First time camper owners - Questions! - RV-Dreams Community Forum

warrak79 · RV-Dreams Community Member

First time camper owners - Questions!

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Welcome to the RV Dreams forums. Hopefully, you will find enough information here to answer all of your questions. Good luck with the research and planning.

1. With regards to the Expedition, I suggest taking it to a Ford dealer and let them look at the "data plate" on the driver's side door post. With that information and the knowledge of engine and transmission, they can give you a good idea of how big of a trailer the vehicle can tow. Keep in mind, you will want to know what the vehicle's gross combined vehicle weight (GCVW) is so that the combined gross vehicular weight rating (GVWR) of the Expedition and the camper does not exceed that GCVW. Do not let the dealers tell you only the "towing weight." That number is not an accurate weight to go by.

2. As a "guide" for size of trailer, we used to have a Ford F250 that was the smallest truck we could use to tow a 26 foot travel trailer. Since you are using an Expedition, a travel trailer is all that you can tow. The F250 is a 3/4 ton truck, but I don't know if the Expedition's weight capacities would be as heavy as what a truck's weight capacities would be. So, you might have to deal with a shorter trailer, and even then you may need an equalizing hitch and anti-sway bars to tow it safely.

3. A lot of the campers will have fresh water tanks and usually a 12V pump to pump the water to the faucets. When we were primarily "camping," I always carried two 5-gallon water cans that I could fill at another water source so that I could refill the fresh water tank. I usually had to use a funnel with a "hose" (like a transmission fill funnel) to get the water into the tank.

4. Also, keep in mind that for a "four season" RV is usually larger and built heavier in order to be able to suffice in freezing or below temperatures. So, what you can tow with an Expedition, may not really give you much insulation. Since many campers and RV's have furnaces that run on propane, but also require electricity to run the fans for moving the warm air around, it will limit you on how long the battery(s) will last. However, even a small generator like a Honda EU2000IS can be used to hook the trailer to and recharge the battery(s). Many smaller RV's may only have one battery. Some of the larger ones, especially those having inverters, the number of batteries may be as many as 4 or 6. However, inverters are primarily used to operate 120 volt devices with battery power. Most lights and furnaces in campers are all operating on 12V power.

5. Well, I can't really relate to the issue of being as large as yourself, but I think most campers will have at least a full-sized mattress in the bedroom, and some may have a queen-sized one. As far as sleeping arrangements for the rest of the family, most of the campers will be designed so that the sofa and dinette will make out into beds. With that in mind, you will want any dealers to show you what the sleeping arrangements are, and how they are operate. Many will be capable of having beds for 6, although it may be that the kids would have to share.

Terry

Bobbi · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry and Jo has given excellent information already. I'm not a veteran camper, but I've spent quite a bit of time researching our future camper purchase and may be able to offer some information from my research. First, you are on the right path by considering what your family's needs are, how you will use the camper, and considerations of your tow vehicle's capacity. The latter is one I'm working on understanding better. I do believe the tow capacity of your Ford Expedition will limit you somewhat. If I were in your shoes, and this is just me, I would definitely consider a much higher capacity tow vehicle to accommodate that size of family and the ability to be off the grid and in colder weather. But, that's just me.

Do yourself a big favor and spend at least several months researching campers. It will take you a long way toward making the right choice, and there is really so much to learn before jumping in. I promise.

I recommend taking a trip to your local RV dealers and look around. All of you should get inside the campers and imagine your entire family inside that space. This will offer great insight into how you think the floor plans, space, and sleeping accommodations work for all of you.

You will need to consider the light and superlight travel trailers if you keep the Expedition. I think it may be difficult to find something lightweight that is also reasonable insulated, and/or suitable for cold weather camping. There's a lot of research to do there.

Whatever you choose, consider ways to conserve water usage and energy since you will be camping off the grid. Everyone may not be able to take a shower everyday if you have low fresh water capacity.

I would focus on the towing capacity of your Expedition vs. the length of trailer you could tow. I believe it's the towing weight capacity of that vehicle plus the combined vehicle and trailer weight that determines what you can tow rather than the length of the trailer.

Workinrvers · RV-Dreams Family Member

sounds like you will need a Bunkhouse model at least. Our daughter and SIL had one that had 3 bunk beds in the rear with their bed up front. They could also sleep someone on the fold down dinette so that would give you the amount of sleeping space.
I am also a full figured male biggrin . The biggest issue I have ran across for guys of our stature is the bathrooms and showers. When we were looking for a camper that is the first thing I checked out. Do a practice "sit down" and also step into the shower to see if there is room.

Good luck,

Phil