Roadmaster reviews
05-16-2012, 08:26 PM
#28
A has been that never was
Originally Posted by jcain
no. just the wheels themselves.
I dont see how they stop axle wrap an hop. Seem like the pull the top of the axle back. In the same direction it wants to go when u axle wrap.
05-16-2012, 11:55 PM
#29
Senior Member
Just found this review thread so I brought this over;
So I have my RAS installed and have been testing it out loaded and empty for a couple of days now. So here is my super scientific unbiased report card on the RAS living up to its billing.
My scores on the improvements based on 10 totally eliminating the item.
Sway - TRUE - 5 (means it took about half the sway out)
Roll - TRUE -6
Loaded fuel mileage not tested
axle wrap - TRUE, but I still have some shudder with the trailer loaded to 6200lbs and 750 lbs hitch weight. Score 8 as the shudder is about 80% gone and only appears under near full throttle and is of a much smaller magnitude when you have good traction and under 30km/hr. Traction bars were slightly more effective by totally reducing the shudder, but with many other negatives.
wheel hop 10 - never any hop. Burns the tires with trailer on and off or just goes. This part acts like traction bars, but better.
bottoming out 9
improves hard braking/acceleration 4 feels better all around but hard to measure.
improves towing and load abilities -TRUE - 7 - Truck and Trailer with no WDH bars sits and drives much better than stock, you could drive it just like that. However they are not as good as stock with WDH bars. Now with WDH bars AND RAS it is awesome. Had to lower my hitch down a bit to level the trailer because the truck stays higher now. Also used less tension on the WDH bars resulting in a much better towing feel, the WDH helps keep a correct amount of weight on the front wheels to aid in handling and balance. Quiet, stable, smooth, controlled. Truck was good before but this is icing on the cake.
improves driver control with load - TRUE - 6 -overall very noticeable improvement in control and feel. Makes for more confidence.
cross wind stability - not tested
extends tire life - on my Ecoboost - unlikely, spins too much...
prevents harder, stiffer ride - Trueish, it feels firmmer and sportier but not rougher than normal over junk, mostly succeeds at not affecting ride. Score 8
easy to install - TRUE - 9, only because it didn't come with a beer and a jack and stands are needed, so it's not that easy.
So bang for the buck? 9 - still hurts a bit cause Ford should have got it right themselves and it still costs a bit more for them here in Canada with shipping and taxes.
Quality out of the box. Simple, clean, tough and high quality. As a machinist I can appreciate smart design and this scores well. More stainless and titanium parts for our winter corrosion would get it a 10, but alas 9.
So read between my lines and yes I'm happy I bought them. They do live up to Roadmaster's claims for every item I could test, and that's unusual for most products for our automobiles. For the money they can't be beat and I'll put it on my future vehicles and tell of my results to others.
Some pics from tonight:
__________________
and;
To clarify:
A score of ten means total elimination of the item it us attached to.
So if I gave a score of ten to roll on corners that would mean zero body roll no matter how hard I cornered. That would have to mean solid tires, no suspension, no flex etc.
Even a Corvette had body roll. To be fair I would score the RAS addition a ten in roll correction if my F150 cornered like a Corvette. But it still has big tires and a front suspension doesn't it.
I used the softest RAS setting, the white 1 mm disc for these results.
Now I'm off to go get my large fuel tank swap today, lots of towing this year
__________________
2011 FX4 Ecoscrew 6.5 Candy Red
So I have my RAS installed and have been testing it out loaded and empty for a couple of days now. So here is my super scientific unbiased report card on the RAS living up to its billing.
My scores on the improvements based on 10 totally eliminating the item.
Sway - TRUE - 5 (means it took about half the sway out)
Roll - TRUE -6
Loaded fuel mileage not tested
axle wrap - TRUE, but I still have some shudder with the trailer loaded to 6200lbs and 750 lbs hitch weight. Score 8 as the shudder is about 80% gone and only appears under near full throttle and is of a much smaller magnitude when you have good traction and under 30km/hr. Traction bars were slightly more effective by totally reducing the shudder, but with many other negatives.
wheel hop 10 - never any hop. Burns the tires with trailer on and off or just goes. This part acts like traction bars, but better.
bottoming out 9
improves hard braking/acceleration 4 feels better all around but hard to measure.
improves towing and load abilities -TRUE - 7 - Truck and Trailer with no WDH bars sits and drives much better than stock, you could drive it just like that. However they are not as good as stock with WDH bars. Now with WDH bars AND RAS it is awesome. Had to lower my hitch down a bit to level the trailer because the truck stays higher now. Also used less tension on the WDH bars resulting in a much better towing feel, the WDH helps keep a correct amount of weight on the front wheels to aid in handling and balance. Quiet, stable, smooth, controlled. Truck was good before but this is icing on the cake.
improves driver control with load - TRUE - 6 -overall very noticeable improvement in control and feel. Makes for more confidence.
cross wind stability - not tested
extends tire life - on my Ecoboost - unlikely, spins too much...
prevents harder, stiffer ride - Trueish, it feels firmmer and sportier but not rougher than normal over junk, mostly succeeds at not affecting ride. Score 8
easy to install - TRUE - 9, only because it didn't come with a beer and a jack and stands are needed, so it's not that easy.
So bang for the buck? 9 - still hurts a bit cause Ford should have got it right themselves and it still costs a bit more for them here in Canada with shipping and taxes.
Quality out of the box. Simple, clean, tough and high quality. As a machinist I can appreciate smart design and this scores well. More stainless and titanium parts for our winter corrosion would get it a 10, but alas 9.
So read between my lines and yes I'm happy I bought them. They do live up to Roadmaster's claims for every item I could test, and that's unusual for most products for our automobiles. For the money they can't be beat and I'll put it on my future vehicles and tell of my results to others.
Some pics from tonight:
__________________
and;
To clarify:
A score of ten means total elimination of the item it us attached to.
So if I gave a score of ten to roll on corners that would mean zero body roll no matter how hard I cornered. That would have to mean solid tires, no suspension, no flex etc.
Even a Corvette had body roll. To be fair I would score the RAS addition a ten in roll correction if my F150 cornered like a Corvette. But it still has big tires and a front suspension doesn't it.
I used the softest RAS setting, the white 1 mm disc for these results.
Now I'm off to go get my large fuel tank swap today, lots of towing this year
__________________
2011 FX4 Ecoscrew 6.5 Candy Red
05-17-2012, 12:04 AM
#30
Senior Member
And yes the RAS is doing fine holding up the extra 10 gallons I put into my new tank today.
There has been another noticed benefit that I am going to test more and report back on. It is significant for our F150's and I will say no more until I am completely sure and not just losing my mind. I would hate to raise false hope for so many owners experiencing this so I must be sure before spouting off.
Stay tuned....
There has been another noticed benefit that I am going to test more and report back on. It is significant for our F150's and I will say no more until I am completely sure and not just losing my mind. I would hate to raise false hope for so many owners experiencing this so I must be sure before spouting off.
Stay tuned....