I'm looking to upgrade my current Lance 1985 TT (23'8") with a longer 28'10" TT. The Lance had a GVWR of 6000# and the new TT has a GVWR of 7000# but is 5 feet longer. Any concerns pulling a 29' trailer with a non-Max Expo?
Travel trailer overall length with '21 Limited
- Thread starter ryanpe
- Start date
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JasonH
Full Access Members
You're going to get more movement as compared to the shorter trailer. Maybe try renting one for a weekend and testing it out? The hitch setup will need to be spot on.
Do you have the HD tow package with your Expy? If yes, I would see no issue pulling at 28' trailer. I tow a 30' no issues after set up correctly.
Do you use weight distribution hitch or just a regular hitch? Thanks.
Yes, 10,000lb Equalizer WDH, upgraded Hellwig sway bars, Sumo rear spring spacers, and a good knowledge of using a CAT scale to get the WDH dialed in for my set up.
Thanks for your comments! I used a 10,000 Fastway E2 WD hitch towing my Lance and I will add a new WD hitch sized to my new rig as well. My Expy has 49K on it and 26,240 of that was towing the Lance. I have HD Towing Pkg. w/22" wheels.
With my Lance, I weighed it twice at Cat scales and dialed in my WD hitch really well. I dialed it in to within <1/2" from the unloaded state - front and back. My max CGVW has been scaled at 12,500 lbs at it's heaviest.
Our Expedition has towed every mile of the 26,240 like a rock star. We live at 7000' and camp in the Rockies extensively. High altitudes with high grades are seamless in this truck. We love the Expedition...would not trade it (except for Max) for any other vehicle. Other than the recalls, it's never been in the shop. My biggest concern is with navigating a 29' trailer and it's probably due to my apprehension not the Expedition's.
With my Lance, I weighed it twice at Cat scales and dialed in my WD hitch really well. I dialed it in to within <1/2" from the unloaded state - front and back. My max CGVW has been scaled at 12,500 lbs at it's heaviest.
Our Expedition has towed every mile of the 26,240 like a rock star. We live at 7000' and camp in the Rockies extensively. High altitudes with high grades are seamless in this truck. We love the Expedition...would not trade it (except for Max) for any other vehicle. Other than the recalls, it's never been in the shop. My biggest concern is with navigating a 29' trailer and it's probably due to my apprehension not the Expedition's.
ColoradoJon
Well-Known Member
I tow a 27 with no issues and no upgrades with virtually the same truck. Same hitch as well. If you want to meet up and check it out, pm me for my number. Running it up to Brighton next week to get some repairs on the trailer. Won't be fully loaded but could give you some comparison.
I pull a 34. It pulls it fine. No question bigger is better. On a recent trip we drove about 400 miles with 20 mph constant side winds with gusts well above that. It obviously moved around a little, but never enough to concern me. I do have a good weight distributing hitch on it.
This picture was take when we got home from the dealer. I have set the hitch up better to level it out more.
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That is one good looking set up!
I should add that I'm riding a Gen 3 Expy, not a 4. In my case it was multiple upgrades to make my towing the best it could be. Including the things I mentioned, I also added new coil-over springs/shocks, new tires, new plugs, and cleaned throttle body which all attributed to gains for my older truck.
In your case, most not needed I imagine. I would still probably consider the sway bars upgrade though. Also, since I was targeting my trailer's ideal tongue weight I had to put my trailer on a diet. I moved things around in the trailer out of the front storage, ditched my dual 30lb propane bottles for just one single 20lb bottle, ditched my huge fancy grill for a light-weight one, ditched the cooking table, and generally only bring what I really need in that front storage area to keep weight off the tongue. My target is to be withing 50-100lbs of the trailer's listed tongue weight.
Craig Payne
Member
You’ll be totally fine and it sounds like you already have the knowledge and experience to manage the weight and tow experience effectively. I tow a 33’ Passport with my stock Expedition Max with the HD tow package. Also use the Equalizer and as long as the weight is setup effectively, it’s a solid experience. I’ve taken it 10’s of thousands of miles across much of the western US and it has never let me down from stretches of hot dessert or multiple mountain passes.
I second the post above about checking what an installer does if you haven’t already. Our RV dealer installed the Equalizer and the setup was terrible initially. I measured it myself after the first tow wasn’t great and it was only distributing at about 16%, nowhere close to the 50% minimum Equalizer requires in the manual. After fixing it, it’s fantastic. I’ll attach a picture, the trailer isn’t hitched up in it but you can see the general length comparison.
Hope that helps!
I second the post above about checking what an installer does if you haven’t already. Our RV dealer installed the Equalizer and the setup was terrible initially. I measured it myself after the first tow wasn’t great and it was only distributing at about 16%, nowhere close to the 50% minimum Equalizer requires in the manual. After fixing it, it’s fantastic. I’ll attach a picture, the trailer isn’t hitched up in it but you can see the general length comparison.
Hope that helps!
JVinOlathe
Well-Known Member
Try this video, it's the best I have found and has all the information you will need to tow safely. Remember that towing/pulling the weight is seldom the issue, the bigger issue is topping with all that weight behind you. Also, keep in mind that if you are considered to be overladed based on trailer and cargo weight, your insurance company can deny a claim. The stated maximum capacity and what you can actually tow safely are two different things.
I tow a 28” TT with my 2022 limited (not max) with max tow package. I use a 4point equalizer hitch and it tows great. Biggest issue you will probably have is keeping under your trucks payload. If you have a big family and lots of stuff in the truck you will need to keep an eye on weight. Im just one maybe 2 people and some medium sized dogs. Most of my stuff goes in the trailer. When trailer fully loaded im at about 6400# and a tongue weight of about. 700#. (Max is 900 for the expedition). I will say if your hitch isn’t set up properly you can for sure tell a difference.
skamerick
Active Member
I tow my 35ft TT with my 2017 EL 4x4, properly equipped, with no problems at all.
I’ve added to our 33’ rig about 17k miles without any issues, when in the mountains the truck fills the weight and you can definitely smell the brakes but overall it handles nicely. I have a 18 limited Max with the HD Tow package and we’re about 7200 all in with our Passport TT and a family of 4 but all goes inside the camper.
Just a heads up, get yourself a decent weight distribution (we have the equalizer).
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