'18 F-150 Car Trailer w/o WDH
05-16-2018, 03:59 PM
#11
The professional chassis engineers (PEs) that determined the weight limits for your F-150 didn't stutter or stammer. They very clearly stated that any tongue weight more than 500 pounds requires a WD hitch. No ifs. ands or buts. The tongue weight of your car-hauler trailer when properly loaded will be more than 500 pounds. So are you smarter than the PEs responsible for the weight limits of your F-150?
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Simnut (05-16-2018)
05-16-2018, 06:17 PM
#12
Just my experience.
I borrow my Grandpa's 16' F150 Screw Platinum with 3.55's (before I bought my 15') and towed a utility trailer that weighed 3500 Lbs, with a car that weighed 4200 pounds with no WDH on a 450 mile trip. I was extremely impressed with how well it towed and never once felt sway.
Since then I purchased my 15' Platinum with 3.31's and have towed a 16' dump trailer with numerous loads. I never weighed the gravel load but I know I exceeded the limit on that one. Since I was going a short distance I didn't go faster then 60mph but I experienced no sway with that load either.
Both trucks have the Max tow package.
I borrow my Grandpa's 16' F150 Screw Platinum with 3.55's (before I bought my 15') and towed a utility trailer that weighed 3500 Lbs, with a car that weighed 4200 pounds with no WDH on a 450 mile trip. I was extremely impressed with how well it towed and never once felt sway.
Since then I purchased my 15' Platinum with 3.31's and have towed a 16' dump trailer with numerous loads. I never weighed the gravel load but I know I exceeded the limit on that one. Since I was going a short distance I didn't go faster then 60mph but I experienced no sway with that load either.
Both trucks have the Max tow package.
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Gladehound (05-18-2018)
05-17-2018, 03:24 PM
#13
Senior Member
05-17-2018, 04:34 PM
#14
05-17-2018, 09:15 PM
#15
Senior Member
I will also try to find the email I got from Ford. Basically they said it's not their hitch to "support"...after market so to speak. They are just CTA's "Covering their.....'s". The trucks still bear the full weight of the tongue and the pulling the full trailer weight regardless. Let me ask you this...why do the new F350's have the same WC rating as my F150? That alone should make you question as to why that sticker is there. Not because of equipment! Also, read the "qualifying" line on those hitch receiver stickers. "Ratings will vary according to vehicle equipment"
On our very recent holiday.....4700 km drive....we used rest stops for 7 of the nights we were out. 3 truckers came up to me and thanked me for having my setup, setup right. Can ya guess for what reason? Yea....my headlights were not gonna blind any of them. That is their biggest beef! lol
05-18-2018, 06:30 AM
#16
Above statement not entirely true. Without WD, the full tongue weight is pulling DOWN on the hitch, suspension, axle etc.
With WD, the force is actually transferred UP the hitch. When you hook up your Torsion bars you can clearly see the hitch is being pulled UP in the hitch holder. Obviously there is still down pressure because of the overall weight but it’s significantly less because the weight is being transferred to the frame, not the hitch.
This is the benefit of WD and why Ford recommends it over 500Lb. Same reason ford doesn’t recommend more than 500Lb ON the hitch, like a motorcycle carrier or luggage rack. All DOWN force and no UP.
With WD, the force is actually transferred UP the hitch. When you hook up your Torsion bars you can clearly see the hitch is being pulled UP in the hitch holder. Obviously there is still down pressure because of the overall weight but it’s significantly less because the weight is being transferred to the frame, not the hitch.
This is the benefit of WD and why Ford recommends it over 500Lb. Same reason ford doesn’t recommend more than 500Lb ON the hitch, like a motorcycle carrier or luggage rack. All DOWN force and no UP.
