Camper weight

[cbbco]

I have a 2017 with the heavy-duty tow package. We’re looking into buying a camper, and I’d like some advice on the maximum weight we should consider. We live in the mountains, so we’d need to tow it over some high mountain passes.

 

[bobmbx]

Define what "max weight" means to you. Max tow weight for the '17 HD 4WD XLT EL is 9200 pounds.

Here's Fords' guide to towing for the 17:

https://www.ford.com/cmslibs/conten...df/brochures/17RV&TT_Ford_Expedition_Sep7.pdf

 

[cbbco]

We’ll have a family of four along with a week’s worth of camping supplies with us. Can we actually tow up to the max tow weight? I’ve heard that you should only tow up to 80% of the max weight.

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

The 9000 lbs rating is also predicated on using a load distribution hitch.

 

[cullinan18]

cbbco, many folks will tell you to consider fully loaded weight and trailer length. Everybody will have their own opinion and likely suggest you're a full of you do differently.

That being all said, I was looking at around 7450#s fully loaded and about 32'. Originally, I wanted to keep things under 30',but I was getting caught up on the +1s.

 

[ExpeditionAndy]

We’ll have a family of four along with a week’s worth of camping supplies with us. Can we actually tow up to the max tow weight? I’ve heard that you should only tow up to 80% of the max weight.

You have to subtract the weight of the vehicle load (people, supplies etc.) from the max tow capacity to arrive at the max weight you can pull.

 

[JohnnyFort]

I tow a 31 feet overall travel trailer with a ready to camp weight of 6500lbs. Our 17 Max ( EL) tow it better than the 2016 F150 I traded in.

I Haven't use the DOT scale yet but Im pretty sure I'm near the limit of the rear axle.

I wouldn't tow a 9000lbs trailer with it...

 

[bobmbx]

We’ll have a family of four along with a week’s worth of camping supplies with us. Can we actually tow up to the max tow weight? I’ve heard that you should only tow up to 80% of the max weight.

The rule is: Don't tow more than the truck is rated for. The other rule is: Don't tow more than you're comfortable pulling.

 

[coolzzy]

Look for something with a dry weight rating between 5 and 6k pounds and you will be fine. That seems to be the sweet spot for a half ton based vehicle. You can then add 1k pounds of cargo and still be in the safe zone. Going by gross weight can be all over the chart since its based on whatever axles are under the trailer, and sometimes they are over or undersized which affects your trailer cargo capacity. For example my 25ft (29ft bumper to tongue) has a dry weight of 5k pounds but a ccc of only 950! Similiar sized campers might have the same dry weight but bigger axles and thus a ccc more in the 2k pound range.

 

[cbbco]

Thanks for the advice. Time to start shopping!

 

[chuck s]

My own rule is the "One Ton Rule" which states the maximum weight of the trailer should be a ton less than the maximum towing capacity of whatever vehicle is used. In the case of the Expedition's 9200 maximum towing capacity I want to tow a trailer weighing no more than 7200 pounds loaded. That's my comfort level and accounts for passengers and cargo, mountain grades and high summer temperatures. No exotic math. Really not that conservative. Short distance towing on fairly level ground can get by with the "1000 Pound Rule."

My '17 Expedition can monitor engine coolant and transmission temps on the dash and I keep track of them.

Note your altitude will rob the engine of significant power. I'd run 93 Octane when towing where you are.

-- Chuck

 

[RustyOval]

cbbco, many folks will tell you to consider fully loaded weight and trailer length. Everybody will have their own opinion and likely suggest you're a full of you do differently.

That being all said, I was looking at around 7450#s fully loaded and about 32'. Originally, I wanted to keep things under 30',but I was getting caught up on the +1s.

^ This. No way can the Expy pull a TT that weighs anywhere near 9,000#. This should be your guide to max towing, no matter what a truck or camper sapeman tells you. Happy hunting!

 

[chuck s]

9200 pounds is a maximum permissible weight with only a 150 pound driver in the otherwise empty vehicle. The weight of every fossilized McDonalds french fry under the seat needs to be subtracted from that weight to get the rear allowed weight.

Comfort levels vary. I've yet to find any trailer length restrictions in the towing guides.

-- Chuck

 

[DF5.4]

Mine is a 15 EL. I have upgraded the tires to E rated tires. The camper is 32' and has a max weight of 7495lbs. I'm using the Reese dual cam HP WD/Sway control hitch. This pulls comfortably. I don't tow over 65 mph and I've done 600 mile days from NY to VA. That's with 4 to 6 of us and a Boarder Collie in the truck.

 

[chuck s]

Nice rig! You have a Border Collie that boards with you? (Don't ya just love spellcheck?)

I run the Equalizer (brand WHD) and run the rear tires up to 40psi. P-radials work fine for my infrequent towing.

-- Chuck

 

[ynpmoose]

My trailer is 27', 4850# dry, 7000# max and I just finished a trip from east Pa to central Kentucky though the Appalachians without any complaints. Plenty of power and no sway using an Equalizer hitch.

 

[Muddy Bean]

Mine is a 15 EL. I have upgraded the tires to E rated tires. The camper is 32' and has a max weight of 7495lbs. I'm using the Reese dual cam HP WD/Sway control hitch. This pulls comfortably. I don't tow over 65 mph and I've done 600 mile days from NY to VA. That's with 4 to 6 of us and a Boarder Collie in the truck.View attachment 25918

What kind of MPG’s are you getting pulling these trailers guys? I’m interested in a camper trailer purchase but I am wondering what the MPG hit will be.


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[chuck s]

Planning mileage was nine (9) miles/gallon with my '07 5.4V8 and 3.77 axles pulling my full body travel trailer. Towing mainly in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. Perhaps more hilly than Michigan in some parts. Not enough towing yet with my exactly one year old '17 but it's a bit better and tows fine with the 3.31 axles.

Main factor appears to be wind resistance as towing my little C-Dory 16 cabin cruiser got about the same mileage despite being well less than half the weight.

Speed truly used more fuel. I tended to tow at the "truck speed limit" despite the trucks running well faster than it. Speed also was a major factor towing without the trailer. Several dozen drives from Cleveland to Gettysburg (where my daughter and money went to college) showed I could do it with no fuel stops if I ran the speed limit and in less time than if I ran the speed limit "plus 10" and had to refuel once. Still hard to drive slow, though.

My popup camper tucked nicely behind my Explorer and got better mileage.

"YMMV,"

-- Chuck

 

[Muddy Bean]

I was wondering because I just towed a completely empty 6 x 10 v nose trailer at 76 mph and got 8 miles to the gallon. I know that’s pretty fast, speed limit here in Michigan is 75. I was wondering if I slow down substantially if it would raise the miles per gallon substantially.


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[coolzzy]

Not only will you get better mileage by slowing to 65, but your chances of having a tire blow out or running into sway issues will also be greatly reduced. Just because the truck can pull the trailer that fast doesn't mean it's good for the trailer (or other people on the road for that matter). Most trailer tires are rated for 65mph and depending on the axle, may have small bearings that don't tolerate high speed/heat well. I get 10mpg towing my 6k pound camper if I stay between 65 and 70, but it's a low profile aerodynamic trailer designed to be towed by an SUV (Tracer Air). The internet is full of stories of tire blowouts and angry owners but how many of them are due to under inflation and high speeds? My guess is at least 50% or more.