Gladehound

Recently purchased a 2018 F150 XLT HDPP SCREW 4x4. 2399 payload on the yellow sticker. I only have 150 miles on it and waiting until 1,000 mile break in period is up before hooking up a trailer. I've read some of the threads about towing stability issues with 2015+ F-150s. However, there are so many different configurations, wheel bases, springs, axles etc. that I don't know if any of these issues translate to my truck or what I should expect when I hitch up.

So my question is only for those with 2015+ HDPP trucks, what have you towed and have you had any stability issues?

windman

I have a 2017 XLT 4x4 screw 6.5 bed with HDPP 2473 lbs payload. Just pull up to now my 3000 lbs boat...I had to look in my mirror to make sure it was still back there. ..lol

Gladehound

Thanks Windman. That's what I want to hear! Anyone towed anything heavier and / or boxier with an HDPP?

Glassguy72

I towed an 8X16 enclosed trailer for a hunting trip, approximately 2300 mile highway travelling with two atv's and all our gear and there was no sway at all. I was a little worried after reading all the threads here but I had no issues, the only thing different on my truck from factory is 10 ply tires and Bilstein shocks.

rogerroger

I have a 2016 Supercab, 8 ft box 5L, Hdpp, 2603 pounds payload. Before I had a 2000 F250 and had one more leaf spring, with THE SAME LOAD , loaded the same way, towing a 18ft trailer with near 3 face cords of heating wood and near one cord in the truck, so +- 4200 of wood plus 2150 (6150 total )for the trailer that I tow and +- 1300 hauling in the bed , the F150 HDPP tows a lot better, I do not feel it, will not wave, a real dream to ride that truck. The front end is solid on the road . Maybe the length of the truck help a lot ( had the same on my F250 ) or it is the electronic stability devise on that truck that helps but even if I have to move the steering sideways quite fast the truck will be stable and will not wave sideways. Very happy that I bought that f150.

Gladehound

Great report! What year / configuration F250 did you have? My previous truck was a 1999.5 F250 Crew Cab PSD 4x4 6.5 bed. That truck towed great and if this one is even close to that one I'll be very satisfied!

rogerroger

F250 was a 2000 , same configuration as my new F150 ( supercab 8 ft box 4X4 , 5,4 triton) I wrote by error that my trailer total is 6150, it is 6350 ( 4200 +2150). The new 5 L engine is 120 Hp more and 37 pounds of torq. F150 With the towing mode will tow great and slow you well going down hill. My F150 is 100% stock.

Gladehound

Not many responses on this thread. I was hopping to get enough to determine if the HDPP trucks were unaffected by the towing problems that some 2015+ trucks seem to have. I thought maybe the heavier springs, shocks, frame, axle and obligatory length of the HDPP might translate to a more solid platform for towing compared to some of the more lightly sprung and shorter F150 variants.

I finally crossed 1,000 miles for break in today so I decided to hook up the travel trailer and see how she tows. The TT is about 4500 pounds with 800 on the tongue and 27ft long ball to bumper. It was a little windy, maybe 10-20 mph. A good day for a first test.

Everything worked as it should... Extendable tow mirrors provide very good visibility. Pulling power of the 3.5EB was relaxed, staying between 2,000 - 3,000 RPM on 10% grades at 55mph even under light acceleration. Factory integrated break controller was super easy to set up and worked flawlessly. And the grade braking in tow/haul mode made it such that I rarely needed the brakes.

But it was really the stability and handling that I wanted to test. For that reason, set out with no sway control devices on the hitch and the spring bars just tight enough to take the torque off the hitch. Set up like this, the truck towed acceptably but I could feel the trailer behind me. After about 10 minutes I tightened the WD bars to what I thought was appropriate. She was rock solid - dips, turns, it didn't matter. I never once felt the wind or another vehicle go by. At one point I started thinking about something else and actually did for a moment forget that the trailer was behind me and remembered when I caught site of it in the rear view.

I think towing this TT around is going to be a piece of cake with this 2018 F-150 HDPP. Next test will be with the tractor at 9,000 pounds.

Gladehound

Glassguy - Thanks for the report. Is there a reason why you decided to go with the 10 ply tires and the Bilstein shocks instead of sticking with the factory stuff?

Tiderunner222

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.