Finally figured out my towing issue
09-22-2017, 04:27 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Finally figured out my towing issue
I bought a '17 F150 in March. I tried to tow my Grand Design Reflection 29rs fifth wheel and had all kinds of handling issues. I added Bilstein 4600's on the rear, and air bags. I then took off the air bags and installed Super Springs.
I finally gave up and ordered a smaller light Reflection 220rk ifver as I thought maybe the 29rs was overloading my truck. I got the new fiver last week and the problems persisted.
I finally borrowed a B&W Companion and all of my troubles went away. The Andersen Ultimate Hitch unloads the front axle so much on a half ton that the truck just wandering all over the road and the steering was very light. With the Companion the steering feels tight like when not towing, this is because the pin is 1" in front of the rear axle and not behind it. With a heavy diesel engine and a heavy truck the front axle unloading may not be an issue but with a half ton with a light weight aluminum engine it was a major problem! I called Andersen and they knew nothing about it as they had no experience with it in a new F150. An engineer was supposed to call be back but that was 3 days ago. I am disappointed in my $800 hitch and the company.
I kept wanting to blame it on the truck - being lighter than my previous steel bodied truck. It cost me a fortune to figure out the issue and with no help from Andersen
I finally gave up and ordered a smaller light Reflection 220rk ifver as I thought maybe the 29rs was overloading my truck. I got the new fiver last week and the problems persisted.
I finally borrowed a B&W Companion and all of my troubles went away. The Andersen Ultimate Hitch unloads the front axle so much on a half ton that the truck just wandering all over the road and the steering was very light. With the Companion the steering feels tight like when not towing, this is because the pin is 1" in front of the rear axle and not behind it. With a heavy diesel engine and a heavy truck the front axle unloading may not be an issue but with a half ton with a light weight aluminum engine it was a major problem! I called Andersen and they knew nothing about it as they had no experience with it in a new F150. An engineer was supposed to call be back but that was 3 days ago. I am disappointed in my $800 hitch and the company.
I kept wanting to blame it on the truck - being lighter than my previous steel bodied truck. It cost me a fortune to figure out the issue and with no help from Andersen
09-22-2017, 04:32 PM
#2
Same issue with a BP. Too light on the nose and it's all over, too heavy though, and it caused speed induced sway. It is related to the truck as the same setup that worked on a 2014, does not work on the 16.
But a Lighter truck? Wanna bet? I had a tech go on a ride along so I could point out the exact issue I am having and he said, they are 700 pounds lighter. I said, wanna bet, and he just looked at me like I was nuts, I pulled out my weigh slips and showed him that the 2016 is 20 pounds heavier than the 2014 was.
But a Lighter truck? Wanna bet? I had a tech go on a ride along so I could point out the exact issue I am having and he said, they are 700 pounds lighter. I said, wanna bet, and he just looked at me like I was nuts, I pulled out my weigh slips and showed him that the 2016 is 20 pounds heavier than the 2014 was.
09-22-2017, 05:04 PM
#3
Official HTT Greeter
Same issue with a BP. Too light on the nose and it's all over, too heavy though, and it caused speed induced sway. It is related to the truck as the same setup that worked on a 2014, does not work on the 16.
But a Lighter truck? Wanna bet? I had a tech go on a ride along so I could point out the exact issue I am having and he said, they are 700 pounds lighter. I said, wanna bet, and he just looked at me like I was nuts, I pulled out my weigh slips and showed him that the 2016 is 20 pounds heavier than the 2014 was.
But a Lighter truck? Wanna bet? I had a tech go on a ride along so I could point out the exact issue I am having and he said, they are 700 pounds lighter. I said, wanna bet, and he just looked at me like I was nuts, I pulled out my weigh slips and showed him that the 2016 is 20 pounds heavier than the 2014 was.
If you go to the payload spreadsheet you will see that the 15+ trucks are as a group much lighter than the 11-14 gens.
Last edited by SixShooter14; 09-22-2017 at 05:06 PM.
09-22-2017, 08:32 PM
#4
2014 F150 Lariat 501a RWD, 23 gallon tank, bedrug and ARE topper, 5980 pounds
2016 F150 Lariat 502a, 4WD, 36 gallon tank, PRB, bedrug and Lakeland topper, 6000 pounds.
Other than mentioned, everything else the same. I too thought the 2016 should be lighter than the 14, by at least 200 pounds, so imagine my surprise.
GVWR of the 14, 7100 pounds, 1470 pounds payload
GVWR of the 16, 7000 pounds, 1583 pounds payload
2016 F150 Lariat 502a, 4WD, 36 gallon tank, PRB, bedrug and Lakeland topper, 6000 pounds.
Other than mentioned, everything else the same. I too thought the 2016 should be lighter than the 14, by at least 200 pounds, so imagine my surprise.
