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I’ve got a 2017 F150. It tows great and has enough power and braking. My concern is the truck sags from the weight of the trailer. I hesitate to add leafs because I don’t want to lose my ride. Is air bags the only other option and will they hold up in a winter climate wit a lot of salt. Thanks!
i just put on some Roadmaster Active Suspension. I love it, raised the rear about 2in and rides just as smooth over bumps but more solid when cornering. Big difference when hooked up to my travel trailer. Worth the money if you tow.
I have a 2.25" leveling kit up front....I had the same issue when I put on a car trailer.....I ended up removing the stock factory block in the back and replacing it with a 3" block..... so technically it added back the factory "rake" in it....if that helps ya any...
Verify 10-15% gross trailer weight should be tongue weight
Trailer gross must be under 5000lbs or a WD hitch is needed
Trailer tongue must be under 500lbs or WD hitch is needed
Verify 10-15% gross trailer weight should be tongue weight
Trailer gross must be under 5000lbs or a WD hitch is needed
Trailer tongue must be under 500lbs or WD hitch is needed
This right here. This is the legal side of it.
Now, for more questions - do you tow this a lot? Are you towing it long distance? Does the trailer have brakes? Are you staying on 55mph or less roads, or getting on the expressway?
If you are towing it only occasionally and for short distances at low speeds, then I suggest making sure most of the weight is over the trailer axles, similar to how a boat is loaded. Move your load BACK away from the tongue. And make sure your trailer brakes work. You'll be okay in this situation - but I wouldn't push your speed with it. Take it slow.
If you are towing it a LOT, for long distances, and/or at highway speeds, I suggest a WDH if you're having that much of an issue with sag. They are very easy to install, and can be installed on just about any trailer unless it is a home-built one made with round tubing. I could put one on my 7k-lb car trailer, but I never put that much weight on it so I don't need one - I use it for hauling snowmobiles or quads, mostly. It even already has a 2-5/16 ball so the setup is that much easier.
Remember - Air bags can help level your truck and stabilize your truck, but they DO NOT increase towing capacity or payload. Just bringing up the rear of the truck does NOT put enough weight back on your steer axle.
Now, for more questions - do you tow this a lot? Are you towing it long distance? Does the trailer have brakes? Are you staying on 55mph or less roads, or getting on the expressway?
If you are towing it only occasionally and for short distances at low speeds, then I suggest making sure most of the weight is over the trailer axles, similar to how a boat is loaded. Move your load BACK away from the tongue. And make sure your trailer brakes work. You'll be okay in this situation - but I wouldn't push your speed with it. Take it slow.
If you are towing it a LOT, for long distances, and/or at highway speeds, I suggest a WDH if you're having that much of an issue with sag. They are very easy to install, and can be installed on just about any trailer unless it is a home-built one made with round tubing. I could put one on my 7k-lb car trailer, but I never put that much weight on it so I don't need one - I use it for hauling snowmobiles or quads, mostly. It even already has a 2-5/16 ball so the setup is that much easier.
Remember - Air bags can help level your truck and stabilize your truck, but they DO NOT increase towing capacity or payload. Just bringing up the rear of the truck does NOT put enough weight back on your steer axle.
I’m not trying to increase towing capacity. Just take the sag away which is really increasing the payload I guess.The trailer loaded is 7000 pounds distributed the proper way. I can take it somewhere to see if I can get a load distribution kit, but I don’t think it will fit a car trailer.
No WDH and the trailer is right at 9800 pounds going by the rental yards scale slip and it tows straight and true without any trailer sag. I have been pulling Bobcats up to 12,000 pounds on a bumper pull trailer for decades. Some of the heavier on a Pintle hook but loaded correctly it should not drop the hitch more than an inch or 2. Towing a car trailer is the same, weight on the hitch and move forward 6-8 inches.
No WDH and the trailer is right at 9800 pounds going by the rental yards scale slip and it tows straight and true without any trailer sag. I have been pulling Bobcats up to 12,000 pounds on a bumper pull trailer for decades. Some of the heavier on a Pintle hook but loaded correctly it should not drop the hitch more than an inch or 2. Towing a car trailer is the same, weight on the hitch and move forward 6-8 inches.
This is basically what I'm saying, if you're loading the trailer right then it shouldn't be squatting the truck much, the trailer should be taking the weight. Flatbeds are different from RVs, RVs you're kinda stuck with whatever tongue weight is built into it, but when you're loading the trailer you can adjust it around to make it ride right.
Legally at that weight you're supposed to have WDH with an F150, but if you're not doing it often or for very far then most LEOs won't mess with you.
Is it just me that thinks "which is heavier a pound of feathers or a pound of lead ?"
Does your hitch really care about what you are hauling weight wise ?
have a look at this
Legally at that weight you're supposed to have WDH with an F150, but if you're not doing it often or for very far then most LEOs won't mess with you.
I've never seen it in state or federal writings that this is law. A lot of people say that the sticker on the door and what the owners manual says is legal but until I see it in a states traffic code I won't believe it. I'm not saying you won't be taken to court if you get in an accident and are negligible in how you tow though.
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