Setting up the 15 for towing
03-24-2016, 12:54 PM
#11
My guess is this is true. They would have to reduce the spring rate with the lighter trucks to keep them from riding to stiff, but then they do a worse job of handling the same payload.
03-25-2016, 03:01 AM
#12
Well 400 plus klm, 23.5 liters per 100 or 10 mpg American
Definatly not as good a puller as the 13 with 373's, it would run 20.6 or 11.2 mpg, but adequate.
Sure as hell wouldn't want 9200 lbs that its rated for back there.
Couldn't find 6th gear except down hill, in 5th over half the trip, slight headwind coming home and it was 4th gear.
3 1300 ft climbs on this run, climbed about the same as the 373's, but the long runs is where it didn't do as well.
Now performance out of the way, either have to lift trailer more or lower front somehow. and i'm thinkin air bags if I can find inboard frame set up.
All in all, a ton of work to make the 15 do what the 13 did effortlessly, bumper pull me thinks is the wise route to take with these new gen trucks.
And Ford pushin 331's down everyones throats may come to haunt then as lite pullers may head elsewhere for TV's.
Up here 2 years ago, all 150's were spec'd with 373, now you cant find anything on the lot with anything but 331's, except the 2.7.
Almost makes me wish i'd taken the little one out for a test drive
Definatly not as good a puller as the 13 with 373's, it would run 20.6 or 11.2 mpg, but adequate.
Sure as hell wouldn't want 9200 lbs that its rated for back there.
Couldn't find 6th gear except down hill, in 5th over half the trip, slight headwind coming home and it was 4th gear.
3 1300 ft climbs on this run, climbed about the same as the 373's, but the long runs is where it didn't do as well.
Now performance out of the way, either have to lift trailer more or lower front somehow. and i'm thinkin air bags if I can find inboard frame set up.
All in all, a ton of work to make the 15 do what the 13 did effortlessly, bumper pull me thinks is the wise route to take with these new gen trucks.
And Ford pushin 331's down everyones throats may come to haunt then as lite pullers may head elsewhere for TV's.
Up here 2 years ago, all 150's were spec'd with 373, now you cant find anything on the lot with anything but 331's, except the 2.7.
Almost makes me wish i'd taken the little one out for a test drive
I really loved the 2016 F250 6.2L Screw 4WD truck I drove. It was even cheaper than a F150 standard payload truck featured like mine. I was all set to try to buy it but did more research on the mpg it gets as I put about 18,000 miles/year. I get about 17.5 mpg mixed driving, so I was really disappointed to hear most are getting only about 12 mixed driving. When gas goes back up, that will be another $130/month in gas.
So I either keep my truck or go to the competition, GM. Don't trust government motors at all after they screwed me previously. So I'm stuck in a hard place right now. Tundra and Ram don't have the payload I need, and Titan is a POS. Had a Titan so I know first hand.
I really wish I started reading how the new generation towed as well or better then the previous! BUT I don't like sugar coating things, I can handle the truth.
03-25-2016, 08:34 AM
#13
Senior Member
For towing heavy, the F150 HD Payload option looks to be the way to go, especially in the new trucks. But you're limited there to certain options and configurations. and availability ...
Or, like you say:
The Chevy/GMC with the 6.2L, 8 speed and Tow Option. Payloads are supposed to be OK, but you're limited there to the higher end trim. $$$
Or moving up to a SuperDuty, but their mileage really does suck unless you can afford the big diesel.
Do you need a crew cab? My wife and I have pretty much decided our next truck will be Reg Cab: more payload, cheaper ...
Or, like you say:
The Chevy/GMC with the 6.2L, 8 speed and Tow Option. Payloads are supposed to be OK, but you're limited there to the higher end trim. $$$
Or moving up to a SuperDuty, but their mileage really does suck unless you can afford the big diesel.
Do you need a crew cab? My wife and I have pretty much decided our next truck will be Reg Cab: more payload, cheaper ...
