View Poll Results: how much can i tow and will this work
? what else do i put here?
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ill just write this and look stupid
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please help!!!Everone has a different answer
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New User
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: fl
please help!!!Everone has a different answer
I own a 97 F-150 4x4 Flareside short bed with a 5.4 v 8 and it has been towing all 130,000 miles and has synthetic oil all the way and runs like a champ but anyways srry I haul 4000 lbs in a 6x10 enclosed trailer which i bent 3 3500 lbs axles over the last three years and upgraded to a 5200 lb axle which works just fine but i need a new trailer now due to a bending trailer frame ........................... Im looking at a 8.5x20 enclosed trailer with two 5200 lb axles but the first 10 feet to the ball will be a living quarter are with microwave , fridge bathroom ect and the last 10 feet ia all plywood unfinished for my cargo ----heavy wood flooring is this gonna work and how much can i pull? some ppl think ill be wagging like a dog
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 7,298
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From: Southern California
Welcome to FTE! 
Polls are generally used to solicit opinions to multiple choice questions. Generally you just want to click on 'create new topic'. I closed the poll because it's not going to give you the information you're looking for.
You didn't say what the gross weight of your trailer will be. But offhand I'd agree that a trailer that size pulled by a light short wheelbase truck could be a little squirrely.
Polls are generally used to solicit opinions to multiple choice questions. Generally you just want to click on 'create new topic'. I closed the poll because it's not going to give you the information you're looking for.
You didn't say what the gross weight of your trailer will be. But offhand I'd agree that a trailer that size pulled by a light short wheelbase truck could be a little squirrely.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,968
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From: So Cal
Check your owners manual or there is a page on this website with tow ratings. Find out the rating for your truck, wild guess is 5,000# and then figure out what your new trailer will weigh.
If the new trailer weighs less than the tow rating and assuming the tongue weight is not over your rear axle weight rating, then Maybe you will be OK.
A short truck with short trailer makes for a squirrely ride. You can improve things with a good weight distributing hitch. A trailer sway bar may also help. Make sure the trailer has good brakes since the brakes on the truck are marginal for a heavy load.
On a side note, I would be wondering why your axles on the trailer are bending. You may well be way overloaded and are putting yourself at risk for an accident.
In my experience a long wheelbase and long trailer make for a much smoother ride than a shorty on both sides of the hitch.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
If the new trailer weighs less than the tow rating and assuming the tongue weight is not over your rear axle weight rating, then Maybe you will be OK.
A short truck with short trailer makes for a squirrely ride. You can improve things with a good weight distributing hitch. A trailer sway bar may also help. Make sure the trailer has good brakes since the brakes on the truck are marginal for a heavy load.
On a side note, I would be wondering why your axles on the trailer are bending. You may well be way overloaded and are putting yourself at risk for an accident.
In my experience a long wheelbase and long trailer make for a much smoother ride than a shorty on both sides of the hitch.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2003
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With the living quarters in the front and the wood flooring in the back, I don't think that trailer is gonna be very well balanced. A trailer need 10% of its weight on the tongue, or it's gonna sway all over the place.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2002
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Throw on a weight distributing hitch, some more springs in the back of the truck and load the trailer tongue heavy a little. Then be careful because it's going to take a country mile to stop that much weight with a 1/2 ton. If you get the tail wagging the dog syndrome touch the trailer brakes. Don't!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! touch the truck brakes unless you are losing control already. The trailer will straighten itself out with the brakes. If you hit the truck brakes then you will only add to the problem. The tail wagging the dog happens when the trailer axles are too far forward carrying too much of the weight. The farther back the axles are the better it will drive, but it wil throw more weight on the truck.
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