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Old 07-11-2019, 09:18 AM   #1
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Steering Wander

2016 Ford F-150 FX4 Lariat 3.5 EcoBoost
2014 Surveyor Cadet 201RBS
CURT TruTrack WDH 10,000 GTW, 1,000 TW # C17500


I've mounted the WDH per manual\specs and thr TT and the TV are level (used level to determine) but I have a steering wandering issue. I feel like I need to change the WDH and put more weight to the front wheels. Any ideas?
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Old 07-11-2019, 09:35 AM   #2
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Pics of your combo or CAT scale numbers please.
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Old 07-11-2019, 09:39 AM   #3
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X2 for CAT scale numbers. Adjustments are finicky and you don't want to throw too much weight to the front. I had to add another washer to my Fastway Round Bar WDH to get another 200 pounds back to the front and it made all the difference!
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Old 07-11-2019, 09:42 AM   #4
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Originally Posted by ftroop82 View Post
2016 Ford F-150 FX4 Lariat 3.5 EcoBoost
2014 Surveyor Cadet 201RBS
CURT TruTrack WDH 10,000 GTW, 1,000 TW


I've mounted the WDH per manual\specs and thr TT and the TV are level (used level to determine) but I have a steering wandering issue. I feel like I need to change the WDH and put more weight to the front wheels. Any ideas?
Start with tire pressures on your TV. Rear's should be at max as stated on sidewall and fronts at "sticker". Any "softness" in rear tires will allow rear of TV to move back and forth which leads to the understeer (wandering).

Adjusting tire pressures is where I go first because it's "free" and often people are running lower pressures in TV tires for ride comfort when not towing.

Rather than trying to get TV "level", focus more on adjusting your WDH so that you are merely returning most of the weight to the front wheels that was removed when the TT was hitched and tongue jack retracted. Some trucks have a natural "nose down" attitude so adjusting to level may actually be removing weight from front wheels.

Might also be a good idea to find a scale, weigh TV axles without TT attached then re-weigh with TT attached. This will give you some real data to work with rather than just whether or not things are level.
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Old 07-11-2019, 09:42 AM   #5
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The WDH isn’t to level the vehicles, it’s to help distribute the tongue weight of the trailer. Did you adjust the WDH according to the F-150 owners manual? That will tell you how to properly adjust the WDH for your setup in terms of how much height to return to the front axle. If you eyeballed it or set it just to make them level then that was the incorrect way to set up the WDH.
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Old 07-11-2019, 09:47 AM   #6
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Are you using the terms steering wander and sway synonymously?
I define steering wander as needing a front end alignment or worn suspension components..
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Old 07-11-2019, 09:50 AM   #7
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I do not have CAT scale info, I ran the TV tires set to normal psi (37), I set up the WDH per the CURT setup video.
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Old 07-11-2019, 09:51 AM   #8
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There does not seem to have a lot of sway even when a tractor trailer goes by
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Old 07-11-2019, 10:03 AM   #9
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I do not have CAT scale info, I ran the TV tires set to normal psi (37), I set up the WDH per the CURT setup video.


Curt doesn’t know what requirements all manufacturers have for proper WDH adjustment. Follow the what the owners manual says for your F-150 and see if it has different setup requirements than the Curt video.
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Old 07-11-2019, 10:12 AM   #10
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Thanks Diesel. By the way my tires are
Goodyear Wrangler Fortitude HT 275 65r18 116t
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Old 07-11-2019, 10:22 AM   #11
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Are you using the terms steering wander and sway synonymously?
I define steering wander as needing a front end alignment or worn suspension components..
Wander can also be caused by improper tire pressure in rear tires.

It pays to start with basic's.
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Old 07-11-2019, 10:44 AM   #12
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Max tire pressure on my tires is 51 psi, the Normal pressure is 37 psi. Do I inflate front and rear tires to 51 psi?
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Old 07-11-2019, 10:50 AM   #13
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Max tire pressure on my tires is 51 psi, do Normal pressure is 37 psi. Do I inflate front and rear tires to 51 psi?
Start with 50 psi in rear only and see if you still have the wandering problem while towing.


Invest in a good 12 V compressor you can connect direct to the battery (not plug into cigarette lighter socket) so you can add or reduce when you transition from towing to "around town driving".
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Old 07-11-2019, 11:02 AM   #14
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The OP has 275/65R18 tires, those don't have a lot of sidewall height to them compared to other tires so I would be surprised if the tires are the cause but won't hurt to try upping the tire pressure. Sidewall PSI is a bit excessive and unnecessary for the load, factory PSI will carry the truck's GVWR no problem.


I have 255/55R20 tires on my truck and run around 35-36PSI cold (Gets up to around 40-41psi once up to temp) and have no wander or squirm whatsoever from my tires, which are Bridgestone Dueler Alenza H/L which appear to be very similar to the OP's tire's tread pattern. I've towed with all-terrtain tires that had a more aggressive and deep tread, now THOSE squirm and add a bit of pucker factor around corners.


If it were tire/pressure related I would expect to feel squirm which is a much different feeling than steering wander.
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Old 07-15-2019, 07:38 AM   #15
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I'm starting to think it's the Ford’s Electronic Power Assisted Steering (EPAS). It seems to have the issue slightly without the trailer but worst with the trailer attached.
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Old 07-15-2019, 04:49 PM   #16
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I would start by bringing the rear tires up to 50 psi, leave the front at 37. Then take the rig to a CAT scale for some numbers. You're pissing in the wind with WDH adjustments without any numbers.
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Old 07-16-2019, 07:35 AM   #17
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50 psi cold or hot?
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Old 07-16-2019, 08:33 AM   #18
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50 psi cold or hot?


Always cold.
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Old 07-16-2019, 10:17 AM   #19
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50 psi cold or hot?
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Originally Posted by DieselDrax View Post
Always cold.
Like said, always cold. PSI ratings are always cold. This allows for thermal expansion.
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