Im currently towing a 26' Mallard asv toybox with my 06 F150. The truck was ordered for towing and is the 5.4 , auto, 3.73s 4x4 crew cab with 6.5' box. Its 150 inch WB and seems to have enough power to pull the trailer. My question is when out on the highway, or in high winds, the trailer wags the truck giving me an uneasy feeling. Now my trailer is over 12ft high at the rear so it catches alot of air. Yes, i have a WD hitch and sway control and have adjusted it to try to get rid of this but no real change, loaded or not. Will a regular cab dually help get rid of this condition? I look forward to any advice you guys can offer. Thanx, Jeff.
It sounds like your hitch is over weight. If you have a weight dist. hitch this sometimes gives the illusion you can haul more weight than the truck was intended for. Your F-150 should pull this trailer at highway speeds fine on level ground, hit the hills and you may have a problem. Also cross-winds will cause trailer sway. A dually weighs more at the rear axle making it very stable for towing, of course the cost is more to run this type of p/u ie: tires, fuel etc. Check your air pressure and hitch weight before you leave on the next trip. Moving weight a little further back might help. BTW, I have a single rear wheel 1-ton and have no problems in this dept. I don't need training wheels.
What is the weight of this trailer? IMHO, a 1/2ton pickup shouldn't pull ANY type of enclosed trailer around that is longer than 18' or so that is loaded to full capacity. The amount of weight that you are towing makes a huge difference on if I said you could make a 1/2 ton work or if I personally thought you needed a 3/4ton.
1/2 ton trucks has been pulling bumper-pull trailers for a long time. I'm not saying it's the safest or the most economical way to tow (depending on trailer) but it can be done and has been. I'm also not telling you to go out and buy a new T.V. But, if your in the market a 3/4 ton will do just fine. You don't need a dually. Unless you really want one.
to answer your main question, yes a dually will help. OR a 3/4 ton ride that is LONGER than what you have, with maybe some airbags. your biggest problem is soft springs on the truck and a short wheel base. next biggest problem is power, but that is one ya can deal with. personal opinion... NEVER buy a half ton truck. i just dont personally see th epoint of them. thats just me though.
The trailer is 6200 empty/ loaded the way I had it 8500. My truck is the longest F150 you can buy. Crew cab-6.5 box= 150" WB with E rated tires. The trailers gvwr is 11500lbs but it will never see that much. PS: I already have the dually its just not finish being restified yet !
That is way too heavy for a 1/2ton enclosed trailer IMHO. If it was a flatbed with a short load on it, you could possibly fudge with something like that. You need a 3/4ton pickup.
definitely get your dually finnished. I agree with what was stated above that half tons should pull no more than an 18 foot trailer. some 20footers are fairly lite but thats fudging it for my preference.
It's just that enclosed trailers are so good at throwing around the truck. You get a big gust of wind with a tall enclosed trailer and it can put you into the next lane with a vehicle too light.
Driving toward Columbia, SC last week I noticed a dual axle open utility trailer (loaded) in the middle of the median. The skid marks very well indicated the truck pulling it had lost control and the trailer traveled all the way around the truck in a swinging motion. The tow vehicle was not there. 10 to 1 the tow vehicle had single rear tires.
I don't think that a dually is a necessity with that kind of weight, but a truck that is heavy enough is key. I had a 96 SB ext. cab Chevy C1500. Difinately a case of the tail wagging the dog, even with a WD hitch, and sway controller. I don't need the sway controller ( I still use it though) on my 99 F350 crew cab. 5000# truck versus a 7500# truck. An 8500# trailer will add 850# - 1225# to the truck. That is approaching the limits of a 1/2 ton truck.
