I have a 2004 ford expedition with a factory installed towing package and the 3.73 rear-end. Rated to tow about 9000lbs. I am looking at getting a 30' 8" Four Winds 28B-GS Lite. The sticker indicates ULV 6037lbs GVWR 7700. I am pretty sure the Expy can pull her I am concerned about the length. Anyone tow anything similar.
I know there is a debate about the length vs wheel-base. Any real world examples. I do have an equalizer hitch. There are a few 28'9" trailers I can get but they are the same price as the Four Winds. I have considered getting a rear slide but they seem a little tight inside, with small bathrooms and they are still as expensive as the big bunkhouses.
That's pretty long for the wheelbase. I've read on here of some people doing it. I pulled a 28 foot (29'11" total length) with a 1500 ext. cab short bad which has 13" wheelbase advantage over your Expedition. The tail could wag the dog pretty good above 68 mph and when trucks passed me. I would be uncomfortable pulling a 30+' TT with an Expedition.
John (USN Ret) and Debbie
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We pulled a 26' 6,000lbs TT with our 2003 Expy (same spec's as yours) and it was fine, but I would not want to go longer or heavier.
good luck!
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A member of our RV club, 40+ years towing experience, had his 30' FourWinds behind his extended-cab long-bed 3/4 ton GMC Sierra, cruising about 65 mph in a 75 zone, when a tour bus parked on the shoulder of the turnpike pulled into his lane 50 feet in front of him.
One quick lane change, the trailer was over on its side; with the leverage of the weight distributing hitch, the TT managed to put the truck on its side, where they slid down the highway together until they got into the dirt to dig in and stop. Thinking about it afterward, old RVer says "my fault, probably should have gotten on the brakes, rather than swerving around."
When the TT is longer and heavier than the towing vehicle, the tail is always wagging the dog. Not that you can do much about it, except keep that fact in mind, full time, when towing. Keep working on your exit strategy, for everything that comes up, as road and traffic change around you.
Happens to fivers, too, at least as often, maybe more often, as the rig usually feels more secure, inspiring overconfidence. 15,000 of trailer pushing 7000 pound truck, you can't change speed or direction like you can with just the truck.
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