..Most of the advice here seems to be centered around finding a TT that will fit within the Armada's limits (now that OP has said that a tow vehicle upgrade is out of the question).
My question/concern here is....Have you considered, just how you're going to seat a total of SIX children (at least 2 of which will be in carseats), in the 2 back rows of that Armada?? Regardless whether you find a trailer that will work or not, you still have to seat everyone in the tow vehicle. That was why I suggested the E350 van, to give you the seating for everyone to be comfortable.
I cannot imagine, putting 3 kids on each of the back 2 rows, especially with 2 of them in carseats! Talk about a recipe for lots of bickering, pushing, shoving, and looooooong hours on the road, hahaha! I'm sure many put that many children in the seats and get along fine, but.....If it was me, I'd try very hard, and look very long and hard, at finding a way to make that Armada turn into a full size van of some kind, that'll give you the seating you'll need. There are lots of really good deals to be had out there right now, from people wanting to dump large vans like this...
Will & Angela
2 wonderful children that love camping, Stephen & Allison
2003 Ford Excursion V10 4x4
2003 Thor Citation 33M, Hensley Arrow hitch, Brakesmart Brake Control
(wanna see? Here is a picture of it )
Towing a 30ft TT with my Titan. No issues, no white knuckles. Running the Dual Cam. GVWR of my TT is 7500lbs. The RV Towing Tips site has plenty of good info. The TV length portion is not one of them. If you do by it solely you would never tow anything over 30 feet unless you bought a CC 8ft bed HD. They freely admit you can safely add 3-4ft to their charts number as well with use of a good sway control system. Also the last paragraph is a disclaimer saying that this info may be ball park and if properly set up a TV can exceed the numbers posted for a variety of reasons. Plainly put there are more factors to towing a long TT than just wheelbase. You have distance of rear axle to the hitch, TV width, TV weight, TV tires and the list goes on. No one is saying go out and overload your GVWR by 1,000lbs but plenty of people are doing 200-300 over without going up in flames. FWIW I see far more less safe utility and landscape trailers than I do TT's. If one invests in quality equipment and tows within reason they will be safe. Meaning not bare minimums, keeping up with maintenance and keeping speeds to 65mph. FWIW My trucks biggest weak areas were the P rated tires it came with and the not so good shocks it came with. Added LT tires and Bilstiens and the truck feels more stable than ever unloaded and towing.
willald wrote: ..Most of the advice here seems to be centered around finding a TT that will fit within the Armada's limits (now that OP has said that a tow vehicle upgrade is out of the question).
My question/concern here is....Have you considered, just how you're going to seat a total of SIX children (at least 2 of which will be in carseats), in the 2 back rows of that Armada?? Regardless whether you find a trailer that will work or not, you still have to seat everyone in the tow vehicle. That was why I suggested the E350 van, to give you the seating for everyone to be comfortable.
I cannot imagine, putting 3 kids on each of the back 2 rows, especially with 2 of them in carseats! Talk about a recipe for lots of bickering, pushing, shoving, and looooooong hours on the road, hahaha! I'm sure many put that many children in the seats and get along fine, but.....If it was me, I'd try very hard, and look very long and hard, at finding a way to make that Armada turn into a full size van of some kind, that'll give you the seating you'll need. There are lots of really good deals to be had out there right now, from people wanting to dump large vans like this...
Have the DW follow behind in a chase vehicle. You bring up a good point. with 8 people in the family the Armada is going to get awfully tight awfully quick. I remember going 3 across the bench seat when I was a kid for 4 hours heading to NH and it is not a fond memory.
As someone who has 4 kids, I admit the two oldest are BIG BOYS (195lbs & 215lbs)but it still gets a little tight in the EX. The van might be a good option provided you get the right power plant. Personally I wouldn't pull a trailer that size with that load with anything short of a diesel EX or similar 350 van. You need a rig with some weight and tow capacity. Don't take any chances with the most precious cargo you have. The EX is built on a super duty TRUCK platform and built for towing.
Good luck and congrats on the twins!
