towing
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Senior User
Joined: May 2007
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From: Amsterdam, NY
towing
i was towing the atv on the 6x12 utility trailer to are camp. and it combined probably weighed 2,000-2,500lbs. and it felt like the back end was sliding around a bit. then I towed are 23ft boat that weighs about 6,000lbs. and it wasnt as bad as the utility trailer but it still did it. I hope it dont do that pulling a 8,000lb fifth wheel going 75mph. because that will be scarey lol.
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 91
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From: Western Mass
Was it the back end of the truck that didn't feel stable or the trailer itself? Check your tire pressures on the truck and trailer. If the trailer feels squirrelly, maybe you don't have enough tongue weight on the hitch. If I put my quads towards the back of the trailer, there's almost no weight on the hitch and it will get fishtailing pretty easy...not the safest way to trailer lol...
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 23,174
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From: Stephensville WI
An unloaded and bouncing trailer (even 2000 pounds) can pull the back of your truck all over the road. I experienced this pulling an unloaded tandem axle open car trailer from Everett WA to San Jose CA. Every stinking bump I hit would send the rear of the truck all over the freeway.
The return trip hauling a loaded trailer was much more pleasant.
The return trip hauling a loaded trailer was much more pleasant.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,243
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From: Roman Forest, TX
Uhh, 8000lb 5th wheel? I believe you're going over the GVWR for your truck with that (unless a 4.10 rear end??). And at 75mph? Good luck. You probably won't get the sway, but your gas mileage will be non-existant, if you can hold 75 comfortably! Holy cow!
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Senior User
Joined: May 2007
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From: Amsterdam, NY
its got a 3.73 gear in it. my dad pulled the trailer to dover, de once with his 96 gmc 1500 with a 3.73 gear in it 80 down the highway. no problems.and trust me my ford is gonna have a chip in it soon and a flowmaster.
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I think that the problems that you described are related to tongue weight and not your truck. The key to trailer towing is to have adequate tongue weight and a proper weight distribution on the trailer. If you tow a trailer and it's tail heavy, it can easily cause you to lose control - especially over 40 MPH or so.
The general rule of thumb is to center your load over the trailer axles, with at least 10% - 15 % of the total trailer weight as tongue weight. Move the load forward on the trailer as needed in order to obtain adequate tongue weight. Thus, if you're pulling a tag-along trailer with an 8K load, you want a tongue weight in the 800lb range. For something like that, a load distributing hitch would make a world of difference too.
On the small trailer towing 4-wheelers, make sure that you have 200 - 300 lbs on the tongue weight and you'll be ok.
Your fifth wheel should tow just fine assuming that you have about 800 - 1000 lbs of tongue weight or so and your hitch is either on top of or slightly forward of your rear axle centerline. Much less tongue weight than that and you'll have problems.
The general rule of thumb is to center your load over the trailer axles, with at least 10% - 15 % of the total trailer weight as tongue weight. Move the load forward on the trailer as needed in order to obtain adequate tongue weight. Thus, if you're pulling a tag-along trailer with an 8K load, you want a tongue weight in the 800lb range. For something like that, a load distributing hitch would make a world of difference too.
On the small trailer towing 4-wheelers, make sure that you have 200 - 300 lbs on the tongue weight and you'll be ok.
Your fifth wheel should tow just fine assuming that you have about 800 - 1000 lbs of tongue weight or so and your hitch is either on top of or slightly forward of your rear axle centerline. Much less tongue weight than that and you'll have problems.
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Senior User
Joined: May 2007
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From: Amsterdam, NY
thanks guys. and by the way 75mph is nothing. my old truck going to dover, de i was going 90mph once with a group of 4. we were running a lil late. 90 on the new jersey turnpike. not too good lol.
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Originally Posted by scsmith42
I think that the problems that you described are related to tongue weight and not your truck. The key to trailer towing is to have adequate tongue weight and a proper weight distribution on the trailer.