Rear is down 7/8" from the stock height




Rear is down 1 7/8" form stock but it didn't have any effect on my dancing wife


The trailer alone made the rear of the truck dip 7/8". Once the truck was loaded backwards it dipped another inch. Is that enough weight on the rear of my truck? I have a WD hitch that I haven't set up yet, but I think I should still use it. I tried the F100 loaded forward but with the heavy 460 it made my F150 squat really low. I didn't remember to measure it but I bet it was close to being bottomed out.

 

Here is the F100 farther onto the trailer giving the truck even more squat, more weight on the bumper

 

I would load as shown in the third picture. I've always been told that more tongue weight is better than less.

Have you tried putting it on forward with the truck farther back? That could be another option. But keeping it close to the tow vehicle like you are cuts down on wind resistance.

 

Measure at the front fender wells unloaded. Hitch, then using your WD bars bring your front fenders back to the height they were before you hitched. That should put ample weight on your front axle.

You do not want to be squatted at the read as it means you are unloading your front axle. When you are done, your trailer, your truck, and the WD bars should all be level.

Steve

 

Second pic is the one I would go with. Then use the WD bars.


Do a test turn with the wife as a ground guide. My concern is a sharp turn and the two trucks making contact.


If you like it there and it tows well then make a mark for the rear tires so you put it there the next time.

 

I would try it with the F-100 loaded forward and back from the tongue some to help with the high TW and use the WD hitch to bring the F-150's front back down to unloaded height. My fear is that heavy F-100 front axle putting too much weight behind the trailer axles. Yes, loaded backwards the F-150 is seeing some squat but if that trailer is too tail heavy you could be setting yourself up for some dangerous trailer sway.

Nice looking trucks by the way, both of them!

 

Thanks for all the info. I am going to try to level it out with the WD hitch with the truck forward. I was hoping that when it was loaded backwards that the front axel would end up between the trailer axels. I think it might be too much weight on the rear of the trailer with the truck backwards even though it was still pushing the hitch down 1 7/8".

I got the WD hitch mocked up but I didn't have enough time to load the truck and try to level it. The Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo is going on so it's taking up my time. I'll put up a new pic once I get it loaded forward and then another if I get it leveled.

Thanks again

 

OK...broke a sweat changing the WD hitch all around trying to see what is best. Finally got some got hops therapy started so here's the run down.

The front stock height is 38.5" and with the WD hitch ball straight up I can crank the chains up to get back to the 38.5" front height. The trailer isn't ever level, even when it's unloaded, because I can't get the ball low enough.

I tried tilting the ball back one notch and was able to get the front down to 38.25" without cranking the load bars up as high. Is that any better?

Right now pics aren't loading but I'll try again soon.

 

Close up of how much the load bars are cranked up to get the front height back to the stock 38.5"




This is with the ball tilted one notch and the front 1/4" lower than the original stock height

 

Second pic there looks pretty darn good to me. Trailer is a little nose up but truck and bars look level. Did you strap it down and take it for a ride like that to see how it handled? I wouldn't expect an issue given all the substantial weight of the f100 is pretty much forward of the center of the trailer axles.

 

Thanks, I haven't done a test pull yet because I needed to find out where it was going to sit before buying the straps for the rear of the truck. I have adjustable E Track straps for the front wheels but I need to know where the other end of the truck was going to end up.

I've only heard that CA requires a chain, but I think I'll add one anyway just to be safe. All the other points will be straps.

Also since it is sitting back a bit on the trailer, would it help at all to build a wind break/rock guard about 4 feet tall in front of the truck? I could fit a V style break in front of the truck.

 

I agree that that second picture (Post #9 ) is looking pretty good. Having the front ride height 1/4" lower than unloaded should be fine, it just means that you are moving a little more weight off the F-150's rear axle.
A stone guard on the front of the trailer will help to protect that pretty F-100 from road debris kicked up by the tow vehicle, but I don't think it will make any (or much) difference with the wind or aerodynamics. The tow vehicle is already punching a hole in the air and a stone guard will be in that wake.

 

Second pic and I would call it a day.


So how it tows

 

X2 and I agree. I doubt you can do much to reduce effect of the wind. Towing is like moving a barn door through the air.

Steve

 

That was good for a morning laugh

I'll skip spending time on making a V shaped wind deflector and just bolt a 2 or 3 ft tall piece of plywood to the front rail system. I should have the straps to hold it down next week and that's when I'll take it for a test run.

Thanks again for everyone's help