derf
Michigan
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Joined: 01/22/2003
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Both are 26ft/ Both have superslide(table&sofa)
these units are very much the same as for interior
Salem weights are as follows
hitch-680/Axle-5060/Dry-5740/Gvwr7680/Cargo-1940
Springdale weights
Hitch-600/Axle-5220/Dry-5490/Gvwr7600/Cargo-2110
Family includes 2 Adults and 1 three yr old.
Towing with 2000 Expedition 5.4 V8 4x4 17inch tire
3.73 axle ratio. Rated to tow 7300lbs.
OK You guys let me have it!!!What do ya think????
*This Message was edited on 23-Jan-03 11:59 AM by derf*
2000 Expedition XLT
2003 Rockwood #8298SS
Reese Duel Cam
Tekonsha Envoy
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JimG
Phoenix, AZ
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Joined: 11/24/2001
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In my narrow minded opinion, I would say you want the max travel trailer weight to be about 5000-5500lbs loaded. Both of the trailers you listed could easily be 1000-1500lbs heavier when you add the options, gear, a fill the fresh water tank. You will be flirting with the GCWR of your Expedition and I do not think you will be happy with the results. My trailer weighs a little over 5000lbs with all my gear and the holding tanks empty. I have a 2000 Expedition, 4x4, 16” tires, 3.55 axle ratio and the factory tow package. Even though you have the 3.73 axle ratio, your tires are bigger than mine which should make the ratios close. With mine I never tow in OD. I never have a cooling problem even in the Arizona 100+ degree heat. But, I do have 2 concerns. First is the sidewall bulging of my P rated tires. Before my next camping trip I will swap those tires for LT rated tires. Second is that when pulling in 3rd gear with the cruise control on, even the smallest hill will cause my transmission to downshift to 2nd gear. Even on the Phoenix expressways, which are quite flat, the transmission will downshift when going over overpasses. My solution is just not use cruise control, but in reality, I think it is telling me I am very close to my realistic max weight.
Jim
2003 Dodge Ram 2500, 4x4, Quad Cab, Cummins HO, 48RE trans, 3.73 ratio
2006 Rampage 327 Toy Hauler
2009 Polaris RZR-S
2004 Kawasaki KFX-700
2005 Suzuki LT-Z400
Phoenix, Arizona
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NightCap
No Place Special, Va.
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Joined: 12/29/2002
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Don't hate me for this but.....I use to tow with an Expy and I absolutly hated it. He** I hated driving the thing without a trailer behind it. We leased it (Wife's idea) and I never could master the handling of the thing. She use to get car sick from the passenger seat when I drove. We towed a 29' Prowler that weighed about 4800# dry. The Expy had plenty of power, which I did like, but the stability with or without the trailer wasn't to my liking.
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BurbMan
Long Island, NY
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Joined: 09/20/2001
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Good Sam RV Club
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Both are too much for the Expy IMHO. It's "rated to tow" 7300 with only a 150-lb driver. Any passengers/cargo in the truck effectively reduces your tow rating. Best way to figure tow weights is to subtract the GVWR of the Expy from its GCWR.
Of the two you listed, I would select the Springdale because of the lower tongue weight and lower dry weight. You can still expect to hit the road at around 6500 lbs minimum with that one, depending on how light you pack.
We towed a Mallard 25A (26', 4700 lbs dry, 6000 lbs at the scale) with our 2000 Expy, 5.4L, 3.55, 17" tires, and it was slow going. Towed OK I guess, all things considered, but 2nd gear was a must going up any grades, and handling was pretty squishy. The Expy is built on a 1/2 ton truck chassis, but Ford puts P-rated tires and coil springs in the rear for a nice soft ride.
We traded the Expy when it started to shift funny.
If it was me, I would look for a lighter trailer or a heavier truck.
Don
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concretecamper
Macungie, PA
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Joined: 11/13/2002
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I tow a 6900 GVWR trailer and am pretty darn close to my vehicle's GCWR. I would not go any heavier however my expy tows great! I do not however tow at the 6900 but at 5700+/-.
My experience is that it is well suited to tow close to the combined rating. Just my experience others may vary.
Mike
2004 Excursion Limited 4x4
6.8 V-10, 3.73
2003 Outback 28BH-S
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derf
Michigan
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Joined: 01/22/2003
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Mike,
Just got back from the Pontiac silverdome camper show and looked at a unit from Rockwood(forestriver).8ft wide ultra lite 29ft long
hitch #545,axle#4340,Dry#4885-The salesmen told me it's around 5311# GVWR#6545. Does this set sound any better???? What type of hitch system do you have???? How is the swaying with the Expy??
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concretecamper
Macungie, PA
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Joined: 11/13/2002
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I have a reese WD hitch (800# trunion style) and a standard friction sway control however looking to upgrade to a dual cam. So far I have had no trouble with sway (just like the extra insurance a dual cam would bring). On the Expy make sure the tires are inflated to the maximum pressure (since they are p-metric and lack the stiffer sidewalls of an LT tire). I drive 60-62 mph max. Don't see any reason to go any faster. Remember Bernoulli says that the wind resistance and forces are calculated using the velocity squared so 70 MPH imparts 50% more resistance and forces than 60 MPH.
Your unit sound pretty similiar to mine (weight wise) so it should scale fine. One thing to be aware of is that many time the rear axle may exceed the manufacture's ratings before you exceed the GCWR of the vehicle. Do the math to make sure.
Also as many others here have stated the salesman typically knows nothing about ratings and safety. I found that talking to the owner of the dealership yeilds very good solid advice.
Good luck,
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