Towing 101

[Ziggy]

Thought this was a cool little video that we can share with those around us. Perhaps help recognize it on the road & stay safe around it.

 

[SoCalDave]

Tounge weight is key when towing a TT...

 

[Romans9]

Having great tongue control is always a plus, that and a ttwinkle in her eye,,,,,,,,,

 

[rivermobster]

Having great tongue control is always a plus, that and a ttwinkle in her eye,,,,,,,,,

YOU win the Internet tonight.

 

[Tank]

Having great tongue control is always a plus, that and a ttwinkle in her eye,,,,,,,,,

You say Twinkie in her brown eye?


Kinky.

 

[Ziggy]

YOU win the Internet tonight.

I knew it wouldn't take very long.

 

[CLdrinker]

Another tip. Inspect axle placement on the trailer you intend to purchase. On some toy haulers the axles are to far forward and depending on the floor plan you can’t get weight far enough forward.
In those cases no hitch will fix the problem. Your shit out of luck.

 

[Rajobigguy]

I’m actually pretty anal about towing. When I put a hitch on the truck every bolt, including the trailer ball, is torqued to the proper spec.
When using a equalizer hitch I actually weigh the tongue for real weight and do the calculations for how much preload to apply.
I know that it’s a bit overkill but but I cringe when I see someone installing a hitch with a impact driver or tightening a trailer ball with a pipe wrench.

 

[thmterry]

Toy Haulers are tricky because they are designed to have a lot of weight in the back of trailer. So when you you tow with no toys the balance is off.

 

[Rajobigguy]

Toy Haulers are tricky because they are designed to have a lot of weight in the back of trailer. So when you you tow with no toys the balance is off.

Yep, too much tongue weight is almost as bad as not enough.

 

[rivermobster]

I’m actually pretty anal about towing. When I put a hitch on the truck every bolt, including the trailer ball, is torqued to the proper spec.
When using a equalizer hitch I actually weigh the tongue for real weight and do the calculations for how much preload to apply.
I know that it’s a bit overkill but but I cringe when I see someone installing a hitch with a impact driver or tightening a trailer ball with a pipe wrench.

That's not overkill, that's the Correct way to do it! Anyone who read the instructions knows that.

Toy Haulers are tricky because they are designed to have a lot of weight in the back of trailer. So when you you tow with no toys the balance is off.

Mine sure isn't like that. What toy hauler do you have??

 

[4Waters]

That's not overkill, that's the Correct way to do it! Anyone who read the instructions knows that.



Mine sure isn't like that. What toy hauler do you have??

Hey, WTF? Guys don't read instructions

 

[rivermobster]

Hey, WTF? Guys don't read instructions

This dude did.

 

[4Waters]

This dude did.

Behind closed doors where no one could see you, right?

 

[rivermobster]

Behind closed doors where no one could see you, right?

Actually...

I found a nice piece of flat concrete, over at Citrus College, and did all my set up, Exactly like the instructions said to do it.

No anti sway device required.

 

[NicPaus]

My old toyhauler had crazy tongue weight empty. Had to put air bags on my 2500. The F350 no problem. I could put the Rhino in the bed and tow it empty or loaded no problem. With F350 just the ball no distribution bars needed. My 450 same but I only towed it to Naci a few times with it as it was a dog compared to the 350 and 2500. They didn't tell me when I bought it they were de tuned on the cab chassis.

No tongue weight is sketchy. I remember buying one of my golf carts from a member here. Pulled it straight on my 12' big tex. Left canyon lake and almost wrecked. Had to pull over and back it on. Was pulling it with a diesel 2500.

 

[beerrun]

That's not overkill, that's the Correct way to do it! Anyone who read the instructions knows that.



Mine sure isn't like that. What toy hauler do you have??

I had the iconic 37 tow behind triple axle empty was great with my 4 seater razor it was untowable and anything over 50mph would throw you right off the road. I'm a truck driver for 35yrs so I kinda know how to pull a trailer

 

[rivermobster]

I had the iconic 37 tow behind triple axle empty was great with my 4 seater razor it was untowable and anything over 50mph would throw you right off the road. I'm a truck driver for 35yrs so I kinda know how to pull a trailer

Shit...

