Were you towing a 41 foot trailer with the Expedition?
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
What??? We had a 41' Solitude we pulled with a F350 dually. The 41' er was totaled during hurricane Ida and I sold the dually and bought the Expedition. Now the wife and I decided to downsize to a 30' Cougar TT. Picking it up tomorrow.
OP
OP
Pawpaw
Full Access Members
Camper was flipped on its side and the wall separated from the roof. Truck didn't have a scratch on it. This was a few years ago at Bluewater RV resort in Freeport, Texas.
I have a similar set up: 30 ft trailer (shadow cruiser 259bhs) but towing with a max plat and hd tow package instead. I also had concerns about the tongue weight as the TT dry is rated 750-900lbs depending on who you ask. Weighed the trailer this week at 6200lbs and tongue just over 900 with two 20 lbs LPs, two 6 volt deep cycle batteries and trailer loaded with supplies. Had no issues last week with the pull other than moderate sag.
I’m managing the tongue weight with loading more to the rear trailer axles and plan on keeping 100-200 lbs of liquid in the rear tanks next time. I anticipate this will bring me south of 800lbs tongue. Sumo springs to be installed sometime next week. Will provide an update in the future.
I’m managing the tongue weight with loading more to the rear trailer axles and plan on keeping 100-200 lbs of liquid in the rear tanks next time. I anticipate this will bring me south of 800lbs tongue. Sumo springs to be installed sometime next week. Will provide an update in the future.
mrmustang
Full Access Members
That is pretty heavy squat, you need to reset your weight distribution hitch bars, and potentially the height of the ball itself to eliminate this imbalance. Could be as easy as lengthening the chain on the bars when you cinch them in to place, but I'm betting if you place the trailer just behind the truck, unhooked, and level it out, that the ball is misaligned as well. Perhaps do that, level the trailer, and take a close shot of it to post here (perhaps a stand alone thread so as to not thread drift this one further).
Bill
OP
OP
Pawpaw
Full Access Members
Had a little too much squat so son in law re-adjusted the hitch and I added air to the rear tires and it's got the rig leveled out. Hooked back up and took it out on the hwy up to 70 mph and it did great. Had some swaying at about 55 to 60 mph earlier but no problem at that speed now. Towed about 150 miles yesterday and got 9.5 mpg so not as bad as expected. Payload on my Expedition shows 1769 lbs. Told the wife to be prepared to travel light!!
OP
OP
Pawpaw
Full Access Members
Nice rig!! I ended up having son in law re-adjusting the Equalizer hitch and aired up the rear tires to 65 psi on the Expedition and it helped a good bit. I'll end up using one 30 lb propane tank and leave it empty. 2 full ones is a lot of weight. Also plan on loading to the rear of the camper to take weight off the front. Only taking short trips at 60-62 mph max so I think we'll be OK. Really surprised how easily accelerated and braked with weight. Got 9.5 mpg averaging 60 mph. Brake set at 5.0 and used normal drive and let the 10 speed do its thing.
Picked up a Curt BetterWeigh to easily monitor the weight when I move around stuff for distributing the weight. My WD hitch was installed professionally and in fact is 2 inches higher than the TT’s tongue when level so I’m reluctant to raise it even more. Most likely will also have to remove the batteries and propane when travelling to keep the tongue weight below 750 lbs (744 being 12%). Sumo springs coming this week.
OP
OP
Pawpaw
Full Access Members
I live in the SE tip of Louisiana where its usually hot and humid. Needed the 2-AC's more than heat. Only use propane for the hot water heater and stove. Once in a blue moon do we get down to freezing when camping. Have the electric fireplace to take the chill out in the morning. The 2-30 lb propane tanks when filled add a lot to the tongue weight so I may empty one out and just run off of the other. Just wife and I in the Expedition and with a 1769 lb payload I'll throw some weight over the trailer axles plus I warned the wife to pack light. The 2nd AC in the bedroom is a needed option and throws a few more pounds on the tongue but worth it. We hit 87 degrees F yesterday!!
Agree. I’m thinking of running with a single lp tank as well seeing how it’s only used to heat the water tank and occasional griddle. Everything else we do is electric and I almost always stay with a full service site.
