OP
OP
Pawpaw
Full Access Members
Anyone tow 8,000 lbs. with their 2021 Expedition FX4 with max towing?
- Thread starter Pawpaw
- Start date
Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.
OP
OP
Pawpaw
Full Access Members
Nice floorplan for couples and one grandkid at a time! Our 2 daughters have their own campers if they want to go camping! Keystone Cougar 25 RDS and its pretty impressive for whats marketed as a half ton towable.
JasonH
Full Access Members
Is that 8K wet or dry? If it's wet you'll probably be ok with proper WDH setup provided you have the payload. If it's dry forget about it. My camper's GVWR is around 7,800, but it's ~7K loaded. If your camper is rated 8,000 GVWR, you may come in well under that loaded. Also, some campers naturally place more weight on the tongue, so you'll have to check the manufacturer spec for tongue weight, as well as a scale. Mine is a 33' ft ultralight, so it has some flimsier materials to keep the weight down. It pulls fine since I got the WDH dialed in. When it's windy I just reduce speed from 65 to 55 - 60 mph and it doesn't move so much. My vehicle is an EL, which is the previous generation equivalent of the Max.
OP
OP
Pawpaw
Full Access Members
The 8K pound figure would be gross weight. Just the wife and I so we'll have to pack light. We're downsizing from a 5th wheel so we'll just have to adjust. I've got the standard length FX4 model but it has the small 23.4 gallon tank to I guess I'll have to stop about every 200 miles! Part of the tongue weight may be because the camper has 2 30 lb propane tanks. I also plan to use a second battery. Unit has 2-Coleman Mach AC's and a solar panel to run the fridge and charge the battery. We got spoiled with the fireplace and heat and massage theatre seats and when we saw this model we were hooked. Bought the Expedition at the end of November and hadn't towed with it yet. Thanks for the info Jason. Wife has relatives in Houston so maybe make a trip to Galveston or San Luis Island again!!
Last edited:
OP
OP
Pawpaw
Full Access Members
Looks like I've been thrown in the deep end of the pool..sink or swim! Going pick up the camper next Wednesday. Talked to the salesman twice and gave him the specs on the Expedition and my concerns about towing that size trailer. Much to my amazement he said we should be OK. I'll roll the dice and see what it will do heading back home from the Lafayette area on US 90 one of the roughest roads in the world!
mlogan
Well-Known Member
Looks like the dry weight is 6303. You should be fine as long as the WDH gets dialed in right.
Similar to our Surveyor 296QBLE @ 6400 dry - tows nice with equalizer, just the Gen 3 towing mileage to deal with. My biggest concern with my 22' on order is the from 33 to 28 gallon tank - those 5 gallons make a difference...
JasonH
Full Access Members
Safe travels! I suggest watching some videos on WDH setup. Don't trust the dealership. They'll put you on the road in any setup.
OP
OP
Pawpaw
Full Access Members
I watched a few that Equalizer posted per your advice. Thanks Jason. What area of Houston are you in Jason? Wifes sister lived in Kemah/League City.
oldfordguy
Member
I made a number of trips to Florida with our 30 footer with a weight of 7300#, so with all the junk, I'm sure it was over 8#. I just set the cruise for about 65 to 70 and enjoyed the trip. Ours is a 2018 4WD and 3:70 gears. Still had a pretty good ride! Lots of academic answers, I con only speak to my experiences. I will say, I wouldn't want to do the Rockies with it.
chuck s
Full Access Members
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2006
- Posts
- 1,990
- Reaction score
- 753
Maximum towing capacity is not a planning number as it's based on a completely EMPTY tow vehicle. Expedition, F150, Silverado, they're based on the same formula. Every pound in excess of a 150 pound driver decreases the towing capacity.
Then there's tongue weight as mentioned above. Look at the data plate in your driver's door jam. A conventional trailer requires 10%-15% of its total weight to be on the ball. 920 to 1380. My total cargo/passenger capacity tops out at 1416 pounds.
Motorboat trailers only need 5%-10% on the ball.
My personal rule of thumb is the One Ton Rule which states the tow vehicle needs 2000 pounds (a ton) more towing capacity than the trailer weighs and vv for Happy Towing. This limits my Expedition to towing no more than 7200 pounds which puts at least 720 pounds on the ball and requires a WDH. I made up that "rule" and it's conservative but have been using it for years. 1000 Pound Rule is less satisfactory for me.
Would I tow a 9200 pound trailer across town? Sure, but not across the state.
-- Chuck
Then there's tongue weight as mentioned above. Look at the data plate in your driver's door jam. A conventional trailer requires 10%-15% of its total weight to be on the ball. 920 to 1380. My total cargo/passenger capacity tops out at 1416 pounds.
Motorboat trailers only need 5%-10% on the ball.
My personal rule of thumb is the One Ton Rule which states the tow vehicle needs 2000 pounds (a ton) more towing capacity than the trailer weighs and vv for Happy Towing. This limits my Expedition to towing no more than 7200 pounds which puts at least 720 pounds on the ball and requires a WDH. I made up that "rule" and it's conservative but have been using it for years. 1000 Pound Rule is less satisfactory for me.
Would I tow a 9200 pound trailer across town? Sure, but not across the state.
