How many of us towing 5W with 1/2 Ton?

[Rugged Brown]

Originally Posted by wincrasher

How is the ride with these? I don't quite understand how they work. Seems like it would be like hitting your bump stops all the time.

The timbrens basically do not come in play when you do not have the weight of the camper unless you travel rough roads, then the dampening effect maybe a bit rougher with the Timbrens , but not a deal breaker. I cannot make a comparison without the Timbrens when the camper is hitched because I have not pulled a camper without them. I like the price, the simplicity of install, maintenance free and effectiveness of the Timbrens. In my opinion, its less to worry about. For the Tinkerers (new word for today) air bags may be the way to go.

[boubou]

Originally Posted by wincrasher

How is the ride with these? I don't quite understand how they work. Seems like it would be like hitting your bump stops all the time.

http://www.truckspring.com/suspensio...mbren-kit.aspx

Very smooth ride, not like hitting bump stop and haven't come into contact with them unloaded either

[J_KHawthorne]

Originally Posted by Mike St-Pierre

STAY AWAY from air bags!!! Timbrens are the way to go. 45 min. to install, lifetime warranty.Need I say more.

Actually, there is a bit more to be said, yes!
From most all accounts, Timbrens do work great and get the job done.

I went with the air bags over the Timbrens for the simple reasons that I wanted a stiffer suspension when I needed it, and not whether I needed it or not!

I also found that the major complaint with the Timbrens was that many Ford, Chev, Dodge and Toyota users hated the thumping they got from going over any bump in the road when they were unloaded.

Both 'systems' have pros and cons; to make the statement, "Stay away from air bags" based on your rationale is flat out silly...

No offense...

[J_KHawthorne]

Originally Posted by wfmdfm

I enjoy pulling our 8528RKWS with my 2009 Tundra. I know I am over the payload once I load up. I do my best to limit the weight in the truck and basement. We do what we can to load behind the axle but the basement is a magnet for my stuff. I will need to replace the Tundra in the next few years do to the high mileage I put on it daily. As of today the replacement will be another Tundra.
Wally

X2

[crasher]

It looks like something you could install and try out and then remove later if you didn't like it. True?

[boubou]

Originally Posted by wincrasher

It looks like something you could install and try out and then remove later if you didn't like it. True?

Easily! 15 minute install and nomlonger to remove if you don't like it. If I had to do it again, I'd get timbrens again.

[OldCoot]

I will stay with my AirLift Airbags. With them, I control what I get, not some setting pre-determined without taking into consideration what I am hauling or how I want my truck set up.

[robert.beck.7737]

My first TT was a 26 ft Four Winds that weighed 6900 lbs empty. My 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 has a tow rating of 8500 lbs. The Ram (5.9L) engine 4 X 4 towed the TT ok but like the previous post stated it changed gears multiple times on very slight grades. I saw a Ford F-150 Six Cylinder Ecoboost towing a 37 ft Montana Mountaineer 5er just last week. The owner told me he was completely satisfied with its performance though I still like my 450 with dual rear wheels.

[dsrace]

Quote:
Originally Posted by pwrstroke2012
BouBou, alot of difference of what is safer and what is safe. As I said, it is what you are comfortable with.

Originally Posted by OldCoot

Please explain what the difference is.

you know this is a good question and will very by many but I think the simplest answer would be first and foremost the drive train to haul it and second ( but equally important ) the suspension to handle the load! this includes TIRES! stock tires on a 1/2 ton are not 10 ply ( load range E, 80 psi max pressure ). brakes are an equally important part too. over loading it's limits and running with bouncing/chucking, swaying/fishtailing etc etc puts you on a white knuckle drive an for all of those that say well the truck got me here so it must be good!!! ( I love hearing that one ) they are running on the edge of a very fine line but then most manufacturers bet on the majority of the public buying these units to go 40 or 50 miles or less then returning them to storage for only 2 to 4 trips a year as many many do.

chucking can be addressed with a better pin box made to greatly reduce this effect and SUSPENSION under the camper that so many don't come with! i.e. shocks and suspension equalizer systems like the dexter ez flex and others. it's funny the newer lower dollar campers are starting to come with these features along with the better hitch's.

