Hey guys, I don't post to offen because I am the quiet type that just likes to read all he can. I am a little nervous about something and I know you guys would make me feel better.

I have an 02 F250 PSD, and my wife and I are buying a 32 foot travel trailer, around 9600 pounds gross weight. I always read of you guys pulling heavy loads and that you "don't even know its there" attitude. I never pulled anything that long or heavy before, other then the 4500 pound boat we had and I didn't know that was there. I know the truck can do it, just nervous on how well it will do, and if I will notice the weight and how long it is. I love my truck and don't want to hurt it plus I wouldn't have the money to fix something majour. I am getting the a piller tripple pod so I can watch whats going on under the hood. I know these trucks are made for work, just inlighten me to make me less nervous and if there is something inportant to do to the truck before towing. We pick the TT up Saturday morning.

Thanks guys I know I can count on you guys to help calm my nerves. I hope this isn't a newbie thing.

 

Before summer put in a tru-cool max tranny cooler.

As for the towing should be like towing the boat. A little longer but pretty close to the same. If the trailer is loaded right it will tow smoother then the boat. As for backing, just takes some learning curve. But there again if you tow a boat you will do fine

 

I think with the F-250 you will feel it but I don't think your engine will care. I would keep it out of overdrive if you have an automatic. I pull a 31 ft travel trailer with the same weight specs. I don't even need the electric brakes when I pull but I hook them up just in case. Have fun and enjoy.

 

You truck will pull the trailer just fine. The guages are a great idea so you can keep a better eye on the engine & tranny. Definitely put some homework into the hitch setup you plan to buy to help control the trailer sway (crosswinds & when big rigs pass by on the highway) that is associated with the bigger TT's. For example many people have the equilizer hitch and are very happy with the setup, but there are others too. I wouls also recommed the prodigy brake controller.


Rich

 

I think I am goinh to be adding the prodigy befor I start towing this year.
Keith

 

I am getting a weight distrabution hitch with a sway contral. I guess I am more nervous of the sway then anything. A guy I know was pulling a 31 foot TT and fliped it when he almost changed lanes on top of a car. He was also pulling with a chevy 2500 gasser . And I am using the same set up he had.

 

The truck will be fine, but make sure you have a brake controller so the trailer can stop itself. That is the major problem with towing a heavy trailer, making sure it can stop itself without having the truck do it's job. The turns have to be taken extra wide, i pull a 34' enclosed trailer (not with my truck) and you will be amazed at how far you need to swing out. Also, if it has axles under the center of the trailer, and not all the way at the back, watch to make sure the back end of the trailer doesnt swing out and bump a car or wall or something when making a turn. (left side swings out on a RH turn). Backing them is alot easier than a shorter trailer, because i dont know, it just is. You may want to invest in Firestone RideRite airbags if you have a sagging rear end.

 

Check out the towing forum on this website and also on www.outbackers.com (in the towing issues & vehicles forum). The stock weight dist hitches & sawy bars do not compare to the better sytems out there. I ussed to have a 32' TT before and the white nuckling from sway was no picnic, my TT used to dance better than I could!

Watch the weight distribution within the trailer, too much weight in the back seemed to make the sway worse.

After buying my first TT I wish I would have bought a better weight dist hitch..

 

I have a brake controller already, not sure of the make but I have one. I think I have helper springs in the back, at least the guy who owned the truck before me told me he put them on.

 

The prodigy brake controller is a better setup than most. It has a Digital display showing voltage delivery to trailer during braking, plus the idiot light to show that the trailer cable is connected. My cable came loose one time (before I had the prodigy) while on a long trip and I didn't know it until I tried to stop and quickly noticed my trailer brakes were not there.

 

As far as not using overdrive, that trans will shift out of overdrive automatically when pulling a hill. I always use overdrive. No problems.. If the trans goes back and forth between OD and third gear, then I would turn off the OD. But, personally there is nothing wrong with using OD when towing..Your trans will actually run abit hotter if you use 3rd gear of the time.. and heat is what usually kills the trans.. Would suggest and trans oil gauge.. 210 degrees is getting into the danger zone. I am using a dip stick trans gauge from Geno's Garage and it works great.

 

I have a 30ft TT at about 7500lbs and I could easily pull twice that amount. Its amazing what these trucks will do if you treat them right

 

I've got a 2002 F350 CC dually. My 31 foot Fifth wheel weighs about 9500#. If you have a choice about tow behinds or fifth wheels, I would go with the fiver. I have averaged 10,000 miles a year for the last 2 race seasons. I had a V10 Gas the first season and the PSD last season and this year. I added a 6.0 tranny cooler and gauges last year, and went with the DP Tuner for this year. The tranny runs about 70-75* over outside temp going through the mountains of Asheville NC and up around southern Kentucky. The truck is great pulling and just make sure you have good tires and don't heat up the brakes. An old race team owner told me one time..."Boy....speed kills trailer tires" and he was right. I had a rash of tire problems last year cause I was wanting to get there fast and was running 75+ most of the time. Keep the speed to 65ish if at all possible and MAKE SURE you keep the trailer tires properly inflated. The trailer will most likely come with 6 ply load range "C" tires on it. When they start to blow, replace them with 10 ply load range "E"s and don't worry about them..but watch the speed...that and heat will kill them. Good luck and just take it easy and watch them mirrors. I have a set of "C-Betr" mirrors and they are great for watching the blind spots and my outside wheels to make sure they stay inside the lines..Good luck and be safe!!

 

DaveWilliams,

First time I heard about those mirrors. Can you see the passenger side camper tires with them? I always have to wiggle the 5'er a bit to get a good look at the tires. The last time I had a blow out I never even felt it.

Rich

 

Hey Rich...I use my factory ford mirror on the right side to keep an eye on the trailer tires. I angle it down and in to get a good angle on it. I did shread one last year and felt a gentle tug but that was it. (Before the C-Betr mirrors) I got a call on the CB and a trucker told me I had shreaded a tire about 4 miles back...didn't see it cause it was the right rear and it was daylight.... Now I NEVER drive at night and keep the mirror tilted down to keep an eye on the 2 little bulges on the road. The C-Betrs are great for watching the outside dually tires on the yellow line and the center white lines. I really like them and highly recommend them for any towing and I leave mine on all the time. When you clamp them on the telescoping morrors, just leave them extended cause it makes it kinda hard to telescope them in and out...
One more thing about Sway control...I have been told but never proved this yet...if your trailer gets to whipping side to side on you, I was told just to bump the "switch" or the "emergency brake switch" on the brake controller to hit the brakes on the trailer and let the truck drive away from it...(not literally) but is slows the trailer down to allow the truck to "pull it straight" if that makes any sense...I also learned that the brake controllers out there "step up" the braking action on the magnets. They apply lower but increasing voltage to the magnets to help control the trailer brake application...I learned a lot when I picked the brain of the dude at the trailer place the did my bearing inspection this season...20000 miles on the original bearings with lots of highway miles and very little twisting and turning on them...