Equal-i-zer hitch installed wrong by dealership

[Tufelhunden]

Evening all.

I've been setting up my F150 to tow an 8800 pound Cougar. Replaced the rear shocks to get rid of the back and forth rocking when going over bumps, they work great and the suspension no longer feels under dampened. Rancho 9000XL with the adjustable dampening if you're interested. I also set up a rear helwig sway bar to stop body roll when in cross winds and getting passed by semis, also works well but the truck still doesn't feel planted even though the trailer is fine and traveling straight.

So I decided to check the setup in my hitch system the dealership put on. Come to find out the hitch ball is set one inch high, the L brackets at the lowest setting and at 24" instead of the recommended 32" or 29" minimum. Needless to say I'm a little upset. The changes may not make a large difference or they may, I need to purchase a 400+ pound torque wrench to make the changes and find out. However, I am new to TT and trusted these people to do the job correctly. It makes me not want to even take my tt to them for some warranty work as well as other services I need.

Anyway just needed to vent a little. Thanks.

[Tbos]

Dealers will often seta hitch up initially and then they need to be reset. The reset is needed because the truck and trailer are now loaded. With that said, some dealers have issues installing them properly the 1st time.

[sourdough]

Some things to think about;

An F150 doesn't really need to be towing an 8800 lb. trailer. You don't give specifics on the truck or trailer but at 8800 lb. it will be a fairly long trailer - the F150 isn't really meant for that. New Rancho 9000s (I've installed a few) don't make much difference along with the Helwig sway bar- your truck will never feel "planted" like it should - you have too much trailer IMO.

Adjusting the Equalizer can make some differences but it won't stop the issues you are having. You don't need a 400 ft. lb. torque wrench. 300 or so will get the ball nut. The rest of the nuts/bolts are far less. You just need to understand what you have as a TV and what you are strapping behind it vs the weaker components. A "pickup" is not an HD tow truck.

[Tufelhunden]

Originally Posted by sourdough

Some things to think about;

An F150 doesn't really need to be towing an 8800 lb. trailer. You don't give specifics on the truck or trailer but at 8800 lb. it will be a fairly long trailer - the F150 isn't really meant for that. New Rancho 9000s (I've installed a few) don't make much difference along with the Helwig sway bar- your truck will never feel "planted" like it should - you have too much trailer IMO.

Adjusting the Equalizer can make some differences but it won't stop the issues you are having. You don't need a 400 ft. lb. torque wrench. 300 or so will get the ball nut. The rest of the nuts/bolts are far less. You just need to understand what you have as a TV and what you are strapping behind it vs the weaker components. A "pickup" is not an HD tow truck.

1938 pound payload with max towing and 17100 GCWR. And yes the shocks made a huge difference as did the sway bar. It's funny to listen to this when no one batted an eye when a 1996 f350 towed the same weight with less payload and GCWR than a will equipped current gen F150 or evena 2004 F250. https://goo.gl/images/YxUaxU

Not saying it wouldn't be better to move up and we will eventually, but I've solved every issue with minor changes. It doesn't even rest on the factory helper spring when sitting and loaded.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by Tufelhunden

1938 pound payload with max towing and 17100 GCWR. And yes the shocks made a huge difference as did the sway bar. It's funny to listen to this when no one batted an eye when a 1996 f350 towed the same weight with less payload and GCWR than a will equipped current gen F150 or evena 2004 F250. https://goo.gl/images/YxUaxU

Not saying it wouldn't be better to move up and we will eventually, but I've solved every issue with minor changes. It doesn't even rest on the factory helper spring when sitting and loaded.

Whatever makes you happy. All I'm telling you, from experience, is that you cannot, and will not, make that 1/2 ton, no matter your "happy numbers", a satisfactory (read fun towing) truck for an 8800 lb. 30+'? trailer. New sway bar, shocks, overloads, air bags etc. etc. will not make it an HD truck - there's a lot more to it than that. Good luck.

[spettiner]

Originally Posted by sourdough

Whatever makes you happy. All I'm telling you, from experience, is that you cannot, and will not, make that 1/2 ton, no matter your "happy numbers", a satisfactory (read fun towing) truck for an 8800 lb. 30+'? trailer. New sway bar, shocks, overloads, air bags etc. etc. will not make it an HD truck - there's a lot more to it than that. Good luck.

I couldn't agree more with what you say. I had the same type of trailer on my crew cab, 4x4 f150 with the 3.5 eco-boost. No matter what adjustments i made to the hitch, the truck only towed well in ideal conditions (no wind). I traded up to an F250 with the 6.7 diesel, and couldn't be happier.

[markjamestx]

Originally Posted by sourdough

Whatever makes you happy. All I'm telling you, from experience, is that you cannot, and will not, make that 1/2 ton, no matter your "happy numbers", a satisfactory (read fun towing) truck for an 8800 lb. 30+'? trailer. New sway bar, shocks, overloads, air bags etc. etc. will not make it an HD truck - there's a lot more to it than that. Good luck.

I have to second your comments. Don't believe a Ford, Chevy or Dodge could handle it. My Chevy so I upgraded.

[chuckster57]

400 lb torque wrench? That’s probably a 1” drive, extremely heavy and very expensive. Just use an air powered impact gun. Even the compact Harbor freight ones will produce 400 lbs of torque.

