Advice needed
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Cross-Country
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 64
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Advice needed
Hi all
so I've been reading wayyyy too much the last few weeks on TV and now just have myself totally confused. I came into a 33' rockwood ultralight. The GVWR is 7400 lbs. I need to get a vehicle to tow it. My wife does not want a massive vehicle as she will be driving this mostly. I found a 2012 expedition xlt with the HD towing package. It's rated to tow 9000lbs. I do have an upgraded hitch and sway bars that came with the camper. I was concerned with the size of the vehicle. The previous owner towed it with a 2500 suburban. The length of that vehicle is around 222" the length of the expedition is 207". Will 15" really make that much difference in towing? Do you think I'll be fine with this vehicle?
Thanks in advance
so I've been reading wayyyy too much the last few weeks on TV and now just have myself totally confused. I came into a 33' rockwood ultralight. The GVWR is 7400 lbs. I need to get a vehicle to tow it. My wife does not want a massive vehicle as she will be driving this mostly. I found a 2012 expedition xlt with the HD towing package. It's rated to tow 9000lbs. I do have an upgraded hitch and sway bars that came with the camper. I was concerned with the size of the vehicle. The previous owner towed it with a 2500 suburban. The length of that vehicle is around 222" the length of the expedition is 207". Will 15" really make that much difference in towing? Do you think I'll be fine with this vehicle?
Thanks in advance
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,707
Likes: 12,845
From: Wyoming
Check the cargo capacity on the driver's door frame. It's usually a yellow sticker. A 7400 lb GVWR trailer will have a tongue weight of 740 lbs to 1110 lbs. If your cargo capacity is close to those numbers then it's probably not a vehicle you want to tow that trailer with.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,243
Likes: 274
From: South Central Indiana
Check the cargo capacity on the driver's door frame. It's usually a yellow sticker. A 7400 lb GVWR trailer will have a tongue weight of 740 lbs to 1110 lbs. If your cargo capacity is close to those numbers then it's probably not a vehicle you want to tow that trailer with.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,707
Likes: 12,845
From: Wyoming
Right. I could write a lot more, but figured we should start there since if the Expedition isn't close enough on cargo capacity there's no reason to get wordy.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,707
Likes: 12,845
From: Wyoming
You have plenty of payload/cargo capacity, as long that number came from the door sticker. But that assumes that you don't load 1000 lbs of crap into the Excursion. Tongue weight and cargo both deduct from cargo capacity.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 63
Likes: 9
go to a Rockwood owners forum where you will get the best advice from dedicated owners and towers. Even each manufacture trailer company has different characteristics. However, do not be surprised if THEY tell you to get something more substantial to tow. There is much more involved in just the numbers on the door frame which should never be exceeded. Axel capacity, brakes, transmission, even the tire ratings play a huge roll.
If you think you are confused NOW !
whatever you do, take it seriously and do not accept the "I tow with a SmartCar all the time" mentality be safe for yourself and the rest of us in your path if it goes sideways, literally or figuratively
If you think you are confused NOW !
whatever you do, take it seriously and do not accept the "I tow with a SmartCar all the time" mentality be safe for yourself and the rest of us in your path if it goes sideways, literally or figuratively
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,707
Likes: 12,845
From: Wyoming
Another thing to think about is vehicle size. The bigger the tow vehicle, the easier the tow. There's a lot to be said for towing with a larger vehicle, like a 3/4 ton pickup instead of an Expedition. A larger vehicle often provides an easier towing experience. Yes, a 3/4 ton CCLB truck makes for a less than ideal daily driver in close urban environments. It's a trade off you'll have to manage.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 162
Likes: 43
From: CA
Personally I wouldn't. That's a long trailer for that tow vehicle. For estimate say 1,000lb tongue weight. You are down to 600 lbs payload before either you or your wife get in. You need a bigger truck otherwise you won't be happy driving.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 502
I'd plan on the tongue weight of that trailer to be around the 900-1,000 lb mark. Given that you're buying an Expedition, I'm assuming you have people to move. If you're loading up the Expedition with 4-6 people, maybe a dog or 2 and whatever else just happens to accumulate in the cab of a vehicle, you could eat up that 6-700 lb cushion in a hurry. It's doable, but I wouldn't say that's the ideal tow vehicle for a trailer that size. For something that long, I'd want a 3/4 ton vehicle.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 1,317
Likes: 313
Not enough caboose/wheelbase, in my opinion.
Even if the numbers work with payload and axle ratings, you probably have to have a perfect day to tow. In flyover country on a calm day. Going up and down grades in mountain pass areas...I’m not trying that out.
Even if the numbers work with payload and axle ratings, you probably have to have a perfect day to tow. In flyover country on a calm day. Going up and down grades in mountain pass areas...I’m not trying that out.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,943
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How much does the Expedition weigh? With the length/size of the trailer I would be a little concerned about the size/stability of the TV. If it was a 25ft camper I would say go for it.
Ask yourself where you are going to be towing,.....what the terrain and weather will be like.....how long/far do you want to tow it? With the right hitch etc setup, if you are not going to be towing in adverse conditions or for a long time/distance I would think it would be okay. If you are going to take it on any longer trips in adverse conditions I would go with a larger TV.
I had a 30ft camper that was about 8000lbs. I towed it with an E250. Now I have a newer 30ft bunkhouse that is about 8500lbs. I tow it with a v10 Excursion. Even with that I have added things to make the towing experience more enjoyable. Mirrors, tune, swaybars and am currently installing a set of airbags.
Ask yourself where you are going to be towing,.....what the terrain and weather will be like.....how long/far do you want to tow it? With the right hitch etc setup, if you are not going to be towing in adverse conditions or for a long time/distance I would think it would be okay. If you are going to take it on any longer trips in adverse conditions I would go with a larger TV.
I had a 30ft camper that was about 8000lbs. I towed it with an E250. Now I have a newer 30ft bunkhouse that is about 8500lbs. I tow it with a v10 Excursion. Even with that I have added things to make the towing experience more enjoyable. Mirrors, tune, swaybars and am currently installing a set of airbags.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Aug 2014
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Thanks everyone. Much appreciated. The excursion is on my short list. Wife is just concerned with the reliability of older vehicles like them. I think from all your responses I'm going with a larger vehicle. Thanks again
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,581
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From: Pittsburgh
I would pass as well on the Expedition , Buddy has an 2014 Expy with the 5.4 and tows my 2010 26 footer thru the hills and mountains of western PA . Tells me it will do it but you know its back there.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,943
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I went with a 4wd v10. I spent a decent amount to get one in the 140-150k mile range. I also planned on spending another 2000-3000 over the next year fixing all the stuff that is inevitable with an older vehicle. I just figured it in to the cost of the vehicle.
The Excursion was pretty much the only thing that fit our needs. I needed room for the kids and dogs and needed to be able to tow the camper. There wasn't another SUV out there that fit the bill that I could find.
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