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07-21-2021, 04:33 PM
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#1
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New Member
Currently Looking...
Waxhaw
, North Carolina
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 2
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Towing a 25 foot Airstream
Partner and I want to purchase a 25' Airstream, possibly a Flying Cloud or similar. We are in the market for a tow vehicle and we are looking at a Ford Expedition with max tow package around 9,300 lbs. or a Ford Pick Up with a max tow package around 14,000 lbs. I would prefer the Expedition, but partner prefers the Pick Up. Anyone out there who pulls an Airstream with an Expedition and if so, what size and where do you go. We do want to be able to go up hill easily! TIA.
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07-21-2021, 04:49 PM
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#2
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Wheels Itch)(Must Travel
2014 25' FB Flying Cloud
- east coastal area -
, Florida
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 683
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As noted in other parts, we recently traded our 2009 F150 for a 2020 Expedition with HD tow pkg. We tow a 25' 2014 FC. The Expy tows great and rides much better that the truck.
We just arrived in maine from Florida. Easily towed up 95, through 81 and across.
The Expy is also great as a travel car on it's own.
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07-21-2021, 04:57 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2007 25' Safari FB SE
2000 30' Excella
1999 30' Excella 1000
Low Country
, South Carolina
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 820
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We tow our 25' FBSE Airstream w a '17 Expedition EL 4 wheel drive, turbo engine, tow pkg, 6 speed.
Made a long trip this spring through all 5 the Federal parks in Utah and a few more. Up and down extremely steep mtn. roads and it did not even breath hard. It knows when to change gears on
uphill and downshift to slow us down on these mtn. roads. It was a real test for these SE coast flatlanders. Hugs the road and takes the mtn. inside and outside hairpins well.
Carried 2 full size bikes, electric cooler and misc. in the SUV. Just returned from the hills in PA, great trip, windy hills, no problems.
This is our 3rd Expedition. Just keep getting better and better. ps. The F150 w similar equipment is a great truck.
__________________
StreamNTyme
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07-21-2021, 05:08 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2015 25' Flying Cloud
Schaumburg
, Illinois
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 629
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If this is your first experience at towing, and purchasing tow vehicles, the first thing I would say is be very very cautious about using the tow ratings to select your vehicle. There are 3 key things you need to investigate, the tow rating of the vehicle is just one of them. The other two are payload rating of the tow vehicle, and the amount of tongue weight it can handle. The 25' flying cloud will be in the neighborhood of 1,000lbs of tongue weight. Lots of threads on the form about selection of tow vehicles, gas vs diesel, which hitch to get, etc. Get what works for you *and* meets the safety factors that those key towing metrics help you understand. My guess is you will not have much payload room left for other gear, but I don't know that, its all part of the homework you need to do as part of the search. Its a fun stage, just be sure you keep safety as a top priority. Search the threads for more extensive discussions and opinions, there are many available
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07-21-2021, 05:13 PM
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#5
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Site Team
2009 25' FB International
2018 27' Globetrotter
Tavares
, Florida
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,654
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Hi Sim,
First of all welcome to the forum. It's great to have you with us. We are currently at the International Rally in Lebanon, TN and there are about 800 AS's here. Many of them are towed by large SUV's, like the expedition. So it is a good choice.
But it depends somewhat on how you plan to use the TV. What will you be bringing with you? Will you bring generators with gasoline? If so that could steer you toward the P/U. Will you be needed to access the bed of a truck or can you crawl into the back of the Expedition?
And remember almost anything can tow an AS. More critical is the payload and again that issue is dependent on how you plan to travel. Only you can answer questions like these.
Enjoy your search and let us know what you decide.
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07-21-2021, 09:55 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2021 30' Globetrotter
Oviedo
, Florida
Join Date: Jun 2021
Posts: 1,356
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Either would be more than adequate for a 25’ Flying Cloud. But tell your partner “the experts” you consulted recommend the Expedition. I think that’s what Click and Clack from Car Talk always said.
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07-22-2021, 05:11 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2014 25' Flying Cloud
Cuddebackville
, New York
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 4,333
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We have a 2014 25'RBT FC pulled with a 2019 Expedition Platinum with HD towing. Love it. Mountains aren't a problem.
__________________
2014 25' Flying Cloud Rear Twin
2019 Ford Expedition Platinum
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07-22-2021, 06:30 AM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2019 25' Flying Cloud
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 996
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We tow a FC 25RBT with a 18 Navigator. Your issue will be managing the truck's payload. The front bedroom 25's have a good deal more tongue weight gain from being loaded than the rear bedroom which is part of the reason we got a rear bedroom. The tongue weight counts as part of your payload. Our truck's payload is 1552, which isn't bad, but we still need to manage what we put in the truck. We are good on both axle weights and total combined weight per Cat scales. There are only two of us and smaller dogs, but we can't put a lot of other stuff in the truck and stay within the numbers.
Be aware the receiver has a 950lbs tongue weight limit.
Anyway, for us the SUV has worked great. We much prefer it over a pickup.
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07-22-2021, 09:35 AM
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#9
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Pakman31
2021 27' International
River Vale
, New Jersey
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 36
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Assuming the Expedition is equipped with the Max/HD tow package and meets your required specs on paper (esp. payload as noted), and at the CAT Scale, there is no right answer. The answer depends on what you are going to be most comfortable with. I loved our Expedition, and it is an awesome vehicle.
However, as a new AS owner (27 FBQ), I tow with F350 diesel (clearly waaay more truck than needed 'on paper'). I will tell you that after my first trip last week, I could not be happier with my choice.
