Anyone tow a 7000lb camper?

[Molaf]

I have a Rockwood 2509S on order and will be trading in our F-150 for a 2022 Max once they are available. The trailer has a GVWR of 6869lbs. With 13% in tongue weight, thats 892 lbs. Of course we will not be maxing out the 1569lb cargo capacity so that we lower that tongue weight.

Anyone with a camper in that weight/length (26ft) care to share their experience towing with the 4th gen Expy especially in the mountains? Thanks.

 

[Yupster Dog]

Anyone with a camper in that weight/length (26ft) care to share their experience towing the Expy especially in the mountains?

I have moved your thread to towing and hauling you will get a better response for the information you are looking for.

 

[Molaf]

I have moved your thread to towing and hauling you will get a better response for the information you are looking for.

Thanks!

 

[Molaf]

Hmm nobody?

 

[JasonH]

Hmm nobody?

I think your subject is too specific. I initially ignored it because I don't have the model trailer you referenced. A better question would be has anyone towed a trailer with a GVWR over 6,5000 lbs. My trailer is 7,000 loaded. GVWR is around 7,600 and length is 33'. It tows fine with my 3rd gen. The 4th should be at least as competent. The only real deficiency is the lack of engine braking, owing to the small displacement engine. I've towed above 6,000 feet, but the grades weren't particularly steep. Just make sure you visit a scale and have your weights distributed correctly. Load "E" tires help with stability (and puncture resistance) as well. I haven't really had any issues towing, once I worked out my WDH setup.

 

[Meeker]

I have a 2509S on order and will be trading in our F-150 for a 2022 Max once they are available. The trailer has a GVWR of 6869lbs. With 13% in tongue weight, thats 892 lbs. Of course we will not be maxing out the 1569lb cargo capacity so that we lower that tongue weight.

Anyone with a camper in that weight/length (26ft) care to share their experience towing with the 4th gen Expy especially in the mountains? Thanks.

My Keystone Cougar is 27' and GVWR of 7200 lbs. I'm always struggling to keep under the RAWR of the 2018 XLT (standard length), but that's the only real issue I have. I tow in the mountains all the time and power is just not an issue. I'm a 65 mph max kind of guy though so YMMV. Sway is dependent on a well-dialled-in weight distributing hitch - once I set that up correctly sway is minimal. I do recommend running higher tire pressure to minimize sway (45-50 lbs if your tires can go that high).

 

[Marqui3]

I have a Rockwood 2608WS, 30 feet tongue to bumpers, about 7000 lbs load My tongue weight is always between 750 to 800 lbs. Payload on my expi is 1560 lbs, only my wife and I ( about 400 lbs) in the truck when I tow so that leaves about 300 lbs leeway. Last scale stop showed about 150 lbs spare when loaded for a camping trip. All that said we took took a trip to Alaska in 2019 (15000 kilometers in all) and I was amazed with the towing capabilities of the expedition. The steepest hills were no problem. As mention engine brake is a little week, but I have a class 1 (CDL) drivers license so it’s not a big concern for me. Just need to adjust accordingly. As far as sway, with the short wheel base I find that on windy days I need to slow down to about 55 miles an hour to be comfortable but still get a bit the tail wagging the dog. The max hopefully will be much better as it adds 11 inches of wheel base. I also find that I get better gas millage when Tow in 7th gear instead of the computer selected 8th gear.
Hope this info helps. I will be interested in your results with the MAX, as I am considering trading up to one myself.

 

[Molaf]

I think your subject is too specific. I initially ignored it because I don't have the model trailer you referenced. A better question would be has anyone towed a trailer with a GVWR over 6,5000 lbs. My trailer is 7,000 loaded. GVWR is around 7,600 and length is 33'. It tows fine with my 3rd gen. The 4th should be at least as competent. The only real deficiency is the lack of engine braking, owing to the small displacement engine. I've towed above 6,000 feet, but the grades weren't particularly steep. Just make sure you visit a scale and have your weights distributed correctly. Load "E" tires help with stability (and puncture resistance) as well. I haven't really had any issues towing, once I worked out my WDH setup.

Ya I kind of realized that after I posted. I do know that the Rockwoods/Flagstaffs tend to be pretty tongue heavy. What is the tongue weight on yours?

I have a Rockwood 2608WS, 30 feet tongue to bumpers, about 7000 lbs load My tongue weight is always between 750 to 800 lbs. Payload on my expi is 1560 lbs, only my wife and I ( about 400 lbs) in the truck when I tow so that leaves about 300 lbs leeway. Last scale stop showed about 150 lbs spare when loaded for a camping trip. All that said we took took a trip to Alaska in 2019 (15000 kilometers in all) and I was amazed with the towing capabilities of the expedition. The steepest hills were no problem. As mention engine brake is a little week, but I have a class 1 (CDL) drivers license so it’s not a big concern for me. Just need to adjust accordingly. As far as sway, with the short wheel base I find that on windy days I need to slow down to about 55 miles an hour to be comfortable but still get a bit the tail wagging the dog. The max hopefully will be much better as it adds 11 inches of wheel base. I also find that I get better gas millage when Tow in 7th gear instead of the computer selected 8th gear.
Hope this info helps. I will be interested in your results with the MAX, as I am considering trading up to one myself.

