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_DJ_1's avatar
_DJ_1
Explorer II
May 26, 2018

Need suggestions to correct towing

Hi All, bought a gently used '16 F250 a few months ago. Towing my Arctic Fox is like trying to balance a marble on top of a balloon. It's horrible and semis all but blow me off the road. First off I've towed this same trailer with an '11 F250 and a '16 F250 diesel with zero problems. All 3 trucks have the same Super Hitch and Husky WD system, transferred over from each truck.

Anything over 50 mph is a constant battle with the steering wheel. It wants to wander without continuously correcting the wheel. Our freeway is posted at 80 mph but I only drive 60-65. When a semi passes me it wants to pull me in to the side of his cab. Then when the end of his trailer goes by it tries to blow me off in to the ditch.

I've tried just about every possible combination of spring bar tension and air bag pressure with no help. I'm thinking there is something wrong with the truck. It was used with 15K miles. Ford said no wrecks or problems. When this started I even paid $40 for a Car Fax which also showed no incidents.

Maybe a bad steering gear? First tuck I've had with a rear sway bar. I checked the build sheet for this truck and it is factory installed. Could it be contributing to the problem somehow?

I am at my wit's end!! Thanks for any suggestions. DJ

19 Replies

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  • kdenneny's avatar
    kdenneny
    Explorer
    May 26, 2018
    Did you drop farther with the higher truck like camp-n-family said? When loaded and ready to go, is the front of the trailer higher than the back? That will cause what you are describing big time.

    Low tongue weight can be a side effect of the front too high, it will present just as you explained.
  • camp-n-family's avatar
    camp-n-family
    Explorer
    May 26, 2018
    Not so sure it’s just the tires. I’ve got a lift and the same Toyo 35s and my truck pulls just as good as it did on the little stock tires. They are aired up to 80psi in the rears as recommended by the manufacturer.

    Have you ever weighed the trailer tongue weight? Did you readjust the hitch for each new truck? Just because they are similar doesn’t mean the hitch setting is the same. The airbags could be messing with the hitch too. Do you air up before or after setting the hitch?
  • mat60's avatar
    mat60
    Explorer
    May 26, 2018
    ScottG wrote:
    Lifted trucks with 35" are great toys but serious equipment is required for towing. I suspect that if you lose the 35's and go to a real LT tire and return your suspension to stock, you'll have no problems.
    There is no reason a truck like that shouldn't be able to tow a 25R effortlessly.
    That is exactly what I had to do. Drop tire size to from 285 to 245 stock size and lower truck back down 2 inch. What a difference and at 57 it makes it easy to get in and out of the truck.
  • dodge_guy's avatar
    dodge_guy
    Explorer II
    May 26, 2018
    Yes, the lift and larger tires are creating issues. When the lift was done did they use a new springs with the proper height or did they use blocks between the axle and springs?
  • BurbMan's avatar
    BurbMan
    Explorer II
    May 26, 2018
    X5...go back to stock size LT tires and lose the lift kit. Also if those 35's have aggressive offroad tread, that can contribute to a lot of squirm on the road.
  • rhagfo's avatar
    rhagfo
    Explorer III
    May 26, 2018
    copeland343 wrote:
    Hate to say it but lifted trucks and 35s are not for towing heavy trailers or long trailers. I agree with the others


    X3 or 4
    The sway bar would only improve stability!
  • copeland343's avatar
    copeland343
    Explorer
    May 26, 2018
    Hate to say it but lifted trucks and 35s are not for towing heavy trailers or long trailers. I agree with the others
  • ROBERTSUNRUS's avatar
    ROBERTSUNRUS
    Explorer
    May 26, 2018
    :) Hi, were all three of these trucks lifted and with huge tires? These are two things that never should be done to a tow vehicle.
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    May 26, 2018
    Lifted trucks with 35" are great toys but serious equipment is required for towing. I suspect that if you lose the 35's and go to a real LT tire and return your suspension to stock, you'll have no problems.
    There is no reason a truck like that shouldn't be able to tow a 25R effortlessly.

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