Truck and trailer thread???

[brkntrxn]

After you break it in, report some mileage numbers if you get chance. Empty and towing.

Will do. My daily commute is 5.5 miles each way, so it may take a while.

First time I've heard of XLT not coming with Keyless entry though. Did you mean the door keypad or the remote lock/unlock?

The remote lock/unlock key fobs. One of the salesman is going to look it up and see if it has it or not. If so, they need to give me the fobs. I agree, I have never heard of an XLT without it either. I still have to go back up there and get my drop hitch out of the receiver. We hooked up the finance guys F150 to it with a chain and it wouldn't budge. LOL, it has been in for about a year, so I guess it is rusted in pretty tight. The last time that happened, I ended up hooking it to a tree with my snatch strap. But it was kinda funny to watch two F150's hooked to each other in the parking lot in an old style pull. Two days of soaking in Liquid Wrench should help.

 

[wheelhopper]

^You got a new truck, get a new ball/hitch. You don't want that old rusty thing on the new truck anyway.

I am still trying to wear my dealer down on the truck. I am going to call him this morning. If they will knock $1K off, they got a deal.

 

[steve121]

I'm towing with my dd 2005 F150 regular cab. The only mods are a cai and Edge performance programmer. I average about 13 towing at 70-75.

 

[DAVESVT2000]

Nice pics Steve :rockon:

 

[98 Saleen Cobra]

Here's the tow rig both myself and my dad use when we race. 2006 F-350 SD w/ 6.0 diesel. No mods its stock for now. The trailer is a custom made TPD 36ft tag. They only made 1 that is 36ft long, It's widen to 112'' I think. It's enough to fit the hips of the GT40 in there. We have a garage full of pit pal stuff that needs to be installed. Enjoy

[/IMG]

[/IMG]

[/IMG]

 

[Fast99Snake]

Here's the tow rig both myself and my dad use when we race. 2006 F-350 SD w/ 6.0 diesel. No mods its stock for now. The trailer is a custom made TPD 36ft tag. They only made 1 that is 36ft long, It's widen to 112'' I think. It's enough to fit the hips of the GT40 in there. We have a garage full of pit pal stuff that needs to be installed. Enjoy

[/IMG]

[/IMG]

[/IMG]

I thought we had rules against posting uncensored porn on this forum
:beer:

 

[98 Saleen Cobra]

lol yea rules are ment to be broken every once in a while :beer:

 

[brkntrxn]

Not quite the "porn" posted above, but a virgin nonetheless.

 

[Great Asp]

Jimmy is correct

Jimmy said it well.

If you are going with an open trailer, you can get by with less tow vehicle.

But for anything enclosed, you really need the curb weight and wheelbase of an F-250 or more. You could get by with an Expedition, but for safe traveling (and without stress) you need curb weight in the tow vehicle.

I can not say enough about tongue weight. You MUST measure, or go to a trailer supplier and measure your tongue weight. 10% of the total of the trailer and vehicle or other items in the trailer. The below list has helped me.

TRAILERING TACTICS

With a trailer in tow, you're operating a vehicle combination that is longer, heavier and sometimes wider and taller than you're used to. So you'll have to make some compensating adjustments in your normal driving practices. Here is some helpful advice in trailering tactics:
1.Take a "Shakedown Cruise". At least one short trial run before your first trip will help familiarize you with your trailer's operating characteristics. It will also allow you to check the trailer's lights, brakes, hitch, etc. and let you know they are all working properly.
2. Slow down. Moderate to slower driving speeds put less strain on your tow vehicle and trailer and make for safer traveling.
3. Allow extra time and space between your rig and traffic. You will need both when passing and stopping, especially if your trailer is not equipped with brakes.
4. Check rear view mirrors. Doing this frequently will let you know that your trailer is riding properly. We recommend outside rear view mirrors on both sides of your tow vehicle.
5. Swing wider. You need to make wider swings (turns) at curves and corners because your trailer's wheels are generally closer to the inside of a turn than the wheels on your tow vehicle.
6. Pass with extra care and caution. It takes more time and distance to get around slower moving vehicles and to get to the correct lane when you've got a trailer in tow.
7. Watch the wind direction and speed. To avoid swaying, be prepared for sudden changes in air pressure and wind buffering when larger vehicles pass from either direction. Slow down a bit and keep a firm hold on your steering wheel. Aim straight down your lane.
8. Conserve fuel. You'll go farther on a tank of gas at moderate speeds. Higher speeds increase wind resistance against the trailer and reduce fuel mileage.
9. Avoid sudden stops and starts. This can cause skidding, sliding or jackknifing, even if your trailer has brakes. Avoid quick stops when turning. Smooth, gradual starts and stops will improve your gas mileage.
10. Signal your intentions. Let surrounding vehicles know what your intended to so well in advance before your stop, turn, change lanes or pass.
11. Shift to a lower gear. A lower gear will help ease the load on the transmission and engine when going over steep hills, sand, gravel or dirt roads. If your tow vehicle has an overdrive gear, shifting out of overdrive to a lower gear may improve your gas mileage.
12. Always be courteous. Make it as easy as possible for faster moving vehicles to pass you. Keep to the right of the road and prepare to slow down if passing vehicles need extra time to return to their proper lane.
13. Don't tailgate. Allow at least one car and trailer length between you and the vehicle ahead for each 10 mph on your speedometer. Three seconds should be the minimum distance.
14. If a problem occurs, don't panic. Stay calm and cool. Say you experience a sudden bumping or fishtailing. It may indicate a flat tire. Don't jam on the brakes or mash the accelerator in an attempt to drive out of it. Instead, come to a stop slowly as you keep driving in as straight a line as possible. If conditions permit, coast to a very slow speed and try to avoid braking, except when your wheels are straight ahead and your tow vehicle and trailer are in line with each other.
15. If your trailer begins to fishtail as you accelerate to highway speed, back off the accelerator a bit. This should stop the fishtailing. If it begins again as you increase speed, stop and check your load. It probably isn't distributed evenly from side to side or it is too far back to put a sufficient load on the hitch ball. It is recommended that 10% of the trailer load be on the hitch. Redistribute the load as necessity dictates before continuing on the highway.

