Maury82
Explorer
Joined 8 years ago
User Profile
User Widgets
All Activity
Re: F-150 HDPP towing 37 ft TT ** 1,300 miles later**
I call my truck Fat Boy And besides standing on the brakes, I'm still trying to visualize what kind of Grand Turismo moves you expect to make with a huge truck, especially with a trailer on back. I'm not swerving for nothing, unless what I'm going to hit is likely to kill me, whether towing or not...no blind swerving.601Views0likes0CommentsRe: My 2018 F150 Towing Experience
manley wrote: Upodate: the truck came back from the dealership as "nothing's wrong with it as far as we can tell. The faults cleared, so there's nothing we can do." Nonetheless, both the shop foreman and the service manager drove the truck with the Open Range hooked up, and both thought the truck was the trailer's "b!tch." In fact, the shop foreman said "I wouldn't pull it to Lake Arrowhead (a 20-mile trip)." The engineers never gave them a lead or any information to go on. I just put new 275/70/18 LT Load Range E 12-ply tires on it, as well as new Bilstein 5100 rear shocks. On a 220-mile round trip this weekend, it was better. Still not as good as my '10 Silverado. The F150 has a LOT more side-to-side push with cross-winds. Granted, I had put air bags and LT tires on the Silverado, which I had never expected to have to do with the new F150 because of the 2,500 pound increase in towing capacity and also the increased (factory) payload capacity rating over the Silverado. I've already plopped down $200 on Timbrens, $150 on shocks, and $500 on tires (net after selling my old tires online). I'm currently trying to decide now whether to go with a Hellwig sway bar or take the Timbrens off and go with air bags. In addition, I KNOW that something is not right with the truck. For the first 20-30 miles today driving home, the steering wheel was cocked about 15 degrees to the left. I then went through a cloverleaf exchange and after that it was perfectly straight for the remainder of the trip. I've found a few threads online and bits of information that seem to indicate that it may be something in the EPAS (power steering - which is related to the error codes it threw on the first trip) that's causing all the problems. Stay tuned... I also read online how some trucks were inflicted with a steering issue,and one poster in a F150 forum eventually got it resolved. I think your truck has a mechanical or program glitch, and not one associated with its capability to handle your trailer. Get that resolved, you should be good to go.512Views0likes0CommentsRe: 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?...lol512Views0likes0CommentsRe: F-150 HDPP towing 37 ft TT ** 1,300 miles later**
One of the previous setups would've been a nightmare for her if she needed to tow in an emergency. 2010 F150 Max Tow + Heartland Northtrail 26LRSS @31' 7300 lbs. It was a handful to tow. ***** I bet it was a handful, especially a truck with an unknown payload, unknown towing ratings and gearing... I wouldn't touched that trailer with that truck. You are braver than me. There is no way I'm going to get on the road with a setup that is a handful...no way José!!! Plain and simple, you just didn't have enough truck...hard not to improve on your setup.601Views0likes0CommentsRe: F-150 HDPP towing 37 ft TT ** 1,300 miles later**
goducks10 wrote: My wife has never towed any of our truck trailer combo's. One of the previous setups would've been a nightmare for her if she needed to tow in an emergency. 2010 F150 Max Tow + Heartland Northtrail 26LRSS @31' 7300 lbs. It was a handful to tow. Moved up to a 12 Ram CTD and it was very easy to tow. Current Setup 2018 Ram 2500 + a 28' 5h wheel @9300 lbs is a joy to tow. Whether in the curvy mountain sections or down a long boring stretch of freeway with winds, it's always very easy to tow. My wife would have a much easier time towing the last setup in an emergency. Point is, could someone who has never towed before be able to tow your current setup with out problems. And I'm not talking about backing into a tight spot or things like that. But could they get in and get it back home or at least to somewhere necessary? If yes then the setup is proper. If it would be too dangerous then the setup is not balanced. Probably not a real good barometer for how some setups handle, but it's the gauge I use. If you're always feeling like you're needing to stay constantly on notice when towing then you're probably near the edge. If it would be too dangerous then the setup is not