Towing with Equalizer hitch and air bags or Timbrens

[Mypedlcar]

Sorry if this has been already addressed.....looking for actual experience with Timbrens and/or air bags (Firestone or Air Lift) specifically on an F150. My TV is a 2015 F150, 3.5 Ecoboost, Max Trailer tow pkg. My TT is a 2016 Lacrosse 324RTS. TV rated to tow 11,900. TT GVWR is 9800. Tongue weight 980. I am using a n Equalizer brand 4 point 12K hitch with 1200# tongue max. My issue is that when towing the front end feels very loose/ unstable. I have worked with Equalizer tweaking the hitch settings but still have not solved the problem. Dealer is no help at all. Head of service told me that the Equalizer hitch was for sway only not weight distribution. DUH!!! Any suggestion/input/ etc. appreciated.

[youroo]

Yes Dont use that Dealer for Hitch advice! Youroo!!

[northstar1960]

IMO to much TT for the TV

[Mypedlcar]

I was thinking the same thing northstar. However Ford dealer swears it will tow 11,900. I am 2100# under max. Forest River advertises this TT and even the next size up as half ton towable. Frustrating for sure!

[fonzie]

Post your door jam sticker for max ccc (yellow sticker) this will tell us how much cargo your truck is rated for.......

Here is 2015 Ford towing guide for more info...

http://www.ford.ca/resources/ford/ge...de_english.pdf

[WFD]

Originally Posted by Mypedlcar

I was thinking the same thing northstar. However Ford dealer swears it will tow 11,900. I am 2100# under max. Forest River advertises this TT and even the next size up as half ton towable. Frustrating for sure!

First mistake was listening to the dealer with regards to tow capacity. Although the figure he quoted you may be accurate and straight from the Ford info...majority of these dealers and sales people have never even towed a utility trailer let alone a travel trailer. Onus is on us to know what we can and can't tow comfortably.
Not sure about current F150's but I used to have an '09, and when Ford moved their location for rear shocks installing the Firestone airbags required some modifications, mind you I was towing a 5th wheel so not sure if that was the difference.

[Mypedlcar]

Here are pix of the stickers from the TV and the TT...

[Mypedlcar]

For the record...left out of,original post......truck is a super crew, 2WD with a 3:55 rear end.

[Springerdad]

You're rolling on P series tires if I read into those stickers correctly. You've got almost 5 tons of TT wagging you around on those soft sidewalled tires. Not to mention the lesser TV weight of a 150 vs 250. A switch to LT's would certainly help, I would think.

[WSY DD693]

My TV is a 2010 Dodge Ram 1500 4WD with Firestone spring air bags. My TT is a 2008 Surveyor 303. I have not used scales, but guess to be towing around 8,000 and TV is rated for 10,500. I also used the Equalizer weigh distribution hitch and have no issues. I blew a TT tire at 65 and didn't even feel it until my wife thought she heard a noise. Are you sure the Equalizer is adjusted properly?

[Big Vic]

I tow with a F-250 CC SB using the Equil-i-zer 4 point 1000/10000 hitch. My trailer is about 6600 lbs loaded with a hitch weight of around 900 lbs.

Since the rear of the truck lowered quite a bit, I tried Timbrens first, since they are less expensive than air bags and very easy to install. The Timbrens worked great, helping to both decrease the rear slump and also helping with eliminating any porpoising. The trailer feels very solid when towing - no movement when getting passed by semis.

[thebrakeman]

That 1200-lb WDH is not enough for your trailer.

~8450 dry. Normally I say about 1000 lbs over dry (9450) is a good estimate for loaded weight. Might be more if you load all that space. But let's call it 9500 loaded.
9500 * 13% = 1235lbs TW.
My recommendation for WDH selection is to never get close to the rating itself, but you are actually over. Should add 100 lbs to the TW estimate (1335) and round up to the next rating, which would be the 1400 Equal-I-zer.

That 1200 Equal-I-zer is not enough for you, and it's no wonder the front end feels squirrelly (P or LT rated). Did you take any front wheel well height measurements, to confirm you have returned all lost weight back to the front wheels?

You need to speak to Equalizer tech service. See if it's as simple as swapping the bars, or if you have to change the head, too.

[thebrakeman]

Oh, suspension upgrades are not the answer. That might make the rig look better, but you will be still be underloaded up front, with poor stability.

[awellis3]

Originally Posted by thebrakeman

Oh, suspension upgrades are not the answer. That might make the rig look better, but you will be still be underloaded up front, with poor stability.

I agree. Equalizer says the front end must return ½ way to static measurement at a minimum.

[northstar1960]

Originally Posted by Mypedlcar

I was thinking the same thing northstar. However Ford dealer swears it will tow 11,900. I am 2100# under max. Forest River advertises this TT and even the next size up as half ton towable. Frustrating for sure!

Well it seems it can tow it just not tow it well . you stated the tongue weight of 980 is that just off the sticker ? if so i'd wager your TW is at least a couple hundred more . you seem to think that being under what is listed as max that it should all be good . So what are your actual weights ? TT loaded TV loaded all this adds up to the 11900. seems since you can't get the front back to level and or it feels loose up front seems your looking at a greater TW then you think . my 29hsf TH states a TW of 960 but i can tell you fully loaded i'm at 1200 .
Also FR and other manufactures don't care if your 1/2 t can tow it . they list their weights and see well that's under tow rating for 1/2 so now we just opened up a huge market to 1/2 truck owners . don't think FR gives a rats weather in the real world it works or not . same with the truck dealers .they just want to sale a truck and don't care if it'll work for your needs or not

[grayfox]

FYI. Do the math

Tow Vehicle Sizing

[banda]

Regarding your original question:

https://www.etrailer.com/question-78970.html

[T True]

My tow truck is a 2012 4X4 Ford ECB F 150. It is fitted with airbags. I run 40 psi on them when towing our Flagstaff 26 RLWS. I use those square steel equalizer tow bars. Sometimes it feels a little spongy but I've gotten used to that. We have towed the trailer about 7K miles with no towing problems. I relive the pressure on the bags to 15 psi for normal driving.

[sugarjohnson]

Well to the original question of Timbrens I have run them on my last three trucks without issue. First 2 sets on Chevy 1500 although max TT weight was only 6000#. This was still enough tongue weight to engage them while towing. They provide nice stability while engaged and mostly non-existent when empty. If you hit large bumps RR tracks they will occasionally hit the axle making for a little rough ride.

I now have them on a new Chevy 3500. New 5th wheel is 1800# pin weight. They still engage but honestly the new truck suspension is much more stiff and it drops far less then my prior 1500's.

[Big Red and 30WR]

If your going to go from a 12k to a 14k hitch , Save yourself some money and buy just the 14k head. Equalizer told me the bars for both hitches are the same, so why buy more of the same bars. Just buy the heavier duty head .