2015 max tow major sway
11-27-2015, 08:33 AM
#61
Senior Member
Just thought I would share an update since it is thanksgiving and I thought I would share what I am not thankful for which is my Ford f150. I was able to get my local Ford dealer to come on a test drive with me and they witnessed the trailer sway and also witnessed the two warnings that randomly will show up, advanced control fault and service advance trac. That was enough to reopen the case with Ford and they sent a engineer to take it for a drive. The engineer took it for a drive and confirmed the sway issues and warnings. He then hooked up the trailer to 2 other f150's and an F250 and the only one that towed without concern was the F250. The comment from the engineer was that the trailer was too big for the truck even though it fully meets the weight guidelines set by Ford. Then they said they would not get involved and that the only option was to trade it in for a 250 but I would have over $4k in negative equity that I would have to roll into the 250. They did not care or comment on the fact that the Toyota tundra and the Chevy 1500 did not sway. I am disgusted with Ford and will never even think about a Ford again. Thank goodness it's a lease, two more camping seasons and then it's over. It can't come soon enough. Not sure what to do for these next two seasons.
The following users liked this post:
Jason_Larsen (11-27-2015)
11-27-2015, 05:25 PM
#62
Senior Member
The thing about this post is its lacking a lot of info. Now maybe Dustin did get all the figures and not post them.
1. We don't know what the dry weight on the truck is.
2. What is causing a 3900# rear axle weight. ( my dry is 2200# ) What are you carrying??
3. Pictures of the truck on the level ground with and without the trailer.
4. Is the tongue weight from the spec sheet or is it actually measured.
Sucks you are not enjoying your tuck but there is lots of good questions and advice in this thread that you did not answer. If these questions are still unanswered I am surprised Ford gave you any attention at all. There are enough threads on here to show that the 2015 is more sensitive to set up and how much over the limit you can be. My concern is that new owners are going to read this and become discouraged and disappointed without putting in the required effort to properly set up their truck to tow.
1. We don't know what the dry weight on the truck is.
2. What is causing a 3900# rear axle weight. ( my dry is 2200# ) What are you carrying??
3. Pictures of the truck on the level ground with and without the trailer.
4. Is the tongue weight from the spec sheet or is it actually measured.
Sucks you are not enjoying your tuck but there is lots of good questions and advice in this thread that you did not answer. If these questions are still unanswered I am surprised Ford gave you any attention at all. There are enough threads on here to show that the 2015 is more sensitive to set up and how much over the limit you can be. My concern is that new owners are going to read this and become discouraged and disappointed without putting in the required effort to properly set up their truck to tow.
The following 5 users liked this post by Jason_Larsen:
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xcntrk (11-28-2015)
11-28-2015, 05:26 PM
#63
32' behind a light weight truck can really "wag the dog's tail". There is only so much that a WDH can do. I had a 30' bumper pull behind a '13 F150 but I had the max tow package. My truck weighed about 6500 lbs and I had the longer wheelbase. If you have the 5.5' bed and a lighter truck you already have two strikes against you
If you are absolutely sure that the WDH is set up properly and it was setup properly for the other new F150's that it was tested on then you have no choice but to trade trucks or trade trailers.
It makes perfect sense that a lighter truck is going to sway more than a heavier one. If this becomes a common issue then Ford will have to give towing limits that the take length of the trailer into account and should also vary with wheelbase. The towing guides already include reducing capacity due to the frontal sq footage of the trailer.
If you are absolutely sure that the WDH is set up properly and it was setup properly for the other new F150's that it was tested on then you have no choice but to trade trucks or trade trailers.
It makes perfect sense that a lighter truck is going to sway more than a heavier one. If this becomes a common issue then Ford will have to give towing limits that the take length of the trailer into account and should also vary with wheelbase. The towing guides already include reducing capacity due to the frontal sq footage of the trailer.
11-29-2015, 11:44 AM
#64
32' behind a light weight truck can really "wag the dog's tail". There is only so much that a WDH can do. I had a 30' bumper pull behind a '13 F150 but I had the max tow package. My truck weighed about 6500 lbs and I had the longer wheelbase. If you have the 5.5' bed and a lighter truck you already have two strikes against you If you are absolutely sure that the WDH is set up properly and it was setup properly for the other new F150's that it was tested on then you have no choice but to trade trucks or trade trailers. It makes perfect sense that a lighter truck is going to sway more than a heavier one. If this becomes a common issue then Ford will have to give towing limits that the take length of the trailer into account and should also vary with wheelbase. The towing guides already include reducing capacity due to the frontal sq footage of the trailer.
11-29-2015, 03:04 PM
#65
Senior Member
My trailer's shell is 8 ft wide by 8 ft tall (10.5 feet off the ground). That's 64 square feet of frontal area. Four feet more than Ford's recommended 60 sg ft.
