2020 Lincoln Navigator & 2017 FC 30BH

[wynntrinh]

Hi,
Does anyone have experience with this TV and AS setup? Our Lincoln can tow “up to” 8300lbs. Your comments are appreciated. Thanks.

[wulfraat]

I've towed my 30' International for ~3,000 miles with my 1/2 ton SUV (2012 Infiniti QX56/80). 30' international has the same GVWR as the 30BH (8,800lbs). Wet and ready for camping my trailer weighs in at 8,500lbs with 990lbs tongue weight (your tongue weight will likely be higher with the front-bedroom).

My QX56 had very close specs to your Lincoln Navigator (Independent suspension, 400 HP, 413ft-lbs Torque, 121" wheelbase, 1,450lb payload, 8,500lb tow rating, 850lb tongue rating, etc.).

I can be done with special attention to a correctly calibrated WD hitch.

I ultimately switched out to a 3/4 ton Tow Vehicle and it makes for a more pleasant and controlled towing experience.

Know that if you choose to tow with the navigator, you will likely exceed both your hitch tongue-weight rating and very likely vehicle payload weight rating.

[wynntrinh]

Thanks for the comments. I am now concerned that my TV can’t pull our AS without possible safety issues…

[TexasVine]

Originally Posted by wynntrinh

Thanks for the comments. I am now concerned that my TV can’t pull our AS without possible safety issues…

Safety can certainly be compromised when pushing the limits of your TV. It's not only about you but also the other people on the road. Be safe.

[XCountry]

Originally Posted by wynntrinh

Thanks for the comments. I am now concerned that my TV can’t pull our AS without possible safety issues…

I think you may be correct.

Payload rating is where you’re almost certainly going to be outside of your vehicle’s rated limits. There are a couple reasons:

AS are notoriously tongue heavy in practice, often exceeding their published TW number by several hundred pounds.

You didn’t mention occupants in the tow vehicle, but given you’re talking about a BH model it’s probably not just 2 adults. Occupant weight is payload.

I ran all these numbers for a 27’ trailer and couldn’t make ANY SUV work without getting into tricks like relocating the batteries and running small propane tanks to reduce tongue weight. And of course hauling dry all the time (water / waste in tanks is heavy, up to 1000 lbs across all tanks) Not sure how you could make an even bigger one work, your trailer’s published TW is 903 vs my 871.

[drbrick]

NO ... you are pushing safety and will endanger yourself and others on the road.

[Tom Steinhag]

I use a 2017 Ford expedition with the trailer tow package and pull a 26 you flying cloud.

Tow rating is 14,300 pounds and the tow package is additional which includes larger radiator, transmission cooler in the oil cooler as well as Electronic shocks

It also has an integrated brake controller and I’ve had no issues traveling from Texas to where we are in Maine right now twice and two years ago to Yellowstone national park as well as New Mexico Tennessee Mountains etc. However I would not recommend it above a 26 footer

The expedition is the perfect vehicle for a 25 or 26 footer

[uncle_bob]

Hi

The OP seems to be asking about a 30' FC with the bunk house option. (just saying ...).

I would *guess* that if the bunk house is the target that you have at least one and possibly more kids. That gets into their weight and into hauling a lot more gear along. However big they are now and however much they "need", it's only going to get worse Also accept that you may well have the kids friends along. Now you have a bunk house tent and even more stuff.

Go with a TV that gives you some room to grow *and* still have some margin.

Bob

[Luke Grisott]

We Can highly recommend our new Ram 1500 limited Hemi Truck .
2020 Ram 1500 limited Hemi.
This Ram has All BELLS & whistle‘s that any High End luxuriy SUV’s. It’s a game changer for many of us who have always had luxury SUVs as our tow vehicle.
Air suspension for easy entering and exiting & Retractable runningboards.
Leather throughout with accents of real wood .
Heated and cooling seats front& heated back seats.
Backseat with 45 inches of legroom and recline
Towing capacity 12,045
Tongue weight 1050
Back up cameras that will talk with your Airstream giving you’ve views 30 feet & behind the Airsteam.
12 inch screen.
My favorite vehicle is our 2020 Ram 1500 truck . This is just one woman’s opinion. Can’t believe it’s my favorite vehicle.
It’s a luxury SUV who thinks it’s a TRUCK. Wow it’s Beautiful & powerful amazing ! Purchased it in September. We have taken several trips. Tows beautifully.
Choosing a TV is a big decision. Do check it out online. Take a test drive he won’t be disappointed. All the power you’ll need & luxury.
Safe travels,
#22624 The Silver Buffalo.

