2002 X - Camper towing advice

[napsterstang]

I have a 2002 X 4.6l 4x4 with the towing package. Looks like the towing capicity is 7k.
We are selling our pop up and looking at travel trailers so im looking for some advice on how heavy of a trailer to get (Max weight) from others who tow with a similar rig.

Thanks,

Chris

 

[FordLover]

I have a 2002 X 4.6l 4x4 with the towing package. Looks like the towing capicity is 7k.
We are selling our pop up and looking at travel trailers so im looking for some advice on how heavy of a trailer to get (Max weight) from others who tow with a similar rig.

Thanks,

Chris

Towing capacity isn't really what you should be worried about, it's tongue weight that's gonna limit you. I have the same explorer as you, and my 23' camper has a weight of ~4500 lbs, and a tongue weight of ~400-500 lbs. Then the weight distribuiting hitch (about 50-80 lbs. I round up to 100) plus two 100 lb. people in the back seat and I'm already over my 700 lb tongue weight limit.

700 lbs may sound like a lot, but in the RV world, it's rather low. If you are not familiar with Weight Distribuiting hitches, I implore you to do some reading and research online. I came close to buying a crappy hitch setup that the RV dealer wanted to sell me, and after doing a bit of research, found I could buy what is considered one of the best WD hitches online and have it shipped to me for the same cost the RV dealer wanted to sell me their low end hitch. I ended up with the Equal-i-zer BRAND hitch, and I've been extremely pleased.

I also suggest you shop for RV's that aren't any longer than 25', especially if you plan on towing it very far, or very often. The wheel base on the Explorer is only 114", and the longer the trailer the more it will push you around.

 

[napsterstang]

Towing capacity isn't really what you should be worried about, it's tongue weight that's gonna limit you. I have the same explorer as you, and my 23' camper has a weight of ~4500 lbs, and a tongue weight of ~400-500 lbs. Then the weight distribuiting hitch (about 50-80 lbs. I round up to 100) plus two 100 lb. people in the back seat and I'm already over my 700 lb tongue weight limit.

700 lbs may sound like a lot, but in the RV world, it's rather low. If you are not familiar with Weight Distribuiting hitches, I implore you to do some reading and research online. I came close to buying a crappy hitch setup that the RV dealer wanted to sell me, and after doing a bit of research, found I could buy what is considered one of the best WD hitches online and have it shipped to me for the same cost the RV dealer wanted to sell me their low end hitch. I ended up with the Equal-i-zer BRAND hitch, and I've been extremely pleased.

I also suggest you shop for RV's that aren't any longer than 25', especially if you plan on towing it very far, or very often. The wheel base on the Explorer is only 114", and the longer the trailer the more it will push you around.

Thanks,

Thats exactly the kind of advice i was looking for! I will have to look into the hitches also.
I need to get a brake controller also soon so that i can at least get one home when we find the right one.

 

[BBQ Bandit]

+1 on the Equal-i-zer hitch.

Pros:
1) Once set-up properly... will help tremendously on overall stability and anti-sway.
(most WDH requires a secondary camlink device added ($$$) for anti-sway)

2) No need to dis-engage bars when backing up.
(Any competitor using chains to link up will require to be dis-engaged to back-up).

3) USA made... great customer service. Parts (if lost/damaged) can be ordered.

Worth the money... save your frustration and insanity for other things.

Below is a 7' x 8' tall x 16' long enclosed trailer... loaded over 5,000 lbs.
Was rock-solid stable with the Equal-i-zer brand hitch.

 

[FordLover]

I can also recomend the Tekonsha prodigy brake controller, it was also highly recomended by those who had them. I also purchased the ford patch cable, so I wouldn't have to do any actual splicing and wiring work. I ran it from behind the glove box, back and down towards the firewall, behind/under the console then right up to the dash, basically infront of my Right knee as I'm sitting in the seat. Wanted to be able to activate the brakes with the controler easily in a panic situation.

