My family and I moved from Florida to North Carolina. Yesterday I brought my truck, trailer and dog up to NC. The trip is 715 miles. My truck ran from 4:30am yesterday morning to 5:30pm nonstop. My trailer is a 16 Foot Utility Trailer and with a load on it was an estimated 5,500-6,000 Pounds. Another 1,000 pounds in the bed. 16 CCSB 4x4 3.73. I pulled with 6th locked out the whole day and in the hills it down shifted to 4th a few times. Transmission never went over 203 and I never felt a lack of power. Had to stop numerous times for my dog plus I had a tie down that was giving me trouble and had to keep reapplying tension to it. Surprisingly little squat...the rake was gone and wasn't level either but with about 1,500 pounds over the rear axle I expected alot more squat. This is not a camper package truck. Here is the kicker- I got 11mpg average over the duration of the trip! I thought I'd be 8-10mpg so I'm pleasantly surprised. When I made this trip empty a few weeks ago I got 14.5.

Just thought id share my Towing experience. This truck never ceases to amaze me...and with 1,500 pounds over the rear axle she rode nice and smooth! When I did the ride empty I had a headache by the time i got out of the truck!

 

Curious about this last comment. Was the unloaded ride that unforgiving? I've only been in short test drives; haven't been able to go on a cruise with one yet on some of these famous PA highways.

 

The unloaded ride was so unforgiving that I had a splitting headache by the time i got out of the truck. I was sorry I took the truck and not the wife's luxury SUV. I95 in Florida is not bad but I95 in Georgia and South Carolina and I85 in North Carolina was horrible. I have the stock Michelin 275-65-20 Michelins and non Rancho shocks. It was a miserable ride and I will never take this truck on a road trip again without at least 1,000 pounds of sand bags in the bed.

 

Back before TPMS you could lower your air pressure down in the rear without the warning light going off. My old F550 at work was the same way but the 100 gallon fuel tank full of fuel helped out the ride a bunch. 25 foot Goose neck with the excavator on it a bit more.

 

Yep, locking out 6th is a good idea.

Since you say the ride was harsh, does your truck have the truck camper package or the snow plow package?

With 75-80 psi in the rear tires, mine is a little rough also when running empty.

It is pretty normal. You can air down the tires to 65 psi for unloaded driving if it bothers you too much.