Going from 4x2 to 4x4

[Terryallan]

Ok I have been towing with a 2004 F150 2 wheel drive. It towed my TT great, solid as a rock. No wiggle, no nothing.

Fast forward to the new F150 4x4 Off Road. I set the hitch up the same, all measurement good, sits level. So while I don't have a sway issue. I can feel the TT more than I could with the 2 wheel drive. I have lots more power, but it is just not as rock steady as the 4x2. Sill no sway at all though.

Admittedly, I haven't put the HD tires on yet, but even with the stock tires. The 4x2 was more steady.

I'm thinkin that maybe because the 4x4 sits so much higher, I feel it move more. Reason why. Even with out the TT. The 4x4 is not as stable as the 4x2.

BTW. The 4x4 has a higher GVWR, and more payload than the 4x2.

[AJBert]

braindead0 wrote:
Something seems odd. I've never driven a F150 4x4, but my Ram 1500 is rock solid towing or not. I'm going to presume you did NOT get a F150 Raptor? Is it an FX4? A more off road oriented package/model could have somewhat softer suspension and more travel so that it can handle faster off road which is not going to be the best for towing IMO.

Bingo! We have a winner! A 4X4 with a stiff suspension is pretty useless offroad as you want the tires to have contact with the ground at all times.

[braindead0]

Something seems odd. I've never driven a F150 4x4, but my Ram 1500 is rock solid towing or not. I'm going to presume you did NOT get a F150 Raptor? Is it an FX4? A more off road oriented package/model could have somewhat softer suspension and more travel so that it can handle faster off road which is not going to be the best for towing IMO.

[eHoefler]

Did you adjust the head hieght and tilt or the new trucK??

[tatest]

4x4 pickups usually come with tires having a more aggressive, blockier tread pattern, as a matter of style and an expectation you bought 4x4 to go off road. The more off-road the tread pattern, the more squirmy on pavement. You'll notice the difference a lot more as you push the tire's handling limits, whether by towing, fighting crosswinds, or cornering at high speeds.

Higher chassis height, larger wheel-tire diameter, taller aspect ratio are all factors that play into 4x4 vs 4x2 handling differences. Inflation pressures can also be critical for handling, although seldom adjusted for this purpose in normal driving.

[Highway_4x4]

Tires can make a big difference. Even the tread pattern on same size tire. Some tires require more PSI than others to ride correctly. A truck that sits lower can also feel more stable.