I bought both items online after shopping around to get the best price. I believe I bought the brake controller at PPLmotorhomes.com (I think the prices have gone up there) and the Equalizer brand hitch and ball from RVwholesalers.com

I've also ordered a pair of Mckesh tow mirrors for my explorer, after trying several of the cheap strap on kind, I find they vibrated so badly while moving they are completely useless. Pulling the trailer without extended mirrors is scary, since you can't see anywhere behind you at all.

 

[napsterstang]

Thanks for all the information. Im going to check that stuff out.

Do you guys know of a good place to go for blue book values for campers? Nada is kind of confusing with the options that are included /not included.

 

[napsterstang]

Good news! We purchased a camper today. Ended up with a 06 Coachmen 24' travel trailer. Dry weight is 4600 and toung is around 560lbs.
I also got the Tekonsha controller installed this weekend. Now i just need to pick a hitch system. Im going to look at the Equalizer brand some as suggested.

Anyone heard of the Husky Centerline? I guess its some new setup...

Also, all of the dealers sell the EZ lift equalizer setup. I could get this setup for around $300 - $400 with the sway control.

I am going to do some more reading and research on these hitches later tonight but any feedback would be helpfull.

 

[FordLover]

I suggest you go over to RV.net, and start your reading there.

There are many old timer campers over there, and they should help give you more confidence about which products are best suited to your setup.

My opinion was since my camper was pretty near the limits of my tow vehicle, I wanted to have the top of the line equipment to hitch it up.

I was guided towards the reese dual cam hitch and the Equalizer brand hitch. Basically these hitches have a built in sway control that works awesome. All the other weight distributing hitches had an add on sway control that looks like a piece of junk and works like one.
The Equalizer was very user friendly and much easier to hitch up than the chain style WD hitches.

Also be careful, all these hitches are Weight Distributing hitches, Equalizer is the brand name, sorta like Kleenex and Coke and Xerox. Equalizer is so popular that many people call all WD hitches Equalizers.

Trust me when I say nothing is scarier than driving down the freeway at 60MPH with the people you care about in the car with you, and then having your trailer start swaying violently, it may not end well. The equalizer should cost no more than 150 bucks more than the cheapy that the RV dealer is gonna try to sell you. It's well worth the piece of mind.

 

[napsterstang]

I suggest you go over to RV.net, and start your reading there.

There are many old timer campers over there, and they should help give you more confidence about which products are best suited to your setup.

My opinion was since my camper was pretty near the limits of my tow vehicle, I wanted to have the top of the line equipment to hitch it up.

I was guided towards the reese dual cam hitch and the Equalizer brand hitch. Basically these hitches have a built in sway control that works awesome. All the other weight distributing hitches had an add on sway control that looks like a piece of junk and works like one.
The Equalizer was very user friendly and much easier to hitch up than the chain style WD hitches.

Also be careful, all these hitches are Weight Distributing hitches, Equalizer is the brand name, sorta like Kleenex and Coke and Xerox. Equalizer is so popular that many people call all WD hitches Equalizers.

Trust me when I say nothing is scarier than driving down the freeway at 60MPH with the people you care about in the car with you, and then having your trailer start swaying violently, it may not end well. The equalizer should cost no more than 150 bucks more than the cheapy that the RV dealer is gonna try to sell you. It's well worth the piece of mind.

Thanks for the reply. I narrowed it down to the Reese Dual cam, Equalizer brand or the Husky Centerline hitch. All have sway built in and should be good setups. I will probably go with the equalizer but am going to check price on the Reese Dual Cam. I did alot of reading on the Equalizer and Husky Centerline last night.

 

[napsterstang]

Just thought id say thanks to everyone for the advice. After some thought and research i ended up buying a Equalizer hitch this afternoon.

 

[BBQ Bandit]

Congrats on your decision... one thing you don't want is the trailer pushing/swaying/pulling your truck into a different direction.

Wise choice!