I know once I added the ez flex, shocks and air ride fifth hitch in the box of my truck ( not an air ride pin box on the camper ) HUGE difference in handling and towing!! I tow with an f350, it handled the load fine before I added the suspension but I was aware of it and now it's just so much better to not fell the effects on an 8 to 15 hr drive!


btw just because the manufacturer rates it as half ton towable doesn't mean it is!! and the salesman at the camper store seldom knows anything on towing weights!! they will most likely say what ever to make the sale. I owned an '06 wolfpack 30wp toy hauler ( 35' total length tandem axle ) and no matter what I did to the truck suspension ( including air bags ) and hitch or camper suspension, a mild side wind would let you know right now that the 3/4 ton diesel was no where enough!!!! that one needs a 1 ton dually to keep inline or keep it under 50 on flat ground in a straight line lol but rated as half ton towable!

I have a friend that towed his fifth wheel with a chevy s10 pick up 4.3 vortec v6. onec a year he made a trip to mi for a Harley meet. at or under 60 mph and under a 20 mph wind he said it did fine. he lost that truck to a body shop fire and bought an '06 1/2 chevy with the 5.3 and says it's a lot better drive now.

[dsrace]

I pre fer the air bags to timbrens there are pro's and con's like one post stated but one thing air bags do to an empty ride ( personal experience for here ) is the cracks bumps in the road are smoothed out by the air bags and timbens amplify them a bit. now with air bags it is important to tell what ever shop you take the truck to that you have them and to support the axle when the lift it up ( if you take you trucks to shops) you can over extend an air bag and tear the bladder by doing so. installed incorrectly and you can do this towing down the road too. a simple strap at before lifting keeps this from happening. I ran air bags on two trucks before my current and never had issues and I live in Nebraska on gravel roads. I saw someone say timbrens were cheaper......... you need to find a better source for air bags cause right now air bags are cheaper than timbrens for my 99 f350 dually!

[sonic2]

I've been RVing since the 1990's. Pop-up, 21' trailer, 33' trailer, now a 32' 5th wheel. I travel 5 times per year no more than 100 miles from home on flat land. The only problem is the Nebraska north to south winds while traveling. That's why I moved to a 5th wheel, the white knuckle sway was to much. This May 2014, fully loaded, I'm going to scale everything and see where I am with weights.

I pull a 2014 8289 Rockwood 5th wheel with a 2013 F150 5.0, 4x4, 6 1/2 box, 3.73 rear end, 18" Load C Goodyear Tires. I installed Timbrens and SuperSprings. I replaced the OE RV tires, which were no name brand Load C, with Goodyear Marathon Load D.

The Rockwood data gives these numbers:
Dry Axle Weight: 6269
UVW: 7793 (6269 + 1524)
CCC: 1557
Hitch: 1524
GVWR: 9350 (7793 + 1557)

The F150 numbers are:
GVW: 7350
Trailer Max: 9100
GCWR: 15100

I pull with no problems (except wind), I do not except 65 mph (tire speed rating), my F150 is equipped with anti-sway and manual transmission settings on the automatic transmission to eliminate the shifting.

[dsrace]

Originally Posted by sonic2

I've been RVing since the 1990's. Pop-up, 21' trailer, 33' trailer, now a 32' 5th wheel. I travel 5 times per year no more than 100 miles from home on flat land. The only problem is the Nebraska north to south winds while traveling. That's why I moved to a 5th wheel, the white knuckle sway was to much. This May 2014, fully loaded, I'm going to scale everything and see where I am with weights.

I pull a 2014 8289 Rockwood 5th wheel with a 2013 F150 5.0, 4x4, 6 1/2 box, 3.73 rear end, 18" Load C Goodyear Tires. I installed Timbrens and SuperSprings. I replaced the OE RV tires, which were no name brand Load C, with Goodyear Marathon Load D.

