Older Tow Truck

[TimbBerWolf]

Hello

Long time lurker and decided to join to ask for some help.

I have a 2006 Ford F150 larite 4X4 supercab 5.4 eng with a 3.73 rear end. I currently have 89,000 miles. Payload capacity is 1485.

I have had this truck since it was new and have always maintained it. In fact in preparation of towing with it I added an increase transmission oil pan capacity along with an exterior transmission cooler. I also added an increased oil capacity cover on the differential with a drain plug. I changed the oils in both the transmission and rear end to synthetic. I also run "E" rated tires.

Problem
I currently have a 2011 Heartland Caliber 265RLS with a GVWR of 8600 (lb) which I feel is too heavy for my truck I don't like towing it. I run a Reese WDH. I feel like the trailer is pushing the truck around.

Solution ??

buy a new 3/4 ton truck really don't want to spend $40K - $50K on a truck. (although deep down I really love to have a new truck 🙂 )

OR

Purchase a lighter trailer for say $30K and keep our truck we like the Grand Design 2250RK GVWR 6995 (lb).

Question

Is the Grand Design 2250RK the right trailer? I know math wise it should be no problem. I'm also aware some people will always say a 3/4 ton would be much better.

What say YOU all?

What if anything should I do to my current truck tow this weight if anything.

[danrclem]

You should be able to take the 30K that you were going to use to buy a new trailer, sell your truck and probably be able to buy a nice used truck.

[All_I_could_aff]

Not just E rated tires, also make sure they are aired up nice and firm to reduce sidewall squirm. And hopefully they are a fairly straight highway tread and off road.

[Sportsmen]

We are towing a Jayflight 27BHS which weighs 6800 per the Cat scales. We use a traditional WDH with (2) friction sway bars. We pull with an 07 F150 SuperCrew 5.4L 3v 3:55 rear end. Truck is rated for 8000 lb tow and has a 1648 payload.

The trailer felt squirrely with (1) friction sway bar. Added the 2nd swar bar and it is now rock solid. Could not believe the difference it made. Virtually no sway even when passing big rigs now. My old '07 Screw pulls it like a boss ...

Hope this helps.....

[LanceRKeys]

I had the same issue and found an 01 f250 with the 7.3 diesel. I just got back from a 1500 mile trip and just love how the truck just pulls and pulls.

[bid_time]

If the issue is sway then you probably don't have enough tongue weight. Weigh the trailer axles and tongue separately. Go for 12 - 15% of the total weight as tongue weight. Then see how it tows.

[theoldwizard1]

Do you have the original shocks ? Upgrading to premium shocks would help. Have a spring shop add a leaf or install helper air springs (bags).

Specifically what brand and size tires do you have ?

[Grit_dog]

If your truck is pristine condition as you allude to, it will fetch top dollar and comparable 3/4T gassers are not that much more $.
Trouble is we just spent a couple months shopping for an older car. Wanted a little rice box car 10-15 yrs old, under 100k and not a salvage, rebuilt, new engine, scuzzy used car dealer special. It took 2 months of constant searching before I found one and several failed attempts and ended up being at the top of our allowance to get one.
Once you get down into the bottom of the depreciation curve, most used vehicles have some "issues." I think I learned just how few people give a schitt about taking care of their vehicles. Hadn't shopped for an old used car in a long time.

So, be patient, start looking for trucks, buy the right one when you find it and you'll have no trouble unloading your 150 afterwards.

[TimbBerWolf]

Thanks again for reaffirming What I thought.

Wife and I just got back into the house from sitting in the Heartland and decided that we would hate to give up the space.

So now just to find a used truck that meets our needs.

Thanks again.

[ppine]

Your truck is not "old."
The simple solution is to trade for a somewhat lighter used trailer.

[parker_rowe]

donn0128 wrote:
I would bet you have OE P metric tires under the truck?

He mentioned E range tires in his post, so that's covered.

[donn0128]

I would bet you have OE P metric tires under the truck?

[TimbBerWolf]

Thanks for the feed back

I don't like the how it feels like the trailer is manhandling the truck. It feels like its pushing the backend of the truck around and sway is an issue.

At the time I thought Reese WDH was good but I may have to rethink that.

I seem to have plenty of power not going to win any race but I can still get around the big trucks.

Brakes on the truck are great I'll admit I did a stupid thing once, coming out of the hills I had forgot to hook up the electrical connection. Of course I kept the truck in 2nd gear on this twisty road finally got to a flat spot in the road that was also wide enough and discovered my mistake. That was about 20 miles later. No problems though slowing the truck down.

[noteven]

Generally speaking 250/2500 class and up trucks are “stiffer” and have bigger brakes than 150/1500’s and so the tow feels more in control.

Before doing anything is it possible to rent a 250 or 350 in your area and tow your own trailer with it?

Then you can decide if you are more in love with your F150 or your rv for how you use the two.

I personally like towing trailers that weigh 50% -75% of a pickup truck’s rating best.

[donn0128]

I suspect even the GD is too much for your truck. You need to start looking at trailers with a GVWR of under 7000 pounds. 6000 dry is not going to cut it.
BTW, I think you alreafy answered your own question. You have too much trailer or not enough truck. Decide which is most important to you. Consider where you will be in 5 years and make your purchasing decision based on that. Not today.