GVWR of the 14, 7100 pounds, 1470 pounds payload
GVWR of the 16, 7000 pounds, 1583 pounds payload
09-23-2017, 08:14 AM
#5
2014 F150 Lariat 501a RWD, 23 gallon tank, bedrug and ARE topper, 5980 pounds
2016 F150 Lariat 502a, 4WD, 36 gallon tank, PRB, bedrug and Lakeland topper, 6000 pounds.
Other than mentioned, everything else the same. I too thought the 2016 should be lighter than the 14, by at least 200 pounds, so imagine my surprise.
GVWR of the 14, 7100 pounds, 1470 pounds payload
GVWR of the 16, 7000 pounds, 1583 pounds payload
2016 F150 Lariat 502a, 4WD, 36 gallon tank, PRB, bedrug and Lakeland topper, 6000 pounds.
Other than mentioned, everything else the same. I too thought the 2016 should be lighter than the 14, by at least 200 pounds, so imagine my surprise.
GVWR of the 14, 7100 pounds, 1470 pounds payload
GVWR of the 16, 7000 pounds, 1583 pounds payload
09-23-2017, 09:10 AM
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
My 13 KR: Weighted truck at the scrap yard. With my toolbox (40#) tools (50#) air bags (40#) Gooseneck hitch (93# ) Line x bedliner (60 lbs) Weighed 6340 lbs
This truck had a GVWR of 7700lbs - payload of 1545 lbs= 6155 lbs. Take all of my accessories off and it's pretty close
New truck 7050-1752 lbs payload = 5298 lbs.
Where I come from that's over 800 lbs difference.
The KR had a moonroof. Other than that they were identical
This truck had a GVWR of 7700lbs - payload of 1545 lbs= 6155 lbs. Take all of my accessories off and it's pretty close
New truck 7050-1752 lbs payload = 5298 lbs.
Where I come from that's over 800 lbs difference.
The KR had a moonroof. Other than that they were identical
09-23-2017, 11:14 AM
#7
2014 F150 Lariat 501a RWD, 23 gallon tank, bedrug and ARE topper, 5980 pounds
2016 F150 Lariat 502a, 4WD, 36 gallon tank, PRB, bedrug and Lakeland topper, 6000 pounds.
Other than mentioned, everything else the same. I too thought the 2016 should be lighter than the 14, by at least 200 pounds, so imagine my surprise.
GVWR of the 14, 7100 pounds, 1470 pounds payload
GVWR of the 16, 7000 pounds, 1583 pounds payload
2016 F150 Lariat 502a, 4WD, 36 gallon tank, PRB, bedrug and Lakeland topper, 6000 pounds.
Other than mentioned, everything else the same. I too thought the 2016 should be lighter than the 14, by at least 200 pounds, so imagine my surprise.
GVWR of the 14, 7100 pounds, 1470 pounds payload
GVWR of the 16, 7000 pounds, 1583 pounds payload
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chimmike (09-23-2017)
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09-23-2017, 06:00 PM
#9
I bought a '17 F150 in March. I tried to tow my Grand Design Reflection 29rs fifth wheel and had all kinds of handling issues. I added Bilstein 4600's on the rear, and air bags. I then took off the air bags and installed Super Springs.
I finally gave up and ordered a smaller light Reflection 220rk ifver as I thought maybe the 29rs was overloading my truck. I got the new fiver last week and the problems persisted.
I finally borrowed a B&W Companion and all of my troubles went away. The Andersen Ultimate Hitch unloads the front axle so much on a half ton that the truck just wandering all over the road and the steering was very light. With the Companion the steering feels tight like when not towing, this is because the pin is 1" in front of the rear axle and not behind it. With a heavy diesel engine and a heavy truck the front axle unloading may not be an issue but with a half ton with a light weight aluminum engine it was a major problem! I called Andersen and they knew nothing about it as they had no experience with it in a new F150. An engineer was supposed to call be back but that was 3 days ago. I am disappointed in my $800 hitch and the company.
I kept wanting to blame it on the truck - being lighter than my previous steel bodied truck. It cost me a fortune to figure out the issue and with no help from Andersen
I finally gave up and ordered a smaller light Reflection 220rk ifver as I thought maybe the 29rs was overloading my truck. I got the new fiver last week and the problems persisted.
I finally borrowed a B&W Companion and all of my troubles went away. The Andersen Ultimate Hitch unloads the front axle so much on a half ton that the truck just wandering all over the road and the steering was very light. With the Companion the steering feels tight like when not towing, this is because the pin is 1" in front of the rear axle and not behind it. With a heavy diesel engine and a heavy truck the front axle unloading may not be an issue but with a half ton with a light weight aluminum engine it was a major problem! I called Andersen and they knew nothing about it as they had no experience with it in a new F150. An engineer was supposed to call be back but that was 3 days ago. I am disappointed in my $800 hitch and the company.
I kept wanting to blame it on the truck - being lighter than my previous steel bodied truck. It cost me a fortune to figure out the issue and with no help from Andersen
The following users liked this post:
chimmike (09-25-2017)
09-23-2017, 06:21 PM
#10
The Andersen Ultimate Hitch unloads the front axle so much on a half ton that the truck just wandering all over the road and the steering was very light. With the Companion the steering feels tight like when not towing, this is because the pin is 1" in front of the rear axle and not behind it.