Thoughts after first tow, and how fast do you tow?

[Amacron]

Just completed a 4630 mile trip out to Yellowstone and back. Avg 9.4 MPG towing an 275BH TT. Traveled 65 on cruise control. absolutely no sway.
I was just under the max weights. We carefully weighed everything we put in the TT. Including the propane tanks and battery. It came out to 550lbs. The TT drywight was 6480. The TT GVWR is 9480. I had it weighed at the cat scale. With everyone in the expy plus full of gas. I was at the following weights

steer axle 3400
Drive axle 4380
Trailer axle 6560
Total axle 14340

have the blue ox WDH.
I have a 2019 platinum max with the HD tow package. Watched the transmission temp. It ran 214. On the entire trip only had one rather steep grade. Where the max transmission temp hit 243 for about 2 min. Then started back down.

 

[Squark]

View attachment 36913 Just completed a 4630 mile trip out to Yellowstone and back. Avg 9.4 MPG towing an 275BH TT. Traveled 65 on cruise control. absolutely no sway.
I was just under the max weights. We carefully weighed everything we put in the TT. Including the propane tanks and battery. It came out to 550lbs. The TT drywight was 6480. The TT GVWR is 9480. I had it weighed at the cat scale. With everyone in the expy plus full of gas. I was at the following weights

steer axle 3400
Drive axle 4380
Trailer axle 6560
Total axle 14340

have the blue ox WDH.
I have a 2019 platinum max with the HD tow package. Watched the transmission temp. It ran 214. On the entire trip only had one rather steep grade. Where the max transmission temp hit 243 for about 2 min. Then started back down.

I'm glad to hear everything's stable with that length and weight TT. We have a TT on order and will be using a Blue Ox hitch with it. The last TT I towed (29ft, ~6300lbs loaded) was rented and the WDH wasn't set up properly. We had a lot of 'truck suck' and got pushed around a bit. Thankfully sway wasn't an issue. It was tongue high and the WDH wasn't distributing enough, so we were low in the rear. I'm excited to tow with a proper setup. We averaged 10.2mpg over 1600 miles, including crossing the mountains twice. I was impressed with the Expy's power. Tow/haul mode worked great, especially coming down out of the mountains. I'd lightly tap the brake, it'd downshift to the right gear and hold speed the whole way down. I never had to manually shift to engine brake.

 

[gtncpa]

Not a great photo, but I found one:
View attachment 36897

I want one! What do they look like inside?

 

[flying68]

View attachment 36913 Just completed a 4630 mile trip out to Yellowstone and back. Avg 9.4 MPG towing an 275BH TT. Traveled 65 on cruise control. absolutely no sway.
I was just under the max weights. We carefully weighed everything we put in the TT. Including the propane tanks and battery. It came out to 550lbs. The TT drywight was 6480. The TT GVWR is 9480. I had it weighed at the cat scale. With everyone in the expy plus full of gas. I was at the following weights

steer axle 3400
Drive axle 4380
Trailer axle 6560
Total axle 14340

have the blue ox WDH.
I have a 2019 platinum max with the HD tow package. Watched the transmission temp. It ran 214. On the entire trip only had one rather steep grade. Where the max transmission temp hit 243 for about 2 min. Then started back down.

Just currious, what are your payload, axle, and GVWR limits on your Max? Also what was your tongue weight before adjusting the WDH (if you know). I know the CGWR is the same between the regular and the Max, but the Max usually has a higher payload capacity. With 4 people and basic gear, I would run out of payload due to tongue weight.

I only have 1487 lbs on my payload capacity and my axle limits are 3375 front and 4380 rear, 7450 combined. A 15,500 CGWR and 9,200 max trailer (for 4x4 with max tow). I figure a 7000 lb trailer would pretty much max out my payload capacity with my crew and our gear.

 

[Squark]

Just currious, what are your payload, axle, and GVWR limits on your Max? Also what was your tongue weight before adjusting the WDH (if you know). I know the CGWR is the same between the regular and the Max, but the Max usually has a higher payload capacity. With 4 people and basic gear, I would run out of payload due to tongue weight.

I only have 1487 lbs on my payload capacity and my axle limits are 3375 front and 4380 rear, 7450 combined. A 15,500 CGWR and 9,200 max trailer (for 4x4 with max tow). I figure a 7000 lb trailer would pretty much max out my payload capacity with my crew and our gear.

I have a 4x4 Limited MAX, so my numbers might be off a little compared to a Platinum.
Payload: 1,644 lbs
Front Axle: 3,550 lbs
Rear Axle: 4,380 lbs
GVWR: 7,720 lbs
Max trailer: 9,000 lbs (w/towing package)

 

[Wayne Decker]

I want one! What do they look like inside?

Mine is a 2014, but here's a 2020

 

[Amacron]

Limits on my Platinum Max:

Steer axel 3,550
Rear Axel 4,380
Payload 1,632
GVWR. 7,720

I was pretty much right at the max weights. I didn't calculate the round weight.

the trip was doable, but that being said. I am looking into a 250/350 just so I dont have to worry to much about the weight.

 

[techdude99]

The new 350's look really nice.

 

[Dice Roll]

View attachment 36913 Just completed a 4630 mile trip out to Yellowstone and back. Avg 9.4 MPG towing an 275BH TT. Traveled 65 on cruise control. absolutely no sway.
I was just under the max weights. We carefully weighed everything we put in the TT. Including the propane tanks and battery. It came out to 550lbs. The TT drywight was 6480. The TT GVWR is 9480. I had it weighed at the cat scale. With everyone in the expy plus full of gas. I was at the following weights

steer axle 3400
Drive axle 4380
Trailer axle 6560
Total axle 14340

have the blue ox WDH.
I have a 2019 platinum max with the HD tow package. Watched the transmission temp. It ran 214. On the entire trip only had one rather steep grade. Where the max transmission temp hit 243 for about 2 min. Then started back down.

what size blue ox did you go with? They appear to have fewer levels to choose from. It would seem to be between the 1000 and the 1500. I’ve heard going too high on rating can bend trailer frames. Not sure what to believe on that.

