F150 noise when towing

[n4uaj]

When towing, my father in law's F150 makes a scrubbing noise going over bumps in the road. He was thinking it was bottoming out and scrubbing the tires but there are no marks on them and in my opinion the truck sits high enough that there is no way it would touch the tires. I'm thinking rear spring noise. Anyone else experiencing this?

[donniedu]

Towing what? Weights might help.

[n4uaj]

It does it with either my Shamrock 183 or his 98 Jayco 23. He says it used to do it with his two horse trailer too

[Radio]

Wondering out loud:

Could it be the shocks?

Is the axle coming into contact with the frame bumpers?

Could it be something in the hitch set up?

[jftrombley]

The truck could be too high and the rear bumper or hardware on the back of the trailer could be dragging.

[CNYCamper]

I had a 2001 Ford F150 that developed a noise in the left rear. Upon inspection the rear spring bracket had broken and spring was pushed up against the bottom of the truck bed. Surprisingly, this only gave the truck a slight lean.
When I was having the bracket replaced at a truck spring shop I asked if this was common and he said they did 5 to 6 per week.

[jftrombley]

F150's have front suspension issues with ball joints, rivets and steering bushings. Grease everything you can. When towing the truck level changes and so does the suspension. Unless the truck is self leveling.

One issue I remember was a recall was for a drivers side frame rivet that was not correctly installed. It made a pop noise and the fix was a weld.

Another issue was ball joints which is very common with F150's. To check raise the front and see if you can move the wheel up and down or in and out. If it has play replace it.

The rubber bushings in the front end can maKe noise. Grease the zerk fittings

It could also be shocks. With the truck ready to tow the camper, jump up and down on the bumper and see if you hear the noise.

Good luck

[kenh]

Originally Posted by n4uaj

When towing, my father in law's F150 makes a scrubbing noise going over bumps in the road. He was thinking it was bottoming out and scrubbing the tires but there are no marks on them and in my opinion the truck sits high enough that there is no way it would touch the tires. I'm thinking rear spring noise. Anyone else experiencing this?

An acquaintance told me his neighbor broke a rear leaf while crossing railroad tracks with his 2015 F150. The truck had no load in the bed and no trailer. This gentleman heard an abnormal sound as he went over the tracks but afterwards it seemed OK. A week or so after he was towing a boat and noticed a sound like a tire rubbing the frame.

I did not see it myself and can't confirm it but it sounds similar to your complaint. You may wish to check for a broken leaf.

Ken

[CedarCreekWoody]

It could also be a u-joint or even the drive shaft rubbing when the truck bed is depressed. Take s close look.