A Fool-Proof Method for Judging your Tow Vehicle

[BigDTx]

Shuts off overdrive so you don't burn it up.

[Brand2328]

My ford salesmen tried his hardest to make me believe that the payload was only the weight carried in the cab and that what was in the bed was not included in that amount. I got so mad that he thought I would believe him, I had to quote his own ford pamphlets about the trucks he is supposed to be knowledgeable about. He acted so shocked. OMG Got a great deal on the truck and enjoyed the 1600 mile drive home from Texas.

[Too Tall]

Yea, it doesn't take much knowledge to be a salesman in the auto industry. Like BigTdx said, keep it out of OD and keep your rpms up in the max torque range.

[Brand2328]

I have a payload capacity in my F350 of 3200 pounds and a tongue weight on my 5er of 2400 pounds. It's a diesel engine so I know it can tow my trailer. I'm curious how much I can expect my tongue weight to go up as I load my camper can anybody give me a ballpark number to work with. Have a company willing to add a leaf spring to increase the payload not quite sure how much increase I should give it without going over my gross vehicle

[CWSWine]

Originally Posted by Brand2328

I have a payload capacity in my F350 of 3200 pounds and a tongue weight on my 5er of 2400 pounds. It's a diesel engine so I know it can tow my trailer. I'm curious how much I can expect my tongue weight to go up as I load my camper can anybody give me a ballpark number to work with. Have a company willing to add a leaf spring to increase the payload not quite sure how much increase I should give it without going over my gross vehicle

The GVWR is the first weight you are going to exceed in most cases. I ran into a guy at the camp grounds that had some company in Florida increase his payload by adding springs and put new tag on his door jam saying 5500 pounds cargo on a SRW 2013 F350. We checked his VIN and still was 3200 pounds so he called the guy and he said you wanted a sticker we gave you one we can't change what the VIN check will show and what Ford has listed for your truck. The company left the GVWR and the Axle Ratings sticker on the door jam and the guy said the as a Federal Requirement and they couldn't touch that sticker.

If you and that 3200 lbs payload to the curb weight of the truck it should close to your GVWR of the truck.

If you are looking for estimates that are really close check out this web page. Towing Planner - towing capability calculators

[Underthedog]

On Fords, in addition to the higher upshift revs, it applies engine braking as you stop/slow down. They probably all do. The explorer and F150 both work like that now.

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by Brand2328

I have a payload capacity in my F350 of 3200 pounds and a tongue weight on my 5er of 2400 pounds. It's a diesel engine so I know it can tow my trailer. I'm curious how much I can expect my tongue weight to go up as I load my camper can anybody give me a ballpark number to work with. Have a company willing to add a leaf spring to increase the payload not quite sure how much increase I should give it without going over my gross vehicle

If the 2400 is the published weight you are probably a couple hundred beyond that. The rest depends on how you load how much and the configuration of the 5er. Few women insist on cast iron cookware like my wife but that stuff adds about 100# alone. As only 2 of us and a small dog we actually pack light beyond that. My FW tank is right in front of the bumper so a full tank decreases PW a little. All of that means ~ every 5er and every family is different. I've been told about 15% of the weight of all in front of the axels goes to payload ~ the closer to the pin the higher the percentage.
Adding a spring, air bags or anything else will not increase your payload. Unlikely you would notice any difference except a lighter wallet. My payload is a few hundred pounds more than yours and when I drop 2850# on the hitch the truck drops about 2" to level with the hitch (about 150#) already in the bed. Everyone is different ~ you will never know until you hit the scales.

[androclesandrocles2]

Originally Posted by rondelou2

New to TT towing, although I have had multiple motorhomes and pulled horse trailers. Just bought 2015 Microlite 25 DKS and a 2013 Suburban 1500 with towing package. Specs all good. Unit came with Pro Series WDH. Thought I'd done my homework and I was all set.
The tow home scared me to death. Swaying all over the place! It was not loaded and high in the front, so we corrected those things and tried again. Tons of sway.
Just installed an Anderson WDH yesterday and it is only minimally better. Semi goes past and it's all over the place. This is supposed to be a great sway elimination hitch, but it is not working as advertised. I really don't know what to do now. Love the camper, but may just have to forget the whole thing. ugh

Not familiar with your: '15 microlite 25 DKS, However: just a possibility.
If you have one Axel and two ,. IDENTICAL tires, the alignment with her coupler/"A" FRAME MAY BE OUT OF ALIGNMENT or your Suburban, no offence, may be out of alignment with; it's 4wheels or hitch ball receiver or all three. The two tires or Axles are fighting over it's track with the Axles or wheel (usually with independent or twin axles.) Add a little aerodynamics with increasing speed + wind or SEMI blocking the prevailing wind or creating it.

