My 2018 F150 Towing Experience

Threebigfords wrote:

VernDiesel wrote:

demiles wrote:
When you select a 5300lb vehicle to tow a conventional TT that’s 9000lbs + the potential for instability increases dramatically regardless of what option package you select. Manufactures TWR simply do not take into account such things as lateral wind loading and poor road conditions ect. that consumers will experience in real driving conditions.

Didn't remember reading his TT was that heavy but Agreed a 9k TT is more than you tow with a halfer. Even though my experience doing it was good. I believe SAE J2807 does take into account wind to some degree. But is that 9k any worse than an 8k 3500 rated for and towing a 30,000 pound load.

In a way, yes it is worse.

I've towed a lot of different trailers a lot of miles over the last 30 years. High profile trailers are the worst.

So let's take that 1/2 ton truck at 6k lbs and his long 9000 lb travel trailer...put a 30 mph crosswind against it...it's going to get pushed. The WD hitch and sway control are going to kick in and the whole setup moves away from the wind into the next lane.

Same length and profile trailer that weighs 20k behind a one ton truck weighing 9k gets hit with the same 30mph crosswind....same hitch and sway control kick in and the whole setup moves away from the wind into the next lane...A LOT SLOWER....WHY?

WEIGHT.

It has nothing to do with frame thickness, payload capacity, or what brand of shocks you put on. In those crosswind situations, weight is your friend.

It simply takes more wind to force the heavier vehicle over at the same rate as the lighter vehicle all other parameters being equal.

I had the wind test, and the shear wind as you pass into an opening.

One thing I can say, is I'm doing better that the big rigs around me, and I've been pushed, but 30 mph never pushed me into the other lane.

Thirty mph causes me to slow up a bit, just like it does those tractor trailers, and most are doing more swaying than I'm being pushed a bit, but I'm not in any peril or danger.

It's not important that I can maintain 65 mph in high gust situation, it's important that I'm safe, even if I have to taper down my speed 5 mph to do so.

That may be a huge trade off to slow down for many, but that Is very small trade off so I can have the truck that better fits my needs.

I don't know how bad a 37 ft.9,000lbs trailer is supposed to feel to a 1/2 ton truck, but my judgement only comes to how I feel while towing my trailer.

I don't feel this frightening experience as you guys keep talking about.

I'm more concerned about gas prices than I am about my next trip.

I'm also more curious about how much more stable a 3/4 ton is versus my truck. Heck, I feel stable now, so the 3/4 ton must be Corvette stable...can I steer with my knees while eating donuts?...lol