[uraljohn]

Originally Posted by Luke Grisott

We Can highly recommend our new Ram 1500 limited Hemi Truck .
2020 Ram 1500 limited Hemi.
This Ram has All BELLS & whistle‘s that any High End luxuriy SUV’s. It’s a game changer for many of us who have always had luxury SUVs as our tow vehicle.
Air suspension for easy entering and exiting & Retractable runningboards.
Leather throughout with accents of real wood .
Heated and cooling seats front& heated back seats.
Backseat with 45 inches of legroom and recline
Towing capacity 12,045
Tongue weight 1050
Back up cameras that will talk with your Airstream giving you’ve views 30 feet & behind the Airsteam.
12 inch screen.
My favorite vehicle is our 2020 Ram 1500 truck . This is just one woman’s opinion. Can’t believe it’s my favorite vehicle.
It’s a luxury SUV who thinks it’s a TRUCK. Wow it’s Beautiful & powerful amazing ! Purchased it in September. We have taken several trips. Tows beautifully.
Choosing a TV is a big decision. Do check it out online. Take a test drive he won’t be disappointed. All the power you’ll need & luxury.
Safe travels,
#22624 The Silver Buffalo.

Just out of pure curiosity what does the yellow sticker in the driver side door jamb say the PAYLOAD amount is? Very interested to see that figure.

[jeffmc306]

Uraljohn beat me to it…. GypsyDad asked me the same question then I checked the door sticker. Our 2019 RAM 1500 had a payload of 1220 lbs.; not the 1840 that RAM said it would. More options = less payload. Ours was a Laramie, not a Limited too.

We loved the 1500 but after a trip to the CAT scales found we were 150 lbs. over the rear axle’s 4100 lbs max. Now we have a RAM 2500 with 2940 lbs payload…. Just be careful when selecting a vehicle on towing capacity; you’ll go over on payload and axles before you reach that towing number.

[switz]

In all the tow question threads, folks are trying to pull a heavy trailer with a small tow vehicle. The image from Airstream's past has a chap on a bicycle pulling an Airstream. Note the pulling as there sure was no stopping with the bike.

It has been mentioned that GM makes passenger van models that chould be looked at as possible choices.

[cru-in]

First congrats for asking the question. Shows you care about safety. Good on you!

Unfortunately saying you can tow a certain length trailer with a certain TV is a rule of thumb and prone to error.

We tow a 2004 30 foot classic with a HA, disc brakes on the AS, and Ram 1500. Many trips to the scales show, under all weight distribution settings and loaded for camping, we are several hundred pounds under on all the truck's numbers (RAWR, FAWR, GVW, etc.).

However, this is a very unique AS. The AS service center completely reworked the interior for the previous owner. the front couch was removed to provide a more open floor plan up front. The 2004 30 has a light tongue to begin with, the rework further lowered it. We have to work to assure we have enough TW (hence towing with a HA). We originally wanted a new 25 Rear Twin. While being 5 feet shorter, calculations showed a new 25 Rear Bed Twin would have almost assuredly put our truck over its numbers. To stay within our truck's numbers, buying new, we would have had to stay with a 23 or less.

It is all about the weights associated with your vehicle, trailer, how you load, etc. I wish it was easier. However, I find one just has to go to the scales.

Calculate, calculate, calculate. Buy the AS your calcs say you can safety tow. Then, when you get your AS and TV, take it to the scales and hope your calculations are accurate. For me, I am glad I was conservative in the calculations. I found that, the weight dist hitch, was projecting much less weight back onto the AS axles than I calculated. Fortunately, I have enough buffer to still stay within the truck's numbers.

The best way to avoid this is to get a 1 ton truck and don't worry about it.

[DCPAS]

We tow a 2019 FC RB Twin with a 2018 Navigator with the tow package. It's two wheel drive so a bit higher towing capacity of 8,700 lbs. 1,552 payload. Weighs tell us that we are within all our numbers, but there are just two of us and we are careful about what we load in the truck. The 25 RB was as big as I was willing to go with the Navigator. A FB would exceed the receiver max of 950 lbs.