-- Chuck
Attachments
Great testimonials on the Expo's capability. I have a '21 Limited with max tow package towing a Lance 1985 TT. I live in the Rockies and have towed it for over 8000 miles. Scaled it twice to get the WDH dialed in. Our last 4500 mile trip we came in at 12,500 GCVW which is 82% of max capacity. However, my rear axle is at 96% and front axle at 88% of the respective GAWR so I wouldn't want to pull anything larger. The Lance has a 800 lb tongue. My trailer weight fully loaded is at 5850# (w/ 30% fresh water) and the Expo is at 6650 or 90% of the stated GVWR. It pulls great up any pass. The TT box is 19' and I really never felt wind gusts much at all. My only reservation is the 10.2 mpg we averaged on the trip and in the mountains we filled up with 91 octane as the low end regular up here is only at 85 octane which is below Ford's recommended 87 min level.
byathread
Full Access Members
Our 7K TT with WDH drove great. ~20K miles towing or so including two big trips out west (Rockies in CO, WY, MT both times) and two trips down to FL from PA as well as a lot around the mid Atlantic region. As others have stated, the key is that good set-up dialed in with your WDH! Our TT came with a blue ox sway pro and I had it perfect. It did eat the two cats on the last big trip out west and we suffered a little with noise and like 5.5mpg from MT to PA... But, no power issues, just efficiency/emissions. Got an RV now, so mine now relegated to toad/bike rack duty...
Attachments
JVinOlathe
Well-Known Member
The maximum allowable towing capacity is a relative term which in practice is hardly ever achieved, unless you have the right tires, weigh distributing hitch and only the driver and no cargo and trailer brake control. Towing anything near the limit with result in dangerous driving conditions that could lead to disastrous results.
Take a look at the linked video that explains in detail the process to determine the actual towing capacity. Keep in mind that if an accident happens and you are over the limit, your insurance company will not cover any damages or the corresponding liability.
www.youtube.com
Take a look at the linked video that explains in detail the process to determine the actual towing capacity. Keep in mind that if an accident happens and you are over the limit, your insurance company will not cover any damages or the corresponding liability.
What Can You ACTUALLY Tow? Payload -Tow Capacity - Travel Trailer
Check out my new in depth honest owner review of the Jeep Gladiator! https://youtu.be/fMOtcX1oXxoSUBSCRIBE TO MY NEW CHANNEL FOR MORE CONTENT LIKE THIShttps:...
www.youtube.com
OP
OP
Pawpaw
Full Access Members
Wife and I will just start having to load the camper lightly! We were spoiled by our last 2 fifth wheels and a dually to tow with. Never had to worry about weight. Thanks for the info!
OP
OP
Pawpaw
Full Access Members
I'm estimating loaded trailer weight to be in the 8 to 8,500 lb range. Hitch weight shows 835# from Keystone. Going with the 4 point Equalizer hitch to transfer weight to the Expedition's axles. I have the FX4 and max towing packages so that should help pluse mostly tow in the flat as a pancake Louiisiana..Mississippi and Texas areas. Won't be going too far with the price of fuel!!
OP
OP
Pawpaw
Full Access Members
No Rockies down here SE Louisiana. Highest mountain is only a little over 500 ft!! I've got the standard length FX4 with max towing package so all I'm concerned about is tongue weight. It has two 30 lb propane tanks and a optional front AC so that may increase hitch weight some. We lost our 41' Solitude fifth wheel in hurricane Ida and I sold my F350 dually diesel too quick! This towing a 30' travel trailer with an Expedition is getting to be a science!! Thanks for the info.
OP
OP
Pawpaw
Full Access Members
Great to hear...now the prince turned into a toad!! Nice looking rig you have!
OP
OP
Pawpaw
Full Access Members
The maximum allowable towing capacity is a relative term which in practice is hardly ever achieved, unless you have the right tires, weigh distributing hitch and only the driver and no cargo and trailer brake control. Towing anything near the limit with result in dangerous driving conditions that could lead to disastrous results.
Take a look at the linked video that explains in detail the process to determine the actual towing capacity. Keep in mind that if an accident happens and you are over the limit, your insurance company will not cover any damages or the corresponding liability.
What Can You ACTUALLY Tow? Payload -Tow Capacity - Travel Trailer
Check out my new in depth honest owner review of the Jeep Gladiator! https://youtu.be/fMOtcX1oXxoSUBSCRIBE TO MY NEW CHANNEL FOR MORE CONTENT LIKE THIShttps:...
The camper we are buying is under our vehicles rating for 9,200 lbs with the max towing package. Getting the 4 point Equalizer 10K pound hitch. Already have 10 ply BFG all terrains. At least on paper I think I'm good. My daughter is my insurance agent and I was the safety man at the place where I retired from so I take safety seriously. Even more on the highway as being in the trucking and transportation business for over 40 yrs. Thank you for the info!
Calidad
Full Access Members
Get a smaller trailer. Besides so crowded now days the smaller you go the higher chance you’ll find a place to stay. Not to mention lower fuel burn and better range err lower pump cost
OP
OP
Pawpaw
Full Access Members
I am going down to a smaller trailer. 41 ft down to a 30' Not too crowded at the campgrounds during the week so we never had many problems getting a spot even with the larger trailer. Thanks for the response to the question.
