New tow vehicle

[Npdchief07]

So I sold my f150 and bought a 2015 f350 flex fuel. It is probably overkill for my 29 foot Wildwood at about 5500 pounds but I had a couple while knuckel moments with the 150. My question is with the 350 should I still use weight distribution and sway control or is it not needed?

[Grit_dog]

Use it if you got it and it makes you feel better, but there's about a 99% chance you dont need it wit that size of truck and small trailer, except maybe sway if you have a poorly weight distributed trailer.

[Tvov]

Fordlover wrote:
That's pretty light weight for a 29 footer, unless that includes the tongue. My 32 footer tips the scales at closer to 7000....

That caught my eye. To the OP, you should double check your trailer weight, it may be heavier than you think - which could be why your new truck seems to work so much better.

I would say use the whole hitch - weight distribution bars and sway control. It doesn't really take that much longer to hitch up and nothing wrong with that extra piece of mind!

Having said that - for a really short trip, you could skip those. We just went to a local state park that is basically just down the road, and I didn't use WD or anti-sway. But don't tell anyone on these forums!

[harmanrk]

rjstractor wrote:

phillyg wrote:
Yes, you still have to match the trailer to the hitch. You may find out the Ford-provided hitch is only rated for 5000/500lbs without WD. That was all I had on my 350 diesel even though I can pull way more. I had to upgrade my hitch to 10000/1000 so I could pull my 8000lb boat. I don't need WD, but you might with that trailer.

The newer trucks have a hitch rated at 15,000 pounds, with or without WD.

Except for the ones that come rates for 21,000 (2100 Tongue Weight) with or without.

[Fordlover]

That's pretty light weight for a 29 footer, unless that includes the tongue. My 32 footer tips the scales at closer to 7000.

I use the WD hitch even though the truck doesn't require it. I think the extra sway control will be nice if Mr. Murphy ever crosses my path.

[storm37]

Nice truck choice.

[rjstractor]

phillyg wrote:
Yes, you still have to match the trailer to the hitch. You may find out the Ford-provided hitch is only rated for 5000/500lbs without WD. That was all I had on my 350 diesel even though I can pull way more. I had to upgrade my hitch to 10000/1000 so I could pull my 8000lb boat. I don't need WD, but you might with that trailer.

The newer trucks have a hitch rated at 15,000 pounds, with or without WD.

[phillyg]

Yes, you still have to match the trailer to the hitch. You may find out the Ford-provided hitch is only rated for 5000/500lbs without WD. That was all I had on my 350 diesel even though I can pull way more. I had to upgrade my hitch to 10000/1000 so I could pull my 8000lb boat. I don't need WD, but you might with that trailer.

[NWnative]

Good Choice - I recommend you use the same hitch set up you were using for the F150. You may need a new shank with a bigger drop. I had to drop 5 additional inches when going from the F150 to the F250. Enjoy the new ride!

[Lwiddis]

I would.

[Dukec]

About a year ago I switched from an F150 to an 2017 F350 diesel 4x4. Felt I was right at the limit of capacity with the 150. Had weight distribution and sway set up before and transferred it all to the new truck. In my opinion- more is always better. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it!

[ls1mike]

I would used the stuff.

[donn0128]

Yes. Use both.

[agesilaus]

The newer F350's have some sort of sway control built in but I'm not sure how effective it is. If you look on the Ford F350 site they have a write up on it and IIRC a video.

Yeah here one is: Ford site