I'm fairly new to towing. Only been towing a popup for about a year and already my wife and I are looking at purchasing a used travel trailer that is about 33 feet long, with dry weight of about 5000 lbs and and a gross weight of almost 7500 lbs.
My question is will a Ford Expedition handle this length of TT plus the the weight. The towing capacity of Expedition is 9200. We even thought about a Dodge Durango but the towing capacity, w/the hemi, is just 7400 lbs but I've read someplaces that you really only need to consider the dry weight and then add about 1200 lbs for cargo. Also, we plan on normally hauling 6 people in the tow veheicle, which is the reason we're not considering a pickup.
sooneruga wrote: I'm fairly new to towing. Only been towing a popup for about a year and already my wife and I are looking at purchasing a used travel trailer that is about 33 feet long, with dry weight of about 5000 lbs and and a gross weight of almost 7500 lbs.
My question is will a Ford Expedition handle this length of TT plus the the weight. NO! The towing capacity of Expedition is 9200. We even thought about a Dodge Durango but the towing capacity, w/the hemi, is just 7400 lbs but I've read someplaces that you really only need to consider the dry weight and then add about 1200 lbs for cargo. Also, we plan on normally hauling 6 people in the tow veheicle, which is the reason we're not considering a pickup. AGAIN NO! You are not even close with a mid sized SUV.
Any advice would be helpful.
Thanks,
Michael
First of all, I would not consider towing a 33 foot TT. While a TT has it's advantages, one of them is NOT road manners. Without a proper hitch setup, read that Hensley arrow or similar, towing that long of a trailer with anything less than a long bed crew cab pickup is IMHO suicidal. Second, no one has or ever will tow a trailer "dry". And lacking any other suitable information I would find that 7500 GVWR suspicious on a 33 foot long trailer. Even if it is the likely hood of you loading that much space up to the max is very strong. Meaning that for consideration sake look at the trailers GVWR when trying to match TV/TT together.
Donn,Lorri,Max (The Rescued Lab)
Resident Know It All
Towed 33' and 6700 lbs. of TT with an '03 Expedition for 2 seasons. We did use a Hensley Arrow to keep it tame. We are a family of 4 and generally had nothing other than the passengers in the Expy while travelling and yet we routinely scaled 100-200 lbs. over the 4100 lb. RAWR. You'll note I now have a 3/4 ton pick up.
If I had to do it again, I would NOT have towed that big a trailer with the Expy. Take the 9300 lb. tow rating and toss it out the window - it counts for nothing when considering TTs. The Expy has a 900 lb. tongue weight limit that most 7000 lb. trailers will put down. With 6 passengers and gear, plus tongue weight, you'll be out of payload real quick. Perhaps an Excursion, 2500 Burb or full size van would be a better choice
Donn0128, look at the KZ Spree 318BHS, 33' and 7300 lbs. GVWR, they are out there.
2000 Coleman Bayside
2006 Ford Expedition Ltd. 5.4 L/3.73
Towed a 24TT 5500lbs loaded, GVW of 6500 with a 97 Expy 5.4 3.73 gears. A real dog on the hills, could not even make 40mph unless I had a good run,if I had to slow or stop forget it. I was 50lbs under RAWR with Reece dual cam hitch. It towed not bad on the flat,used a lot of gas for what I got.
First, thanks for all the quick respones...much appreciated.
I was planning on using a Blue Ox Sway/weight distribution unit. Does that make a difference? It seems there is concern about using the Expedition for towing this lenght of trailer, which really throws my plans out the window. What about a Sequoia or Suburban? Are they better than an Expedition? I might have to go back to my original plan and get 23 foot hybrid/expandable.
How much will the 6 people weigh? Payload will be a problem with that many people and any half ton SUV. The Expedition EL has the most payload similarly equipped, maybe 1500-1600 vs. 1200-1400 of all the others. I would not get the regular/short wheelbase Expy. With 800-1000 pounds of tongue weight, that leaves little left for the 6 people inside.
2500 Burb/Yukon XL is not a bad choice.
A & A parents of DD 2005, DS1 2007, DS2 2009 2011 Suburban 2500 6.0L 3.73 pulling 2011 Heartland North Trail 28BRS 2012 VW Passat TDI
APT wrote: How much will the 6 people weigh? Payload will be a problem with that many people and any half ton SUV. The Expedition EL has the most payload similarly equipped, maybe 1500-1600 vs. 1200-1400 of all the others. I would not get the regular/short wheelbase Expy. With 800-1000 pounds of tongue weight, that leaves little left for the 6 people inside.
2500 Burb/Yukon XL is not a bad choice.
I agree - since you have 6 people on board, might as well go for a 3/4 ton Suburban or Yukon XL. Not bigger than the Expedition EL but has so much more payload.
My trailer is same size and weight as the one you mention. I'm 400 lbs under my payload capacity with only 4 people inside.
Properly equipped Suburban would do it. Preferable a 3/4 ton. I towed a 30 foot Sunline with a 91 Chevy Suburban 1500 with 350 motor and it towed it well, had plenty of power but suspension was a bit soft. This is when I got the Hensley. When I upgraded to a 3/4 ton Suburban same trailer and same hitch. World of difference in the load handling. The wet weight on the Sunline was 8000lbs.
Excursion or Full size Van would also work well depending on how its equipped.
1997 Ford F250 Extended Cab, 7.3 Diesel, 8 foot bed.
Reese 16K Hitch
(Moved into Shed) Hensley Arrow
Jordan Brake Controller, Hensley TruControl Gold Shelved.
Open Range 5th Wheel, Roamer RF392 BHS
sooneruga wrote: I was planning on using a Blue Ox Sway/weight distribution unit. Does that make a difference?
No, it's assumed you'll be using WDH and sway control regardless of the maker. This hitch hardware does nothing to increase ratings of the TV.
sooneruga wrote: What about a Sequoia or Suburban? Are they better than an Expedition?
Nope, not when just considering towing ability. Within a few pounds it's still the same problem, 1/2 ton SUVs regardless of maker all have the same issue, short wheel base and limited payload.
Not sure who the 6 perople are i.e. kids, teens, etc... but if you consider 6 adults who avg. 150 lbs., that's 900 lbs. right there. Chances are you only will have 300 - 400 lbs. of payload left for tongue weight. Heck, bigger PUPs can put down that much tongue weight easy.
The more I think of it with your current wish list, a 1 ton van might be the only option unless your change other criteria.
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