The Navigator is a wonderful road trip machine and does well in our use, but I wouldn't pull a 30 with it nor load it up with people or gear while towing something with Airstream hitch weights.

[Ch47d1sg]

Originally Posted by jeffmc306

Uraljohn beat me to it…. GypsyDad asked me the same question then I checked the door sticker. Our 2019 RAM 1500 had a payload of 1220 lbs.; not the 1840 that RAM said it would. More options = less payload. Ours was a Laramie, not a Limited too.

We loved the 1500 but after a trip to the CAT scales found we were 150 lbs. over the rear axle’s 4100 lbs max. Now we have a RAM 2500 with 2940 lbs payload…. Just be careful when selecting a vehicle on towing capacity; you’ll go over on payload and axles before you reach that towing number.

bingo! You will find a 1/2 ton based vehicle may be able to pull it physically but will not be able to handle additional payload or items. Just because you TV is supposed to be "able to pull" 8000lbs doesn't mean you will have the GAWR Rear or tongue weight to be able to SAFELY

Smaller trailer or larger TV would be my recommendation

Top

[kscherzi]

According to the internet, the Navigator payload is about 1,700 lbs. Subtract from that the combined weight of yourself, all passenger and stuff loaded in the rear. What's leftover is the maximum tongue weight of the trailer. Actually, subtract another 70 lbs for the required WD hitch also.

[wulfraat]

Originally Posted by kscherzi;

According to the internet, the Navigator payload is about 1,700 lbs. Subtract from that the combined weight of yourself, all passenger and stuff loaded in the rear. What's leftover is the maximum tongue weight of the trailer. Actually, subtract another 70 lbs for the required WD hitch also.

Door sticker is what counts vs. marketing numbers on the internet.

According to the internet the payload for my 2012 QX26 is 1,710lbs. Wrong. It's 1,450 per the door sticker. Door sticker and CAT scales are all that matter. Options add up in weight.

[suncoasteng]

Originally Posted by Luke Grisott

We Can highly recommend our new Ram 1500 limited Hemi Truck .
2020 Ram 1500 limited Hemi.
Towing capacity 12,045
Tongue weight 1050
#22624 The Silver Buffalo.

Hmmmmm, wonder why Dodge webpage has different numbers than you posted?

[I]
Experience impressive towing capability with a maximum towing capacity of up to 10,680 pounds when equipped with the available 5.7L HEMI® V8 engine and TorqueFlite® eight-speed automatic transmission.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

One tempting thing to think about:

If tongue weight is the *only* issue, let's glue a bunch of rocks to the back bumper. Lots of weight at the back of the trailer will take care of that tongue weight problem. ( indeed, most folks don't use rocks .... ).

The problem with this is that weight at the back of the trailer is the last thing you would want if you are looking at sway. In an AS it's also a great way to learn what the term "rear end separation" is all about. (weight high is also a problem so rocks on the back roof are actually the worst case ....)

Weight and balance is tricky and not all of the details are immediately obvious.

Bob

[superChop]

Specific question from OP is experience with the TV & 30' Trailer.
Don't do it before you look at all your numbers:
GCVWR
GAWR
GVWR
Payload

I had a neighbor drop by our house today and wondered if his beautiful 2017 Tundra, 5.7 engine, super back row and short bed could tow our 26' AS. He was totally focused on the tow rating of about 10,000 lbs. He received a free tour of our beautiful vintage AS to soothe his feeling of owning a TV that should focus on a smaller/lighter trailer.

When I shared the above weight considerations he was surprised at all the info he needed to acquire before answering this question, "can my tundra tow your trailer"? The question evolved into, "should I tow your trailer with my tundra"? At no extra cost I recommended he watch some youtube videos by TFL Trucks, Big Truck, Big RV, KYD, LOLOHO, etc.

When I mentioned that E rated tires were best for towing, it provided another surprise and he promised to come back when he has a trailer to consider and work up some towing calculations with me.

This example from our beloved "Gracie" is for payload:
TW = 1,000 lbs
Driver/Pax = 300 lbs
ARE Topper = 200 lbs
Total without any cargo, kids, or dogs, electric bikes and WD hitch = 1,500 lbs.
Guess what his payload was? The usual Tundra payload, which for him is an anemic 1,255 lbs. Please remember that my Camry's payload is over 900 lbs!

Anyone else out there that thinks a 2,000lb payload in a half ton truck might do the trick?