OP
OP
Pawpaw
Full Access Members
Did you by any chance swap the factory P rated tires for a 10 ply Light Truck tire. A lot stiffer sidewalls and takes some of the independent rear suspension sway out. How is the Helwig sway bar helping?
I have the stock tires and rim and haven't thought of upgrading the tires. No issues this far to warrant the upgrade.
The hellwig sway bar makes a noticable difference in ride comfort for the rear passengers, but honestly don't know what effect it has on towing as I had it installed before towing.
On a side note, I had the two 6v batteries relocated to a rear compartment around the outdoor kitchen and had the sumo coil springs installed. Have yet to tow but I'll take an 'after' picture of the car and rig the next trip around.
OP
OP
Pawpaw
Full Access Members
I've got the standard length. Using the 4 point Equalizer and running 10 ply tires. Seems to have no trouble towing the camper but heavy on the hitch weight.
We're all in the same boat when it comes to travel trailers and our Expys. Expedition is a great SUV, but just shy of where it needs to be for towing or rather where we wish it was. Payload, payload, payload. If only Ford could come out with a Heavy Payload package on an Expy, one can only dream.
Let me give my suggestions based on experiences I've gone through with my 27RBDS Winnebago and my 10' Expy HD tow.
- Get your WDH dialed in, it took me like 2 years to get it just right. Only after I started going to a Cat scale and really learning how to use the numbers did I get it dialed in how it needed to be. In my case I was not transferring enough weight back to the front axle of the Expy. I added my last adjustment washer as well as moved the Equalizer brackets to their furthest distance on the trailer to get the most lift.
- Beef up your Expy. Hellwig sway bars front/rear, sumo spacers, fresh tune up, fresh tires are all things that made big noticeable improvements to my tows.
- If your like me and right at the limits of payload, put your trailer on a diet. Things that I did: ditched my two 30lb propane tanks and went to one 20lb tank (two in winter). Ditched my 30lb Coleman Grill and now just take a small 8lb grill, ditched kitchen prep table (no need), got rid of my rubber hoses for a light-weight single 100' hose. I also now only take a small daily cooler in the Expy while traveling with just enough space for lunch and drinks for the day.
- Re-positioned some of my forward storage to over-rear axle storage in trailer. Moved heavy toolbox and camp chairs to within the trailer.
- Added rear bike rack, two bikes on rear of trailer aid in off-setting some of the tongue weight.
Coming soon:
- I'm debating moving to an Anderson WDH system, it'll save 50lbs on the hitch.
- Considering swapping my steel propane tanks for light-weight fiberglass models.
Now, you do need to be careful, when I first did these changes I had moved too much off the tongue and ended up moving some items back into the front storage. My hitch weight should be around 760lbs, I'm probably averaging around 800lbs.
My set up pulls fine, I set my cruise to 65 and just go. No longer do I fear the passing trucks. Only during strong cross winds do I feel a bit squirely and then I just drop my speed and I'm good. Do I wish I had the payload of an F250, sure, but with this set up I have a full size SUV space and comforts that gets the job done.
Let me give my suggestions based on experiences I've gone through with my 27RBDS Winnebago and my 10' Expy HD tow.
- Get your WDH dialed in, it took me like 2 years to get it just right. Only after I started going to a Cat scale and really learning how to use the numbers did I get it dialed in how it needed to be. In my case I was not transferring enough weight back to the front axle of the Expy. I added my last adjustment washer as well as moved the Equalizer brackets to their furthest distance on the trailer to get the most lift.
- Beef up your Expy. Hellwig sway bars front/rear, sumo spacers, fresh tune up, fresh tires are all things that made big noticeable improvements to my tows.
- If your like me and right at the limits of payload, put your trailer on a diet. Things that I did: ditched my two 30lb propane tanks and went to one 20lb tank (two in winter). Ditched my 30lb Coleman Grill and now just take a small 8lb grill, ditched kitchen prep table (no need), got rid of my rubber hoses for a light-weight single 100' hose. I also now only take a small daily cooler in the Expy while traveling with just enough space for lunch and drinks for the day.