balanced. Not married, and my girlfriend drives a Hyundai Elantra, and she is constantly talking on the phone, and so distracted that she misses turns, scraping her wheels against the curb, and people are constantly blowing at her when the light turns green...so heck no!! And plus, she hugs the the left portion of her lane, and often crossing over that she constantly crowd drivers on her left, and got pulled over because a cop though she was drinking and driving. I wouldn't trust her driving my truck without the trailer. In addition, she couldn't lash up a Blue Ox anyway, and if I had an emergency, I'd have my setup towed to a campground and just pay until I can travel...she can catch a flight. If a person can't manage my setup, they would likely be in trouble towing much of anything else with decent length. And what make you feel if my setup was dangerous to tow that I would want to tow it?...I'm no daredevil out here towing. I'm not going to purchase a TV so I can drive in hurricane winds, earthquakes, icy roads on the North Pole, or down a mountain at 80mph. On the other hand, I wouldn't want a setup that feels marginal and fragile in less than idea conditions either. Slowing down in adverse conditions is a small price to pay for all the extra benefits the HDPP deliver over a heavier truck, and that includes the diesel 1 ton ... the HDPP was the best overall option for me that I've seen yet.601Views0likes0CommentsRe: F-150 HDPP towing 37 ft TT ** 1,300 miles later**
Smaller and lighter...negatives in relation to the load. Accelerates faster and stops quicker...ONLY WHEN EMPTY...put the same trailer behind my truck and I'll out accelerate AND out stop the F150 with better HP/torque, better gearing, bigger brakes, and better traction. ******** That "only when empty" is a huge benefit that you cannot appreciate. You cannot appreciate that 3.5 EB/10 speed and more agile handling...but that's you. Not me. My setup is comfortable enough that allows someone with no experience to gain confidence as the miles rolled by, and a big fat pot belly of a truck proved unnecessary. As for braking, there is better braking to be had in the F150, and I'm upgrading to high performance slotted rotors and pads next year. As a matter of fact, with that extra 4,000 lbs your truck is lugging around, with my 8,400lbs trailer, I have to see for myself that your truck can stop shorter than my truck hooked up to the same trailer. I'm not saying your truck can't, but I'm not convinced that with performance rotors and pads on my HDPP, that your truck can stop my trailer shorter, or significantly shorter. You definitely need those heavy duty brakes for that girth that the truck is lugging around. And for the record, with my trailer being within specs for my truck, I perceived my truck versus the same trim 3/4 ton 6.2 gasses as trading one towing capablity over another one. That 3/4 ton with that extra 2,000lbs weight is definitely more stable, but I'm not sure to what extent that extra stability goes, and to what degree. I'm comfortably stable. The downside that the 3/4 have until those gassers are updated, are those inferior engine/transmissions, and they can't touch the HDPP EB when moving my trailer, especially up grades...that EB yanks my trailer around.601Views0likes0CommentsRe: F-150 HDPP towing 37 ft TT ** 1,300 miles later**
Then maybe you'll have some real perspective and can appreciate what some of these folks are saying. I lurked for over a year trying to determine what truck I needed to tow my rig, and if I wanted a huge truck, there wouldn't have been any need to research tow vehicles and just buy the biggest truck possible...a no brainer. I trust my judgement and was willing to put my money on Ford's specs much more than on your skewed perspectives towards huge trucks. You would have never told me the truth about whether or not I could safely tow this trailer with a HDPP truck, regardless of being within specs, and as a matter of fact, you never mentioned the HDPP trucks, and not one person present that option, but kept doing exactly what you just did... fostering up all the doom and gloom possible. You can't believe that drivers don't understand that when towing with lighter vehicles that we have to utilize a bit more caution with slower speed in certain situations and conditions, but because of that skewed bias for HD trucks, most so called "experienced" members never tell a newbie wanting to keep their less than HD vehicles about added precautions they may have to take. If I ask