With TWIN TANDEM wheels and axles there are up to six combatants in the ring! Much worse that a slight misalignment Wich the tolerances and tires can absorb. But wear unevenly.

The dealers don't have alignment machines or "JIGS" to verify this and my guess is it is ,"out of factory warrantee, that's a job for! EXTENDED warrantee , they say at F/R.

THE:" string method" may not be enough for the entire distance between the 6 to 8 wheels? But you would still have the position of the ball coupler?

First I would have your Suburban carefully checked for track & alignment (assuming the cargo is well distributed in simulated towing mode and calculating normal passengers weight & distribution.) If that's , let's say : perfect! Then you must look to the trailer!

A "anti sway system", salesperson is not your friend yet. It will only disguise the problem : which will get progressively worse.

Triangulation measurements (hypothetical center of coupler when perfectly level with the FRAME; and not the body/ flooring or refrigerator, yes you may have leveled the refrigerator;,"only" but not the frame and axles.) Then the distance TO the Axles must be equal. Now, the distance(s) between the wheel RIMS at center to each, if no varaition?
Then do the arithmetic to determine , where or what they SHOULD be.

Have one or more people check the math & measurements before you sell it in desperation.

But please I prey you WILL TELL THE NEW OWNER THE NUMBERS AND SYMPTOMS BEFORE, IF YOU DO!

IF NOT: AS A FINAL RESORT, CALL Forest River ask for Conrad , their "Chief corporate engineer" !
Tell him the story and numbers either in person or in writing and he will & does help many people's problems & inquires , if you make a sincere efforts and "visited" one or more dealers. If he's so disposed he may have the answers you seek and possibly the remedies for the illnesses?

FTI~~Remember the inches & pounds conversions to metric (check the arithmetic on your placard to see how many decimal point they may be using)

I when on that LONG voyage with my tandem 23' 7,500 lbs, daughter so be patient!
But don't let her play in traffic until do: that may hurt both of you!

Mechanical, load, speed and weather originally comes from above so ask the creator, who is available 24/7\° to help you.

Be safe, be well.

Androcles...

[Scrapper]

Originally Posted by BigDTx

Shuts off overdrive so you don't burn it up.

For my '11 Silverado I can't find anything that says it turns off the overdrive.
It does say:

Tow/Haul Mode
Pressing this button at the end of
the shift lever turns on and off the
Tow/Haul Mode.
Vehicles with an automatic
transmission have a Tow/Haul
Mode. The Tow/Haul Mode adjusts
the transmission shift pattern to
reduce shift cycling, providing
increased performance, vehicle
control, and transmission cooling
when towing or hauling heavy loads.
The selector button is located on the
end of the shift lever. Turn the Tow/
Haul Mode on and off by pressing
the button. When the tow/haul is on,
a light on the instrument panel
cluster will come on.
Tow/Haul is designed to be most
effective when the vehicle and
trailer combined weight is at least
75 percent of the vehicle's Gross
Combined Weight Rating (GCWR).

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by BigDTx

Shuts off overdrive so you don't burn it up.

Tow/haul mode does NOT turn off overdrive on my 2014 GMC Sierra. It has a 6-spd transmission with the top 2 being overdrive ratios. It will run in all 6 gears with T/H on.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by Scrapper

For my '11 Silverado I can't find anything that says it turns off the overdrive.
It does say:

Tow/Haul Mode
Pressing this button at the end of
the shift lever turns on and off the
Tow/Haul Mode.
Vehicles with an automatic
transmission have a Tow/Haul
Mode. The Tow/Haul Mode adjusts
the transmission shift pattern to
reduce shift cycling, providing
increased performance, vehicle
control, and transmission cooling
when towing or hauling heavy loads.
The selector button is located on the
end of the shift lever. Turn the Tow/
Haul Mode on and off by pressing
the button. When the tow/haul is on,
a light on the instrument panel
cluster will come on.
Tow/Haul is designed to be most
effective when the vehicle and
trailer combined weight is at least
75 percent of the vehicle's Gross
Combined Weight Rating (GCWR).