One campsite we checked into was on a downhill grade, we had to back on on a slant on wet grass. The extra power and traction gave me confidence. Not sure how comfortable I would have felt in the Expy.
Another consideration is highway driving, stability control, sway etc. As the song goes, people are crazy, and I am convinced that a full 5% of our population of drivers must have learned to drive by watching Mad Max Road-warrior movies.
You will be towing a significant load and you want to be able to conduct emergency maneuvers, in wind, rain, hail, without flipping, swinging the trailer etc. Therefore my preference would be to error on the side of more truck, but you have to make your own decision.
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07-22-2021, 09:47 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2008 19' Bambi
2012 23' Flying Cloud
2016 25' Flying Cloud
Bandera
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 786
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We tow a FC25FBT with a 2017 Expedition Platinum, 9300 lb towing capacity. 3.6 liter Turbo V6. Just returned from Southeast via NC and TN mountains, tows great. Actually better than our prior 2008 Expedition with a 5.4 liter V8.
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07-22-2021, 09:52 AM
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#11
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New Member
Currently Looking...
Waxhaw
, North Carolina
Join Date: Mar 2021
Posts: 2
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Thanks for all the replies. They will help in our decision. We are used to towing as we have done so for a few years now. We will tow our current TT (not an Airstream) with the new vehicle to get used to it before we buy an Airstream. We really wanted to go to the rally in Lebanon (where we bought our current TT), but hubby doesn't return from his job at sea until this Saturday. Thanks again to all.
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07-22-2021, 09:59 AM
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#12
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Rivet Master
2007 25' Safari FB SE
2000 30' Excella
1999 30' Excella 1000
Low Country
, South Carolina
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 820
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AS said before, we tow w a Platinum Expedition EL, max tow pkg, 9300 lbs. cap. 6 speed, 4 wheel drive, Turbo and Propride hitch. Went through a real 40 mi. hr. wind snow blizzard in March in N TX, many cars and trucks in ditches along the way. We were in 4 wheel drive all the way to Amarillo, no stability problems at all. At times we could not see the road but Exp. kept us safe. Icy , windy steep hairpin roads, plenty power, trans and engine do any job well, not a problem at all.
Love the Exp. and know we are safe on our journey's. The extra inside space is a bonus.
__________________
StreamNTyme
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07-22-2021, 10:07 AM
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#13
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2 Rivet Member
2020 23' Flying Cloud
Reno
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 74
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I tow my 23'FC with a 2020 'ruby red' (looks really nice with the silver AS Expedition Platinum w/ tow package and a ProPride hitch. Sometimes I forget I've got a trailer on the back. Before I got the 2020, I pulled it with a 2010 Expy. I still have #1 and use her in a pinch. I upgraded for all the bells and whistles on the 2020 Platinum.
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07-22-2021, 11:10 AM
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#14
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Norm
2010 23' Flying Cloud
2011 Avenue Coach
Lubbock
, Texas
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 12
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We pull a 2021 25’ Flying Cloud with a 2021 Expedition with the heavy duty tow package. We just got back from a week in the mountains in excess of 9000’. No problems uphill or downhill.
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07-22-2021, 11:26 AM
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#15
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1 Rivet Member
2018 25' Flying Cloud
Grand Junction
, Colorado
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 17
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If you want to carry a porta tank and possibly a generator you with prefer a truck. Many State Parks don’t have sewer hookups and if you want to stay more than a week you will appreciate the porta tank.
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07-22-2021, 11:43 AM
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#16
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3 Rivet Member
2018 26' Flying Cloud
Oriental
, North Carolina
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 121
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We have a 26' Airstream and we towed it from NC down to FL, then across the Southern states and up to CO, UT, NM, and AZ. Back through AR, WV, VA, etc. Our tow vehicle was a 2015 Expedition with the tow package. Never a problem at all. The Expedition worked just fine, even in the mountains. We now have a F150 pickup and I can't tell any difference.
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07-22-2021, 12:45 PM
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#17
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1 Rivet Member
2021 27' Globetrotter
bozeman
, Montana
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 14
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We’ve towed our 2015 24’ flying cloud with a 2018 Expedition all over Montana and Wyoming. Great performance and decent fuel economy.
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07-22-2021, 12:50 PM
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#18
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1 Rivet Member
2021 27' Globetrotter
bozeman
, Montana
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 14
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We’ve towed our 25’ FC with a 2018 Expedition Max all over Montana and Wyoming. Great performance and decent fuel economy.
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07-22-2021, 02:12 PM
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#19
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Rivet Master
2014 25' Flying Cloud
Cuddebackville
, New York
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 4,333
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pakman31
One campsite we checked into was on a downhill grade, we had to back on on a slant on wet grass. The extra power and traction gave me confidence. Not sure how comfortable I would have felt in the Expy.
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It would not be an issue. The Expy has multiple traction modes for almost any situation. Oh, and 400 horsepower.
__________________
2014 25' Flying Cloud Rear Twin
2019 Ford Expedition Platinum
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07-22-2021, 02:14 PM
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#20
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Rivet Master
2014 25' Flying Cloud
Cuddebackville
, New York
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 4,333
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wayne&Sam
We have a 2014 25'RBT FC pulled with a 2019 Expedition Platinum with HD towing. Love it. Mountains aren't a problem.
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I should also add that we've gone to scales and confirmed that all weights are within limits.
__________________
2014 25' Flying Cloud Rear Twin
2019 Ford Expedition Platinum
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