33 ft with a 1/2 ton

[smoke33]

First post here. My TV is a 2016 f150 with the 3.5 eco boost, 6.5 bed and I am towing a CR Zinger Z1 328SB. Supposedly it is a 32 ft trailer. My bil has a different brand 32 ft trailer and my box has his by about 2 feet. Anyway, I am in the Midwest and last year was our first year with this TT. We drove it out to Wyoming and then down to Colorado last summer without any issues. When the winds kick up you can feel it but when your driving that long and far you just get a feel for things.
The one thing I will say from some of our other trips, I can tell a difference when comparing the bed of the truck being loaded up vs empty. It definitely toes better loaded up.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[NoodlesWIU]

Originally Posted by Ohio Heeler Mom

In Ohio, longest haul would be 2 hours one way. Yes we have the long bed. Almost all flat land where we go for now. And I have no idea how to determine if we have the max tow pack. It has the tow mirrors, the haul tow mode, built in sway help system, and the dash tells us inclines etc? Does that mean yes for max tow?

There are two options. Max tow, and Heavy Duty Payload. You can have the Max tow without the max HD, but I don't believe you can have the Max HD, without also having the max tow. Kind of like all Catholics are Christian, but not all Christians are Catholic.

Easiest ways to tell is the HD payload package has 7 lugs on the wheels, vs 6 for other F-150's. You also mentioned you had the 3.73 gear ratio. Most people don't order that deep of a gear set, but it is the forced choice if you have the HD package. The other final giveaway would be look on your driver side door jam at the GVWR sticker. For that model year I believe for a 4x4 crew cab, 6.5 ft. bed, the standard GVWR is 7250lbs. If you have the HD package it is 8,200 lbs.

Let us know what you learn. Cheers!

[Lloyd]

Pretty good description Tim.
One more thing I would add, the towing mirrors that slide in and out.

[NoodlesWIU]

Originally Posted by Lloyd

Pretty good description Tim.
One more thing I would add, the towing mirrors that slide in and out.

Unfortunately that's the option I have, but only Max tow, no max payload. =( Though once having these mirrors, I will never go back to the standard mirrors. having the lower blind spot mirrors even when not towing is awesome. I just wish I had the ability to have power adjustment on the blind spot portion.

[smoke33]

Originally Posted by NoodlesWIU

Unfortunately that's the option I have, but only Max tow, no max payload. =( Though once having these mirrors, I will never go back to the standard mirrors. having the lower blind spot mirrors even when not towing is awesome. I just wish I had the ability to have power adjustment on the blind spot portion.

I have the same mirrors on my f 150 and love them as well. I agree, power adjust for the blind spot mirrors would be nice!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Vikes79]

Originally Posted by mark5w

So when the GVWR is increased by the manufacturer by adding stiffer or more springs, it's just a matter of putting on new labels to satisfy themselves. Sounds like a numbers game to me. They haven't changed anything but the block and springs or in some cases an airbag. But if we do it ourselves, we're "overloading" the truck. It's like, "look, we put on heavier springs, now it's a F350 (or 3500). Yeah, pay the extra cost to go up 1 truck rating and I'll change the label at the factory."
Startin to sound like bull to me. It's a money making gimmick to me.

OK,,POPCORN TIME.

This is why most that have been towing (farm, construction, etc) for a long time just stick to the axel / tire ratings.

[OhioMark]

Greetings from never-sunny NE Ohio.

Just catching up on my forum posts and saw this thread. Great advice here from some of the same folks that educated me a few years back..wow..2012. been awhile

Anyways, good advice from others and I have pretty much the same setup here in NE Ohio except I'm pulling a 32BH Grand Reserve and I do run E rated tires with the best hitch ever made (ProPride), but thats my opinion.

The tires are well worth the additional investment, and yes your truck will run less comfortable when not towing, especially in Ohio cold.

My truck pulls great except when we go out west..we get blown around the road and the mountains are challenging, but that engine pulls real strong. We had one time in 6 years when i had to let up on it and thats when were crossing the continential divide she started overheating.

Also, you have to run dry, don't fill up any tanks it really takes a toll on handling. All that loose weight swishing around in the tanks on the back the trailer can spell disaster. When loaded down with water your essentially more trailer than truck and the tail is wagging the dog all the way.


Yes the bags help but only in how it feels driving, it does not increase any ratings.

Yes, that hitch will help with sway and lots of posts on how great the "ox" is.

My only advice is over-inflating your tires beyond the OEM not only doesn't help with weight it is actually dangerous.

I echo the same sentiment to upgrade the tires as previously mentioned.

Bottom line, run the numbers for the truck and trailer and get yourself to a truck scale every now and than to check your overall weight. You'd be shocked how much "stuff" weighs when your loaded up. That number on the side of the trailer was before all the nice addons and your things.

Last thought, the real "achilles heal" of the 1/2 ton is the hitch capacity. It doesnt really matter if your truck can tow 12K if the suspension is setup to max out at 600-700# at the hitch. Get yourself a hitch scale (see amazon) and check it before taking that long weekend trip. I found that moving weight back to the center over axles from the the front of the trailer makes a huge difference as well as keeping your truck bed light.

Take care and good luck.