Tnx for the comment and your concern Re. Flex as a TV.
Likely TMI...
We will not be loaded to the max in the new trailer so will not come close to the max 4.5 K limit.
When we Smart Weighed our 16 Scamp at one of the Escapees safety programs we only had ~325 lbs of stuff in our trailer. Most food items. We do not load every available space. Apparently average is ~800!
We towed the 16 Scamp safely with an older Ford Freestyle and we were right on the tow limit. Slow on long uphill pulls. Now with the Flex and much more powerful engine and tow capacity we will be doing OK.
The multiple seminars on safety were major eye openers for me.
I will always be suspect of the huge motorhomes on the road. Apparently, >80% of the stick and staple trailers, heavy-duty trucks and motorhomes are dangerously overweight with every cubby hole filled to capacity with loads of things.
As an aside, after living in the jungles in Central America as conservation zoologists for 25+ years we learned to live with minimal stuff.
It becomes obvious that most possessions accumulated are not necessary for day-to-day life and well being. So the "Small is beautiful" approach carries on with our FG trailer life now that we are back in the U.S. Our land-based house is only 1,000 sq ft. We were still shocked that we needed a 20' container to bring our stuff back to the U.S. Most was tropical hardwood furniture. However, books and research related materials were also a large part as well.
Carrying on in the mode of decades of heading into remote jungle field conditions where we only had a few changes of clothes for 3-4 month stints away from civilization continues for our new RV life. The One-bag travel dude (easy to find online) shows it is simple and one only needs have a few sets of clothes for travel.
We have recently re-evaluated our travel wardrobe and oops mine were creeping up in mass. I will in the future only bring 1 pair of jeans and move to only a few other pairs of lighter weight easy wash pants. DW already has her travel clothes reduced. Not sure why I thought 3 pairs of heavy jeans were necessary.
Granted our lifestyle may not be typical of the mainstream. For example, we do not have television or find a need to haul a gazillion lights to string up around the rig to scare off dangerous critters (?) or invade a site with masses of holiday decorations. But then again those of us choosing smaller FG trailers are not the mainstream folks of mobile suite RVers who travel with a yard fence, toy haulers, and everything but a backyard pool.
Looking forward to years of travel with our new 19 Escape.
Yes, Ford indicates that for a FWD only Flex that a load balancing hitch be used, so we shall. Escape offers several choices.
Cheers,
Bat Dude
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