Went thru this on another thread (might even have been earlier in this thread). Tow/haul seems to turn off OD on some brands, but NOT on GM.

[Scrapper]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

Went thru this on another thread (might even have been earlier in this thread). Tow/haul seems to turn off OD on some brands, but NOT on GM.

Not all GM's. The 2005 GMC Canyon 2.5L Inline 5 cyl I had it disabled OD and also changed the shift points.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by Scrapper

Not all GM's. The 2005 GMC Canyon 2.5L Inline 5 cyl I had it disabled OD and also changed the shift points.

I know my 2 GM's didn't do it, and many others said their's didn't either in the prior thread.

So maybe I should say "V8's?"

[GL1800Rider]

On some of the older vehicles like my 2000 Super Duty pushing the button in shuts off the overdrive. It does NOT have the tow/haul feature but the computer delays the shift out point when towing. No benefit going down hill other than reducing one gear lower by coming out of overdrive.

[dbledan]

Tow haul on my 16 f150 does not disable any gears. You do that manually with the button on the shifter.

Tow haul does change the shift points and adds engine braking. Sport mode also does this though a bit different points.

Tow/haul also will downshift to maintain speed (aka not speed up within about 10MPH) going down a grade. The truck will not do this without tow/haul or sport modes enabled.

I think all seem to vary by year and brand.

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by dbledan

Tow haul on my 16 f150 does not disable any gears. You do that manually with the button on the shifter.

Tow haul does change the shift points and adds engine braking. Sport mode also does this though a bit different points.

Tow/haul also will downshift to maintain speed (aka not speed up within about 10MPH) going down a grade. The truck will not do this without tow/haul or sport modes enabled.

I think all seem to vary by year and brand.

X2, Tow/Haul actions differ between brands and varies from year to year, and acts differently depending on which transmission you have. Read your owners manual!!!!! Geesh, it's not rocket science

[rgjake55]

I use my tow mode, 07 avalanche, in winter to warm up the heat quicker. It works.

[sadiemarie]

Hi, my wife and I are going to be brand new RV'ers on the road with a new Flagstaff that weighs 7,495pds. I gave all this information to the truck dealer and he recommended a F-150 truck capable of towing 8,900pds. (5.0L 4-valve V8, Axle Ratio3.31. I guess we may add a few hundred pounds and say we will be towing approximately 8000 pounds. I believe I need to go up to around 9,500 or 10,000 towing capability just to be on the safe side. From you experienced traveling people is my guesstimation correct or is the truck dealer correct. We plan on traveling everywhere of course so there will be mountains in the future.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by sadiemarie

Hi, my wife and I are going to be brand new RV'ers on the road with a new Flagstaff that weighs 7,495pds. I gave all this information to the truck dealer and he recommended a F-150 truck capable of towing 8,900pds. (5.0L 4-valve V8, Axle Ratio3.31. I guess we may add a few hundred pounds and say we will be towing approximately 8000 pounds. I believe I need to go up to around 9,500 or 10,000 towing capability just to be on the safe side. From you experienced traveling people is my guesstimation correct or is the truck dealer correct. We plan on traveling everywhere of course so there will be mountains in the future.

Is the 7495lbs the UVW or dry weight or GVWR?
Need to know where you got that number.

Second, you need to ask the truck dealer what the payload capacity of the truck is.
Tow vehicles run out of payload capacity way before coming close to towing capacity.

[rockfordroo]

Sadiemarie:

I hope you quoted the GVWR weight and not the "dry weight," which is used by dealers to sell people trailers that are too big for their tow vehicles.

The GVWR will be on sticker on the left front of the trailer. You want your tow capacity to be greater than the GVWR.

Until you can actually weigh it, assume 13-15 percent of the GVWR as your tongue weight. Make sure your tongue weight plus 50-75 lbs for a weight distribution hitch (which you should have) plus everything you put in the truck except the driver weighs less than your allowable payload. The payload is on a sticker on the trucks driver's door frame. People typically exceed their payload before towing capacity.

Good luck.