[Tufelhunden]

Originally Posted by chuckster57

400 lb torque wrench? That’s probably a 1” drive, extremely heavy and very expensive. Just use an air powered impact gun. Even the compact Harbor freight ones will produce 400 lbs of torque.

The instructions state I need to torque the main bolts on the head to 350 ft/lbs. I was looking for 400 ft/lbs as it is best not to be at the edge of a torque wrenches limit. Your idea is better though. Thanks.

[BadmanRick]

Before you buy that VERY EXPENSIVE TORK WRENCH Go by the dealer and pay the half hour rate to have them tork it. If they are the dealer you purchased it from they may do it for free.

[66joej]

Originally Posted by BadmanRick

Before you buy that VERY EXPENSIVE TORK WRENCH Go by the dealer and pay the half hour rate to have them tork it. If they are the dealer you purchased it from they may do it for free.

Or go to your nearby truck shop. Put the hitch in the receiver upside down for easy access to the nut. Chances are they will do it free. I gave my guy $10 (that's CDN. so it would cost you next to nothing) for a beer after work.

[chuckster57]

I use a harbor freight impact gun that produces 700 lb feet according to the label on it.

My 3/4” drive torque wrench at home is like 34” long and only goes to 300 lb.

[busterbrown]

I agree too. It just takes 1 wind storm, 1 sway event, or 1 road obstical to make a 1/2 ton owner wish they had the biggest HD truck available. It happened to me with my much lighter Bullet. Learned a few new curse words that trip too. If an RVer is pulling anything over 7,000 lbs on a regular basis, I think most will recommend an HD truck. YMMV.

[Topglock]

Originally Posted by busterbrown

I agree too. It just takes 1 wind storm, 1 sway event, or 1 road obstical to make a 1/2 ton owner wish they had the biggest HD truck available. It happened to me with my much lighter Bullet. Learned a few new curse words that trip too. If an RVer is pulling anything over 7,000 lbs on a regular basis, I think most will recommend an HD truck. YMMV.

You’re exactly right. This past July we went on our longest camping trip. Adrian, Mi to Burt lake state park. (7 night stay). We have a Supercrew Fx4 F150 and a 27’ Bullet 272bhs that weighs in at 6820 ready to camp. Between the hills in Grayling and the wind gusts we encountered, I told my wife we won’t be traveling outside of 2hrs until I upgrade the truck. The stress of being stiff as a board and two white knuckled hands gripping the wheel was not worth it. Would eventually like to get into a 1tone. The plan is to upgrade to a 5ver in the near future.

[BadmanRick]

My friend bought a 7700 lb TT and a new 2016 f150 eco boost. Drove it down from Louisville to Fort Myers Fl. This is a top of the line ALUMINUM 4x4 f150 with top of the line blue ox weight distribution hitch. He had such a problem with trailer sway he had to keep the truck below 50 mph. He immediately went to North Trail Rv and traided the trailer for a motorhome. Only good thing about the F150 4x4 is he can tow it 4 down with the motorhome.
I agree with everyone else. Get a HD truck.

[mhbell]

I made the same mistake trying to pull a so called 1/2 ton travel trailer with a ford F-150. Pulled it 4 miles from the dealership to my home. in windy conditions. That was enough for me. Sold the F-150 the next day and got a F250 Super Duty. What a difference. I might Add that the F150 had air bags, sway bar, and new ranger shocks. and the Blue OX WD Hitch was set up properly for the weight of the trailer at the time. after changing trucks I pulled the trailer 800 miles to Arizona where I traded it off for a so called 1/2 ton series 5th wheel. My present trailer (see Sig). Ha! what a fraud. Sure glad I had the F-250 SD to tow it. no way a 1/2 ton F-150 would do it. The Pin weight alone was over 2000 Lbs loaded. I am right at the limits even with a F-250 Super Duty. Just my experience.
Mel

[George1]

And you know what's interesting, is the rv salesman will tell you that you can pull all of these things with a halftime if you just add all this BS to the truck. It is a bunch of crap. I broke down and bought a 1-ton and now I can pull any damn thing I want to without having to add 72 accessories thinking I'm going to improve its pulling capability. It's like the Grinch that stole Christmas that put those antlers on top of that little doggie to pull that sled. Adding accessories to the little doggiedid nothing more to help the little doggie pull that big sled, it was just the same little doggie with accessories on his head!

[notanlines]

What 'choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?

[flybouy]

I have a F150 King Ranch and F250 Diesel that set side by side in the driveway. When I crawl under either and look at the other it's apples and oranges. I can state with authority that people will fool themselves thinking it's o.k. to tow heavy until that hairy wake up one day when wrestling with the tail wagging the dog alarm goes off. I can say with certainty because I was one of them, defending the "but I don't go that far, that fast, and I'm an excellent driver" attitude. I thank God no injury or damage was done (other than my pride) when my alarm went off. I wish everyone that does this the same fortunate outcome.

[spettiner]

Originally Posted by flybouy

I have a F150 King Ranch and F250 Diesel that set side by side in the driveway. When I crawl under either and look at the other it's apples and oranges. I can state with authority that people will fool themselves thinking it's o.k. to tow heavy until that hairy wake up one day when wrestling with the tail wagging the dog alarm goes off. I can say with certainty because I was one of them, defending the "but I don't go that far, that fast, and I'm an excellent driver" attitude. I thank God no injury or damage was done (other than my pride) when my alarm went off. I wish everyone that does this the same fortunate outcome.

All this. Exactly.