I've spent a lot of time behind the wheel of a 16 screw, and 18 screw max tow, and a 19 expedition. The 16 screw and the 19 Expy drive very similarly - they both have good steering feel and hold a line well. Unfortunately the 18 screw max tow seems a lot more busy. On long drives towing or not towing, it wears me out. I'm constantly making little corrections to hold a line. It gets even worse towing because the front gets a little lighter. I've checked tire pressure, but not the alignment. So I wonder:

• Is this from the different max tow steering gear?
• Alignment?
• Suspension?
• As for tires, both screw trucks have the same size and exact same tires.

Anyone else experience the same? Have you found a fix?

 

There is a different front stabilizer bar in the Max Tow package that the others probably don't have. This list is pretty much everything I have seen that makes up max tow.

https://www.f150forum.com/f118/trail...9/#post4938487

• 3.55 Electronic-locking rear axle
• 4-pin/7-pin wiring harness
• Auxiliary transmission oil cooler
• Class IV trailer hitch receiver
• Smart Trailer Tow Connector (standard on LARIAT and higher)
• Integrated Trailer Brake Controller
• Upgraded front stabilizer bar
• Upgraded rear bumper

Oh they were missing two things off the top of my head. 3.5 EB and the 36 Gallon Fuel Tank. Of course some trim levels would have included some of these things anyhow. For instance I don't think you can get a Platinum trim without a brake controller. I had never seen one without it when shopping and it was one thing I was looking for.

None of the other things would really have any impact on this. Are all the trucks the same in terms of suspension as in all stock and no leveling kit?

Personally I have only driven a F150 with the Max Tow so I don't have much to compare it to. I notice mine feels a little lighter in the front towing as can be expected but I also have a leveling kit on mine that was on it when I bought it used. Also if I have lane keep assist enabled it is constantly bugging me to keep my hands on the wheel when they are. I think that is partly because of the more busy feeling while towing as you describe. I get it with no load as well but a lot more often towing. In my case, I don't know how much the leveling kit plays into that. When towing I am pulling a 6500# camper and yes I use a WD hitch. Blue Ox in my case with the 1000# bars. When setting up the bars I am measuring the wheel well openings before connecting and while adjusting my bars to get the weight shifted back to the front. I am not back to the stock height on the front but about 3/4 higher on the front compared to no weight.

In your case, are you towing a lot of weight when you notice this? Are you using a WD hitch?

So far no fix but I haven't tried anything either other than playing with how many links I am dropping on the WD bars. I think my next step is going to be air bags just to push me a little closer to back to level. I have looked at the other options like Add-a-leaf and different bump stop options. I want to preserve the ride when not towing as much, they all have pros and cons but I think I want to do air bags. I wouldn't say this is a high priority to fix at this point though either. Though I really haven't driven the truck much. Also I am coming to the F150 from a Subaru WRX so I get that the handling is going to be totally different. They are completely different animals so I don't know how much I am just saying to myself that a truck is just going to be different.

 

I would guess alignment.

 

Most say no, but I think the sway bar makes the truck ride rougher compared to the exact same truck without it.
No I'm not using a WD hitch, but the issue is there with or without a load.
Max tow trucks also have an upgraded steering gear. I'm not sure exactly what that means. To me it feels like there is more power assistance. I wish there was a way to dial down the power assist at highway speeds to try to calm things down. My dad drove a few hundred miles on this last trip and even he commented without me asking that the steering was "busy."
I'm going to have the alignment checked to see if the truck is toed-out or neutral. Maybe it needs a little toe in? I'll play with tire pressure too.

 

When I bought mine (used) it had leveling kit and tires/wheels already installed. The wheel was just a hair off and I asked them to check the toe and align it before I picked it up. They had to bring someone in since they weren't equipped and said he got it dead on. I hopped in it and turned around 100 yards later and drove back. The wheel was way off, they said to take it somewhere and they'd pay for it which they did (Quicklane at local dealership) since I lived 75 miles away. It drove straight but bump steered even just changing lanes on the way home. Measured it and the wheel was 14 degrees off to the left which is about 11:30 instead of 12 o'clock.

I told the Quicklane tech it was bump steering and he said I may have to schedule it to be looked at under warranty but I told him I thought it was bad toe causing it. Quicklane got it dead on....Everything except the toe and steer ahead was in spec before they aligned it. Steer ahead was so far off the machine couldn't even measure it. Bump steer also gone.

 

I’ve had pretty similar experience with my 2015 3.5EB super crew lariat including max tow package. Trucks also equipped with 2” leveling kit, air ride 2000lb air bags, and 10-ply 265/60/20 tires. Sits almost level without my trailer connected, and close to level (1/2” lower in the rear) when I have my 28’ cougar 1/2 ton trailer 31’ including tongue) connected and loaded. I also have a premium WHD for this setup. Zero complaints related to torque, power or shifting compared to the other F-150’s, Silverado 1500’s and Tundra that I’ve owned and towed with in the past. I do wish the truck tracked better going down the freeway at 70mph. I have to pretty much stay on guard with 2nd hand on or close to the wheel due to concerns with the truck moving out off line due to ruts in the road, wind gust, or occasional light sway. Seems like a little bit of anything at this speed will affect frame/body/steering related to tracking. I do most of my pulling 3-4 hours around the Pacific Northwest, so it’s not that bad of an issue, but I do wish the truck could shake off or absorb some of these forces better. if I towed anything bigger, or more often, or further distances...then I could justify having a 3/4 ton which would definitely offer improved stability & assurance when towing. My 1/2 ton F-150 does everything else so much better though that I can’t justify buying a 3/4 ton and use as my every day driver. I’ve adjusted tire pressure, air bag or pressure, adjusted and maxed out WDH sway bars, and have my trailer sitting mostly level (slightly higher in the front), and still feel the same with pulling at 70mph. Only thing I haven’t done is 1) turn off lane assist when towing and 2) have an alignment done after installing tires and the leveling kit. I didn’t do so at the recommendation of the tire company that installed them, but now wondering if this would make a difference?

Anyone have any advice to offer here? Or know which aftermarket items would help with this situation? Better sway bar, upgraded shocks??

 

Your experience is the same as mine. I almost can't drive this thing with one hand unless the road is arrow straight - loaded or unloaded.

 

Well.......

 

The EPAS has some smarts to it and adjusts for road camber, etc. Some folks have reduced this using forscan and had better feeling steering. I don’t remember all the details, but here is a starting point for research:

https://www.f150forum.com/f118/forsc...hanges-434605/

my 157” wheelbase max tow seems fine. Very much the same as my 2009 hydraulic system.

edit: I think it has to do with thee pull/drift compensation parameter shown in the link.

 

Does the EPAS system work the same on all trucks or is it different depending on options?