HydrogenCyanide
Fort Erie
New Member
Joined: 01/05/2012
View Profile
 Offline
|
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
|
Lwiddis
South of Lone Pine, California
Senior Member
Joined: 08/12/2016
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Trying new shocks is an inexpensive option IMO. No reason that engine power would be a factor.
Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2020 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, 300 watt solar-parallel & MPPT, Trojan T-125s. TALL flag pole. Prefer USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state & county camps. Bicyclist! 14 year Army vet-11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad
|
blt2ski
Kirkland, Wa
Moderator
Joined: 03/15/2001
View Profile
Offline
|
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
92 Navistar dump truck, 7.3L 7 sp, 4.33 gears with a Detroit no spin
00 Chev C2500, V5700, 4L80E, 4.10, base truck, no options!
92 Red-e-haul 12K equipment trailer
Check RV.Net Blogs at: blog.rv.net
|
manley
Wichita Falls, TX
Senior Member
Joined: 12/29/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
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.
2018 F150 XLT FX4 SCREW Ecoboost 3.5L
Hensley Arrow
2017 Open Range Light 272RLS
|
HydrogenCyanide
Fort Erie
New Member
Joined: 01/05/2012
View Profile
Offline
|
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?
|
|
|
time2roll
Southern California
Senior Member
Joined: 03/21/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
I recommend KYB MonoMax and LT tires.
2001 F150 SuperCrew
2006 Keystone Springdale 249FWBHLS
675w Solar pictures back up
|
manley
Wichita Falls, TX
Senior Member
Joined: 12/29/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
HydrogenCyanide wrote: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?
Info about sway bars
|
Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
Senior Member
Joined: 05/06/2013
View Profile
Offline
|
60k shocks could be shot. Throw something stiff like bilsteins on it.
But shocks don’t support weight, they dampen the suspension movement.
In a static condition your wdh can take the right amount of weight off to correct the effect of the load, but in a dynamic situation the spring rate May or does allow more suspension compression than you like.
So add air bags or an add a leaf or other products to increase the spring rate.
Sway bar won’t help. It just links both springs together. Not a concern generally, towing.
"Yes Sir, Oct 10 1888, Those poor school children froze to death in their tracks. They did not even find them until Spring. Especially hard hit were the ones who had to trek uphill to school both ways, with no shoes." -Bert A.
|
MitchF150
Puyallup, WA
Senior Member
Joined: 07/13/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
5100's on my 13.. I know it's not a new rig, but they really made a difference in just everyday driving since I put them in.
Mitch
![[image]](https://i.imgur.com/XG8H0uzm.jpg?1)
2013 F150 XLT 4x4 SuperCab Max Tow Egoboost 3.73 gears #7700 GVWR #1920 payload. 2019 Rockwood Mini Lite 2511S.
|
Birdnst
Poquoson
New Member
Joined: 06/08/2017
View Profile
Offline
|
I have a 2013 king ranch 150 eco boost. I put stiffer sidewall tires on and experimented with different amounts of water in fresh water tank.
I found 3/4 tank water is perfect. 36 ft outback right around 8500lbs ready to go. Over 20000 miles with trailer works for me.
If you cannot take good care of what you have, you will not have anything good for very long!!!
|
|
|
