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Old 07-20-2015, 01:36 PM   #1
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2015 27' FB Eddie Bauer
Simi Valley , California
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 2
TV help

We recently purchased my dream trailer: 2015 Eddie Bauer 27'. My husband thinks I put the 'cart before the horse.' Which I know I did but I freaked out when I heard Airstream was discontinuing this model!

We have spent a lot of time looking for a used TV. We found a clean 2012 Ford Expedition EL with a heavy duty trailer tow package which includes class IV hitch receiver, 7 and 4 pin connectors, heavy duty auxiliary transmission oil cooler, heavy duty radiator and electronic brake wiring kit. My head is spinning from numbers and I need to know if this TV will work. The dealership isn't much help. Here are the numbers:
Net horsepower 310@5100
Net torque 365@3600
Wheelbase 131 inches
Fuel tank 33.5 gallons
Passenger cap. 8
Suspension: axle cap. Front #3500
Rear #4250
Axle rate (:1) rear 3.73
Trailering Wt. distributing hitch - max tongue wt. 1335 lbs
- max trailer wt. 8900 lbs
As spec'd curb weight 5844 lbs
Gross axle wt. rating 7950 lbs
Front 3700 lbs
Rear 4250 lbs
Gross comb. Wt. Rating 15000 lbs
Gross vehicle wt. rating 7540 lbs
Max. Payload cap. 1695 lbs

Our 27' E.B. Spec. are:
7800# GVWR
7600# dual axle system
5975# UBW
1825#NCC
Hitch Wt. 885

HELP. I'm having a hard time making sense of it all. I think it should work but the numbers are showing me different. I'm not a math teacher so can someone who understands this please advise. I want to take my dream up and down hills and dales and even mountains. Safety is paramount!
Thank you taking the time to advise! It is appreciated.
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Old 07-20-2015, 02:05 PM   #2
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2002 30' Classic S/O
Fleming Island , Florida
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Here is how I would look at it.
1. To start, compare 12% of trailer GVWR to the stated hitch weight. 7800# x .12 = 936#. This is the middle of the range of recommended tongue weights for stable towing, the limits being 10% (780#) and 15% (1170#). The quoted tongue weight is most likely the tongue weight of the unloaded trailer.

2. Lets say you are successful at loading your trailer to achieve a 936# tongue weight. Then you subtract that from the payload capacity of 1695#. That leaves you with a payload of 759#. That has to be enough for all the people, pets and cargo you are going to put in the truck.

3. The truck is now carrying that 936#, so it doesn't have to tow it. So the towed weight of the trailer (if you load it to the GVWR) is 7800# - 936# = 6864#. Lets assume you load the truck to its payload. For my 2006 F-150, the trailer towing capacity had to be reduced by the payload carried by the truck except for the driver. So 8900# - 1695# + 200# (average driver) = 7405#. Your margin for trailer towing is (7405-6864)/7405 or 7%, and you have no margin for payload since we assumed you used it all. Best case is you don't load the trailer or the truck to GVWR limits, and you could do better on the margin.

This is just my way at looking at it. I'd prefer to have at least 10% margin and more would be better, but there are lots of people out there towing with less, or even negative (overloaded) margin, by specifications, anyways. I would have very little hesitation about towing on the flat in your situation, but hills will require some careful driving, both going up and coming down.

FWIW, I started with an F-150 and traded up to a Ram 2500 diesel. I love it. I've only had it a few months, but in 2000 miles of towing it was great.

Al
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Old 07-20-2015, 02:19 PM   #3
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1996 34' Excella
Elberta , Alabama
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For whatever it's worth from this old geezer, I'd hook it up, make sure the trailer and the Ford is level, the hitch adjusted properly, and try it. The Ford is equipped for towing, and your 27'er isn't that heavy.

The only downside that I can see is that engine may sort of having it's tongue hanging out if you get in the western mountains. You will know if you feel comfortable with it after the first trip.

A lot of people try to make things sound pretty complicated for 1st time RVer's, sometimes that can be discouraging and intimidating. Good luck, enjoy the new trailer and the TV.

Larry
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Old 07-20-2015, 03:38 PM   #4
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2013 30' Classic
Greenwood , Mississippi
Join Date: Oct 2012
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My neighbor tows an 80's 31' Airstream with a 2012 Expedition.
I don't know which engine, transmission, rear-end, etc.
The only complaint he has is that his former TV, a Ford Club Wagon, had more interior storage.
At 76 years old, this will be his last TV.
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Old 07-20-2015, 03:55 PM   #5
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2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas , Malebolgia
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Thumbs up Welcome Aboard....

IMHO...you did NOT put the cart in front of the horse.
Hopefully the Airstream will outlast any tow vehicle you have now.
Make sure your Expedition is well maintained, your hitch, WD, tires and sway are set properly, stay under your max weights..... and get on the road....it's not rocket science after all.

Other opinion's will be proffered.

Bob
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