Platinum Towing Experiences

[mwl001]

Well it just so happens on the way to the campground. Expy had about 600 lbs of people and stuff plus trailer. We also had a ton of water because the campground only has electric. Only the second trip but wd close to being dialed in.


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How planted did you feel towing with your rear axle so close to the limit and your front axle so light? We have a lighter and shorter trailer but when the front gets more than 400-500lbs lighter than the rear it’s not fun, and that’s nowhere near your scale #s. Not sure if it’s possible to move another 200lbs to the front but I bet it would feel a lot more planted.

 

[Jrparne]

Great question, the front feels exactly the same non towing with regards to the steering wheel feel. We were under adjusted when we first got it and it was floaty. Added two washers and that felt a ton more planted. Yes the rear is squatted but my weight distribution measurements have the front end exactly at where it is when we are not towing. steering feels exactly the same. The only thing you feel is the response of 7000 lbs behind you once you make a correction but it is not floaty. Still fine tuning and debating on adjusting my L brackets on the trailer one more to gain a more level contact with the wd bars. It looks nearly level and one more may be too much but it would transfer a little more forward which like you said may feel better.. this would give me a little more balance as well because I have some room left on gvwr but that’s hard to translate to the front axle loading the vehicle. It seems most of that weight always goes to the rear axle. But, we will see and I’ll keep y’all updated. .


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[Wayne Decker]

The way to REALLY know if the set up is correct is to do three passes on the scales.

1. Just the tow vehicle.

2. Vehicle and trailer with no weight distribution, with three separate weights ( steer, drive, trailer)

3. Vehicle and trailer with weight distribution, with three separate weights ( steer, drive, trailer)

Then, with a little math you can see if it's set up correctly.

I'm thinking that jrparne's set up is way light on the front axle (but I'm going from memory, I don't have my scale reports in front of me). Steer axle in #1 and #3 should be pretty close.

 

[Jrparne]

The steer axle and drive axle shouldn’t be close on an expedition. For instance the Gross axle weight rating is 3550 on the front axle and the rear gross axle weight rating is 4380. I totally agree using cat scales for multiple passes will be much more accurate but both the rv towing guide put out by Ford and the equalizer 4 point manual both only indicate using a tape measure to measure the front end with the trailer on, off and with weight distribution bars. Now if you made a pass on the cat scale with out the trailer and with the trailer and compare the front end that would be extremely accurate. I came up with a spread sheet for mine with a ratio for the expedition between front axle and rear axle for good “feel” and if I can get about 80-100 lbs more in the front axle it will get very close to that ratio that I know feels good to me while driving.

 

[Wayne Decker]

I wasn't clear. I'm saying the vehicle alone steer axle weight should be close to the weight distributed front axle weight.

I always use the tape measure method on initial set up, and it's usually very close. I had to adjust by half a link on my Reeese Dual Cam to dial it in.

 

[Jrparne]

Yeah I went back to my spreadsheet of the previous trailer and I had started out at 3120 fawr Adjusted over about 6 different trips to 3280 and that trailer was def perfectly trimmed with the hitch. I think I will raise that L bracket one more to gain more leverage and level it out much more for sway contact. It will be at least a week before I’ll have a scale ticket for that adjustment but will post for everyone’s benefit.


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[mwl001]

I’m happier with more weight (than stock) on my front axle.. with that much on your rear you might find that your front fender is higher than you started meaning you can add more weight to the front. If you can get to within 1/4-1/2” you’re good.

when I weighed my Expedition empty it was very close to 50/50.

 

[James Lindley]

I have a 2020 Platinum, with the HD Tow pack. The maximum towing capacity is rated as 9200lbs.

We're looking at buying a travel trailer, and the ones I've had my eye on top out at between 7500 and 8500lbs GVWR. Of course, that's the maximum the trailer axles are rated to carry with our cargo on board (beer, food, clothes, beer, water, beer etc) - so likely less than that in the real world.

Ordinarily I wouldn't think twice about this because it's under the max rating, but we live in the foothills of the Rockies, and will be dragging this thing all over the mountains camping.

