SkiSmuggs

He says towing package instead of Max Tow. Must be more difference than I would have thought.

SkiSmuggs

Only Max Tow uses trailer braking, I believe.
You could add SuperSprings and the Ford HD Payload shocks to firm things up. You can also use C rated LT tires if the wheels won't do 80 psi. That would still be a stiffer tire than the P tires. I run my P tires at 44lbs when towing and only a little squirrelly when towing my fiver, but then, it is a fiver.

brulaz

80psi is the MAX rating for LT-E's. You will never need to go there for an F150. Michelin recommended 48psi for my LT-E's (to match the original weight rating of the P-rated Pirellis), and that works fine stiffening the ride nicely with 17" OEM Ford alloy wheels.

But for sway and bounce, I'd look more to stiffening the shocks and springs.

richf28

Like I said I have talked to many dealers in different areas, did internet searches even hauled a friend of mines Montana. It just handles poorly and even the one dealer admits it but can't figure it out. That's why I bought the Hensley which I feel is masking a problem personnaly. Took unit to Cat scales too and my numbers are:
Total Weight TV and RV - 13,740
TV weight 6080
Difference is . RV weight is 7660 Loaded

Bought a tongue scale : Tongue weight is 1125 lbs.

Vehicle is: 2011 Ford F150 Screw 4x4, Ecoboost, 5.5 Box with Max towing package and 3:73 gears.

Truck is 145" WB by specs and has tow cap: of 9700lbs. (correct me if I'm wrong).
Trailer Total length is 33 ft.

I am aware of the fact my truck wheelbase is short in relationship of the RV. But don't believe it should cause it to handle as ill as it does.

Friend of mine has same vehicle with 5.0 liter. and has same problem though not as severe being he has a V nose trailer.

richf28

In regards to the electronic sway control, Yes the trailer would sway enough to activate the sway control and you could actually smell the brakes being hot. Shutting it off I don't get the smell of brakes and yes it does handle better off. You can shut it off on your dash display.

BCMIF150

Your tongue weight is pretty high. According to the Ford towing guide, it should be 10-15% of the total trailer weight.

smokeywren

His trailer axles weigh 6080. His tongue weight is 1125. Gross trailer weight is 8785. 1125 tongue weight divided by 8785 = 12.8%. Right where it should be.

That's assuming the WD bars were loose. If the WD bars were up tight, then subtract about 300 pounds from the trailer axle weight to get 8475 gross trailer weight. 1125 divided by 8475 = 13.3% Still about where it should be for that TT at less than 15%.

f150-

I use the Hensley Arrow hitch on my TV. I am currently towing a 7,300 pound 26' tandem Airstream trailer behind a Mercedes ML 320 CDI 3 liter diesel 4x4 with no issues. My Michelin tire pressures are raised from 32 front & 39 rear to 44 psi for both. I am considering a F150 EcoBoost with HD Payload and Max Trailer towing options for carrying generator sets and the like with higher payload capability. Thus I am reading this forum.

A properly setup Hensley hitch will transfer 1/3 of tongue weight to trailer axle(s), 1/3 to front axle of TV and 1/3 remains on rear axle of TV. I also suggest taking the tires to the maximum side wall pressure to stiffen the side walls and see if that helps.

atvtinker

Smokey, you might want to take a second look at his numbers. He says his trailer weight is 7660 and his truck weight is 6080. His tongue weight ratio is more like 14.6% according to his numbers. So he is pushing the upper limits of a bumper pull. Still within limits, but at the upper end. I'd say he needs to either upgrade his tires or up his pressures if he hasn't already tried that. But I would not be surprised if he was over the payload part of his truck. Wonder what payload package he has? If it's 1900# then I bet he is pushing it with the hitch, passengers, fuel and etc. I also wonder about his trailer axles placement. I have seen some trailers that pull like crap because the axles were set too far back.

smokeywren

He also said the gross combined weight is 13,740, which is 7660 + 6060. So the 7660 is trailer axle weight only - not the gross trailer weight. Add the tongue weight of 1125 to the trailer axle weight of 7660 and you get 8785 gross trailer weight. 1125 tongue weight divided by 8775 gross trailer weight = 12.8%.

My TT has over 13% tongue weight when wet and loaded for the road. When unloaded it has over 15% tongue weight. So his 12.8% is in the ballpark of being right on.