Towing with blocks
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: The Casa
Towing with blocks
Is it alright to tow with blocks?I got a 3" stack of blocks and it feels funny when i tow my trailer.My other truck don't do it,but then again i can't really compare my duallly with my 150.Today I had a 4k on my 77 150 and it felt funny like the axle was rapping up on acceleration.Is this normal or should I get a tracton bar or springs with more arch.
Thanks
Thanks
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Sweetwater Texas
You are getting axle wrap with your block during acceration. You have 3 choices in my eyes.
1. Just deal with it, and replace u-joints regulary due to wheel hop you are bound to get if taking off quick with a heavy load
2. Be really gently on accelerations, think semi take off speed, but slower
3. If you do a lot of towing, I would recomend getting traction bars, or fabbing some of your own.
1. Just deal with it, and replace u-joints regulary due to wheel hop you are bound to get if taking off quick with a heavy load
2. Be really gently on accelerations, think semi take off speed, but slower
3. If you do a lot of towing, I would recomend getting traction bars, or fabbing some of your own.
decadent and depraved
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,703
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From: Right Behind You
Originally Posted by mudslingur
I got a 3" stack of blocks and it feels funny when i tow my trailer.
A stock 350 has 4" blocks doesn't it? So if your blocks are correctly installed it shouldn't feel "weird".
Tim
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From: Sweetwater Texas
Originally Posted by thorseshoeing
A stock 350 has 4" blocks doesn't it? So if your blocks are correctly installed it shouldn't feel "weird".
Tim
Tim
Even if the blocks are installed correctly, it is going to feel wierd because of simple physics. With the longer block, the axle has more leverage to twist the spring, instead of the tires rolling.
decadent and depraved
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Right Behind You
Originally Posted by Dean88
I've personallly never seen blocks (over 1 inch) that big on anything from the factory.
As far as it feeling weird, I've never towed with anything that didn't have blocks, so I wouldn't know what "normal" felt like...
Tim
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From: The Casa
It must have been the extra couple hundred pounds in the bed.I had my 4 wheeler in the bed the last time I pulled,and I just got back with a similar load,exept I didn't have my grizzly with me.And it handled better.I guess its true,a overloaded truck dose handle diffierently.And the blocks are a 2 inch tall block with that bumpstop thing on top of a 1 inch tall block that is used with my lift kit,should I weld them together or it wouldnt make em safer.From now on i'm going to put the 4 wheeler on the trailer,and load the lighter stuff in the bed.
Thanks again
Thanks again
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 3
From: Simpsonville, KY
I tow with blocks (dang Dodge 1500 that they won't pay to repair) and I hate it. I like my air suspension MUCH more. The blocks bottom out and knock terribly... hate it! VERY rough ride too.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
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From: Atlanta GA
They have 3" blocks on vans and 4x4s from the factory. I have never had a problem with towing.
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From: Albuquerque
Originally Posted by mudslingur
Is it alright to tow with blocks?I got a 3" stack of blocks and it feels funny when i tow my trailer.My other truck don't do it,but then again i can't really compare my duallly with my 150.Today I had a 4k on my 77 150 and it felt funny like the axle was rapping up on acceleration.Is this normal or should I get a tracton bar or springs with more arch.
Thanks
Thanks
If you had 4k lbs in the bed of your F150, then you were way...and I mean way overloaded. A truck like that is going to feel funny no matter if you have blocks or not. No traction bars or springs with more arch is needed. Just don't overload your F150...and the problem will go away.
However, YES...it is totally safe to tow with blocks. It is not usually a good idea to have the blocks stacked.
Hope this helps...
biz
