2015 max tow major sway
02-27-2016, 07:45 PM
#81
Senior Member
100% agree with this. I strongly considered a 3/4 ton upgrade, but the reality is that over the course of a year, 80% of my mileage is done when NOT towing our TT, so the gas costs and ride quality I believe are both factors to be carefully considered.
Good advice though - I agree that a "beefed up" 1/2 ton can be turned into a very solid tow rig. I spent $2000 CAD (shocks, tires, stable loads) which made a big difference, and adds another safety cushion - provided you stay close to the weight limits of course
That said - I decided to switch to the RAM, partially because my lease on the F150 was up, and part because I found (from a tow test) that the multi-link coils provide some extra lateral stability when "towing a genuinely heavy load" - I got that quote from this article which compares the 2015 F150 and Ram 1500 towing the same trailer:
http://www.edmunds.com/ford/f-150/20...el-part-1.html
Good advice though - I agree that a "beefed up" 1/2 ton can be turned into a very solid tow rig. I spent $2000 CAD (shocks, tires, stable loads) which made a big difference, and adds another safety cushion - provided you stay close to the weight limits of course
That said - I decided to switch to the RAM, partially because my lease on the F150 was up, and part because I found (from a tow test) that the multi-link coils provide some extra lateral stability when "towing a genuinely heavy load" - I got that quote from this article which compares the 2015 F150 and Ram 1500 towing the same trailer:
http://www.edmunds.com/ford/f-150/20...el-part-1.html
But RAM also makes a 2500 with rear coils, and much higher payloads, and is reputed to ride and tow very well, for a "3/4 ton".
By the way, I'm not impressed with that article. The Ford is clearly overloaded and sagging heavy; at no point did they measure the tongue weight or how much weight they were taking off the front axle; there was no mention of a wdh. I would never have driven it like that. Seat-of-the-pants journalism at its worst.
02-27-2016, 07:49 PM
#82
I know people were suggesting other brand 1/2 tons are heavier but I dont think this is very true, at least not by a significant amount. The 14 and earlier F150s were the heaviest half ton on the market. The 15 only brought the F150 down to the same or only slightly less weight than the competitors. I doubt other 1/2 tons would be able to tow better based on weight alone.
02-27-2016, 07:54 PM
#83
@ brulaz - You're right about the article and I do agree - no way they should have been towing that much weight without a WD hitch! Anyone should have known that by simply reading their owners manual.
For the record - that article wasn't what convinced me, it was my own real-world test with my own TT with real weights which told the story. I actually like the F150 for many reasons, and I LOVE the new 2015 look and the aluminum body, but in the end I just felt that the RAM towed my trailer better + I got a smoking deal on the RAM.
For the record - that article wasn't what convinced me, it was my own real-world test with my own TT with real weights which told the story. I actually like the F150 for many reasons, and I LOVE the new 2015 look and the aluminum body, but in the end I just felt that the RAM towed my trailer better + I got a smoking deal on the RAM.
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smurfs_of_war (02-27-2016)
02-27-2016, 08:20 PM
#84
Unfortunately the RAM 1500, especially the heavy Ecodiesel, has a low payload compared to GM or Ford "half-ton" trucks. IOW it's a lot easier to exceed the RAM Ecodiesel's weight limits.
But RAM also makes a 2500 with rear coils, and much higher payloads, and is reputed to ride and tow very well, for a "3/4 ton".
By the way, I'm not impressed with that article. The Ford is clearly overloaded and sagging heavy; at no point did they measure the tongue weight or how much weight they were taking off the front axle; there was no mention of a wdh. I would never have driven it like that. Seat-of-the-pants journalism at its worst.
But RAM also makes a 2500 with rear coils, and much higher payloads, and is reputed to ride and tow very well, for a "3/4 ton".
By the way, I'm not impressed with that article. The Ford is clearly overloaded and sagging heavy; at no point did they measure the tongue weight or how much weight they were taking off the front axle; there was no mention of a wdh. I would never have driven it like that. Seat-of-the-pants journalism at its worst.
02-27-2016, 08:26 PM
#85
Senior Member
Recent diesels have switched to CGI (Compacted Graphite Iron) to reduce their weight, but now even gas engines like Ford's 2.7L EcoBoost are using CGI for the same reason.
