2015+ HDPP - how well do they tow?
12-14-2017, 09:10 AM
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Great topic and review. I have wondered the same about the HDPP trucks after seeing all the negative threads about the new f150's towing. Hopefully some others with HDPP trucks will add to this. As someone that cannot get a 3/4 ton due to parking garage height restrictions i will be keeping an eye on this and other topics like it.
12-14-2017, 09:40 AM
#12
Senior Member
Yes, I came from a 2013 with the 10 ply tires and it was solid feeling, when I bought the 2016 I found the handling was poor, you could feel the sway and bouncy ride with the 6 ply tires so I put on what I think should have been there from the start. The shocks I changed after about a year because I found the back of the truck had a tendency to kick out a bit on rougher roads or over bumps, people here seemed to like the Bilsteins and I am glad I changed them because the back of the truck now stays planted on the ground. The 6 ply tires that come on the truck are rated for the load the truck will carry but are approaching their maximum and you can feel the squishy ride when the truck has some weight in it, plus I have found 10 ply tires don't puncture easily with rocks and such. The weird thing is if you buy an XL with steel wheels you get 10 ply tires but you don't with anything that has aluminum rims.
12-14-2017, 12:55 PM
#13
Good to hear it was stable, how fast did you get up too? It seems most people here have been complaining once speeds get up to 60+ mph.
12-14-2017, 01:42 PM
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
On my test with the Travel trailer I got up to 70mph. There is one place with a downhill into an abrupt dip that transitions to a bridge and then an up hill. It is a real test of how well your suspension and shocks can control a load. I went through this spot at 70 mph with the TT and it was a non-issue. It tracked straight as an arrow.
The shocks must be different on HDPP trucks. My truck has a very firm controlled ride empty. However, when they wear out, I'll check out those Bilstein shocks. I'm sure there is room for improvement and I may not notice it until I actually feel that improvement. Same thing with the Load "E" tires.
The shocks must be different on HDPP trucks. My truck has a very firm controlled ride empty. However, when they wear out, I'll check out those Bilstein shocks. I'm sure there is room for improvement and I may not notice it until I actually feel that improvement. Same thing with the Load "E" tires.
Last edited by Gladehound; 12-14-2017 at 04:27 PM. Reason: Deleted comments on receiver hitch because they are off topic
12-14-2017, 03:04 PM
#15
Senior Member
Not quite
The receiver itself has nothing to do with the rating (V5 Hitch Standard). It is simply because more hitch weigh behind the rear axle cantilevers the front wheels upwards and makes the steering light and vague. The wheelbase of a HDPP truck and one without is exactly the same. Maybe Ford could adjust the rating by wheelbase, but they chose not to. The curt hitch isn't going to change the truck's 500lb rating.
On my test with the Travel trailer I got up to 70mph. There is one place with a downhill into an abrupt dip that transitions to a bridge and then an up hill. It is a real test of how well your suspension and shocks can control a load. I went through this spot at 70 mph with the TT and it was a non-issue. It tracked straight as an arrow.
The shocks must be different on HDPP trucks. My truck has a very firm controlled ride empty. However, when they wear out, I'll check out those Bilstein shocks. I'm sure there is room for improvement and I may not notice it until I actually feel that improvement. Same thing with the Load "E" tires.
The one thing that is annoying about the HDPP trucks is that the receiver has the same WC rating as all the other F-150s of 5,000 / 500. If the shortest wheel base F150 with lightest springs, lighter frame, lighter axle, and a lot less total weight is fine with 500 pounds of tongue weigh, the HDPP trucks are fine with way more than 500 pounds. However, that receiver is only rated from Ford for the 500. Curt makes a receiver that is rated for 10,000 / 1,000 WC and 12,000 / 1,200 WD. It does seem to have a lot more structure in terms of how it bolts to the frame. It's tempting to get it so that I don't need to deal with WD to tow my tractor locally.
The shocks must be different on HDPP trucks. My truck has a very firm controlled ride empty. However, when they wear out, I'll check out those Bilstein shocks. I'm sure there is room for improvement and I may not notice it until I actually feel that improvement. Same thing with the Load "E" tires.