The Rockwood data gives these numbers:
Dry Axle Weight: 6269
UVW: 7793 (6269 + 1524)
CCC: 1557
Hitch: 1524
GVWR: 9350 (7793 + 1557)

The F150 numbers are:
GVW: 7350
Trailer Max: 9100
GCWR: 15100

I pull with no problems (except wind), I do not except 65 mph (tire speed rating), my F150 is equipped with anti-sway and manual transmission settings on the automatic transmission to eliminate the shifting.

" The only problem is the Nebraska north to south winds while traveling. That's why I moved to a 5th wheel, the white knuckle sway was to much."
lol I know exactly what your saying on both counts! lol after dark it usually dies down a bit but then deer become the problem lol

[sonic2]

You're right about the deer! That's why I avoid any travel (if possible) after dark.

[pwb01]

Originally Posted by robert.beck.7737

My first TT was a 26 ft Four Winds that weighed 6900 lbs empty. My 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 has a tow rating of 8500 lbs. The Ram (5.9L) engine 4 X 4 towed the TT ok but like the previous post stated it changed gears multiple times on very slight grades. I saw a Ford F-150 Six Cylinder Ecoboost towing a 37 ft Montana Mountaineer 5er just last week. The owner told me he was completely satisfied with its performance though I still like my 450 with dual rear wheels.

Ditto on the ecoboost with max tow package. Advantage? My 5er is 8500# loaded, no problem even on big hills. I get 21 mpg traveling and 11 towing the camper and the big advantage......36k to buy it.

[1surveyor]

Well i like the post about everyone sharing their experience towing with 1/2 ton pickup's just wish the other would stay out of the conversation ,I don't go into any of the other post and criticize any one for having to big of a truck , when they are pulling canned ham with there 1 ton trucks , this is my opinion and my .02 , i have had 2 F250's 1 gas , 1 diesel and a F350 V10 and my 2012 F150 Eco Boost pulls as good if not better than the other 3 . and i agree with some of you the 1/2 tons are not 1/2 tons anymore . and like OC said many times what constitutes safe and unsafe.
My rant is over

[OldCoot]

DSRACE, I have LR E tires and airbags, good brakes and instead of a band aid type air hitch, I put shocks on the 5er and don't have chucking.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by 1surveyor

Well i like the post about everyone sharing their experience towing with 1/2 ton pickup's just wish the other would stay out of the conversation ,I don't go into any of the other post and criticize any one for having to big of a truck , when they are pulling canned ham with there 1 ton trucks , this is my opinion and my .02 , i have had 2 F250's 1 gas , 1 diesel and a F350 V10 and my 2012 F150 Eco Boost pulls as good if not better than the other 3 . and i agree with some of you the 1/2 tons are not 1/2 tons anymore . and like OC said many times what constitutes safe and unsafe.
My rant is over

I agree, those with 1tons should really be towing with at least a Mack or Peterbilt if we apply the same standards to them as they do to us 1/2 ton guys.

[BamaBob]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

I agree, those with 1tons should really be towing with at least a Mack or Peterbilt if we apply the same standards to them as they do to us 1/2 ton guys.

OC you slay me!! Spot on brother! My F150 custom is rated at 11.3K I'm towing 9.5K tanks full, bed loaded and the back seat full I think I am being safe

[JFM-jr]

And to think all these silly fools wasted their money buying those 3/4 and 1 tons WHAT WAS I THINKING. There was a perfectly good Nissan Frontier I could have got for 1/2 the price of my truck. Mount my 5th wheel hitch toss in airbags and im ready to pull a 13K 5er into the Catskills no problem.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by HSVBamaBob

OC you slay me!! Spot on brother! My F150 custom is rated at 11.3K I'm towing 9.5K tanks full, bed loaded and the back seat full I think I am being safe

It just gets a little tiring that every time a 1/2 t hooks to a 5er the wt police start throwing around "unsafe, dangerous, illegal, etc." terms like they are the "experts". I like my 1/2T because it pulls my 8528RKWS just fine and mainly because IT IS PAID FOR!