CurlyDave
Elite Member
I have a 2000 F-150 that I use to tow two trailers. According to the manual, the max allowable trailer weight is 7400 lbs for my model. Both trailers have electric brakes and I have a Prodigy brake controller in the truck.
First trailer is an enclosed 16' one that I bought primarily to move my household goods from CA to Oregon. Five 500 mile trips later we are mostly moved, we saved a bundle over what a moving company would have charged, and we still own the trailer. This trailer is ~2500 lbs empty and has a max loaded weight rating of 7000 lbs.
The second is my "redneck hunting lodge" -- a 27 foot toy hauler with an empty weight of 6100 lbs. I doubt we load it with 1300 lbs of gear, although we might get over 1000. I travel with about 5 gallons of fresh water in the tank, unload gear and fill with water once we are at camp.
The toy hauler does not tow well with a low tongue weight. It fishtails easily and seems very unstable unless I get the tongue weight up well over 1000 lbs (estimate, based on how hard it is to use the tongue jack)
Even though I have a load-distribution hitch, the toyhauler causes the rear of the truck to drop way down, and the front tilts up.
Other than a new truck, which would be nice, but is not in the budget, a potential answer seems to be air bag "helper springs". I bought a set of Firestone air bags which claim to increase the rear spring capability of the truck by 3000 lbs.
Now comes the question: Once I install the air bags, do I still use the load distribution bars on the hitch, or should I leave them off? Both trailers have them, but are they necessary with the helper springs?
First trailer is an enclosed 16' one that I bought primarily to move my household goods from CA to Oregon. Five 500 mile trips later we are mostly moved, we saved a bundle over what a moving company would have charged, and we still own the trailer. This trailer is ~2500 lbs empty and has a max loaded weight rating of 7000 lbs.
The second is my "redneck hunting lodge" -- a 27 foot toy hauler with an empty weight of 6100 lbs. I doubt we load it with 1300 lbs of gear, although we might get over 1000. I travel with about 5 gallons of fresh water in the tank, unload gear and fill with water once we are at camp.
The toy hauler does not tow well with a low tongue weight. It fishtails easily and seems very unstable unless I get the tongue weight up well over 1000 lbs (estimate, based on how hard it is to use the tongue jack)
Even though I have a load-distribution hitch, the toyhauler causes the rear of the truck to drop way down, and the front tilts up.
Other than a new truck, which would be nice, but is not in the budget, a potential answer seems to be air bag "helper springs". I bought a set of Firestone air bags which claim to increase the rear spring capability of the truck by 3000 lbs.
Now comes the question: Once I install the air bags, do I still use the load distribution bars on the hitch, or should I leave them off? Both trailers have them, but are they necessary with the helper springs?