03-25-2016, 08:45 AM
#14
Senior Member
Also if you want a heavier truck, the gas Titan XD looks to have decent payloads:
http://www.titanxdforum.com/forum/19...an-xd-gas.html
I would expect the mileage to pretty poor though, maybe as bad as the "3/4 tons".
http://www.titanxdforum.com/forum/19...an-xd-gas.html
I would expect the mileage to pretty poor though, maybe as bad as the "3/4 tons".
03-25-2016, 11:29 AM
#15
Also if you want a heavier truck, the gas Titan XD looks to have decent payloads:
http://www.titanxdforum.com/forum/19...an-xd-gas.html
I would expect the mileage to pretty poor though, maybe as bad as the "3/4 tons".
http://www.titanxdforum.com/forum/19...an-xd-gas.html
I would expect the mileage to pretty poor though, maybe as bad as the "3/4 tons".
Last edited by Mike Up; 03-25-2016 at 11:34 AM.
03-25-2016, 11:50 AM
#16
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I'm not giving up on this truck, gonna figure it out. Have to. Have no intention of bigger trailer, I camp at the picknick table, not a 40" flat screen.
Now I got the low profile feet for the superglide hitch, so that's an 1 1/2" drop, Going to sit it back on truck today, this should get me level, moved the hitch ahead 1 1/2 inches, put pin 2 inches ahead of axel. have another 1 1/2 if I need to, thinkin pushing weight ahead may settle down the ride a bit, and i'm going to take measurement to bumpstops with trailer on, something I didn't take into consideration when I pulled the axel spacers.
On last gen 150's, ideal pin locate was 1 1/2" ahead of axel. One hitch prep kit puts the pin 1 1/2", another kit goes for 4" ahead of center. Who is right???
Another issue, I have to go up with tape measure, just looking at trucks, i'm thinkin the SC is higher then the SCREW. and height is main issue i'm dealing with, with tt, just a hitch measure, 5th with fixed pin box, more complex, and that's a trailer issue, not a truck issue per say
Now I got the low profile feet for the superglide hitch, so that's an 1 1/2" drop, Going to sit it back on truck today, this should get me level, moved the hitch ahead 1 1/2 inches, put pin 2 inches ahead of axel. have another 1 1/2 if I need to, thinkin pushing weight ahead may settle down the ride a bit, and i'm going to take measurement to bumpstops with trailer on, something I didn't take into consideration when I pulled the axel spacers.
On last gen 150's, ideal pin locate was 1 1/2" ahead of axel. One hitch prep kit puts the pin 1 1/2", another kit goes for 4" ahead of center. Who is right???
Another issue, I have to go up with tape measure, just looking at trucks, i'm thinkin the SC is higher then the SCREW. and height is main issue i'm dealing with, with tt, just a hitch measure, 5th with fixed pin box, more complex, and that's a trailer issue, not a truck issue per say
03-25-2016, 11:54 AM
#17
Senior Member
Height differences should be fractional inches. 4x4s are higher than 4x2s.
http://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/spec...ions/exterior/
http://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/spec...ions/exterior/
03-25-2016, 12:15 PM
#18
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Its an all new truck and set-up changes, first gen dodges with coils were a nightmare to set up for weight distro. I expect some issues getting setup right This is a whole new truck, frame geometry, spring rate, plus the lighter body, I have been setting up 150's and I KNOW how to set up my hitches for last gen trucks.
Its just different now....
Once figured out, should be fine, and the figuring out, is in the setup of hitches and weight distro.
My daily driving milage is much better then my 13, towing dropped 1 mpg, that's gears, not truck. If I hadn't been impatient, I would have made them order me a truck,
03-25-2016, 03:13 PM
#19
I do blame my situation on gears I bought for the most part.
Its an all new truck and set-up changes, first gen dodges with coils were a nightmare to set up for weight distro. I expect some issues getting setup right This is a whole new truck, frame geometry, spring rate, plus the lighter body, I have been setting up 150's and I KNOW how to set up my hitches for last gen trucks.
Its just different now....
Once figured out, should be fine, and the figuring out, is in the setup of hitches and weight distro.
My daily driving milage is much better then my 13, towing dropped 1 mpg, that's gears, not truck. If I hadn't been impatient, I would have made them order me a truck,
Its an all new truck and set-up changes, first gen dodges with coils were a nightmare to set up for weight distro. I expect some issues getting setup right This is a whole new truck, frame geometry, spring rate, plus the lighter body, I have been setting up 150's and I KNOW how to set up my hitches for last gen trucks.
