Hey all new guy here. Recently picked up an 02 4x4 7.3 Excursion. I will be moving 4500 miles w/ in the month. I have been really digging through the forums here trying to get all the knowledge I have. Most of my questions are towing specific as I have never towed a load quite so large. So I am asking for all the tips and advice I can get.

I plan on getting a 24 to 30 ft (plus 3 ft V) trailer. I will be towing a small truck along with a 3 bedroom home (the contents, not the home..) I believe I have the truck side of things situated, Gauges, fresh fluids, spare parts, Air bags, trailer brake, larger tranny cooler, ect. But its the towing part that I cant seem to find a solid answer on.
-How much can I actually tow and remain legal?
-Trailer axle weights, do I add them together and subtract the trailer weight or is that factored in?
-Heaviest weight over the axles of the trailer?
-Any general trips/tricks/ideas?
-anyone have any experience carrying weapons through Canada? It appears they don't have a second amendment. I kid I am just trying to interpenetrate the laws they have, appears as tho it can be done but will be a bit of a hassle

here is the truck. Thanks in advance

 

Unless things have changed recently , ALL weapons must be "checked" (as in held) at the boarder. Our "right to bare arms" limits us to short sleeves only....

 

Ha kinda like this!




But in all seriousness you can bring weapons over the border. Cant use them. Gotta keep em locked up and have the paperwork. But Canada inst very specific and I don't like that. I like black and white. Just hoping someone has had experience. Worst case is I will just ship them over

 

First things first.

Check out the towing guides for your year. Based upon year/motor/gearing.

Then tag along or 5th wheel.

then look at your door cert. It should give you the payload and max gvwr for the ex itself. It should also list your axle ratings.

Now check out your tires. What is listed on the sidewall at max psi? Max psi is where you will want to run them for max load.

Now...get to the scale unloaded and determine what your unloaded weight is. If you go to a truck stop they will give you individual axle weights and then the total.

Using those numbers then you can determine how much is left to safely tow.
Towing Guides | fleet.ford.com

 

Senix - excellent information. Thank you

 

Basically as long as you stay within the ratings on the tires and your available payload you should be fine.

 

you might do a search on trany cooler, before investing with after market add on type its been mentioned more than once that some can be restrictive to the fluid flow as well as no or little cooling improvement. it seems that the ford cooler from the 6.0 litre is the most praised ,and its almost a bolt in project,replacing your stock cooler,there will be a fitting adapter needed for different port size.