N. Fla. Family of 6-2 Eagle Scouts!
Moms: 2001 Ford Excursion 7.3 PSD (Ford AIS System,Banks Six Gun,Walker BTM,Air Bags,new Ford 4R100HD Tranny)
2007 Audi RS4, 2002 GTI 337 (Son1), Porsche 914 (Son2)
Porsche 911 - Sold
North Shore 31BH4, Reese Dual Cam
Thanks for the input everyone - it's not falling on deaf ears, I am continuing to learn in this process. The issue isn't just sleeping arrangements, as tents are fine and we did that for years before buying our current HTT - it has alot to do with being able to "live" in the TT with twins from infants to toddlers. The older ones spend 99+% of the time outside anyway. I also think the wife is getting a bit tired of the "hybrid" side of things, although I love the tentage.
Driving is already interesting with 4 kids, but with the car seats it will be a little different - 2 baby seast by the car doors in the second row with the eldest between them to assist - the other 3 to the back. We are blessed with at least 4 SPs, and numerous other CGs within 2 hours. Given gas prices the way they are, and my job requirements we only take 1 - 2 trips longer than 4 hours a year anyway.
I commute 50+ miles each way a day, so obviously drive a car, the wife uses the Armada for her daily driver - I asked her how she felt about a full sized van - I didn't even have to wait to hear her answer
Ranger431 wrote: Driving is already interesting with 4 kids, but with the car seats it will be a little different - 2 baby seast by the car doors in the second row with the eldest between them to assist - the other 3 to the back. We are blessed with at least 4 SPs, and numerous other CGs within 2 hours. Given gas prices the way they are, and my job requirements we only take 1 - 2 trips longer than 4 hours a year anyway........the wife uses the Armada for her daily driver - I asked her how she felt about a full sized van - I didn't even have to wait to hear her answer
..I wonder if she might change her tune on that issue, after you and her deal with 6 kids crammed in the back of that Armada on a few trips.
Sorry, but I still think that with 6 kids...you have outgrown that Armada, regardless of trailer choice.
I have sat in the back of an Armada. Great truck, but I cannot imagine putting even a small child between two car seats back there! They are going to be sooooo cramped..I'm betting we're going to see you posting back on here after awhile, asking for advice on using full size vans for towing. My advice then will be the same as now - time to start looking for good deals on a used V10 E-350 van...
Why not look at a 12 passager full size van, I don't know of any SUV that will handle 8 with car seats? You can get gas or deisel.
Steve & Linda
Son married (1 DIL, 3 granddaughters 1 grandson)
Daughter in College
Miami CO. Kansas
2004 F350 CC dually 8ft bed 6.0 PSD
2009 Bighorn 3670RL
B&W under bed hitch with 18k companion hitch
It is too bad you are so far away. I'd have you take a look at our 2007 Jayco 26L. It has the four bunks in the back, a queen tent end in front, a dinette that folds out to a bed, and the couch, which is a sleeper sofa, too. All in all, it will sleep 8-9 people, and more with smaller kids. We bought it new last year, and with my 6'-5" frame, I'm just finding out that the queen bed isn't long enough. We are considering moving up to a travel trailer with a queen bed inside that will allow my feet to at least hang off the end of the bed. We should have done it in the first place.
I still think the 26L has the mose storage and beds for a shorter trailer with a long slide-out. In a 26 foot trailer, the storage capacity and sleeping capacity is nuts. Most of the time, it would require a trailer closer to 32 feet to pack it all in.
Kampfirekid wrote: We bought it new last year, and with my 6'-5" frame, I'm just finding out that the queen bed isn't long enough. We are considering moving up to a travel trailer with a queen bed inside that will allow my feet to at least hang off the end of the bed. We should have done it in the first place.
Some, not many, but some manufacturers put 80" beds in their TT's. Look for those. Most put in 74" or 76" beds. I don't like my feet hanging off the end. They get cold.
68 Me & DW
93 DD
03 DD
06 F150 Screw 6.5' Bed, 4x4, 5.4, 3.73
04 Tahoe 23RB-GL Honda EU2000 Parallel Cables "I hope you like Guinness, Sir. I find it a refreshing substitute for...food." Col. Jack O'Neill, Stargate SG-1.
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