Its just different now....
Once figured out, should be fine, and the figuring out, is in the setup of hitches and weight distro.
My daily driving milage is much better then my 13, towing dropped 1 mpg, that's gears, not truck. If I hadn't been impatient, I would have made them order me a truck,
Now, all I'm finding is 3.31 gears and a puny little 23 gallon gas tank on a "5.0L V8". Ridiculous! If I wanted a grocery getter, I'd get a SUV or a truck with a V6. Ford is pushing dealers to sell Fuel Efficient trucks instead of trucks configured to do actual work.
Thought about ordering as you, but the rebates suck at only $1500, Neither Ford or Credit Union will hold financing interest rates for 8 weeks, and dealers won't guarantee my current truck's trade in price while waiting for 8 weeks. I don't gamble, before I purchase, I want all the numbers up front. Since this can't be done, I won't be ordering a truck. When I ordered a camper years ago, interest rate and my campers trade value were held, not so with Ford.
While I don't like GM, the 5.3L with Max Tow looks pretty good and much less expensive than a F150.
BTW, I had a 2008 Sport Trac with coil springs. It was easy to set up the Reese Strait-Line WDH/Sway system on that truck. It also road great and sat more level with a load than some trucks with leaf springs. Really liked that Sport Trac but the 4' bed was wearing on me as well as the smaller size.
Last edited by Mike Up; 03-25-2016 at 03:58 PM.
03-25-2016, 04:04 PM
#20
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Well making headway, Pretty sure I have a bump stop issue, i'm 2 inches off the bump stops sitting static with the trailer on. So still have to deal with that, air bags, RAS, gotta think which way to go.
At his point though, trailer dead level, with the lower hitch and being a bit closer to cab its really starting to work and the ride is much much better, an extra 1 1/2 closer to the cab.
Test loop at 100 klm, still around 23 liters per hundred, BUT !!!!
Dropdown to 90 klm per hour, mileage shot up, at 90, 19.4 liters per hundred which is close to 55 mph and 12.2 mpg US. So a speed adjust and better mileage., At 55, the 13 was hunting for gears, at 60 it was stable while towing, so the 331's like 55 with the trailer on, but hunting at 60 mph.
Ran her across the scales
front axel = 1430 kg
Rear Axel = 1570 kg
Trailer axels = 1680 kg
Combined gross = 4680 kg = 10317 lbs
Gross Combined for truck - 14300
So lots of room for water, food and BEER !!!!
So remaining problem to address is the bump stops having only 2 inch clearance.
choices =
axel spacers back in and 15 inch tires
RAS and leave trailer alone
Airbags, inboard mount in place of bumpstops
On a side not, the cab clearance pic is with trailer at almost 90', I love this Superglide hitch
Hit my cab in a gas station a 3;30 am in in the 13, don't want a repeat performance
At his point though, trailer dead level, with the lower hitch and being a bit closer to cab its really starting to work and the ride is much much better, an extra 1 1/2 closer to the cab.
Test loop at 100 klm, still around 23 liters per hundred, BUT !!!!
Dropdown to 90 klm per hour, mileage shot up, at 90, 19.4 liters per hundred which is close to 55 mph and 12.2 mpg US. So a speed adjust and better mileage., At 55, the 13 was hunting for gears, at 60 it was stable while towing, so the 331's like 55 with the trailer on, but hunting at 60 mph.
Ran her across the scales
front axel = 1430 kg
Rear Axel = 1570 kg
Trailer axels = 1680 kg
Combined gross = 4680 kg = 10317 lbs
Gross Combined for truck - 14300
So lots of room for water, food and BEER !!!!
So remaining problem to address is the bump stops having only 2 inch clearance.
choices =
axel spacers back in and 15 inch tires
RAS and leave trailer alone
Airbags, inboard mount in place of bumpstops
On a side not, the cab clearance pic is with trailer at almost 90', I love this Superglide hitch
Hit my cab in a gas station a 3;30 am in in the 13, don't want a repeat performance