logistic
Houston
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My 29' 7300 lb (wet & loaded) trailer and 2011 Expedition El are comparable to your proposed TV and TT combo. Let me tell you from hard earned experience - don't do it!
It's not the weight that's the issue. It's the length that will cause you lots of trouble. Using a Husky WD hitch w/ two friction anti-sway bars still made for white-knuckle driving in cross-winds and while 18 wheelers passed by. It was nerve-racking and I won't subject my family to that unpredicatable a vehicle combo.
The Expedition El has an independant rear suspention that is like mush when towing. I think that mushy suspension quality is the root cause of the rather terrifying sway and over-steer this combo created for me.
The last thing you should know is that my well equiped Expedition only had 1471 lbs of payload remaining after all options were added. Once I subtracted tounge weight, 4 passangers and labrador I only had 80 lbs of payload left.
I now have a 2012 Ecoboost SCREW in addition to my 2011 Expy El - A rather expensive solution. My advice would be to either pick a shorter trailer or a buy a Suburban due to its solid rear axel.
Whatever you buy, check the payload capicity sticker in the door jam before signing the dotted line. Best of luck with whatever decision you come to.
2004 Keystone Cougar 294-RLS (6125 lbs/675 lbs dry)
2011 Ford Expedition EL XLT HD Tow
2012 Ford F150 S-Crew EcoBoost XLT Max Tow
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ReferDog
Covington, WA USA
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Joined: 09/22/2004
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You should be fine. It all revolves around the load in the trailer, and the type of hitch. I use the Equalizer brand tow a 31ft, no problem with sway. Its all in the way it's set up.
ReferDog Chevy 2500 HD Dura Max
Artic Fox 30U
Equlizer Hitch
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txtaco
Richmond, Texas
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Just get the best hitch you can afford ... you are only as strong as your weakest link ... $30,000+ in front with $25,000+ in back with a budget hitch connecting the two makes no sense to me. I love my propride, its expensive but the piece of mind it gives me is worth it.
2004 GMC 2500HD CC 6.0/4.10 4x4
2008 Jayco G2 32BHDS
Pro-Pride Hitch
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Chock Full o' Nuts
GA
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Joined: 02/02/2007
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logistic wrote:My 29' 7300 lb (wet & loaded) trailer and 2011 Expedition El are comparable to your proposed TV and TT combo. Let me tell you from hard earned experience - don't do it!
It's not the weight that's the issue. It's the length that will cause you lots of trouble. Using a Husky WD hitch w/ two friction anti-sway bars still made for white-knuckle driving in cross-winds and while 18 wheelers passed by. It was nerve-racking and I won't subject my family to that unpredicatable a vehicle combo.
The Expedition El has an independant rear suspention that is like mush when towing. I think that mushy suspension quality is the root cause of the rather terrifying sway and over-steer this combo created for me.
The last thing you should know is that my well equiped Expedition only had 1471 lbs of payload remaining after all options were added. Once I subtracted tounge weight, 4 passangers and labrador I only had 80 lbs of payload left.
I now have a 2012 Ecoboost SCREW in addition to my 2011 Expy El - A rather expensive solution. My advice would be to either pick a shorter trailer or a buy a Suburban due to its solid rear axel.
Whatever you buy, check the payload capicity sticker in the door jam before signing the dotted line. Best of luck with whatever decision you come to.
This x about 100! Having gone tires up in our Expedition while towing a 30ft trailer I have only two words for it--NEVER AGAIN. The Expedition is a great SUV, what a great ride it has. I loved my Expedition, but we went with a Ford F250 this time. Yeah, it's a bugger to park--we live in the metro Atlanta area, so there are big low-ceilinged parking garages everywhere. I just park further up or out and hike in. Totally worth it to have my big ole truck for towing.
"Those who dwell...among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life."--Rachel Carson, environmentalist, 1956
2009 Ford F250 XL
2006 Dutchmen 25F
Me & DH in non-parenting mode!
