I've had the tow vehicle since new. Approaching 60,000 miles with roughly 20% of them towing.My first travel trailer with this truck was a Keystone Cougar28RBS. MY wife got 2 footidice and we upgraded to a Sporttrek Touring 312VBH. A little longer and a little heavier.This trailer has given me some towing problems. I've since re-adjusted the equalizer hitch and I think I have it setup correctly now. I still can feel the increase in weight even though it is only 150pounds heavier and hitch weight of 1200 vs 1050 of the old trailer.To be clear, when I say problems, nothing to do with power. I just feel it is a little bouncier and at time feel the trailer is pushing the truck around a bit when it gets bouncing.Will upgraded shocks help? I assume that they cannot hurt. Any recommendations on which shocks to buy.Also....I have looked the 3/4 tonne route, but financially it just does not make sense at this time. In the end, if I can't make this work, I'll upgrade, but I'd like to see if something small like shocks will improve things first.Interested in opinions on this.Thanks

Trying new shocks is an inexpensive option IMO. No reason that engine power would be a factor.

Could be shocks, I would try first. Another, is if you have P metric tires, or the HT ones, Its also possible those are too soft for the heavier hitch weight of the new trailer. So a set of LT C or D tires would help this too. Not that i would swag this, but the rear springs may be worn. I doubt it personally. Going to a heavier version, ie instead of say 3000 lb springs, go with 3500 or 4000 lb rated springs. Fords are known for having lighter springs than one thinks they should GM had 3900 lbs for all 15 series versions. Ford has multiple from 3000 up to 4500 or there about. ANy of these fixes are cheap compared to a new 25 series truck. Marty

I have the Bilstein 5100s on all 4 corners on my ‘18. Also have air bags, sway bar, and LR E tires. Night & day difference.

Thanks for all the replies. Would airbags or shocks be a better investment? I don’t really have squat though with the equalizer hitch. Thinking shocks maybe the best way. What exactly is sway bar and how does that work?

I recommend KYB MonoMax and LT tires.

Which Shocks for 2017 F150 Ecoboost | Good Sam Community

Groover
Explorer II
Oct 15, 2020
I put Rancho 9000 shocks on my trucks and have been happy with them, both towing and not towing.

I have LT tires with 18" rims on both of my F150's but Ford seems to prefer 20" rims with non-LT tires. I am sure that retrofitting 20" rims would be expensive at this point.
Procrastinator
Explorer
Oct 15, 2020
manley wrote:
I have the Bilstein 5100s on all 4 corners on my ‘18. Also have air bags, sway bar, and LR E tires. Night & day difference.

I have done exactly the same including the Hensley hitch. I have driven a lot of miles with 3/4 ton excursions and 1 ton duallys, and I am always amazed how well this current combo works. Minus the gasoline drinking.
wanderingbob
Explorer II
Oct 15, 2020
What is a 2footidice ?
Boomerweps
Explorer
Oct 15, 2020
wanderingbob wrote:
What is a 2footidice ?

two foot idice. As in an illness or syndrome. Needs two more feet of trailer.
Boomerweps
Explorer
Oct 15, 2020
It sounds like you’re noticing the added tongue weight and added lengths‘ teeter totter effect. The latter should be able to adjusted out with the WDH and in trailer weight distribution. The former might need the RAS or Sumo Springs to control that.
Yes, shocks would probably help but not completely. Bilstien 5100 are praised on the F-150 Forum.
Mickeyfan0805
Explorer
Oct 15, 2020
People seem to have differing opinions on the value of LT tires. I used them to replace p-rated tires on my last tow vehicle and was glad I did. I don't have enough reason to do that on the new truck, but when these wear out, I will replace with LTs.

I haven't done the Bilsteins, but they are mentioned on here, as well as on F150 specific forums, often.

Those more in the know can certainly correct me, but it has always been my understanding that airbags and WD hitches don't always play well together. It might help a bit with your 'bounce,' but too much airbag support can counteract the work of the WD hitch. Others may have more experience.

One other consideration would be to make sure that you have the right bars on your hitch. If your original set were 1,000 pound bars, you could have been getting by, reasonably, at 1,050. Jumping up to 1,200, however, they may not be able to do the job that's needed.
bikendan
Explorer
Oct 15, 2020
Boomerweps wrote:
wanderingbob wrote:
What is a 2footidice ?

two foot idice. As in an illness or syndrome. Needs two more feet of trailer.

should be "twofootITIS". Sorry, retired EMT, couldn't resist.
srt20
Explorer
Oct 15, 2020
I put Fox shocks on mine. The stock shock are **** and one rear shock was junk at 40k miles.
I used Fox because, they are Aluminum (I live in rust belt) and the are linear valving.
I had bilsteins on a Dodge 2500 in past. I didn't like them because they rusted bad and they have digressive valving.
The Fox are more expensive. IMO the linear valving rides much better, though I haven't towed more than 3500lbs with them on yet.
HydrogenCyanide
Explorer
Oct 19, 2020
bikendan wrote:
HydrogenCyanide wrote:
I've had the tow vehicle since new. Approaching 60,000 miles with roughly 20% of them towing.

My first travel trailer with this truck was a Keystone Cougar28RBS. MY wife got 2 footidice and we upgraded to a Sporttrek Touring 312VBH. A little longer and a little heavier.

are you saying that you're towing this new TT with a F150, WITHOUT a WDH and sway control?:E

I am using equalizer weight distribution hitch.
2112
Explorer II
Oct 19, 2020
I went with Timbrens, LT tires and eventually 5100's.

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