Truck/trailer question

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scott_l

Member
I have an older 8.5’x12’ drive on/drive off sled bed trailer with the fiberglass top.

My old truck (2007 4 door Silverado short box with a soft roll up cover (almost always down)). Pulled my trailer absolutely fine regardless of speed traveling.

My new truck (2018 F150 again 4 door, short box and soft roll up cover) pulls the trailer absolutely fine power wise but has an odd feel.

Drove the truck from my place to the farm to pull trailer/sleds out of storage and truck drove just fine. Picked up trailer and traveled same roads back home and it just had an odd feel to it. Not bouncing, no bad vibration in steering wheel but almost felt like a air flow issue also odd vibration type noise (but again no substantial vibration in the steering wheel). At low speeds nothing, 55-75 mph just an odd feel and even noise (tracked just fine). Tires on trailer where replaced last fall.


The ford sits up a couple inches higher then the Chevy but other then that nothing drastically different between the trucks.

Any ideas?
 
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buddah2

Member
Did you check the height of your receiver from the ground on the new truck? If it's significantly higher you could be towing the trailer nose up and catching air underneath? Did you check whether trailer was level before starting out? Only guess I've got.
 
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ICT Sledder

Active member
Yeah, a trailer that is pitched up is real bad news for towing behavior. Ideally, you want the trailer’s loaded center of gravity to be balanced or slightly forward of the axle centerline. Get that COG behind axle centerline and it’s downright dangerous on a longer and/or heavier trailer.
 
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1fujifilm

Well-known member
scott_l said:
I have an older 8.5’x12’ drive on/drive off sled bed trailer with the fiberglass top.

My old truck (2007 4 door Silverado short box with a soft roll up cover (almost always down)). Pulled my trailer absolutely fine regardless of speed traveling.

My new truck (2018 F150 again 4 door, short box and soft roll up cover) pulls the trailer absolutely fine power wise but has an odd feel.

Drove the truck from my place to the farm to pull trailer/sleds out of storage and truck drove just fine. Picked up trailer and traveled same roads back home and it just had an odd feel to it. Not bouncing, no bad vibration in steering wheel but almost felt like a air flow issue also odd vibration type noise (but again no substantial vibration in the steering wheel). At low speeds nothing, 55-75 mph just an odd feel and even noise (tracked just fine). Tires on trailer where replaced last fall.


The ford sits up a couple inches higher then the Chevy but other then that nothing drastically different between the trucks.

Any ideas?
Click to expand...

I have a 18 F-150 with 2.7 Turbo, here are two ideas; put the truck in "tow mode" by pressing the shifter stalk end and two this is a v-6 popper and has more vibration built in than a 8 cylinder and will never be as smooth. Having owned many trucks, the F-150 with 6 is not as pleasing to tow with than the V-8's.

Bear
 
goofy600

goofy600

Well-known member
The new ford weighs hundreds of pounds less which may also play into the way it feels when towing and maybe changing the tongue weight a little may be something that will help.
 
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old abe

Well-known member
I have a 2017 F150 crew, 3.5 Eco, 3.55 gear, HD tow pkg, LT tires, 6 1/2' box/tonneau. I have never had a pickup truck that tows no matter what it is hooked to so comfortably. Occasionally towing 14/15K. Not even my HD pickups. Smokes GM's 6.2 really bad. Love this truck!!! I spec'd this truck out to tow.
 
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scott_l

Member
buddah2 said:
Did you check the height of your receiver from the ground on the new truck? If it's significantly higher you could be towing the trailer nose up and catching air underneath? Did you check whether trailer was level before starting out? Only guess I've got.
Click to expand...

I looked at it but did not pay much attention, no question the Ford sits up a couple inches higher. I’ll have to reconnect it and take a better look.
 
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scott_l

Member
erkoehler said:
Hitch height would be my first guess, next check tires/bearings.
Click to expand...

