chracatoa wrote:
So I'm about 400 miles from home and I'll be getting there tomorrow after what will be around 2500 miles round trip through 5 states. We drove through strong winds, thunder storms, bad roads, etc. I also have now the ProPride for a year and I'm glad I have it.
A friend of mine had a similar rig though no ProPride (Sequoia) and he got calluses in his hands.
With such a short wheelbase, you are very smart to have the ProPride. I wouldn't have anything less.
chracatoa wrote:
I didn't get calluses but I could feel the TV bouncing around. When I'm going through bad roads or wind the TV feels like airplane turbulence. There is no sway but the leverage of the trailer on the TV is noticeable. Friend behind me told me the whole rig always moved as one including when I had gusts throwing me to the side. His rig was properly set up but when I drove behind him I could see the trailer moving side to side every time a truck passed by him.
Yep, with P-rated tires you will have a swishy side to side feeling like you're in a boat but that's because of the softer side walls to give a better ride when not towing. To eliminate this, get a LT-rated tire with a stiffer side wall. It won't have the side to side sway but it will ride much harder when not towing. P-rated tires come on 1/2 ton vehicles where LT tires come on 3/4 ton and up vehicles. F150 do have LT tire options though.
Also even in bigger trucks, you will still get pushed sideways as a whole, with the trailer. That's what you want, the rig to be locked as one, other wise the trailer will get pushed by itself and start to sway. Even when I drove bigger trucks, you'll always have this. BUT the larger trucks have more weight to them, so they don't get pushed as easily as a 1/2 ton truck. That's why many people don't like pulling with 1/2 tons, because they're light and get pushed around from wind. Add in their P-rated tires and it's even worse. Take all that and add a poor hitch that allows sway, and you've a dangerous combination.
chracatoa wrote:
Now, I have never towed with a 3/4 or bigger truck. Is this "turbulence" like feeling something to expect every time I'm towing regardless of truck? Or will this feeling go away with a bigger truck? I'm guessing the rough suspension will feel similar.
Read the above statement. ;)
chracatoa wrote:
Note that although my friend has an almost similar rig with no ProPride he is happy with his setup and he has been towing for more than 3 years. He only has a single sway bar.
Anyway, I managed to have fun towing it despite the bouncing feeling. I'm way more relaxed than early next year because of the ProPride and also I have more experience now.
My truck is lighter and has P-rated tires, I find it tows just fine and I don't white knuckle it either. Just don't freak out and yank the wheel when you feel the push and swishiness of the p-rated tires. That will get you into a sway situation. You want to calmly and in a relaxed motion, ease the steering wheel to compensate for push.
chracatoa wrote:
2011 Toyota Sequoia Platinum 4WD 5.7L V8 (next one will be a 3/4, someday)
2012 Jayco Flight Swift 267BHS (5963lbs dry, 6650 wet)
Propride hitch (I had a Reese dual cam round bar WDH for 4 months)
Wow, you really keep the weight down. With my 90 gallon of fresh water at 747 lbs and 700- 800 lbs of gear, clothes, food, and kids stuff in the trailer, I come out to around 6500 lbs when added to the
dry optioned factory weight of 5050 lbs with my 2012 Jay Flight 26BH.
I honestly can't see how you can keep your weight down to 6650 lbs loaded from a dry optioned factory weight of 5963 lbs.
