Good Sam Club Open Roads Forum: Tow Vehicles: I Bought Too Much Truck
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 > I Bought Too Much Truck

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Cummins12V98

on the road

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Posted: 05/07/23 06:08pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Honestly I never even thought about using the rear view mirror as I never use it to back anything.

So I bought the HD in March 2018 with 24k on the clock. Never dripped a drop of oil or left me on the side of the road.

The Stator did die while on a ride a couple months ago. I made a direct shot to my site running below 11 volts. Easy job.

Bike has around 57k now and runs great. Aint the HD of yesteryear.


2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"

"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600

2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable

2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD

StirCrazy

Kamloops, BC, Canada

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Posted: 05/07/23 06:43pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

DallasSteve wrote:

I've read people say "No one ever complained about having too much truck when towing a travel trailer." That may be true, but I'm not towing my trailer yet, and I feel like I bought too much truck. I bought a Ford F-250 with crew cab and a long bed. I didn't really want the long bed, but stock is limited across the country right now.

The truck rides nice and it's probably going to pull my trailer comfortably. I have a 37 foot trailer that will run about 9,000 pounds loaded up. So I felt that it would be pushing an F-150, even if if was max towing. And I asked the salesman about that and he said an F-150 with max towing will cost more than the F-250 model I wanted. I believe that may be true based on the initial shopping I did. There wasn't much price difference between the two.

The problem for me is parking it and driving it down the road. My research says it's about 10 inches wider than an F-150, and about a foot longer, plus it rides a lot higher so I have to avoid any parking garages. I'm retired so I don't have to park it at work every day, but I can barely get it in my covered parking spot at home and when I went to the gym last night it took all of the parking space. I don't think I could get the doors open if someone parks next to me. They are huge doors, too.

Has anyone else with a "work truck" lived this nightmare? Is it just a matter of parking at the back of the parking lots and taking up 2 spaces? I'm in good health so I can walk. I don't think I can park it in a regular spot like a normal vehicle. I don't think my dealer will let me swap it for an F-150 now, so I have to make the best of this.


I went from a 98 f150 supercab short box, to a 99 f250 diesel supercab short box, and that was nothing , then I went to a 2014 f350 crew cab long box and it took a few days or weeks to get used to parking yes they are a beast,, but you will appreciate the smoother towing with the longer wheel base.

there not much wider at all than a f150 even the 2023 f150 can be much wider than the 2022. it all depends on the types of mirrors installed . the only parking issue I have is the crew cab and long box combo is longer than most parking spots but I still have room on the sides to get in and out.


2014 F350 6.7 Platinum
2016 Cougar 330RBK
1991 Slumberqueen WS100

4x4ord

Alberta

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Posted: 05/08/23 06:41am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Cummins12V98 wrote:

"Does Ram offer a trailer backup nanny on their 3500?"

No idea, would not have it if they did. A Man just have to be able to do things!!!

It's not that big of a deal I hook it to the truck maybe once a year and need to back it. The lift crank has a wheel that makes it easy to roll around.


If the technology can do something better than I can I’ll use the technology. I have played around with the Ford Pro Trailer backup assist enough to be able to use it well and find times … such as when backing up double trailers, that it can be useful. For the most part, I find it nicer to just throw the truck in reverse and back up. FPTBA limits your speed to 2 or 3 mph.


2022 F350 SRW Platinum short box 4x4.
B&W Companion
2008 Citation Platinum XL 34.5

MFL

Midwest

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Posted: 05/08/23 07:08am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

^^Interesting, concerning back assist. Can the Ford technology actually back a double trailer, for any distance, even if very slow? That would be impressive. May just be your expertise, with a tad of help from tech?

Jerry





4x4ord

Alberta

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Posted: 05/08/23 09:29am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

^^^No it can't back double trailers but it can make it easier for a driver who is capable of backing doubles. Because my motorcycle trailer is short and a little narrow I really have to pay attention to the rear trailer when backing up .... if I use PTBA while backing around a corner, I can pay attention to the back trailer and count on the Ford system to prevent the cab of my short box truck from hitting on the front trailer. Or, when I'm backing the two trailers straight down the road, I'm not able to see the rear trailer at all, so, the PTBA is useful to keep the truck and front trailer perfectly straight while I glance back and forth from mirror to mirror watching and waiting for the rear trailer to pop into view. With the PTBA keeping the truck and front trailer straight I have enough time when the rear trailer appears to quickly respond before the short rear trailer jack knifes on me.

Grit dog

Black Diamond, WA

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Posted: 05/08/23 10:39am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

HA! And I know this is no bs since I saw your video of backing a GN trailer at what like 30mph?
Fwiw I tried. Although with a long bumper pull flatbed. My personal best was only a bit over 15mph before I chickened out or things got squirrelly! Lol

Not that any of the last couple pages has to go with Steve and his truck….


2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

twodownzero

NM

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Posted: 05/08/23 11:24am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

There is no set of circumstances where I'd even consider pulling a 37 foot trailer with a 1/2 ton truck, so I think you'll soon realize that you did NOT buy too much truck. You might have bought too much trailer, though.

You probably also want to weigh it, because 9k pounds sounds a bit modest for a trailer that long when loaded. My 35' 5er weighs 9,200 and it's 23 years old and therefore lacks all the heavy stuff the newer ones have.

4x4ord

Alberta

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Posted: 05/08/23 07:58pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Grit dog wrote:

HA! And I know this is no bs since I saw your video of backing a GN trailer at what like 30mph?
Fwiw I tried. Although with a long bumper pull flatbed. My personal best was only a bit over 15mph before I chickened out or things got squirrelly! Lol

Not that any of the last couple pages has to go with Steve and his truck….


I should have made a better quality video while I had the chance. I was able to hit 35 mph backing the gooseneck with my 2017 F350 but Ford has spoiled my fun. The new 10 speed with its 4.92:1 reverse gear ratio and rev limiter has been neutered so as to have a top speed of 20 mph in reverse.

ford truck guy

Pennsylvania

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Posted: 05/08/23 08:06pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

4x4ord wrote:

Grit dog wrote:

HA! And I know this is no bs since I saw your video of backing a GN trailer at what like 30mph?
Fwiw I tried. Although with a long bumper pull flatbed. My personal best was only a bit over 15mph before I chickened out or things got squirrelly! Lol

Not that any of the last couple pages has to go with Steve and his truck….


I should have made a better quality video while I had the chance. I was able to hit 35 mph backing the gooseneck with my 2017 F350 but Ford has spoiled my fun. The new 10 speed with its 4.92:1 reverse gear ratio and rev limiter has been neutered so as to have a top speed of 20 mph in reverse.


Is there a link to said video? I’m pretty sure I would enjoy watching that.


Me-Her-the kids
2020 Ford F350 SD 6.7
2020 Redwood 3991RD Garnet


4x4ord

Alberta

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Posted: 05/08/23 10:22pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

[image]


I just taped my cellphone to the rear seat head rest so the video is not real good. I backed up 1/2 mile before doing a blindside turn onto a narrow side road. I was in the truck by myself and had to watch for traffic coming from in front, behind and ensure no one was coming down the side roads all the while I was trying to keep my foot to the floor in reverse. I was busy. It would have been much easier with a co-pilot. Having the volume turned up makes it not a boring to watch.

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