Hi folks - We have a 2021 F150 Sport 4x4. We bought it slightly used (5,000 miles) and have put on less than 10,000 more. It's a great truck. My wife and daughter especially enjoy driving it.

The suspension is my only complaint. We feel the road a lot. I thought that'd only be an issue on the last mile going to a campsite, but a lot of highways and interstates are in poor condition. Worse, when towing our 5500 pound travel trailer on highways with regularly-spaced bumps/seams, the truck will get into a boat-like rocking motion. I don't think that's safe, but the dealer says "it's because you're towing a trailer."

Thoughts? Thanks.

 

That sounds like porpoising, the boat rocking motion you describe. Do you have any photos of your truck and trailer ready to tow on flat ground? That can often save a lot of questions. This is definitely not a requirement of the towing experience.

 

I added Bilstein 5100 rear shocks to my 2020, an excellent improvement. Also, some roads (especially concrete ones) do not play nice with TT, and lastly, do you have sufficient tongue weight? Might add a bit more weight to the front of trailer.

 

Thanks - here's the best picture that I have at the moment; I don't know if it's helpful.

I'm confident that we have enough tongue weight.

 

Thanks, that definitely eliminates one possible cause of the rocking motion, if your hitch point is too high that can cause the motion you described, but if anything your trailer might be a touch nose down. On dual axle trailers that can actually decrease tongue weight because you've taken enough weight off the rear trailer axle. Getting to a scale would be a good next step if you can. What type of weight distribution do you use and do you feel confident it's set up correctly? What about your front and rear fender heights, unladen, without weight distribution, then finally with distribution engaged?

 

Ford uses shocks/coilovers to fit Joe&Julie Schmo's idea of good ride quality and save Ford money. Have yet to meet a stock shock that is worth a damn. KM

 

You are using a weight distributing hitch, right? Which hitch?
Likely, you need a little more lever action on your WDH. More weight transfer to the truck’s front.
I have a smaller trailer than you and have it set up so that I meet the towing specs without a WDH but for non-local tows, I still use the WDH to lessen any porpoising and high speed anti sway control.