Last edited by brulaz; 02-27-2016 at 08:28 PM.
02-27-2016, 08:46 PM
#86
I found (from a tow test) that the multi-link coils provide some extra lateral stability when "towing a genuinely heavy load" - I got that quote from this article which compares the 2015 F150 and Ram 1500 towing the same trailer:
http://www.edmunds.com/ford/f-150/20...el-part-1.html
http://www.edmunds.com/ford/f-150/20...el-part-1.html
02-27-2016, 09:17 PM
#87
Senior Member
Sorry to revive an old thread, but I read through this and wanted to respond for the benefit of other F150 owners who may be suffering the same issues..
I just sold my 2014 XLT Screw 4x4 for this very same reason (MAJOR stability issues when towing). It wasn't the trailer swaying, but the truck being pushed all over the road by the weight of the trailer. It's a problem that I feel is unique to towing travel (or wide box) trailers, and I have actually read in Ford's documentation cautioning owners about "frontage" area of any trailer being towed - presumably for this very reason.
Admittedly, I had a 2014, and I didn't have the max tow package, so that may have been a factor, although given the OP here did - it suggests this problem maybe inherent with many configurations, and could (stress 'could') be worse in the 15's as they're lighter trucks.
My truck just wasn't stable towing at all. My TT is 5,800lbs loaded (4,700 dry), with a 600lb hitch weight. I used a Reese Dual Cam WD hitch and w/sway control and tried adjusting over and over with different settings and heights, before I realized that it was nothing to do with the hitch setup, but was obviously the truck. Point proven when I towed the same trailer with my friend's 2013 RAM 1500, and it was night and day difference (very stable - thanks to the Ram's multi-link coil sprung rear end which provides more lateral stability.
For any F150 owners with the same issue, here is what I did, before finally deciding to trade it:
1) Installed new LT Tires (Load Range 'E') - I used Cooper Discover AT/3's, and aired to 65lbs when towing
2) HD Rancho 9000XL (or Bilstein 4600/5100)
3) Hellwig Rear Sway Bar
The above 3 changes made a big difference, but the truck still 'waggled' when towing. In the end I traded and now have a 2016 Ram. The payload on the Ram sucks admittedly, but it is FAR more stable, with not a hint of the instability that the Ford showed.
I just sold my 2014 XLT Screw 4x4 for this very same reason (MAJOR stability issues when towing). It wasn't the trailer swaying, but the truck being pushed all over the road by the weight of the trailer. It's a problem that I feel is unique to towing travel (or wide box) trailers, and I have actually read in Ford's documentation cautioning owners about "frontage" area of any trailer being towed - presumably for this very reason.
Admittedly, I had a 2014, and I didn't have the max tow package, so that may have been a factor, although given the OP here did - it suggests this problem maybe inherent with many configurations, and could (stress 'could') be worse in the 15's as they're lighter trucks.
My truck just wasn't stable towing at all. My TT is 5,800lbs loaded (4,700 dry), with a 600lb hitch weight. I used a Reese Dual Cam WD hitch and w/sway control and tried adjusting over and over with different settings and heights, before I realized that it was nothing to do with the hitch setup, but was obviously the truck. Point proven when I towed the same trailer with my friend's 2013 RAM 1500, and it was night and day difference (very stable - thanks to the Ram's multi-link coil sprung rear end which provides more lateral stability.
For any F150 owners with the same issue, here is what I did, before finally deciding to trade it:
1) Installed new LT Tires (Load Range 'E') - I used Cooper Discover AT/3's, and aired to 65lbs when towing
2) HD Rancho 9000XL (or Bilstein 4600/5100)
3) Hellwig Rear Sway Bar
The above 3 changes made a big difference, but the truck still 'waggled' when towing. In the end I traded and now have a 2016 Ram. The payload on the Ram sucks admittedly, but it is FAR more stable, with not a hint of the instability that the Ford showed.
02-27-2016, 09:22 PM
#88
Senior Member
My truck tows 29' @7000k pretty damn well with a cheap hitch.
02-27-2016, 09:42 PM
#89