Even if you backed it in???

 

[beerrun]

Shit...

Even if you backed it in???

Did not matter what way it was loaded. I was towing with a 17 chevy 2500. I talked to a guy in the desert with the same trailer towing with a dully and he said the same thing untowable

 

[4Waters]

My old toyhauler had crazy tongue weight empty. Had to put air bags on my 2500. The F350 no problem. I could put the Rhino in the bed and tow it empty or loaded no problem. With F350 just the ball no distribution bars needed. My 450 same but I only towed it to Naci a few times with it as it was a dog compared to the 350 and 2500. They didn't tell me when I bought it they were de tuned on the cab chassis.

No tongue weight is sketchy. I remember buying one of my golf carts from a member here. Pulled it straight on my 12' big tex. Left canyon lake and almost wrecked. Had to pull over and back it on. Was pulling it with a diesel 2500.

Did you mean 550? That's why the 450 is so popular, it's full power ratings with nearly the same tow/payload ratings as the 550 and has the same turning radius as the 550. If your 450 was detuned then they screwed you.

 

[rivermobster]

Did not matter what way it was loaded. I was towing with a 17 chevy 2500. I talked to a guy in the desert with the same trailer towing with a dully and he said the same thing untowable

So what did you end up replacing it with?

 

[NicPaus]

Did you mean 550? That's why the 450 is so popular, it's full power ratings with nearly the same tow/payload ratings as the 550 and has the same turning radius as the 550. If your 450 was detuned then they screwed you.

It was a 07. Boy did ford fuck me on that 1. Turning radius was amazing though. It had 4.30 gears and the 6.0. Extra cab with a 10' combo body.

 

[4Waters]

It was a 07. Boy did ford fuck me on that 1. Turning radius was amazing though. It had 4.30 gears and the 6.0. Extra cab with a 10' combo body.

Ahh, 6.0. That's probably why, I know the 6.7's aren't detuned for the 450.

 

[Ziggy]

I’m actually pretty anal about towing. When I put a hitch on the truck every bolt, including the trailer ball, is torqued to the proper spec.
When using a equalizer hitch I actually weigh the tongue for real weight and do the calculations for how much preload to apply.
I know that it’s a bit overkill but but I cringe when I see someone installing a hitch with a impact driver or tightening a trailer ball with a pipe wrench.

We recently purchased a flatbed and I spent an afternoon positioning my Rzr & other items I'd load onto it until I had the premium tongue load(10-15% of total load weight) using my bathroom scale. I have a few different placements depending on what I put on the trailer.
The trailer I was using before this new one I actually had to put the Rzr on backwards for adequate tongue weight.

 

[Justsomeguy]

Another tip. Inspect axle placement on the trailer you intend to purchase. On some toy haulers the axles are to far forward and depending on the floor plan you can’t get weight far enough forward.
In those cases no hitch will fix the problem. Your shit out of luck.

Now you tell us!

On a serious note. I adjusted the bars and it towed well. Like a different trailer. I ordered a new washer as the hitch is supposed to come with 4. I think that will help me dial it in some more. Headed out for new years. I'll report back.

 

[beerrun]

So what did you end up replacing it with?

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

We recently purchased a flatbed and I spent an afternoon positioning my Rzr & other items I'd load onto it until I had the premium tongue load(10-15% of total load weight) using my bathroom scale. I have a few different placements depending on what I put on the trailer.
The trailer I was using before this new one I actually had to put the Rzr on backwards for adequate tongue weight.