whether I can safely tow a trailer if I'm within specs, don't try to tell me stories you had with your overmatched 1999 1/2 ton, and I don't want no one trying to tell me how happier I would be with a larger truck...just answer my question. Their is a reason why people like the benefits of smaller vehicles, even if we have to take added precautions in certain situations and conditions. To those people,the precautions and compromises outweigh the downsides of having a huge truck. I signed up knowing I won'tbe able to tow in higher winds than heavier trucks, but those precautions are much less of a compromise than the downside and extra precautions with having a heavier, bulkier, longer stopping distance, more cumbersome handling truck over amy HDPP truck when not towing. My safety margin is greater than yours in the area I determined I wanted the most...when not towing. I can bite the bullet of the downsides of towing with my HDPP versus the downsides of of having a HD truck when not towing...I pick my poison, and you pick yours. You guys have great knowledge regarding RV'ing, but when it comes tow vehicles, I trust my zero experience and Ford specs much more than your tainted and bias perspectives regarding trucks. Your bias against SUVs, 1/2 tons, etc is plain as day...I'll take my no experience over your tainted words. I will tell you about whether I have or don't have enough truck. I bet it pains you that the HDPP can tow heavier TT, and drivers are happy with them. Stick to petrifying those gullible newbies with all that doom and gloom...60mph wind?...down a steep mountain in a blizzard?...really!?!?! And you think you can drop some knowledge at my feet?...try the next newbie.281Views0likes0CommentsRe: Question about tow vehicle capability
KeithJ4 wrote: I'm new to the forum, looks like lot's of great information. Hope my question doesn't repeat a previous thread. We're buying our first trailer (moving up from a pop-up) to be towed by a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe (V6 AWD). The Santa Fe specs are 5000 pound towing capacity, vehicle capacity of 1296 pounds, and maximum hitch weight of 500 pounds (all per the owner's manual). We're looking at a Palomino Solaire Expandable 163XD, with a curb weight of 3633 pounds, gross weight of 4950 (I've calculated that with propane, batteries and gear we'll probably be around 4500), and a dry hitch weight of 367. I realize we're pretty close to several limits on the Santa Fe with that, and wonder if others have opinions or experience with Santa Fe's pulling a trailer in that range. I'm presuming a weight distribution hitch and some stabilizer system would be necessary. Our towing is between 60 and 250 miles, mostly in upstate NY, so some decent hills, but no mountains to go over. Thanks for the help! Personally, I would ignore any advice of anyone who hasn't towed with such a setup, yet telling me I could not do so safely. If you are within specs, you should be good, and you can always enhance your vehicle even better with better shocks, tires, and brakes. You have to be careful about the information you take in regarding tow vehicles, many will tell you that a larger vehicle would be better, as if your vehicle can't safely and comfortably tow that trailer. A Malibu sedan is not an uncomfortable and inadequate sedan just be it doesn't handles like a Cadillac. Go to YouTube and look up Traveling Robert, he tows a Winnebago Mini with a similar Santa Fe.848Views0likes0CommentsRe: F-150 HDPP towing 37 ft TT ** 1,300 miles later**
jerem0621 wrote: Maury82 wrote: jerem0621 wrote: Sounds like a Titan XD has would fit the bill perfect for you. It has similar payload to the HDPP F150 but has more mass to manhandle the trailer. The Titan was outdated when it was introduced. The HDPP Ford proved to be the perfect towing and none towing combination I wanted. If the HDPP not been available, I would had to spring for a HD truck, but I lucked out. I apologize. My comment was directed at another thread where the OP was not satisfied with the HDPP towing experience. I’m glad it works for you and it is certainly a heck of a truck. Thanks! Jeremiah No problem at all Jeremiah. That Titan would handle that trailer very well indeed, and I looked the specs, but I found the Ford more to my likings.281Views0likes0Comments
Groups
RV Newbies
We all start out new. Share lessons learned or first-time questions!Jun 15, 20174,026 Posts Travel Trailer Group
Prefer to camp in a travel trailer? You're not alone.Jan 13, 202544,029 Posts