Truck air pressure was a couple psi low..... trailer tires say 90 PSI cold, honestly have never ran the PSI that high..... usually keep them at 70 (they where at about 65). I know the manufacturer says 90 but holly crap mine as well just fill the tires with cement. And I don’t like the idea of putting my face near a tire while putting that much pressure in them (70 PSI won’t do as much damage to my face as 90 PSI :) )
 
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scott_l

Member
1fujifilm said:
I have a 18 F-150 with 2.7 Turbo, here are two ideas; put the truck in "tow mode" by pressing the shifter stalk end and two this is a v-6 popper and has more vibration built in than a 8 cylinder and will never be as smooth. Having owned many trucks, the F-150 with 6 is not as pleasing to tow with than the V-8's.

Bear
Click to expand...


Ha I don’t think this is my problem as I have the 3.5 (much more power then your 2.7). Absolutely kidding..... yes I had to get over selling my 8 cylinder and going with a 6, hence I went with the larger one. But the tow mode changes the shift points correct. My issue is at higher speeds once I am there not getting there. And I was also on a couple different freeways so it was not like I was one stretrech of bad tar.

- - - Updated - - -

MZEMS2 said:
Tire pressure and hitch height? Lug nuts, any mud or ice anywhere?
Click to expand...


Checked lugs and all tight.... no snow or mud, just a little extra bird pop
 
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sweeperguy

Active member
scott_l said:
Truck air pressure was a couple psi low..... trailer tires say 90 PSI cold, honestly have never ran the PSI that high..... usually keep them at 70 (they where at about 65). I know the manufacturer says 90 but holly crap mine as well just fill the tires with cement. And I don’t like the idea of putting my face near a tire while putting that much pressure in them (70 PSI won’t do as much damage to my face as 90 PSI :) )
Click to expand...

That would be max P.S.I. which would then give you maximum load carrying capability. 90 P.S.I. max. is most likely a Load Range E tire. A lot of trailer tires will give you different air pressure, for different load capabilities. Not knowing your trailer curb weight or load your carrying, I'd guess that 65 to 70 lbs. of air pressure would probably be OK.
 
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scott_l

Member
Thanks for all the thoughts guys..... overall very happy with the truck so far (only 1,500 miles) just need to figure this out.
 
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slowsi00

New member
we had this issue with a brand new ford 250.

bearings were going bad on the trailer. would only notice above 65-70.

Without the brand-new truck we wouldn't have known the bearings were bad as we just inspected them a couple months prior to this event.
 
C

coach

Member
scott_l said:
Truck air pressure was a couple psi low..... trailer tires say 90 PSI cold, honestly have never ran the PSI that high..... usually keep them at 70 (they where at about 65). I know the manufacturer says 90 but holly crap mine as well just fill the tires with cement. And I don’t like the idea of putting my face near a tire while putting that much pressure in them (70 PSI won’t do as much damage to my face as 90 PSI :) )
Click to expand...

Filling tires can be lethal! Had a friend that owned an asphalt paving business and while filling his trailer tires, one exploded in his face and tore half of his face off! Many plastic surgeries later and scared for life. He's lucky to be alive.
 
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ffemt

Member
I’m going with hitch height, make sure you are towing level, next If truck is equipped with P rated tires max cold air pressure of 44 psi , I’ve found running them at 40psi cold takes out the sidewall sway
 
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dofo1

Member
Just a caution on higher pressure trailer tires, make sure that the wheels are rates for the tire pressure. If the wheel came with a tire rated for 45 psi and someone mounted a tire rated for 90 psi on that wheel it could separate at that pressure.
 
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Randall

New member
Trailer issues

scott_l said:
Thanks for all the thoughts guys..... overall very happy with the truck so far (only 1,500 miles) just need to figure this out.
Click to expand...

I'm betting its a trailer issue. I have the same truck and have pulled three different trailers. Never has any issues with the truck. Try pulling another trailer to confirm what your feeling isn't from the truck. Also make sure the transmission is in trailer mode.
 
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mrbb

Well-known member
ok what load ratings are on the tires on the tow vehicle
many go to much lower load ratings to get softer ride and or cheaper costs of new tires!
if your old chevy had "D rated tires and this truck has co or less, that can explain some things to me real quick!
and also, I would suggest checking bearings on trailer, they are a wear and tear item and or may just need to be adjusted from said wear!
 
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