Is this too close to the line with the terrain considerations? Is that 9200lbs an "engineering safety" number? (lots of things have a rated limit far below their real limit, for a safety margin)

Thoughts on this? Am I worrying over nothing? Anyone else have relevant tow experiences to share?

 

[James Lindley]

I tow a 33' travel trailer with my 2017 XLT w/ tow package rated also at 9200lb. I upgraded the tires to E rated 10 ply tires, add ShumoSprings to rear struts and upgraded rear sway bar to a Hellwig 7/8" bar. With a WDH and Reese anti sway kit I pulls great. However it still fells high winds just by the size of the trailer.

 

[James Lindley]

Oh, and I also removed the back seats never used to reduce about 300lb from the back.

 

[LG_123]

Thoughts on this? Am I worrying over nothing? Anyone else have relevant tow experiences to share?

Speaking from experience towing a 34’ airstream all over the country, you’ll be just fine. Go for the trailer you want, the Expy can tow pretty near anything.

 

[mwl001]

Airstreams have several characteristics (lighter weight per linear foot/lower profile/lower center of gravity) that allow them to tow "shorter than their weight". I've always been curious why Airstream doesn't advertise them scientifically this way, a la our 30 footer tows like a 25 footer. One shouldn't assume that a taller 34 foot typical box camper that may also weigh more than the Airstream will tow equally as easy.

Here's a video on backing off weight distribution in a setup that was "over-adjusted". He shows how they try to get the fender height as close to stock as possible; note that that's not stock weight, but rather stock height, so you'll end up with more weight on the front axle than you started with.

 

[Rossue]

With most campgrounds packed and needing reservations 6-12 months out dispersed camping is becoming a way to sidestep this dilemma. A 20 foot trailer will get you in a LOT more places than a 30 foot will. We've had our Escape 21 for 6 years and although we can easily afford a new 30 foot Airstream we'd never buy one or a 26 foot EVO or anything similar. Less is more; YMMV.

 

[Lou Hamilton]

With most campgrounds packed and needing reservations 6-12 months out dispersed camping is becoming a way to sidestep this dilemma. A 20 foot trailer will get you in a LOT more places than a 30 foot will. We've had our Escape 21 for 6 years and although we can easily afford a new 30 foot Airstream we'd never buy one or a 26 foot EVO or anything similar. Less is more; YMMV.

This is the exact reason we are looking at a shorter/smaller Airstream than we initially thought.

We currently have an R-Pod with a full length of 20'-0".

We initially were thinking of a 25' Airstream with a full length of 25'-11". Now, we are looking at the Caravel line, specifically, the 20FB. That one comes in at 20'-8". We already know what sites we can fit in. That makes it easy when reserving sites. It provides us the upgrades we want in a package that we are already familiar with. Win-Win.

 

[Calidad]

With most campgrounds packed and needing reservations 6-12 months out dispersed camping is becoming a way to sidestep this dilemma. A 20 foot trailer will get you in a LOT more places than a 30 foot will. We've had our Escape 21 for 6 years and although we can easily afford a new 30 foot Airstream we'd never buy one or a 26 foot EVO or anything similar. Less is more; YMMV.

Yep!! Out west especially with the COViD RV boom 6+ months even a 12 months in some cases just to get a reserved spot. Not to mention RV storage has become a golden ticket!!! I know people paying more $ per month to store their 30ft box 75+ miles from the coast than what I pay for my 12x30ft slip on the SF Bay!
I actually have put my trailer upgrade plan on hold given we have had to scrap camping plans and go Airbnb booking due to lack of site availability. Even before COVID we had increasingly gone private camps vs State or GOV camping simply due to no ability to reserve anything within a reasonable period of time 3-5 months out. Now with the RV C-19 boom I’m thinking we rebuild our backpacking kit and hit my old haunts way off the radar. Or we start doing more over night trips on our sailboat. One thing is for sure going bigger camp trailer is out... At least for now with the RV craze having every resort/parking lot and campground packed full even in the off season. I’d rather rent a Airbnb a few weeks prior to my trip and have a place to crash without a crowd parked around me.

