I have a new 2011 Ford Expedition with heavy duty towing package. It is supposed to include some kind of antisway technology, but we will see. I also have the 3.73 axle ratio specifically chosen for towing. I have not towed anything with it yet though!
It is supposed to be able to tow up to 9200 lbs. We are considering a Shadow Cruiser 280QBS that is under 5000 lbs dry weight and 32 feet long. I know I am well within weight specs, but I am nervous about the length. I have been told to get a Hensley Arrow Hitch and may well do so. Could I tow it ok without this special hitch?
We have not ever owned a Travel trailer. I am not willing to start with something used and smaller since I need a larger size for my three large kids, and haven't found anything used around me that will work (well, nothing that doesnt cost the same as new at least!). I know the standard plan is to start small, but we have spent time in trailers of family for years (always wanting our own!) and are pretty sure we know what we need.
Thanks for any advice you can give me on this possible pairing.
(sorry, I just realized this should prob go in the towing forum, but I guess I cannot move it now. )
The first couple times out when you look in the mirror youll say god this is long! But its really a breeze. Make wide turns and own your lane. We tow 27ft and I have used the reese dual cam hp from the begining and its a very good hitch and I have never had a sway issue and we have drivine in all kinds of weather. The Hensley is the cadallac of hitches, but Im very happy with mine. Once your set up, try camping close to home for a couple of shake down weekends and buy or chuck what you dont need. We even hitched up just for the day and visited a state park which was nice.
Above all its suuposed to be fun, dont get stressed out should something go amiss, relax as there is always someone around to help you!
John, Lisa & Tara
2001 2500LT Suburban 8.1L 4x4 Autoride K/N, AIR HORNS
Reese 12klb w/dual cam, Prodigy, 27x Wilderness BH Trojan 125's, Honda EU3000, Dish 500, Xantrax 1200, Wilson Cellular Ant & Amp, L.I.B.B.A. #1747, Wireless WiFi, Water Camper
You will never tow a travel trailer close to 9000 lbs. with a Ford Expedition. NEVER go by the tow rating of a vehicle, it's just the manufacturer's way of BSing you.
From the posters on this board who tow with Expy's I've gathered that anywhere from 5500-6500 lbs. (give or take) seems to be the "sweet spot" for the Expy depending on how it's equipped.
EDIT: BTW with the right hitch setup I don't think 32' will be a big problem. I was just commenting on the weight.
2000 Ford F350 XLT 7.3L PSD CC 4x4 OffRoad SRW Long Bed
2008 Jayco Eagle 314BHDS (Momma Eagle)
Equalizer Hitch System (1400/14000lbs)
Prodigy Brake Controller
Curt XD Class V Receiver Hitch (1500/15000 lb)
In my opinion spend the money on a PROPRIDE OR HENSLEY hitch it will help your shorter wheelbase tow vehicle with that long of a TT. It will be the best money you can spend for pieace of mind. though not cheap if it only saves you once you will be wayyyy ahead on money. The wind can really push on the sides of these TT's causeing severe sway issues and these hitches will eliminate that problem. good luck
CarolinaHokie wrote: I have a new 2011 Ford Expedition with heavy duty towing package. It is supposed to include some kind of antisway technology, but we will see. I also have the 3.73 axle ratio specifically chosen for towing. I have not towed anything with it yet though!
It is supposed to be able to tow up to 9200 lbs. We are considering a Shadow Cruiser 280QBS that is under 5000 lbs dry weight and 32 feet long. I know I am well within weight specs, but I am nervous about the length. I have been told to get a Hensley Arrow Hitch and may well do so. Could I tow it ok without this special hitch?
We have not ever owned a Travel trailer. I am not willing to start with something used and smaller since I need a larger size for my three large kids, and haven't found anything used around me that will work (well, nothing that doesnt cost the same as new at least!). I know the standard plan is to start small, but we have spent time in trailers of family for years (always wanting our own!) and are pretty sure we know what we need.
Thanks for any advice you can give me on this possible pairing.
