Towing 6000# trailer with stock air ride.

[big_thumper]

Looking at pulling a conventional travel trailer 6000# about 500# tougue weight with stock air suspension on 2010 exp. Limited with HD towing package. What's your experience? Good or some upgrades needed?

 

[m3olsen]

You'll find a number of threads here you can search to get opinions. It'll do it fine, and air suspension will help rear end sag (while the truck is running - all bets are off when the pump is shut down and air can slowly leak out). Ford, and many people here, say a weight distributing hitch is required for that weight of trailer. Some have talked about sway bar upgrades to help the rear end stay more stable.

 

[chuck s]

6000 pound trailer is easy-peasy. But 500 pounds on the ball is too light for safe towing a conventional trailer which requires 10% to 15% on the ball (600 to 900 pounds) and that tonge weight requires a WDH. Turn off the air leveling when setting the WDH. When you're done it can tweak the last quarter inch of level.

(Motor boat trailers have lower tongue weight requirements (5% - 8%) because weight is well aft on the trailer.)

-- Chuck

 

[haviland]

I've had several Expy Limiteds, all with the towing package. My boat is 6k lbs and the trailer maybe 1500 lbs. When towing within 10 miles of house, no highway driving, I don't use the WDH. Anything involving highway speeds, I use the WDH. I've towed from MA to Canada and Key West with no issues.

I've never had load leveling systems.

 

[chuck s]

7,500 pound motorboat trailer with 5% on the ball is less than 400 pounds and well below the 600 pound weight carrying limit. 8% is right at that 600 pound mark. WDHs typically include some form of sway control and are prudent if in doubt.

I keep mentioning motorboat trailers because my 4,500 pound J/24 keel sailboat (boat + trailer) has the mass concentrated in the center and tows like a travel trailer with about 600 pounds on the ball.

-- Chuck

 

[big_thumper]

thanks