7000 mile trip with EB towig 9.5K lb fiver
06-28-2013, 08:08 PM
#21
Senior Member/Vietnam Vet
Thread Starter
Somewhat concerning that it went into limp mode with the Wagner IC, even with pushing the limits! According to Full-Race, there have been no reports of limp mode on their IC, but who knows to what limits with the right conditions that they have been pushed to? I plan on putting mine to the test, so I guess time will tell?
06-28-2013, 08:26 PM
#22
Senior Member/Vietnam Vet
Thread Starter
Last day on the road. Got up early, made coffee and the DW made sausage gravy and biscuits. It was raining and continued to rain much of the day, but no significant headwinds. By mid-morning the return trip mileage jumped to 10.4 and 125 miles from home, it made 10.5 mpg. Just as I was thinking I averaged 10.0 for the trip, I realized that 2/3 of our miles were the trip to Wyoming via Amarillo and Albuquerque, so it was probably about 9.8 for the trip.
So the good news and bad news about getting home. The bad news was that the Full Race tailpipe was just inches above the driveway. One of the things on my pre-trip list was to check and tighten the clamps as I had just installed the exhaust the week before. I didn't get to it. The rough roads encountered many places on the trip and certainly the winter seasoned roads of Vermont loosened the clamps and the tail pipe pulled out from its hangers. The good news is that it didn't fall off in the path of the trailer, get destroyed and destroy two new tires in the process. I have some work to do in the morning.
There has been a lot of discussion on this forum about whether an F150 can safely pull a fifth wheel trailer. A lot of the argument was based on info on trucks and fivers of 5 or 10 years ago. Things have changed both in todays and especially Ford's trucks and in the RV world. Today's F150 is stronger and more capable. Today's RVs are designed to be lighter and more aerodynamic, and aimed at the half-ton market. I think the answer is that it depends on the truck and on the fifth wheel. I have just completed a 7000 mile trip with no issues caused by the truck or the trailer. My rig is 1200 lbs under the gross combined weight and it is 500 lbs over the GAWR on the rear axle.
Were I to get a new truck, it would be another F150 Ecoboost, this time with the HD payload in addition to Max Tow. That would resolve both the small nagging issue of rear axle bearing wear and of being stopped and weighed in my travels. As it stands, I am very happy with both my truck and trailer.
Pictures sometime soon; I have an exhaust to fix, things to unpack and a very dirty truck and trailer.
So the good news and bad news about getting home. The bad news was that the Full Race tailpipe was just inches above the driveway. One of the things on my pre-trip list was to check and tighten the clamps as I had just installed the exhaust the week before. I didn't get to it. The rough roads encountered many places on the trip and certainly the winter seasoned roads of Vermont loosened the clamps and the tail pipe pulled out from its hangers. The good news is that it didn't fall off in the path of the trailer, get destroyed and destroy two new tires in the process. I have some work to do in the morning.
There has been a lot of discussion on this forum about whether an F150 can safely pull a fifth wheel trailer. A lot of the argument was based on info on trucks and fivers of 5 or 10 years ago. Things have changed both in todays and especially Ford's trucks and in the RV world. Today's F150 is stronger and more capable. Today's RVs are designed to be lighter and more aerodynamic, and aimed at the half-ton market. I think the answer is that it depends on the truck and on the fifth wheel. I have just completed a 7000 mile trip with no issues caused by the truck or the trailer. My rig is 1200 lbs under the gross combined weight and it is 500 lbs over the GAWR on the rear axle.
Were I to get a new truck, it would be another F150 Ecoboost, this time with the HD payload in addition to Max Tow. That would resolve both the small nagging issue of rear axle bearing wear and of being stopped and weighed in my travels. As it stands, I am very happy with both my truck and trailer.
Pictures sometime soon; I have an exhaust to fix, things to unpack and a very dirty truck and trailer.
Last edited by SkiSmuggs; 06-29-2013 at 02:01 PM.
The following 3 users liked this post by SkiSmuggs:
06-29-2013, 02:36 PM
#26
Senior Member
Nice pics, sorry didn't mean to jinks you with the turbos going on fire, tranny falling out comment
My Flo pro did the same as you comming apart. I reinstalled everything in place , tightened the clamps and then put small stainless hose clamps on the exhaust hangers in front of the rubber grommets so the tailpipe couldn't slide back. Good luck
My Flo pro did the same as you comming apart. I reinstalled everything in place , tightened the clamps and then put small stainless hose clamps on the exhaust hangers in front of the rubber grommets so the tailpipe couldn't slide back. Good luck
06-29-2013, 03:26 PM
#27
Cycle For Fun and Health
Nice pics and a great story.
I used to have a 1991 Ranger super cab, 4X4 with 4.0 liter automatic. Towed a 25' (not lite weight) 5th wheel all up and down the west coast and then across the country to Ohio. Usually got about 8 MPG while pulling but in the mountains it would pass most of the full size rigs pulling campers. Yes it was overloaded but with the trailer brakes all was fine. It handled great. Miss those days of campgrounds and exploring new areas. Now have a permanent place on the lake close to home. Either way is fun tho.
I used to have a 1991 Ranger super cab, 4X4 with 4.0 liter automatic. Towed a 25' (not lite weight) 5th wheel all up and down the west coast and then across the country to Ohio. Usually got about 8 MPG while pulling but in the mountains it would pass most of the full size rigs pulling campers. Yes it was overloaded but with the trailer brakes all was fine. It handled great. Miss those days of campgrounds and exploring new areas. Now have a permanent place on the lake close to home. Either way is fun tho.
07-06-2013, 05:50 PM
#29
Nice pics and a great story.
I used to have a 1991 Ranger super cab, 4X4 with 4.0 liter automatic. Towed a 25' (not lite weight) 5th wheel all up and down the west coast and then across the country to Ohio. Usually got about 8 MPG while pulling but in the mountains it would pass most of the full size rigs pulling campers. Yes it was overloaded but with the trailer brakes all was fine. It handled great. Miss those days of campgrounds and exploring new areas. Now have a permanent place on the lake close to home. Either way is fun tho.
I used to have a 1991 Ranger super cab, 4X4 with 4.0 liter automatic. Towed a 25' (not lite weight) 5th wheel all up and down the west coast and then across the country to Ohio. Usually got about 8 MPG while pulling but in the mountains it would pass most of the full size rigs pulling campers. Yes it was overloaded but with the trailer brakes all was fine. It handled great. Miss those days of campgrounds and exploring new areas. Now have a permanent place on the lake close to home. Either way is fun tho.
07-06-2013, 08:35 PM
#30
Senior Member
So nice, the truck, the fiver, the trip, wow. Thanks for sharing.
I'm waiting for my turn at this, can't wait much longer. I may have to get a new DW first.
I'm waiting for my turn at this, can't wait much longer. I may have to get a new DW first.