05-18-2018, 08:31 AM
#17
With a WD applied there is a simultaneous static vertical load and rotational torque. There is the stand alone rating for the receiver and a rating for the system/vehicle as a whole once the receiver is installed. New F250’s and above have a weight carrying rating of 1500lbs for model years 2017+. They reduced the body weight with aluminum by 500-700lbs and put weight right back into frame structure which is why the can now handle such loads.
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Gladehound (05-18-2018)
05-18-2018, 10:10 AM
#18
And with WC, there is simultaneous vertical load and the rotational torque around the receiver pin is in the opposite direction compared to with WD. But we know the structure can handle this at tongue weights much higher than 500 pounds based on Ford's adjustment procedure for a WD hitch (see Post 8 for more detail)
There are a lot of things ford doesn't specify. To the best of my knowledge, Ford does not specify a maximum receiver pin to ball length. Ford does not specify a maximum WC draw bar weight. It's not reasonable to put a specification on everything. Ford does specify a max tongue weight of 500 pounds across all F150 hitch receivers. However, the forces seen at the receiver could vary greatly based on factors without a max rating. And F150s vary greatly in their length, weight and structure (frame, axle, suspension strength). So Ford made it simple and covers themselves with a 500 pound WC tongue weight max across all variants of the F150 and called it a day. They could have done a different rating for every configuration but they didn't.
I am not suggesting that anyone should exceed Ford's WC tongue weight rating of 500 pounds. All I'm saying, is that with long wheel base, heavier framed variants of the F150, there is no structural or stability based rationale not to go beyond the 500 pound WC rating within reason and many have done so with good results - just realize that once you do this, you're on your own.
There are a lot of things ford doesn't specify. To the best of my knowledge, Ford does not specify a maximum receiver pin to ball length. Ford does not specify a maximum WC draw bar weight. It's not reasonable to put a specification on everything. Ford does specify a max tongue weight of 500 pounds across all F150 hitch receivers. However, the forces seen at the receiver could vary greatly based on factors without a max rating. And F150s vary greatly in their length, weight and structure (frame, axle, suspension strength). So Ford made it simple and covers themselves with a 500 pound WC tongue weight max across all variants of the F150 and called it a day. They could have done a different rating for every configuration but they didn't.
I am not suggesting that anyone should exceed Ford's WC tongue weight rating of 500 pounds. All I'm saying, is that with long wheel base, heavier framed variants of the F150, there is no structural or stability based rationale not to go beyond the 500 pound WC rating within reason and many have done so with good results - just realize that once you do this, you're on your own.
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Simnut (05-18-2018)
05-18-2018, 11:38 AM
#19
Above statement not entirely true. Without WD, the full tongue weight is pulling DOWN on the hitch, suspension, axle etc.
With WD, the force is actually transferred UP the hitch. When you hook up your Torsion bars you can clearly see the hitch is being pulled UP in the hitch holder. Obviously there is still down pressure because of the overall weight but it’s significantly less because the weight is being transferred to the frame, not the hitch.
This is the benefit of WD and why Ford recommends it over 500Lb. Same reason ford doesn’t recommend more than 500Lb ON the hitch, like a motorcycle carrier or luggage rack. All DOWN force and no UP.
With WD, the force is actually transferred UP the hitch. When you hook up your Torsion bars you can clearly see the hitch is being pulled UP in the hitch holder. Obviously there is still down pressure because of the overall weight but it’s significantly less because the weight is being transferred to the frame, not the hitch.
This is the benefit of WD and why Ford recommends it over 500Lb. Same reason ford doesn’t recommend more than 500Lb ON the hitch, like a motorcycle carrier or luggage rack. All DOWN force and no UP.
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Simnut (05-18-2018)
05-18-2018, 11:45 AM
#20
Actually SAE j2807 covers connection point from the the pin hole to the ball and tow equipment weight. The rear overhang is the same on 145 and 157 inch WB trucks. The fulcrum effect of 500lb TW on a 145 WB is 705lbs, a 157 WB 690lbs so not a huge difference.