mass-hole

Oh well right, but you are still talking about a 7-8000 lb truck. I think the tow capacity was simply because of engine and gearing choice. The 5.4 V8 with taller gears probably could barely move the empty truck but the 7.3 and 6.0 diesel with 4.10's would be solid.

mass-hole

I dont get this. I was looking at the 2017 Super duty tow guide and they are rated for anywhere from 1500 to 2100 lbs of tongue weight with or without WDH. That seems absurb to me. I dont care what the trucks is, if you have 1500+ lbs of undistributed weigh pushing down 4 feet behind the rear axle, the front end is gunna get light.

I've certainly seen dudes in 3/4 and 1 ton trucks running WDH but I also see a lot that dont and their rear ends are mashed down just like any moron in a 1/2 ton doing the same.

I also wonder if this guy didnt have an electric brake controller or if he didnt know how to use it because I feel like maybe a quick pinch on the controlled may have helped him. Maybe if you are white knuckling the wheel as you get tossed around its easier said than done.

uzikaduzi

used to see a lot of chevy guys swear they didn't need wdh's at all because the chevy towing guild didn't mention it... last time I checked, the ford towing guild, regardless of class, recommended it over 500 pds even at the 450's.


I think your dead right... regardless of the vehicle, putting tongue weight on a normal receiver hitch is turning your rear axle into a fulcrum and lifting the front end.


I can't tell if they do or don't have one honestly... I'm sure if they don't have it, it made it worse. same with trailer brakes. I know too light of tongue weight can cause what happened for sure and that's my guess. like you pointed out earlier, they have all that stuff packed on the back of it.

mass-hole

https://www.ford.com/resources/ford/...U_r2_Sep29.pdf

Check out page 7. They specifically call out weight carrying and weight distributing separately and the tongue weights are the same.

pdxF150

Now this could be blind faith in humanity but I'm also thinking they didn't flip because the cars that came after (and likely didn't see this unfold) just kept on driving. Only the big rig stopped. I'd like to think at least the second vehicle through would have stopped to offer help if there'd been a roll over.

pdxF150

So, max speed limits vary by state and for a lot of states the speed limit while towing is the same as passenger vehicles. If the speed limit is 75 and there's a big rig doing 67 what do you suggest?

This is not a trick question, I'm thinking I'd stick to 65mph regardless but it's made me think about max speed while towing. Of course there are so many variables but I'm not even sure how you'd decide for your own specific situation.

Meathead

iTrader: (2)

The driver was going too fast. Plain and simple.

massspike

Even if it were a 75mph state, the truck/towing speed limit could be 65 (or less) and probably why the semi was doing around 65. That limit applied to the Excursion driver as well.

When towing, I personally never pass a semi unless it is going well below the limit (e.g. <55 in a 65). They are driving something that tows better than my set-up and the limit is set to where it is safe for them so why would I think I could do better. I am happy to go with the flow especially on an Interstate.

Also he could have been at the speed rating of his TT's tires.

pdxF150

Well they're mainly not pushing 65mph for fuel efficiency reasons. Thanks for pointing out tire rating though, that's a great starting point.

Simnut

When I drove for Challenger Motor Freight, our trucks were governed at 60 mph. Saved we drivers a LOT of speeding tickets