[mrledee]

Hello,


I recently bought a used Transit Van (2015 150XLT 10 seat configuration, 3.7) for my growing family (wife and 4 kids). I'm considering buying a travel trailer to go on trips in the future. I looked online and I found that the maximum tow capacity for my van is close to 5,000lbs. I'm looking at travel trailers that are around 4,200lbs because I'm trying to find a balance between size for my family and the weight.


Based on the experience of anyone here, what are your thoughts on the 3.7 150XLT model towing trailers? Any experiences or advise would be greatly appreciated!


Thanks to all and God bless.

 

[DrJean]

IDK ...

remember to consider payload... including your family's weights

 

[Zain Stuart]

Hahah! Great idea! Travel trailer is best option for a long trip by own vehicle. here you can easily many you family comfortable.

 

[smokster]

Consider the issues of getting electric brakes into the equation

 

[HCSGuy]

I pull a Keystone Hideout 175lhs, which is 3300lbs empty, and about 4100lbs full. When I did my calculations, this only left me about 600lbs for passengers, so forget about filling up all the seats, too. I am hampered a little by the diesel engine which adds 400lbs in weight, which comes directly off of load capacity. On our trip from Oregon to Montana this summer, there were quite a few times that I wish I had more power, though it was usually workable, and always much better than it would have been in my Sprinter. One takeaway I got from the trip was the lesson of aerodynamic load - I would strongly consider getting a 7' wide trailer over an 8' wide one, even if it is longer, as it will be much easier to pull at highway speeds. On one stretch we went almost 3hrs into a 35mph headwind, and the van would barely do 60 on level ground, downshifted, and was getting 8.9mpg, which is the worst mileage I've ever gotten in a diesel. In my dreams, my next trailer is a Livin' Lite

 

[joefromga]

With the ecoboost you wouldn't notice.

 

[brittles]

Are you talking about a 4200 pound dry trailer or is that the GVW?

If it's the dry weight I'd say it's too heavy.

Be careful if your buying new. Some salesman will stretch the truth and assure you that your TV (tow vehicle) is more than adequate.

 

[mrledee]

4200 lbs was the dry weight. I'm not really thinking of taking too much stuff on a trip (a few bikes, clothes, and that's about it). For the size of our family (wife and I along with 4 young children), I would like a decent size trailer. But at the same time I don't want to push the limits of my van.

 

[star gazer]

Load the van up with the kids and similar gear you would travel with, and find a scale. Subtract that from the GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating) that is in your manual, and that is what you can tow. It looks like it may be about 10,800 if you have the 3:31 ratio as it says towing of 5400lbs. But that is with the van empty.

Don't be surprised if it is quite a bit under that 4200 lbs dry weight. And a large frontal area trailer hurt capacity too. I think there is a chart on the Ford Towing specs web page about how to figure that.

Dean

 

[mrledee]

I think I found the chart you were talking about.

It looks like the 5400 capacity is for the van. I have the 10 seat wagon, so the capacity is 4700. I was planning on removing the rear bench for a trip like that and I've done it once before. It's quite heavy!

 

[mrledee]

So I want to make sure I understand this completely because I'm a little confused by all these numbers. Here are the specs on my van

Curb weight 5510
GVWR 8550
GCWR 10800
Max Tow Cap 4700

So correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm calculating that if you subtract the curb weight from the GCWR, the van can carry a maximum of 5290 between the van and the trailer, but the maximum that I can tow is 4700. This means that I could only carry 590 lbs total IN the van (passengers, cargo, gas, etc).

Am I getting this right?

 

[HCSGuy]

You got it right - GCWR is the fun killer. Since my van seats 15, my brother-in-law wanted to throw his whole family and their gear in our rig so that he wouldn't have to drive, but GCWR came to the rescue and let me tell him no, though we did end up with his kids and were right at max. As I mentioned, I do think that the frontal area was more of an issue for us than the weight.

 

[mrledee]

Okay, so theoretically if I was to buy a trailer that weighed 4700lbs I would be allowed an additional 590lbs max in the van. If I got a trailer that weighted 4200lbs, I could add 200lbs of cargo in the trailer, and I could hold an additional 300lbs of cargo in the van.

I'm just trying to make sure how these numbers work, so I can figure out what will work for me. Is there a recommended percentage of the GCWR that you should not exceed (like 75% or 80% of the GCWR)?

Thanks again for your help!