Thinking about a Expedition with a big camper

[foodog2]

I currently have a 30’ Airstream weighing 7,600 and 900 tongue. I tow it with a 2500 truck but it’s a bit much as a daily driver. I am thinking about a 21 expedition with the tow package. It’s well within the towing weight but tongue is at the max. I might take one or two trips a year couple hundred miles Max the camper stays in a permanent camp sote.

Seems like with the sumo Springs and a sway bar I would probably be fine with a good hitch setup. Or am I an idiot

 

[Hamfisted]

Keep the 2500 for towing that load. I'd just get a daily driver car instead. You'd get better gas mileage anyway.

 

[Deep8174]

I have a similar weighing TT with 900 lbs hitch weight indicated on the spec sheet. The manufacturer says it is based on all tanks being full and other dealers indicating that it is actually 750, but I will confirm in the coming days when I have a chance to weigh it. It seemed to tow well when I first got it with little sag so I'm skeptical on the 900.

 

[Fasttimes]

Depends I would say how many are you going to have in the Expy? How much extra pay-load weight? If it's no more than 4 and you keep the remaining cargo smartly loaded into the trailer you should be fine. Upgrade the sway bars, add some sumo spacers and become very familiar with using the local cat scale and get the weight dist hitch dialed in perfectly. Couple times a year, for sure, go with the Expy as a daily driver. This is exactly where I'm at and why I haven't upgraded to a F250. Don't want a big truck as my daily driver. Properly dialed in set up wise you'd be just fine.

 

[JasonH]

I think you would be fine with a Max and proper WDH setup. I suggest going to a scale and verifying the tongue weight. Also, sometimes there are things you can do to get the tongue weight down, like a lighter or rear-mounted battery, lighter hitch, shifting belongings rearward, etc. The tongue weight is obviously a concern because of the suspension and axle limits, but your total weight is fine. If you can get the tongue weight down to within manufacturer specs, you should be ok, especially for short trips. Maybe trying renting an HD Tow equipped Expedition Max from Turo and try a short trip.

 

[mr_dave]

I'm sure it's possible, but I also think you'd be maxing out every spec on the Expedition. A loaded camper could easily top 9000lb+, frontal area is probably at least 60sqft, and a loaded vehicle with passengers and a 900lb tongue weight could easily push you over the ~1700lb payload.

If you're only going short distances a couple times a year and not hauling a lot of gear, it would probably be fine. If you're going long distances with full passengers and gear, I would not be comfortable pushing the limits, if that were my family. Just my $0.02.

I'm sure you've seen Ford's Towing guide, but pasting it here just for reference: https://www.ford.com/cmslibs/conten.../pdf/guides/21Towing_Ford_Expedition_Dec3.pdf

 

[Pawpaw]

Even though with the max tow package that gives me 9,200 lbs towing I would only pull around 7,500 to 8,000 max. Wife and I have been looking at some travel trailers in that range.

 

[foodog2]

Depends I would say how many are you going to have in the Expy? How much extra pay-load weight? If it's no more than 4 and you keep the remaining cargo smartly loaded into the trailer you should be fine. Upgrade the sway bars, add some sumo spacers and become very familiar with using the local cat scale and get the weight dist hitch dialed in perfectly. Couple times a year, for sure, go with the Expy as a daily driver. This is exactly where I'm at and why I haven't upgraded to a F250. Don't want a big truck as my daily driver. Properly dialed in set up wise you'd be just fine.

It would be two adults and two 5 year old grandkids sometimes. We travel light for the most part

 

[Fasttimes]

It would be two adults and two 5 year old grandkids sometimes. We travel light for the most part

The Expedition would fit the bill just fine with that payload. Just learn to use a CAT scale and take the time to dial in the weight dist hitch. Once you do that, you'll see how to pack the trailer just right keeping the majority of the cargo in the trailer not in the truck. But yeah, Expy would be just fine for your needs.

 

[foodog2]

The Expedition would fit the bill just fine with that payload. Just learn to use a CAT scale and take the time to dial in the weight dist hitch. Once you do that, you'll see how to pack the trailer just right keeping the majority of the cargo in the trailer not in the truck. But yeah, Expy would be just fine for your needs.

