M GO BLUE wrote: Sure a F150 can tow a 31' trailer but the more important question is can it stop safely while towing this big trailer? You really want to find out the answer to that question?????
Can we please put this fallacy to rest? If the TT is within the trucks rating it is irrelevant. An F150 towing at 80% of rating is no less safe than an F350 towing at 80%. Truck brakes stop the truck, TT brakes stop the TT. It is that simple. NO truck will stop a trailer that out weighs it by 1,000lbs or more with failed brakes and not be without drama or white knuckles. In fact IIRC Ford even stated in it's manual that the trucks brakes were rated for the trucks GVWR NOT the GCWR. That is why a good brake controller and proper brake maintenace is so important.
wayne_tw wrote: Too much trailer, too little truck. You can try some things that may help ( in no particular order):
1. Inflate trailer tires to maximum
2. Put "LT" tires on the truck- many 1/2 ton pick ups have "P" tires.
3. Inflate truck rear tires to the correct pressure for load they carry.
4. Buy a Hensley Arrow hitch. It will eliminate sway, period.
5. Get a heavier truck that will handle the dynamic forces the trailer exerts on the truck.
6. Weigh the set up and ensure that you have 10% to 15% of the trailer weight on the trailer tongue.
Ditto.
Steve & C. J.
"Gracie" the Rough Collie & "Bo'sun" the Bichon Frise
wayne_tw wrote: Too much trailer, too little truck. You can try some things that may help ( in no particular order):
1. Inflate trailer tires to maximum
2. Put "LT" tires on the truck- many 1/2 ton pick ups have "P" tires.
3. Inflate truck rear tires to the correct pressure for load they carry.
4. Buy a Hensley Arrow hitch. It will eliminate sway, period.
5. Get a heavier truck that will handle the dynamic forces the trailer exerts on the truck.
6. Weigh the set up and ensure that you have 10% to 15% of the trailer weight on the trailer tongue.
wayne_tw wrote: Too much trailer, too little truck. You can try some things that may help ( in no particular order):
1. Inflate trailer tires to maximum
2. Put "LT" tires on the truck- many 1/2 ton pick ups have "P" tires.
3. Inflate truck rear tires to the correct pressure for load they carry.
4. Buy a Hensley Arrow hitch. It will eliminate sway, period.
5. Get a heavier truck that will handle the dynamic forces the trailer exerts on the truck.
6. Weigh the set up and ensure that you have 10% to 15% of the trailer weight on the trailer tongue.
Do you have a tow package? What is the rear axle gear ratio? Make sure that everything is loaded in front of the axles. If your tongue weight is low, you have to put weight up front. We carry our firewood in the front pass through compartment and it made a lot of difference. Of course, we have good weight distribution hitch, sway bar and tow package.......
M GO BLUE wrote: Sure a F150 can tow a 31' trailer but the more important question is can it stop safely while towing this big trailer? You really want to find out the answer to that question?????
Last I remember truck brakes stop the truck and trailer brakes stop the trailer.
Wife kim
Son brandon 7yrs
Daughter marissa 6yrs
Dog shadow
07 Cherokee 32B
02 Excursion 4X4 V-10 4.30 gear
Reese HP dualcam,Prodigy brake controller,
Air lift air bags.
Better to have a bad day of
camping than a good day at work!
I can speak from experience, I do not have such a big trailer, but I do tow with a "little, underpowered, not big enough, I can't believe your chevy tows this" 1500 silverado crew cab. I recently put 10 ply (load range E) tires on my truck and it made a world of difference. I use a friction sway control and have not had much problem, but if I had the option, I would use a dual cam system to try to completely eliminate the problem. But my first suggestion if you don't already have them, at least put 6 ply tires on your truck (load range C). For everyone that says that your truck will not pull it, please do as I do and ignore them. They like to pay $5 for diesel and it lets them rub it in your nose that they can be the first to the top of a hill. The length of your vehicle matters more than your suspension capacity, even though the stiffer suspension would help, they do sell add a leaf springs and air bags, I do not have them and do not need them.
2006 Chevy Silverado Crew Cab
2006 Springdale 267BHLGL
Prodigy Controller
Honda EU2000is
Me, Wife and 3 year old camping buddy daughter
Talk about fallacies - truck brakes stop the truck and they ALSO stop the trailer... Unless your TT is tugging on the back of your truck during braking, at least some of the weight of the TT is being transferred forward to the truck during the braking cycle... Trailer brakes are electric drum, truck brakes are 4 wheel hydraulic antilock disks and usually pretty good size to boot...
Disk brakes are much more efficient than drum brakes and at some point in the braking cycle the truck brakes will apply more braking power than the TT brakes... And you make the basic assumption that everyone has their TT brakes set up correctly for maximum braking... There are those that do not care for the jerkiness when set to maximum and dial them down - what about those situations???
That being said, there are a lot of factors in towing a 31' TT with the F-150 - the hitch is only one part of that... Motor size, axle ratio, tires. etc all play a part... If it's a 31 Ultra Lite, why not although the length is getting a bit long for that truck unless it's a long bed with the longest wheebase...
Check your TT tongue weight and then add at least another friction sway bar - you need 2 with that size TT and a Reese DC or Equal-i-zer hitch would be the better solution... I would also check TT and Truck tire pressures as well...
Les
2000 Ford F-250SD, XLT, 4X4 Off Road, SuperCab
w/ 6.8L (415 C.I.) V-10/3:73LS/4R100
Banks Power Pack w/Trans Command & OttoMind
2006 Nomad 3150 Double Slide (Bunkhouse)
Hensley Arrow
Jordan Ultima 2020
I tow a 32' trailer that weights around 7,000 pounds loaded with a 2003 Alvanche Z-71 with the 5.3 engine, 3.73 rears. I have the equalizer hitch and 10 ply tires on the Alvanche. The Alvanche has a 7,900 pound tow rating. I have no problem with sway. Get a Equalizer or Reese dual cam and put 10 ply tires on, It will make a world of difference.
Providing that your truck is rated to pull yor TT consider adding a set of Timbren SES. They are inexpensive and wrok extremely well. I have no sway towing my 31 foot TT with my 1500 Silverado
www.timbren.com
DH, 1946
DW, 1949
Daughter #1 Miniature shnauzer
Daughter #2 Cockapoo
2004 Chev 1500 Silverado Z71,1/2 ton Crew,5.3L,4:10,Timbren SES kit
2008 Jayco, Jay Feather, 31E (Yes,it's a 1/2 ton pulling it)
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