atwowheelguy

When you set the trailer tongue on the hitch, it's like weighting one end of a lever with the rear axle as the fulcrum. As the rear end goes down, it lifts the front end. When it lifts the front end, it reduces the traction available for the front tires. With that reduced weight on the front tires, the truck just may not turn as much as you want it to when you need it. Most manufacturers say if the weight applied behind the axle is more than 500 lbs., some compensation is needed to keep the front from being too light to provide enough traction to turn properly. That 500 lbs. includes the trailer tongue weight and anything in the truck bed behind the axle. Keep that in mind when loading cargo in the truck bed while towing.

Just think how many WDHs would end up on the scrap pile if Ford supplied one with every truck. Everybody doesn't tow a heavy trailer. It is not a matter of how much the truck costs. It is just physics, weight acting on a lever. Ford's owner's manual says to apply lift with the WDH until the front end lift is reduced by half. So if the front fender rises by 1/2" when the trailer is hitched, the goal is to get it back down to only a 1/4" rise. If you don't want to use the WDH, just go hang weights to your front bumper until the front end comes back down enough. But then you have to be careful to not exceed the weight rating of the front axle.

boomer85

So would I still need a WDH if I got let's say the RAS system or airbags? Both help get the truck sitting back to level after the load is applied. I understand the lever concept and that its made even more noticeable if the truck is already sitting without the factory rake, be it from a level or lift. I have more then one trailer I pull regularly is why I'm asking and it hard enough to find a WDH with the drop I require, let alone one that works on multiple trailers without welding the hooks to the tounge.

boomer85

That and both the bags or RAS would help when hauling and not towing, as I previously stated I'm dead level with a empty bed so any lever action based on weight gets exaggerated

brulaz

RAS and Air Bags will stiffen the suspension and reduce wobble. But they will not have any or much effect on the weight taken off the front axle and put on the rear. To relieve that you really need a WDH.

boomer85

OK thanks, just didn't want to buy several things to accomplish one

meaz93

When you get all that extra gear with your WDH, as I did through trial and error .....towing will be easy peasy. My WDH came from U-Haul. Then I added the slider sway control from Camping World. - works great! Plus Loadlifters. Trouble free towing.

atwowheelguy

Crawl up under the hitch receiver and take a look.

Wescustogo

Yesterday I towed a 1500lbs trailer+skiff and from a full tank to 3/4 (6.75 gal) I went 52 miles! Have the 4.6 on a 2007 reg 4x4 and it has 120k miles on it already. I always baby it on hills and stay under the speed limit and I think it's the winter blend.

brulaz

My worst mileage has always been with head winds. Until recently the worst was out west in the Prairies.

But now the worst is 8.7 mpgUS going from Ontario through Buffalo over to Ohio along Lake Erie. It was cold (almost freezing) and the head winds were very bad along the Lake. At least it wasn't snowing.

CWOUSMC

I towed a 5K camping trailer with my 2014 3.7 with 3.73's and I got 8.6 mpg. I had to keep the truck in 4th gear at 3K RPM's the entire time so the gas was melting away.