WDH selection/trailer loading advice.
Newbie would appreciate some help: I need some help selecting the correct product for my 2010 F-150 with factory integrated brake controller. I have a 20' equipment trailer rated at 14,000 pounds. It...
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Thanks everyone for the information; especially jerem0621 for putting things in the proper perspective. Some of those things I thought (should have known). All were accepted in the nature intended and I'll use it to make informed decisions (NOT TO TOW 14K WITH AN F150). I was thinking new tow vehicle. Then started thinking - the wife - I can't just hide a tow vehicle like all those new guns in the back of the safe. Then I told her I joined a forum. She's worried, thinking Cheating House Wives or something. Then I tell her about the towing dilemma, and the "guidance" I received. She is in agreement - no overload towing! And something about I don't have enough life insurance. Then she tells me what she is willing to do so that we can rent/borrow a truck when the need arises (now I'm worried).
So in the short term I'll be borrowing/renting. In the long term: Probably focus a future RV purchase around a tow weight I can handle with the F150. I really like the performance, ride characteristics, and economy (and it will still fit through the drive thru at Taco Bell). Eventually purchase a HD hauler. What realistically is the minimum vehicle I should consider for a 14K mover? Do I need an F350 or GM/Mopar 3500 product with duallies? And no Ivylog that Freightliner is never going to happen (except maybe in that dream I have with Jennifer Anniston).
I will add that I did contact the people at www.equalizerhitch.com and asked them about a hitch recommendation (I did not tell them F150 TV). Here is their reply:
Thanks for your email. To put it simply I'd still recommend that 14,000 lb hitch (90-00-1400) if you're going to be towing 14,000 lbs. Even if you can manipulate tongue weight so much. How often do you intend to be towing just the empty 3,000 lb trailer? You would notice a bit of a stiffer ride using that hitch with an empty trailer but it's just not a good idea to try to tow a full load with a hitch that isn't rated for that.
One other thing you may want to invest in, given your situation, is a tongue
weight scale. That way you can load your trailer perfectly so that the tongue
weight is right in the appropriate range to utilize your equalizer hitch and get a smooth ride. As far as airbags go if you have your equalizer hitch properly installed and adjusted that should eliminate most of the need for airbags to help level things. We normally recommend for people who already have them to set them all to about 20 lbs then just install the hitch normally from there.
I hope that helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.
So in the short term I'll be borrowing/renting. In the long term: Probably focus a future RV purchase around a tow weight I can handle with the F150. I really like the performance, ride characteristics, and economy (and it will still fit through the drive thru at Taco Bell). Eventually purchase a HD hauler. What realistically is the minimum vehicle I should consider for a 14K mover? Do I need an F350 or GM/Mopar 3500 product with duallies? And no Ivylog that Freightliner is never going to happen (except maybe in that dream I have with Jennifer Anniston).
I will add that I did contact the people at www.equalizerhitch.com and asked them about a hitch recommendation (I did not tell them F150 TV). Here is their reply:
Thanks for your email. To put it simply I'd still recommend that 14,000 lb hitch (90-00-1400) if you're going to be towing 14,000 lbs. Even if you can manipulate tongue weight so much. How often do you intend to be towing just the empty 3,000 lb trailer? You would notice a bit of a stiffer ride using that hitch with an empty trailer but it's just not a good idea to try to tow a full load with a hitch that isn't rated for that.
One other thing you may want to invest in, given your situation, is a tongue
weight scale. That way you can load your trailer perfectly so that the tongue
weight is right in the appropriate range to utilize your equalizer hitch and get a smooth ride. As far as airbags go if you have your equalizer hitch properly installed and adjusted that should eliminate most of the need for airbags to help level things. We normally recommend for people who already have them to set them all to about 20 lbs then just install the hitch normally from there.
I hope that helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.
