F-250 vs F-150?
09-18-2017, 05:27 PM
#21
That's most likely true that a lot don't have any issues towing with the current gen trucks. Towing dynamics contain so many variables that pertain to each specific setup it's impossible to cover on this forum. But there are a few basic things that apply that are worth mentioning.
For any given specific vehicle-trailer combination there is a speed at which instability will occur. This critical speed will decrease under the following circumstances.
1) the mass of the trailer (relative to the vehicle’s mass) increases, 2) the center of gravity of the trailer moves rearward, 3) the moment of inertia of the trailer increases, 4) cornering stiffness of trailer tires decreases, 5) cornering stiffness of the vehicle’s rear tires decreases 6) the distance from the vehicle rear axle to the hitch point increases, 7) vehicle wheelbase decreases.
For a specific vehicle-trailer combination, some of these parameters can be greatly altered by changing parameters that are in control of the user, such as weight distribution or tire type and tire pressure. Others will require greater effort or even possibly vehicle or trailer replacement.
For any given specific vehicle-trailer combination there is a speed at which instability will occur. This critical speed will decrease under the following circumstances.
1) the mass of the trailer (relative to the vehicle’s mass) increases, 2) the center of gravity of the trailer moves rearward, 3) the moment of inertia of the trailer increases, 4) cornering stiffness of trailer tires decreases, 5) cornering stiffness of the vehicle’s rear tires decreases 6) the distance from the vehicle rear axle to the hitch point increases, 7) vehicle wheelbase decreases.
For a specific vehicle-trailer combination, some of these parameters can be greatly altered by changing parameters that are in control of the user, such as weight distribution or tire type and tire pressure. Others will require greater effort or even possibly vehicle or trailer replacement.
09-18-2017, 09:44 PM
#22
I'm not sure everyone is having a bad experience with the current generation of F150. I pulled my trailer with a 2011, 2013 and now 2017, all with the 3.5L Ecoboost.
The 2017 with the 3.5L Gen 2 Ecoboost and 10 speed transmission pulls hands down better then the other 2.
The 2017 with the 3.5L Gen 2 Ecoboost and 10 speed transmission pulls hands down better then the other 2.
Pulling isn't the issue, Handling is. My 16 pulls like mad, but at certain speeds on certain roads, handling becomes a problem that requires every bit of attention to stay between the lines. From previous posts in various threads, others have the same kind of handling issues mine does, and yet not all of them have this problem.
What it is that causes the handling is that the front end wanders, and gets worse when weight is reduced on the front axle. When a bump is hit, it can pull left, or right, hit another bump, can pull the other way. It's not a hard pull, but a subtle one, so you are constantly pulling or pushing on the wheel to keep the rig centered, and at some point the trailer has had enough of this back and forth in the lane and pops, or kicks out, then settles down. You just never know when it will do it. I am pretty sure with the Blue Ox, the trailer will no longer do that, but the wandering will need to be resolved.
It is something I can reproduce at will, empty or with weight in the back, the more weight, the more apparent it is. With worn tires, it is even more present empty.
On smooth pavement, I can go 80 MPH with it rock solid steady, it is only on bumpy roads, at anything above 50 that it becomes an issue.
09-18-2017, 10:19 PM
#23
Pulling isn't the issue, Handling is. My 16 pulls like mad, but at certain speeds on certain roads, handling becomes a problem that requires every bit of attention to stay between the lines. From previous posts in various threads, others have the same kind of handling issues mine does, and yet not all of them have this problem.
What it is that causes the handling is that the front end wanders, and gets worse when weight is reduced on the front axle. When a bump is hit, it can pull left, or right, hit another bump, can pull the other way. It's not a hard pull, but a subtle one, so you are constantly pulling or pushing on the wheel to keep the rig centered, and at some point the trailer has had enough of this back and forth in the lane and pops, or kicks out, then settles down. You just never know when it will do it. I am pretty sure with the Blue Ox, the trailer will no longer do that, but the wandering will need to be resolved.
It is something I can reproduce at will, empty or with weight in the back, the more weight, the more apparent it is. With worn tires, it is even more present empty.
On smooth pavement, I can go 80 MPH with it rock solid steady, it is only on bumpy roads, at anything above 50 that it becomes an issue.
What it is that causes the handling is that the front end wanders, and gets worse when weight is reduced on the front axle. When a bump is hit, it can pull left, or right, hit another bump, can pull the other way. It's not a hard pull, but a subtle one, so you are constantly pulling or pushing on the wheel to keep the rig centered, and at some point the trailer has had enough of this back and forth in the lane and pops, or kicks out, then settles down. You just never know when it will do it. I am pretty sure with the Blue Ox, the trailer will no longer do that, but the wandering will need to be resolved.
It is something I can reproduce at will, empty or with weight in the back, the more weight, the more apparent it is. With worn tires, it is even more present empty.
On smooth pavement, I can go 80 MPH with it rock solid steady, it is only on bumpy roads, at anything above 50 that it becomes an issue.
09-18-2017, 10:33 PM
#24
Yep, had it done a few weeks ago, the right toe was way out. It had a very strong pull to the right. It didn't start being wacky until my first trip with the trailer. I had set up the WDH to be exactly by the book, but over did it a little and pushed the front down past empty height. Now by putting too much weight on the front, did that cause anything to pop, don't know, but hasn't been the same since.
09-18-2017, 11:24 PM
#25
Yep, had it done a few weeks ago, the right toe was way out. It had a very strong pull to the right. It didn't start being wacky until my first trip with the trailer. I had set up the WDH to be exactly by the book, but over did it a little and pushed the front down past empty height. Now by putting too much weight on the front, did that cause anything to pop, don't know, but hasn't been the same since.
09-19-2017, 08:08 AM
#26
As much as I really hate to admit it, I'm actually loosely considering a Dodge 2500. I doubt I'd pull the trigger because I really don't like Dodge, but they're the only ones who offer a smaller V8 in their 3/4 ton truck. The Ford and Chevy 2500 gas models are pigs with fuel economy. I'm like most on here, I don't really NEED a 3/4 ton truck, but the extra capacity would be nice to have but my biggest draw back is the cost of ownership. Dodge is the only one that offers their half ton engine in the 3/4 ton truck. I'm sure it will be a dog if towing at capacity all day every day but, for my use, might be the best of both worlds, or at least close to it. Better fuel economy when unloaded, same rated carrying capacity when loaded.
09-19-2017, 08:50 AM
#27
What is the fuel economy of the Dodge compared to the Ford 6.2?...It can't be all that much more.
09-19-2017, 09:37 AM
#28
16-17ish unloaded from what I can find. It's hard to determine because you don't know if people are recording loaded MPG or unloaded on sites like fuelly. Generally though, it seems like the F250 gas gets 14 MPG unloaded on a really, really, really good day, usually closer to 12.
09-19-2017, 12:57 PM
#29
I plan to buy a F350 with a 6.2.....12 mpg is what I expect around town and would be happy with 14 on the highway.
09-19-2017, 01:34 PM
#30