 

[Dice Roll]

The new 350's look really nice.

and mean. Watch the fast lane truck video of one destroying the Ike.

 

[Amacron]

what size blue ox did you go with? They appear to have fewer levels to choose from. It would seem to be between the 1000 and the 1500. I’ve heard going too high on rating can bend trailer frames. Not sure what to believe on that.

1500 blue Ox. Haven't heard anything about the to high bending the trailer. The dealer set it up and they gave us the 1500. Our TT max GVWR IS 9480. Maybe they error on the side of caution because we could be so close to the 1000lbs tongue weight.

 

[Dice Roll]

Sounds like a conclusive review

 

[flying68]

Limits on my Platinum Max:

Steer axel 3,550
Rear Axel 4,380
Payload 1,632
GVWR. 7,720

I was pretty much right at the max weights. I didn't calculate the round weight.

the trip was doable, but that being said. I am looking into a 250/350 just so I dont have to worry to much about the weight.

So you basically were maxed out on total weight, given the error margin in the scales. I find it curious that the Max's get 175 lbs higher rating on the front axle and that goes directly into the payload capacity. GVWR is only 270 more so minus the extra payload the Max weighs 95lbs more. Not sure why the short body didn't get the same payload and GVWR. Especially when the short body gets 200 more lbs of tow rating, but cant use it because you are limited by tounge weight if you have people inside.

170lbs avg per person x 4 = 680 lbs
9200 lbs x 10% = 920 lbs tongue weight
680 + 920 = 1600 lbs which is 110 lbs over for a short. A max would still have 50 lbs on a 9000 lb trailer.

Realistically I would have to be around a 6400 lb trailer with people and gear (640 lb tongue weight plus 850 lbs of people and stuff).

I always found that commercial for the Expedition pulling a loaded 2 horse trailer while having 8 people inside kind of laughable. You have probably 5000 lbs in of trailer weight (2500 lbs trailer, 2500 lbs of horses), plus 3 dudes in the back that are likely 200 lbs each, that is like 1100 lbs on that rear axle. The other 5 add about 600 lbs or so. You are looking at close to 1200 lbs of passengers plus 500 lb tongue weight. I am sure they made sure it was exactly on the payload capacity, but kind of a limited case.

 

[Fozzy]

I find it curious that the Max's get 175 lbs higher rating on the front axle and that goes directly into the payload capacity. GVWR is only 270 more so minus the extra payload the Max weighs 95lbs more. Not sure why the short body didn't get the same payload and GVWR. Especially when the short body gets 200 more lbs of tow rating, but cant use it because you are limited by tounge weight if you have people inside.

It’s probably due to the longer wheel base bridging the weight differently.


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[Molaf]

Here's my setup. 2019 XLT, no HD tow package. Have the Blue Ox 550 WDH. Trailer has a GVWR of 4200lbs. Just came back from Yellowstone, did 70mph there and back(except where I couldn't due to speed limit). Averaged about 11mpg - roughly 250 miles per tank. Used cruise control about 85% of the time. Honestly, I'm disappointed in Ford for not offering a larger fuel tank as an option. I sure miss my F-150 and its 36 gallon tank.

 

[shane_th_ee]

I've got a 2008 Expedition and I'm thinking about getting a Travel Trailer..Outdoor rv 26 Footer weighing in at 7300lbs I know I've got to get all the extras to go along with the purchase, I just don't want to get to much of a trailer..the 08 is rated to haul between 9000-9300lbs any thoughts on how much of a trailer I should be looking at?

Tongue weight is likely to be an issue as the ORVs are tongue heavy. Ours is about 18% of trailer weight. Which model are you considering?

 

[Wayne Decker]

Here's my setup. 2019 XLT, no HD tow package. Have the Blue Ox 550 WDH. Trailer has a GVWR of 4200lbs. Just came back from Yellowstone, did 70mph there and back(except where I couldn't due to speed limit). Averaged about 11mpg - roughly 250 miles per tank. Used cruise control about 85% of the time. Honestly, I'm disappointed in Ford for not offering a larger fuel tank as an option. I sure miss my F-150 and its 36 gallon tank.

It may just be the photo, but your trailer looks nose high. You may want to lower the ball.

 

[shane_th_ee]

Ok, is there anybody on this forum who didn’t just get back from Yellowstone? We just got back after stopping in Grand Teton for a week. Our trailer is an 18’ box and 6000lbs, but about 900lb tongue weight. I tow at 70mph, slowing down for curves and speeding up to 75 to pass. Note that we’re running Goodyear Endurance tires on the trailer as they are rated to 87mph. We have a cheap EZlift elite with upgraded 1400lb bars.

 

[Wayne Decker]

Ok, is there anybody on this forum who didn’t just get back from Yellowstone?

We usually go west for a couple of months a year and Yellowstone is always a stop. But not this year.

 

[Molaf]

It may just be the photo, but your trailer looks nose high. You may want to lower the ball.

That's as low as she will go on that shank. Notice, however though, that both propane tanks are missing. Also, I had no gear inside. She levels out with weight. From what I read, I can drop the TT tongue down by reducing the number of links on the Sway Pro. But from a measurement standpoint, the trailer tongue is 2" exactly lower than the ball when standing on it's jack leveled out. That's inline with how Blue Ox says it should be.