I did not back it in when I used it that trailer. I kept it under 40 on the 95

 

[stephenkatsea]

Many years ago in Florida we once loaded a U-Haul trailer with all of our band equipment. This included a full size Hammond B3 organ and Leslie speaker, as well as large guitar amps and Altec Lansing A7 500 speakers. We took our time to perfectly balance the load in the trailer. We were towing with an almost new GTO. Plenty of power for that tow. We hadn't been on the Interstate long when that trailer full of our equipment began violently swinging back and forth, occupying multiple lanes. I was driving. A bandmate riding shotgun said, speed up a little, that'll straighten that trailer out. So I tried it. Now we're doing 75+ and things are getting worse. That trailer was actually lifting the rear end of that GTO. I took my foot off the accelerator and let things slow down. We pulled to the side of the road and got out the U-Haul manual. As we should have done in the first place. Our efforts to balance that trailer had totally caused the problem. Reloaded, placing the weight forward and onto the tongue and that solved it. We continued our trip to CA.

 

[NicPaus]

Uhaul has surge brakes so no help. But if the tail starts wagging like a dog. Squeeze the trailer brake controller and push the gas for a second then let off the gas and keep on squeezing until you are comfortable.

 

[CLdrinker]

That’s great news. Have fun be safe.

 

[Canuck 1]

Another tip. Inspect axle placement on the trailer you intend to purchase. On some toy haulers the axles are to far forward and depending on the floor plan you can’t get weight far enough forward.
In those cases no hitch will fix the problem. Your shit out of luck.

This.... and same deal with fifth wheels

 

[boatpi]

So for three years I’ve been Towing with my ram 1500 and a 24 foot flat deck and aluminum trailer total weight about 6500 pounds.

Now the new F250 king ranch with my new aluminum flat deck trailer average weights about 10,000 to 11,000 pounds.
Major adjustment, and how much tongue weight I had in the past it wasn’t real significant, but with his heavier to load probably due to the placement of the double axles on the new trailer, it became more critical, and I end up running too light of a tongue weight that first load. Can go over 60 miles an hour suede here and there of course the truck had anti-sway control until I got to my destination.

Next time up I knew I had a good thousand pounds of tongue weight it was night and day I usually run 1000 to 1200 now I even have a little small scale I could use because the load is very odd in size.
Took a little adjusting, but that tongue wake is beyond critical. I got a little refresher lesson and having towed for probably 30 years had to pay real close attention.

 

[coolchange]

I did not back it in when I used it that trailer. I kept it under 40 on the 95

I think what you meant was” under 95 on the 40”

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

I think what you meant was” under 95 on the 40”

No. It was a sketchy.

 

[LuauLounge]

Anyone tried one of these?

Haul Gauge

Haul Gauge electronic vehicle scale that installs in seconds and wirelessly connects to your smartphone to display real-time tongue weight/pin weight, vehicle and trailer weights, including gross weight, cargo, payload, and weight distribution. This compact, Bluetooth-enabled device plugs into...

www.haulgauge.com

 

[NIKAL]

Weigh Safe makes a hitch with a scale built in to help and know your tongue weight.

Weigh Safe Trailer Hitches - Towing Peace of Mind

Award-winning products for towing peace of mind. Weigh Safe's flagship drop hitch features a built-in tongue weight scale for improved towing performance.

www.weigh-safe.com

Also most people don’t seem to know you should cross your safety chains. This way if your hitch was to come off the ball, the crossed chains act as a catch net and keep the trailer hitch from hitting the ground.

 

[4Waters]

Weigh Safe makes a hitch with a scale built in to help and know your tongue weight.

Weigh Safe Trailer Hitches - Towing Peace of Mind

Award-winning products for towing peace of mind. Weigh Safe's flagship drop hitch features a built-in tongue weight scale for improved towing performance.

www.weigh-safe.com

Also most people don’t seem to know you should cross your safety chains. This way if your hitch was to come off the ball, the crossed chains act as a catch net and keep the trailer hitch from hitting the ground.

The issue with that hitch is it's only accurate for a short time after bouncing that thing down the freeway. My neighbor got one and tows with it, he hasn't changed a thing but his tongue weight is different every time he hooks up. It's only good with the first trailer unless you only used it to check tongue weight and don't tow with it.