11-29-2015, 03:27 PM
#66
Had a 2008 Nissan Armada with the equalizer hitch towing my 2015 32 ft cougar x lite tt that when loaded is about 7500 lbs with a tongue weight of 1080. It towed fine but when I turned a direction it seamed to pull that direction for a period of time. Thought that becuase I was over the tongue weight it was time to upgrade to a truck. Purchased the f150 3.6 ecoboost crew with short bed, max tow package and off-road package. Took it to camper dealer to make new adjustments to wdh. Ready to tow I take it out and it is still pulling when I turn and not to mention now I have two warnings, hill control default, service advance trac and a horrible sway. Called equalizer they said set up was perfect. Ford had no good recommendations so I thought it may be time for a different wdh. Purchased the Anderson wdh with built in sway control. Took care of my warning problems but not my sway. I have worked with Anderson Hitch to verify set up and it is perfect. Ford said to add 150 lbs to the tongue so I did with no difference to show. Also installed the roadmaster suspension kit and still have significant sway. Had another trailer dealer look at it and they said set up is good, it is the worst sway they have experienced because it is so constant. I have both the dealer I purchased from and Ford motor customer support involved and they have offered little support even saying that the truck is performing as expected and that they are not trailer manufacturers. Took it to a cat scale so I know everything is right and within the limits of fords towing capacities. Ford says the tt may be too long for the truck. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I need resolution or I am going to fight to get them to take it back. I love the truck just not the towing. I did notice that when I push on the side of the bed near the back to truck sways alot. If I compare that to the competition or older models of the f150 it feels very weak. Just a thought.
While I despise Nissan trucks after seeing how bad mine were reliability and towing wise, the Armada is a very heavy SUV. Much heavier than a new light aluminum 2015 F150.
There was probably some sway but the weight of the Armada probably handled it better. The trailer besides being oversized for a 1/2 ton, probably isn't loaded correctly putting to much weight on the rear and not enough on the hitch. You should roughly have about 12% to 13% tongue weight (with WDH Bars disconnected) with a Travel Trailer. Also some trailers are just designed poorly and introduce sway by design.
You made the situation even worse by buying the lightest 1/2 ton truck available. The new 2015 loses 700 lbs from it's change over from steel to aluminum. There's a reason why there are 3/4 and 1 ton trucks. Their weight doesn't let them be pushed around by trailers as much as a lighter 1/2 ton truck besides have capabilities to keep their ratings from being exceeded by a larger travel trailer.
I suggest reloading your trailer to be more balanced, check axle alignments (which coming out of alignment isn't unheard of), check your trailers suspension, and check your air pressure in the tires. Make sure you don't exceed the F150's hitch weight rating. The tongue weight is weighed without the bars connected.
Sounds like a trade to a F250 is in your near future.
11-29-2015, 03:40 PM
#67
I will see what I can find on the door. I also want to say that the equalizer hitch was adjusted by the trailer company and was also confirmed correct by equalizer. I covered that base. I also sent in the weights to Ford and they confirmed I am below capacity. I am just curious now why prior to me installing the roadmaster the equalizer hitch would set these warnings off after I hit 20 mph. Now with the roadmaster it takes 20 min or so before the warnings hit. Does that scream a problem with the rear suspension. Not to mention that the other two trucks from the competition towed great.
Also wanted to state here that the weight of camper is 7400 and the tongue weight is 1080. Which is 15% tongue weight. Should be a perfect balance and it shows with the other trucks just not the Ford
Also wanted to state here that the weight of camper is 7400 and the tongue weight is 1080. Which is 15% tongue weight. Should be a perfect balance and it shows with the other trucks just not the Ford
7400 lbs is just the trailer axles, this has to be added to the 1080 lbs tongue weight you stated you have(how was this even weighed??).
So your trailer weight is 8480 lbs total with a 1080 lbs tongue weight. Thats about 12.7% which is still good. But I really wonder how you weighed the tongue.
You are actually in the wrong forum. You need to go to rv.net and talk to people with much more experience on setups.
Good luck.
12-07-2015, 11:56 PM
#68
I have a 30' toy hauler that weighs the same as the op's trailer. I initially had the same warning messages after making low speed turns while towing it like at an intersection. What I found was that one of the trunnion bars on the equalizer WDH was sticking and not returning, causing the trailer (and truck too) to pull left and thus freaking out the truck's advancetrac system. I fixed it by disassembling the WDH, cleaning thoroughly, and greasing the snot out of it during reassembly, and retorquing to equalizer's specs. It was not a truck problem at all. My truck is a 2015 3.5 157" and I do not have much sway if at all. I don't think it's too much trailer, but it's at the top end of what I'd tow comfortably.
12-08-2015, 12:04 AM
#69
I should clarify that what I disassembled was the equalizer hitch head, specifically the 2 swivel socket things that you push the bars into and secure with pins. The bolts holding those to the hitch head should be torqued to the specs on equalizer's web site...I torqued to the minimum values shown there.
12-08-2015, 12:37 AM
#70
Senior Member
The OP never gave a straight answer to many of the questions asked. It's a bummer as I'm sure there is a clear reason for his issue.