Ya longer wheelbase is definitely the way to go. The good thing is that the trailer is short relatively speaking. Only 26' tip to tail. So being in at under 7k lbs and at that max length coupled with the longer wheelbase with the vehicle should make for a pretty good towing experience.

 

[CASPEROKC]

Pulling a 7500 GVWR TT almost every weekend with a 4th Gen Max, with max tow package. Zero issues with power. Haven’t towed in the mountains but have pulled in some pretty good hills. Worst MPG I have seen is about 6MPG. This was on 91 octane in about 90 degree weather and 90% humidity. Running a WDH is a must. I have added sumo springs to the rear which have helped with more of the body roll / sway. Still running the factory tires. Run them at max cold pressure per the tire and running the trailer tires 5psi under max cold. The tire pressure has helped as well. We will be replacing the China bomb trailer tires with a heavier duty tire before long to help with the sidewall flex and upgrading the truck to load E tires too. Engine braking could be better. I do grab the trailer brake if I am having to stop fast just so I’m not putting so much on the front rotors stopping in a hurry.

 

[Matthew Marlowe]

Towing toyhauler, 30ft, probably 7500lbs...

 

[THOMAS F Smith]

I tow a 27' long 6500lbs travel trailer and i can tell you it pulls it great...... you can pass trucks doing 70 uphill without a sweat...but MPG will suffer a little. I am right at max rear axle rating at 2 adults 2 kids and 2 dogs...and i have had to move stuff around the camper to get the tounge weight under control, I also did the rear hellwig bar and sumo springs. Overall i could not be happier.

 

[expeditionmike361]

Towing toyhauler, 30ft, probably 7500lbs...

What type of wdh is that and do you like it?

 

[expeditionmike361]

Towing toyhauler, 30ft, probably 7500lbs...

How do you like towing with those 22” wheels?

 

[hasher13]

I don't have a 4th gen, but a 3rd gen with the HD tow package. I just bough an Forest River Alpha Wolf which weighs in about 7K. live in the NE and took it out a couple of weeks up and down the mountains. It did well. I was white-knuckling at the start, but then started to trust the truck. Hope that helps.

 

[JasonH]

If it's squirrelly your tongue weight may be low. Tow haulers can be hard to setup because of the weight variance between loaded and unloaded.

I don't have a 4th gen, but a 3rd gen with the HD tow package. I just bough an Forest River Alpha Wolf which weighs in about 7K. live in the NE and took it out a couple of weeks up and down the mountains. It did well. I was white-knuckling at the start, but then started to trust the truck. Hope that helps.

 

[ChrisOIFdoc]

Only if my mother in law is being towed behind my truck on the way to camp. Does that count?

 

[Matthew Marlowe]

Only issue with expedition towing 30ft 7500lb trailer is on hot days when going slow down very steep windy mountain roads...expedition activates transmission braking in tow haul mode and transmission temp increases relatively fast... no problem above 50mph, but 6+% grades at 45mph on 90 degree afternoon pushes transmission into enabling extra cooler and you see 235-245 , not sure how it will handle extended passes..

 

[GWK1]

Towing a 31' TT loaded about 7000 with hvy dty tow pkg and no issues with mountains (power or braking); no trailer sway or erratic behavior. Equalizer WDH and HaloView Rearview camera make towing less stressful.

 

[Knut]

I have a Rockwood 2608WS, 30 feet tongue to bumpers, about 7000 lbs load My tongue weight is always between 750 to 800 lbs. Payload on my expi is 1560 lbs, only my wife and I ( about 400 lbs) in the truck when I tow so that leaves about 300 lbs leeway. Last scale stop showed about 150 lbs spare when loaded for a camping trip. All that said we took took a trip to Alaska in 2019 (15000 kilometers in all) and I was amazed with the towing capabilities of the expedition. The steepest hills were no problem. As mention engine brake is a little week, but I have a class 1 (CDL) drivers license so it’s not a big concern for me. Just need to adjust accordingly. As far as sway, with the short wheel base I find that on windy days I need to slow down to about 55 miles an hour to be comfortable but still get a bit the tail wagging the dog. The max hopefully will be much better as it adds 11 inches of wheel base. I also find that I get better gas millage when Tow in 7th gear instead of the computer selected 8th gear.
Hope this info helps. I will be interested in your results with the MAX, as I am considering trading up to one myself.

Interesting about towing in 7th instead of 8th
what kind of difference do you see?

 

[Squark]

FWIW, I have a 33' 7,600lb trailer and it's a bit much for my Expy Max w/HD tow. Power is no issue, but crosswinds and passing trucks push me around more than I'd like. I upgraded to a ProPride hitch, LT load range E tires, and Hellwig sway bars. It's better but not great. I'm waiting on Bilstein 5100s to arrive to see if those help (I've had 6 leaking factory shocks in 40k miles). I've been to the scale and my tongue weight is just under the 900lb max.

Molaf, I think a 26' 7,000lb trailer would work well with the Max. There's less surface area to be affected by wind and you can go to a higher percentage tongue weight than I can. I tow through the Appalachian Mountains and haven't had any issues. My transmission heats up on steep, slow inclines, but it's never overheated. Engine braking works well in most cases. I did go down a 14% hill that made me nervous, engine braking in 1st gear and still riding the brakes. But 99% of the time there's no problem. Honestly, I've had more issues with winds in the midwest plains that I have in the mountains.