I weighed the truck a few times so I know how to do the cat thing. My only real concern is managing the tongue weight. I have never adjusted or set up the WD hutch myself though. Always had a dealer do it. I will figure it out.

 

[mr_dave]

My only real concern is managing the tongue weight.

You could get something like this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00REOUYME/

 

[NukeLife]

I towed a 7500 lb TT out west this past summer. It was 28’ long. My Expy is the shorter model. Hellwig sway bars and Sumo spring spacers. I never felt like it was too much.
Stability control was great. Trailer braking was great.
Power? No sweat. The ease at which this 3.5 turbo pulled it through some high mountain passes was actually shockingly impressive.

Get a good WDH, and set it up correctly, and you will be just fine.
It’s a towing beast.

 

[ccssid]

I weighed the truck a few times so I know how to do the cat thing. My only real concern is managing the tongue weight. I have never adjusted or set up the WD hutch myself though. Always had a dealer do it. I will figure it out.

Yes . The best thing you can do for yourself.....is NOT let the dealer set up your WD hitch.

 

[Fasttimes]

I weighed the truck a few times so I know how to do the cat thing. My only real concern is managing the tongue weight. I have never adjusted or set up the WD hutch myself though. Always had a dealer do it. I will figure it out.

Took me a good year to dial mine in. Ultimately when I got to the CAT scale and realized I wasn't transfering enough weight onto the front axle was when it got dialed in. I'm using an Equalizer 10,000lb set up and have all the washers in the adjustments meaning I'm pushing as much as I can with this WDH. After going to the CAT and realizing my true tongue weight and such I put my camper on a diet. I ditched the two 30lb propane tanks I was taking, now I take just one 20lb tank unless I need two which is only during winter or the rare occasion I'm dry camping like in the smokies and need more gas for the generator. I got rid of my heavy grill and now have a light weight one and moved some heavy items from the forward storage to within the camper over the trailer axles. I went from a 950-1000 pound tongue weight to now at around 780 which is where I want to be for my 27' trailer (factory spec is 760). It's usually just the wife and I and two dogs. I no longer bring a heavy cooler in the vehicle, now just a small one for the day's needs. All these mitigation tactics made a huge difference in how the set up feels when towing. My Expy is old, 2010, but I've put new beefier coilovers, sumo spacers, Helwig sway bars, new tires, and trailer on a diet. Now it feels great. Took a while, but finally it's where it needs to be.

 

[Pawpaw]

My Expedition had no trouble towing or stopping this camper. Guessing in the 7200 lb range with the front AC and 2 full 30 lb tanks. Got home and son in law re-adjusted the Equalizer hitch and I aired up the rear tires to 65 psi. Raised the rear and threw more weight to the front axle. Estimated hitch weight at 1000 lbs. Payload on my Expy is 1769 lbs. and its usually just me and the wife. Told her this is not like the 41' fifth wheel we had with a dually pulling it!!

 

[GWK1]

I am confused (it happens a lot lately) about the use of Sumo Springs or similar product mentioned in the post about towing a 30' Airstream. My trailer is that length and approximate weight when fully loaded. My concern after weighing several times at the CAT scales, the rear drive axle is at or very near the limit GAWR. So wouldn't the same weight be on the drive axle with or without the Sumos? Thanks.

 

[JasonH]

I am confused (it happens a lot lately) about the use of Sumo Springs or similar product mentioned in the post about towing a 30' Airstream. My trailer is that length and approximate weight when fully loaded. My concern after weighing several times at the CAT scales, the rear drive axle is at or very near the limit GAWR. So wouldn't the same weight be on the drive axle with or without the Sumos? Thanks.

Yes. The only common use case I can think of is towing a boat, which I've been informed tend to have lower tongue weights (so no WDH needed). The sumo springs aren't needed if weight is distributed properly between front and rear axles. Some people want a stiffer rear, but sumo springs shouldn't be used as a substitute for a WDH.