer to weigh 2000 pounds fully loaded less than the maximum towing capacity of the tow vehicle -- or, conversely the max towing capacity has to be 2000 pounds greater than the loaded trailer. This accounts for loads in the vehicle, steep grades, and summer temperatures. Yeah it's conservative. 7000 pound trailer and 9000 pound towing capacity meets the rule.

Final consideration for any trailer is the tongue weight which may have to be as great as 15% of the trailer weight for safe towing -- 10% is just the minimum not the target weight. 15% of 7000 is over 1000 pounds and two passengers and a pup could put over 1400 pounds in the vehicle -- my max cargo is just over that. 1000 pounds also exceeds the hitch rating even with a WDH.

-- Chuck
 
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