Travel Trailer Towing

[Bury]

I'm pulling a 25ft travel trailer with a 2015 Expy. Any suggestion for tires, weight distribution system or other modification to help reduce sway when the big trucks go by?

 

[B-McD]

Bury - There are lots of threads out there on this forum and in the towing section. Do some reading there but my setup for a 30' trailer should be similar - 40 lbs of air pressure in the Expedition tires and make sure your trailer tires are at recommended (or slightly higher) pressures. I use an Equalizer WDH that also has sway control. Make sure your tongue weight is not too light as that can cause sway. Does your 2015 have the factory HD tow package? You should have a trailer brake controller right of the steering wheel. Don't overload and good luck!

 

[Sgt Darkness]

I'm pulling a 25ft travel trailer with a 2015 Expy. Any suggestion for tires, weight distribution system or other modification to help reduce sway when the big trucks go by?

Welcome Bury.....don’t know your camper weight but the Expy can out tow the other big SUVs and most of the trucks too. I would weigh the camper then the Expy and camper. Of course don’t exceed the tow weight explained in the manual or on the Ford website.

If you’re safe on tow weight make sure you distribute the weight around so you won’t have to much tongue weight. If you tow regular the type LT tires can handle more weight versus the P type tires and I think you would be happy with the LTs. My Expy has sway control but not sure on the 15s. Just outrun the trucks and you won’t have to worry about sway...lol

 

[chuck s]

See B-McD's note to save me a lot of typing.

May I assume your Expedition has the factory HD Tow package? (Hint: it will have the big round electrical connector to the right of the tow bar receiver on the back bumper.) Without it you'll probably need to modify the truck. The Ford anti sway and brake controller system is excellent.

Equal-i-zer is the brand name of the hitch I've been using the past 17 years.

-- Chuck

 

[Bury]

Yes I have the HD Tow package, my trailer weight loaded is about 6500lbs, and the tongue weight is 700. I'm thinking of trying the Hensley Arrow hitch, it's expensive, but in the long run may be well worth it.

 

[MuddySpokes]

When towing the RV, I'm just under the combined weight limits, using LT Load E tires on the vehicle and trailer, have WD hitch along with an anti sway brake, tongue weight is within range, and the trailer is longer than yours. Expedition has the tow package. Just about any aerodynamic-brick type vehicle pushes the combined rig around a bit when I get passed. Semi's to Jeeps.

Am suspecting that this is just a fact of life with an independent rear suspension when it tows in the upper range of its capacity.

If you need even less movement, go with a 3/4 ton vehicle as the ones I had previously used did not care what passed them and were more stable when towing. A current F150 might work better as it has a solid axle, but I do not have any experience with it. There are used 3/4 ton SUV's out there, but they are long out of production, hard to find, relatively expensive, and sell quickly.

 

[chuck s]

If my experience with a travel trailer is typical the Pmetric tires are fine. No need to drive around all the time on LT tires with their horrible ride. Maybe boost rear tire pressure to 40psi to stiffen the sidewalls a bit.

The Hensley hitches are great once you get them set up (budget at least a full afternoon with a couple of helpers) and once you get hooked up which is a PITA. Something dirt simple like the Equal-i-zer (that's a brand name) at a small fraction of the Hensley cost has worked for me on my trailer with three (3) different SUVs including two Expeditions and an earlier full frame Explorer.

Trailer dealer minimum wage mechanics seldom know how to set WDHs properly and if buying new the unloaded trailer will be far different from loaded.

-- Chuck