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jlfrank
Long Beach, CA
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logistic wrote:My 29' 7300 lb (wet & loaded) trailer and 2011 Expedition El are comparable to your proposed TV and TT combo. Let me tell you from hard earned experience - don't do it!
It's not the weight that's the issue. It's the length that will cause you lots of trouble. Using a Husky WD hitch w/ two friction anti-sway bars still made for white-knuckle driving in cross-winds and while 18 wheelers passed by. It was nerve-racking and I won't subject my family to that unpredicatable a vehicle combo.
The Expedition El has an independant rear suspention that is like mush when towing. I think that mushy suspension quality is the root cause of the rather terrifying sway and over-steer this combo created for me.
The last thing you should know is that my well equiped Expedition only had 1471 lbs of payload remaining after all options were added. Once I subtracted tounge weight, 4 passangers and labrador I only had 80 lbs of payload left.
I now have a 2012 Ecoboost SCREW in addition to my 2011 Expy El - A rather expensive solution. My advice would be to either pick a shorter trailer or a buy a Suburban due to its solid rear axel.
Whatever you buy, check the payload capicity sticker in the door jam before signing the dotted line. Best of luck with whatever decision you come to.
Thanks for the feed back. This is why I posted here, I needed to hear some real live experiences, not a salesman telling me it will be fine.
I wonder what year they changed to a independent rear? I read a lot of people in a Expy forum towing some big TT with no complaints. But no one I recall had a 2011 or >. I can imagine that a independent suspension could give some issues.
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RVRetreat
Midwest
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The Expedition has had Independent rear suspension for many years.
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logistic
Houston
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eric james wrote:A 7300 lb trailer should toss 950 lbs of tongue weight to the truck. That exceeds the tongue weight capacity of an Expy... Don't throw the baby out with the bath water.
I promise I won’t throw any babies if you won’t My Expedition EL is a daily driver and has a great ride. It’s just not the right TV for my 29’ trailer. I only spoke up because the OP asked about the specific “EL” model that I own and towed with.
I had the same suspicion of overloading too before hitting the scale. The max tongue weight rating is 890 lbs for my Exp EL. My CAT scaled tongue weight is less than 860 lbs sitting level, loaded and wet. That’s just shy of 12% tongue weight ratio. I haven’t exceeded any maximum ratings.
I’ll leave my beloved Expedition EL at home and tow with my F150 S-Crew, in my opinion it’s the better tool for the job. YMMV
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shutdown
In The Dog House
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Joined: 03/13/2008
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Kevin O. wrote:Get yourself a good WD hitch with sway control and you should be fine. Just don't pack a bunch of stuff in the back of the tow vehicle. Put it in the trailer and you should be good to go.
Great advice.
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wbwood
Mooresville/Troutman, NC area
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As far as the size or length of the Expedition EL compared to lets say and F250 Crew Cab, there is not a whole lot difference as far as parking it. My work rented one to shuttle people around and it was nice, but it was big also.
Like I said, give it all some thought. Perhaps a smaller or lighter trailer. Or a different TV altogether. When you look at the numbers (GVWR's) and they are close and a salesman is saying you will be fine, but you are not 100% sure, then I would walk away. If there is some more variance in the numbers and you feel comfortable with it, then you will have your answer.
Brian
RVing Illustrated
2013 Thor Chateau 31L
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eric james
Sioux Falls, SD
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The Expedition switched to independent rear suspension in 2003.
In response to the suspension is like mush when towing, I'll have to disagree. It can only handle so much weight.
A 7300 lb trailer should toss 950 lbs of tongue weight to the truck. That exceeds the tongue weight capacity of an Expy. Possible the RAWR too.
Don't throw the baby out with the bath water. Get the right sized trailer for your truck and go camping.
Again, no more than 6500 lbs loaded! Don't go over a "29" in the model number.
2009 Keystone Passport UL 290BH
2003 Ford Expedition EB 5.4L/3.73
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