 

[NIKAL]

The issue with that hitch is it's only accurate for a short time after bouncing that thing down the freeway. My neighbor got one and tows with it, he hasn't changed a thing but his tongue weight is different every time he hooks up. It's only good with the first trailer unless you only used it to check tongue weight and don't tow with it.

I know two people who use the Weigh Safe hitch and have not had any issues. One guy is super anal as his family own a freight company, so he’s all about loads & weight. Your neighbor should call Weigh Safe to see what they say? Maybe there is something wrong with his hitch or how he’s using it??

 

[Justsomeguy]

Anyone tried one of these?

Haul Gauge

Haul Gauge electronic vehicle scale that installs in seconds and wirelessly connects to your smartphone to display real-time tongue weight/pin weight, vehicle and trailer weights, including gross weight, cargo, payload, and weight distribution. This compact, Bluetooth-enabled device plugs into...

www.haulgauge.com

I've been tempted. It keeps coming up on my instagram.

 

[4Waters]

I know two people who use the Weigh Safe hitch and have not had any issues. One guy is super anal as his family own a freight company, so he’s all about loads & weight. Your neighbor should call Weigh Safe to see what they say? Maybe there is something wrong with his hitch or how he’s using it??

IDK, he slides it in the truck and puts the trailer on it and goes, no other way to use it. Scales need to be calibrated, hospital scales have to be calibrated every 2 years if I remember correctly.

 

[rivermobster]

IDK, he slides it in the truck and puts the trailer on it and goes, no other way to use it. Scales need to be calibrated, hospital scales have to be calibrated every 2 years if I remember correctly.

Maybe he needs some Lucas hitch lube?

 

[Blackmagic94]

When loading an item on a multi axle trailer, place the load forward of the axles until you see that tire to fender gap equalize among all axles. Also adjust the hitch so that the trailer loaded can be as flat and level as possible. Typically your load will be just slightly forward of the axle to get the fender gap to be equal in less place more weight on the tongue.

 

[eand28]

Ahh, 6.0. That's probably why, I know the 6.7's aren't detuned for the 450.

The cab and chassis 6.7’s are all detuned from the pickup trucks. A 450 pickup isn’t detuned but a 450 cab and chassis is.

 

[Roosky01]

What if you are towing a plane on a trailer on a treadmill?

My mind is bulown!

 

[4Waters]

What if you are towing a plane on a trailer on a treadmill?

My mind is bulown!

Is the plane on the treadmill on the trailer or is the truck and trailer on the treadmill?

 

[rivermobster]

Is the plane on the treadmill on the trailer or is the truck and trailer on the treadmill?

 

[Jonas Grumby]

I’m actually pretty anal about towing. When I put a hitch on the truck every bolt, including the trailer ball, is torqued to the proper spec.
When using a equalizer hitch I actually weigh the tongue for real weight and do the calculations for how much preload to apply.
I know that it’s a bit overkill but but I cringe when I see someone installing a hitch with a impact driver or tightening a trailer ball with a pipe wrench.

Alot of us don’t have a 450# torque wrench. So tight as I can get it with a 25” crescent.

 

[Rajobigguy]

Alot of us don’t have a 450# torque wrench. So tight as I can get it with a 25” crescent.

Bring it by and I’ll tighten it up correctly for you.
I use a 250# torque wrench with a 4x torque multiplier. The actual number that your shooting for also depends on what if any thread lube you use.

 

[4Waters]

Alot of us don’t have a 450# torque wrench. So tight as I can get it with a 25” crescent.

I give it about 30 ugga-duggas with a 500ft/lbs IR impact

 

[RogerThat99]

I just bought a new TT in August (I did not do a Hey Lam thread. LOL)

The dealership moved my weight distribution from my old trailer (I was trading in), to my new trailer.

On the walk thru, the guy was telling me he had been trained, and certified, to set up hitches. Ok.

They had it set up tongue high, and the weight distribution I could do by hand, without the bar. Some expert.

I lowered the hitch when I got home, and played with hitch height and weight distribution, until I got it right.