My rig is below. A buddy of mine flipped his Excursion and 30' trailer. Windy day and no equalizer/anti-sway bars. it was a mess.

Eric

If I can help, PM me.

 

[98 Saleen Cobra]

^^ Nice setup !!

 

[MantisManBHP]

All I have to say is- I would rather be Cumming(s) than stroking. And I am a ford guy...... I have multiple buddies with Powerstrokes (7.3's, 6.0's, and 6.4's) My truck with 37" tires, 5" exhaust, and intake. Out-pulls and out MPG's all of them and a few of them have over $10K in mods.

 

[Great Asp]

I currently have a 98 F-150 4WD three door supercab with a 5.4. I have a MAC equal-length headers, custom mid-pipe (I don't like the way we did it) and a Lightning catback, with a K&N and a custom tune in an SCT chip. It gets the job done for hauling a single car, does ok with an enclosed, but much better with an open trailer. With the deals that Ford is advertising right now, I am just thinking it might be time for me to step up to a new 6.4 F250 diesel so I can two both Cobras (or tow a buddies car and split fuel).

You have the right idea. The current F150 will get the job done, but if you have to climb out of the Ohio valley sometime, or travel in Virginia, you will appreciate the PS.

My "suggestion", if you go to trailering two cars, go short bed and get a fifth wheel trailer. The above 36'er is a nice trailer (very nice), but I have pulled these before and that is a lot of trailer for a tag-a-long. JMHO.

Eric

 

[racer]

Not quite the "porn" posted above, but a virgin nonetheless.

Congrats Kevin. That is one sweet truck. Great deal too.

 

[brkntrxn]

Thanks, Declan. Now I just need to find a trailer.

 

[racer]

Thanks, Declan. Now I just need to find a trailer.

Same here.

 

[98 Saleen Cobra]

Yea the 36' is no easy task on a windy day I'll just say that much, but we don't like fifth wheels because we utilize the bed of the truck when we go racing. Gear, bags, wheels, tires, ect. We have a huge hitch with weight distribution. It's actually pretty easy to tow up hills and such. the sonol grade, altamont pass, pachaco pass, and the great vine. All pretty easy and can maintain 65mph with the PS. If we wanted to go longer we would have gone fifth wheel, but we would have had to buy a dedicated truck to pull it because my dad drives the truck as a DD and love the camper shell..

 

[gcassidy]

As long as were showing off our big rigs, here's mine.
It has it's shortcomings, but I have out-cornered an Acura with it on.

I have since moved the box all the way back for room between it and the tires to carry my EZ-Up.

 

[brianz426]

Hi Guys,
You can see my original set up in my avatar. The truck was a 97 F250 with a 5.8L (351) it towed very well for a gas truck because it was a 5spd manual. If I kept it in 4th it did pretty well on most mild hills. If they got too steep or long I'd have to go back to 3rd and I could hold 55mph. My '97 Suburban 1500 (5.7) struggled to maintain speed on hills even thou I would keep it in Drive (not let go into overdrive) I'd have to speed up before a hill to maintain a decent speed up the hill.
I sold the '97 F250 and bought an '08 CrewCab 6.4 F250. Now I don't even know the trailer is back there. I set the cruise control and the only sign I get we're comming to a hill is the boost gage starts to move. If we don't get stuck in traffic I get 14mpg towing with 5 passengers and a bed full of luggage , jacks ,spares etc. Stop and go or city and I'm down to 12.5 . I don't know when Ford first came out with the tow/hall button, but I highly recommend it. As you slow down the trans progressively shifts into lower gears to aid in braking. Someday I'd like to get an enclosed trailer, I'm sure my Suburban would struggle with that, not this truck. This is my first diesel and I won't be going back to gas for a tow vehicle.

 

[gcassidy]

Brian, have I met you at Summit Point?
Where in MD do you live?

 

[brianz426]

Brian, have I met you at Summit Point?
Where in MD do you live?

Hi Greg,
Yes we met at Summit Point last year. That was my 1st track event with SVT, (and an instructor). I couldn't do it this year. I live in Baldwin which is in northern Baltimore county near the Harford county line. I had my car on the track at SAAC 33 and I'm going back to New Jersey Motorsports Park on 9/15 for a Hooked on Driving event.
Sorry guys, I didn't mean to get off topic here.