- Re-positioned some of my forward storage to over-rear axle storage in trailer. Moved heavy toolbox and camp chairs to within the trailer.
- Added rear bike rack, two bikes on rear of trailer aid in off-setting some of the tongue weight.
Coming soon:
- I'm debating moving to an Anderson WDH system, it'll save 50lbs on the hitch.
- Considering swapping my steel propane tanks for light-weight fiberglass models.
Now, you do need to be careful, when I first did these changes I had moved too much off the tongue and ended up moving some items back into the front storage. My hitch weight should be around 760lbs, I'm probably averaging around 800lbs.
My set up pulls fine, I set my cruise to 65 and just go. No longer do I fear the passing trucks. Only during strong cross winds do I feel a bit squirely and then I just drop my speed and I'm good. Do I wish I had the payload of an F250, sure, but with this set up I have a full size SUV space and comforts that gets the job done.
OP
OP
Pawpaw
Full Access Members
Sounds like a great plan for me to follow! Spoiled after having a fifth wheel with loads of baggage room and a dually to tow it with. Now we're downsizing and looks like it may be a challenge. Thanks for the info!
I gotta agree, coming from the f350 platform to an Expedition is a bit of a change. The 350 doesn’t care what you tow or how it’s loaded. Expedition you’ve gotta dial in your setup.
I’ve got an 18’ rv that I’ve remodeled and set up pretty well. I think it’s close to 6/750lb on the hitch. With 4 adults and 4 dogs and our gear for the weekend the expy weighed in at 7k and the trailer just above 4200lb. I’ll run the weight distribution bars to help keep level and I’ve got the dandy harbor freight anti-sway bar that helps in the wind and passing other vehicles.
Towing with the Expedition is kinda like paddle boarding. It’s a tad wiggly but that’s normal.
Also, for reference, I was quite disappointed with mpg on the first trip with the rig. With 5star 87 tow tune I got 8 mpg. With 92 tune on the way back I got 7.5 mpg… with the stock wheels and tires on.. average speed of 65.
2020 standard fx4 HD tow package with 3.73s and bilstien lift
I’ve got an 18’ rv that I’ve remodeled and set up pretty well. I think it’s close to 6/750lb on the hitch. With 4 adults and 4 dogs and our gear for the weekend the expy weighed in at 7k and the trailer just above 4200lb. I’ll run the weight distribution bars to help keep level and I’ve got the dandy harbor freight anti-sway bar that helps in the wind and passing other vehicles.
Towing with the Expedition is kinda like paddle boarding. It’s a tad wiggly but that’s normal.
Also, for reference, I was quite disappointed with mpg on the first trip with the rig. With 5star 87 tow tune I got 8 mpg. With 92 tune on the way back I got 7.5 mpg… with the stock wheels and tires on.. average speed of 65.
2020 standard fx4 HD tow package with 3.73s and bilstien lift
Last edited:
We pull a 31' Surveyor trailer with our 21 Expy Ltd. (hvy duty tow and 3.73 axle) with equalizer WDH and almost always in tow mode (engine braking is a big plus). The trailer pushes 7000+ lbs. with gear. The tow is smooth and consistent, no engine laboring or issues. Mileage is about 10 per gal at 60 mph. I agree with others about having the WDH dialed in correctly. After a few trips to the CAT scales, our drive axle weight was at the max, but the hitch adjustment now has us well under the axle weight rating.
Attachments
mlogan
Well-Known Member
We havd a similar setup with our '15 Limited towing a 35' Surveyor. I need to add another washer to the Equalizer and re-check the setup after 2 years - I'm seeing you all have a bit less squat than I do (keeping most all cargo out of the Expy). Still tows well and very minimal sway unless just the wrong cross wind. We've towed over 12k miles during pandemic xc trips.
JVinOlathe
Well-Known Member
Again, the 9,200 pound is a theoretical maximum load when all the stars align. In practice, the maximn load is closet 7,500 lbs. If you watch the video I posted, it explains in great detail and in an easy to understand manner how to determine your maximum allowed load; you will find out is considerabl;y lower thna 9,200 pounds. I too have a Expy with the heavy dudty tow package so I am aware of its limitations.