(sorry, I just realized this should prob go in the towing forum, but I guess I cannot move it now. )
I know some folks here will say you are good to go and power wise that might be true, but I would not tow a 32' full profile TT with a 119" TV WB. That's a lot of side area to control in side wind towing situations. My 1T Van weighs almost 2500lbs more than is what on the TT axles and with a 31'TT and a 138"WB I personally would not go longer.
I think you'll be ok on weight, but be sure to check TV rear GAWR. With my Equalizer WDH I needed more washers than I expected to move some weight off rear axle and on to front.
Mine tows great, but can't comment on length, we are only 27.5 feet.
Chuck
Wonderful Wife
Australian Shepherd
2010 Ford Expedition TV
2010 Outback 230RS Toybox, 5390# UVW, 6800# Loaded Not yet camped in Hawaii, 2 Canada Provinces, & 2 Territories I can't be lost because I don't care where this lovely road is going
Nothing WRONG with getting a Hensley, they're a fine hitch but a MUCH more economical Reese or Equalizer will also do a fine job. Do NOT depend ONLY on the integrated anti sway system. All it can do is sense when sway has already happened and apply braking to try to get it under control while a good Weight distributing hitch with integrated anti sway will actually PREVENT sway from occurring in the first place. You NEED weight distribution anyway because your tongue weight will be too heavy for your truck without it.
Good luck / Skip
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR - 2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles) 2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
US Govt survey shows three out of four people make up 75% of the total population
While you are well within the overall tow capacity you need to check out some other numbers as well. What is your payload? With the payload listed on the drivers inside door sticker, you need to subtract out the weight of a full tank of fuel, all passengers and any gear/cargo in the vehicle to get your remianing available payload. Another way to calculate this is to go weigh your TV with all occupants, full tank of gas and any gear/cargo that would usually be in it. Subtract this weighed number from the vehicles GVWR to obtain your available payload. Subtract the weighed number from the vehicles GCWR to obtaine your vehicles adjusted towing capacity also. Now you need to understand about tongue weight of the trailer. Typical tongue weight is about 13-15% of the loaded trailer. You don't know the loaded weight of the trailer since you don't own it, the manufacturers listed tongue weight will not be accurate as it is an empty number. Many use the GVWR to calculate tongue weight so they know they won't go over. Some figure about 1500 lbs of cargo (I can tell you my family of 3 uses at least 1500 lbs in our current trailer but every one is different). anyways, 15% of the trailers GVWR (7530 lbs) is 1130 lbs for the absolutely worst case scenario of tongue weight. Now your WDH should take some of that weight away (I believe the commonly accepted belief is about 20% of the tongue weight is transferred back to the the trailer) so that gives you about 905 lbs of weight on the TV that would need to be subtracted from your payload. If you are still within your TV's numbers then you are good to go. IF not then you are over and you are looking at a situation that can induce a white knuckle ride.
I can tell you in terms of length, I towed the 30ft TT (GVWR 7700 lbs, actually weighs closer to 7000 lbs loaded) in my sig w/ an Armada (123 in wheelbase) and would not have gone any longer or heavier. I used the reese dual cam and I was pushed all over the road. Many will tell you they do fine w/ their armadas and that mine was related to a possible mechanical issue but either way, after being pushed down a 7% grade and holding on for dear life everytime a semi passed me or a small wind blew, I was done. I upgraded to the TV in my signature (a F250). I think you might be pushing it a bit with this combo but that is based upon my limited experience w/ towing 1 TT w/ 2 different vehicles and 20 yrs of towing other types of trailers (ie horse, car, boat).
I do agree with you on going new and bigger first. We did that too. We knew we didn't want to upgrade right away. We found what we loved and it works for us but the TV/TT combo didn't. You will have to decide what you are comfortable with and if not what you want to compromise on (length and weight of TT or the TV). Best of luck to you in your searches and may you find the right TT for your needs.
Thank you for all of your replies and advice. The TV is set, we cannot alter that for various reasons (not anytime soon). DH did all the calculations and we are well within the 80% rule with the GVWR. We could theoretically go with a slightly smaller trailer but I wanted some input with the 32 feet length paired with the Hensley arrow hitch to try to stabilize things.
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