 

[shane_th_ee]

With most campgrounds packed and needing reservations 6-12 months out dispersed camping is becoming a way to sidestep this dilemma. A 20 foot trailer will get you in a LOT more places than a 30 foot will. We've had our Escape 21 for 6 years and although we can easily afford a new 30 foot Airstream we'd never buy one or a 26 foot EVO or anything similar. Less is more; YMMV.

Yup. This is also why we bought an 18’ bunkhouse for the 6 of us.

 

[Matthew Marlowe]

I tow a 7500 lb boat with my Limited and the first thing I bought after the first tow was a set of Sumo Springs. The following season I did the Helwig sway bar. With those in place it is a decent tow vehicle. Still would be better with air shocks, but at least it is stable at highway speeds now. I only do a couple thousand miles per year towing at speed with 5 people, so it meets my needs with the upgrades.

Limited standard or max? How long of a trailer?

Been unhappy with the towing of our 2020 platinum, but we have a 7250lb 33ft trailer... tempted to replace it with a max when the 2022 model year comes out, and then add summo springs, light truck tires, and a sway bar, maybe pro pride hitch.

Been tempted to move up to a F350 cclb srw, but honestly I'm very happy with a ranger/expedition combination generally and have little other need for a superduty. My only real worries is that the transmission can get a little hot/loud when engine fan turns on when suv is engine braking on a sustained downhill grade and the 930lb receiver rating seems easy to overwhelm with 12% On hitch, 100+lbs for a good hitch, and anything in the front of the trailer a-frame.

We generally travel with two near 100lb dogs and at least 2 passengers plus driver. Expedition highly preferred but were definitely touching payload limit. If Ford could just beef the expedition up a little more, it would be ideal.

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[Calidad]

With most campgrounds packed and needing reservations 6-12 months out dispersed camping is becoming a way to sidestep this dilemma. A 20 foot trailer will get you in a LOT more places than a 30 foot will. We've had our Escape 21 for 6 years and although we can easily afford a new 30 foot Airstream we'd never buy one or a 26 foot EVO or anything similar. Less is more; YMMV.

^^^^This
If I get a trailer its not going to be more than 20-22ft. Plus these Box on wheels Travel trailers are horrible to tow and I would be buying a trailer to extend my weather and range not limit it further

 

[Zig10]

Limited standard or max? How long of a trailer?

Been unhappy with the towing of our 2020 platinum, but we have a 7250lb 33ft trailer... tempted to replace it with a max when the 2022 model year comes out, and then add summo springs, light truck tires, and a sway bar, maybe pro pride hitch.

Been tempted to move up to a F350 cclb srw, but honestly I'm very happy with a ranger/expedition combination generally and have little other need for a superduty. My only real worries is that the transmission can get a little hot/loud when engine fan turns on when suv is engine braking on a sustained downhill grade and the 930lb receiver rating seems easy to overwhelm with 12% On hitch, 100+lbs for a good hitch, and anything in the front of the trailer a-frame.

We generally travel with two near 100lb dogs and at least 2 passengers plus driver. Expedition highly preferred but were definitely touching payload limit. If Ford could just beef the expedition up a little more, it would be ideal.

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Limited Max. Boat on the trailer is around 28'-29'.

I'll knock on wood and say that the engine and transmission have never bumped above normal temperature, and that includes being stuck in stop and go traffic in 90° heat. Fan does get a tad noisy, but the thermal dissipation on the engine seems pretty impressive so far.

 

[Fizzy]

Been unhappy with the towing of our 2020 platinum, but we have a 7250lb 33ft trailer... tempted to replace it with a max when the 2022 model year comes out, and then add summo springs, light truck tires, and a sway bar, maybe pro pride hitch.

Why? The Max has a lower cargo and towing capacity than the Standard...

Our trailer loaded is 7300lb, 32ft. Towing with a standard Platinum, with a Blue Ox Sway Pro weight distributing hitch, and it tows effortlessly.