The one thing that is annoying about the HDPP trucks is that the receiver has the same WC rating as all the other F-150s of 5,000 / 500. If the shortest wheel base F150 with lightest springs, lighter frame, lighter axle, and a lot less total weight is fine with 500 pounds of tongue weigh, the HDPP trucks are fine with way more than 500 pounds. However, that receiver is only rated from Ford for the 500. Curt makes a receiver that is rated for 10,000 / 1,000 WC and 12,000 / 1,200 WD. It does seem to have a lot more structure in terms of how it bolts to the frame. It's tempting to get it so that I don't need to deal with WD to tow my tractor locally.
12-14-2017, 04:24 PM
#16
Senior Member
Thread Starter
The receiver discussion is a rabbit hole. Let's get it back on topic. It's my fault. I started it. I'm going to delete my comments on the receiver as not to side track this thread which is about how well the HDPP trucks tow.
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Simnut (12-14-2017)
12-14-2017, 06:21 PM
#17
On my test with the Travel trailer I got up to 70mph. There is one place with a downhill into an abrupt dip that transitions to a bridge and then an up hill. It is a real test of how well your suspension and shocks can control a load. I went through this spot at 70 mph with the TT and it was a non-issue. It tracked straight as an arrow.
The shocks must be different on HDPP trucks. My truck has a very firm controlled ride empty. However, when they wear out, I'll check out those Bilstein shocks. I'm sure there is room for improvement and I may not notice it until I actually feel that improvement. Same thing with the Load "E" tires.
The shocks must be different on HDPP trucks. My truck has a very firm controlled ride empty. However, when they wear out, I'll check out those Bilstein shocks. I'm sure there is room for improvement and I may not notice it until I actually feel that improvement. Same thing with the Load "E" tires.
12-14-2017, 06:50 PM
#18
Senior Member
When you look on fordparts.com you can see that the part number for the HDPP F150 is different from the other ones
This is my first truck so I cannot compare to previous experience but reading other post complaining about the rear end going every where when hitting bumps, I was telling myself..that is not so bad...I had the pay close attention when hitting a bump to feel whatever other ones where talking about. For me I didn't think that was an issue.
So now seeing a different p/n for HDPP shocks that could explain why I don't really feel my truck jumping everywhere.
So maybe going with Bilstein 5100 on HDPP trucks could even worsen the ride.
http://www.fordparts.com/Commerce/CatalogResults.aspx?y=2017&m=Ford&mo=F-150#Search
This is my first truck so I cannot compare to previous experience but reading other post complaining about the rear end going every where when hitting bumps, I was telling myself..that is not so bad...I had the pay close attention when hitting a bump to feel whatever other ones where talking about. For me I didn't think that was an issue.
So now seeing a different p/n for HDPP shocks that could explain why I don't really feel my truck jumping everywhere.
So maybe going with Bilstein 5100 on HDPP trucks could even worsen the ride.
http://www.fordparts.com/Commerce/CatalogResults.aspx?y=2017&m=Ford&mo=F-150#Search
Last edited by windman; 12-14-2017 at 06:55 PM.
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Gladehound (12-14-2017)
12-14-2017, 07:36 PM
#19
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Last edited by Gladehound; 12-15-2017 at 12:26 AM.
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Tom_with_a_Truck (12-15-2017)
12-17-2017, 01:47 PM
#20
When you look on fordparts.com you can see that the part number for the HDPP F150 is different from the other ones
This is my first truck so I cannot compare to previous experience but reading other post complaining about the rear end going every where when hitting bumps, I was telling myself..that is not so bad...I had the pay close attention when hitting a bump to feel whatever other ones where talking about. For me I didn't think that was an issue.
So now seeing a different p/n for HDPP shocks that could explain why I don't really feel my truck jumping everywhere.
So maybe going with Bilstein 5100 on HDPP trucks could even worsen the ride.
This is my first truck so I cannot compare to previous experience but reading other post complaining about the rear end going every where when hitting bumps, I was telling myself..that is not so bad...I had the pay close attention when hitting a bump to feel whatever other ones where talking about. For me I didn't think that was an issue.
So now seeing a different p/n for HDPP shocks that could explain why I don't really feel my truck jumping everywhere.
So maybe going with Bilstein 5100 on HDPP trucks could even worsen the ride.
The ride is improved when going over roadway bumps and washboard type bumps (the rear end feels more solid on the road and doesn't bounce around nearly as much).