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Location: Dekalb IL | Looking for some feedback ASAP, looking at a 2011 Ford that is a great deal and the perfect truck but has a short bed, my 1999 F350 crew cab that i have always pulled with (and is still going strong!) that I am trading up has a long bed. Never had any issues. Can I pull a GN safely with a short bed? what's the difference? does the axle ratio matter? I believe the new truck is a 3.55 (but i'm not sure what that means). I would be pulling a Sundowner GN if that means anything....thanks so much to anyone who can provide feedback! I dont want to trust what the Ford dealer tells me....I'd feel better hearing it elsewhere. Thanks! |
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Extreme Veteran
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Location: TN | You need to be careful with your turns when pulling a gooseneck with a short bed truck. It can be easy to put the front corners of the trailer through the rear window of the truck. If you trailer has a tapered nose you may be okay. If not, you can get yourself into trouble pretty quickly! The rear seems to be pretty standard in the 2011. I have read that you can only get a 3:73 in a dually now. Don't know if this is true or not! |
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Location: Dekalb IL | When you say tapered does that mean when the trailer nose is 'almost flat' as opposed to 'very pointy'? |
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Expert
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Location: Decatur, Texas | Originally written by Rebecca on 2010-10-28 5:43 PM
When you say tapered does that mean when the trailer nose is 'almost flat' as opposed to 'very pointy'? Your trailer will more than likely have the 30* tappered nose unless it is an older model steel trailer. My opinion before you actually buy that truck I would see if they had one with a hitch iinstalled so you could try it out with your trailer before you waste your money. You will need air or some sort of helper springs with the 11 Ford for sure. They are weak in the rear spring department. Then depending on the weight of your trailer you will be better off going with a 3.73 gear at least. The 3.55's are great for everyday driving and poor for towing. |
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Location: Dekalb IL | I don't have the trailer yet. It will be my 3rd Sundowner, I just sold my 40' LQ Sundowner to downsize, I was pulling that with my 1999 F350 crew cab long bed with the 7.3 diesel 4x4, the 2011 i'm looking at is also a diesel adn crew cab, just the shorter bed. 6 3/4' instead of 8'...so just a little shorter. i'm not sure if tehre's an option on the axle ratio, i'll have to check. Every single one i've seen has 3.55. Someone else said only the DRW come with the option of the other ratio. The trailer I will be getting will also be a 2011 Sundowner, and it will be aluminum and only a 2 horse with a side ramp and huge dressing room so not a massive trailer like my last one, probably not over 30' long and only 2-3 horses, since the area with the side ramp can be used as a box stall or in my case usually storage for hay and shavings going to horseshows. |
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Expert
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Location: Arkansas | I would not get anything lighter than a 3.73 for the lighter trailer you are speaking of......If you are only going on flat country you might be ok, but the rear end gear ratio makes an enormous difference in the towing. If your tailer has the full width in the front you would have to turn very gradually not to get the trailer into the cab. If it tapers in a way that the front is much more narrow (from left to right, so to speak) it would be more abel to make normal sharp turns....good luck........very good advice to try to hook up before you buy... |
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Extreme Veteran
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Location: Ohio | I'm pretty sure that the axle ratios in 2011 have been changed from previous years. 3.31 and 3.55 are the only options for SRW Diesel super duties. After reading most reviews, the 3.55 seems to have no problems handling/pulling weight. The transmissions in the new trucks are 6 speed auto's (i more gear than the previous years) and have lower ratio's internally except overdrive to get the load moving easier. My 06 has a 3.73 ratio, but even tuned, has 150+ ft. lbs of torque less than the new 'Scorpion' diesel. I've never had a problem pulling whatever I put behind it. Im sure all the torque (800 ft lbs) is more than enough to make up for the rear ratio deficit and give better fuel economy. The gas SRW trucks have different axle ratio options as do the diesel DRW 350 and then 450. Please correct me if I misunderstood... |
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Extreme Veteran
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Location: Ohio | Also, for help with the softer rear springs, look up Timbren SES (Suspension Enhancement System). Highly recommended by me. (not a dealer, just a very satisfied user) |
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Location: Dekalb IL | thanks all. I do most hauling locally to shows and I'm in IL aka flat. The 2011 truck has the 6.7 L 6 speed automatic diesel, so yes, it has the extra gear you spoke of. It also has the hill assist package for going up and down hills to help pull the load more effeciently from what I understand. I thought my 99 F350 was a 3.55 rear end ratio too....i'll have to go back and look at the sticker from that truck. I pulled a 40' Sundowner LQ 4 horse with 4 horses and a lot of tack including 150 gallons of water and drove thru the Blueridge mountains once even, no issues. I'd have to check though, I dont recall for sure, but i might have gotten bigger shocks or additional leaf springs. Anyone know what the 2011 has for rear end, leaf springs or coil springs (the round ones are what i'm thinking of, i might be calling it by the wrong name)? I dont think the Sundowners have teh super tapered nose, it would be a new 2011, anyone familiar with Sundowners to speak on this? Another question, is the gooseneck hitch at the very front point of teh trailer? Since I sold my last Sundowner, I dont have anything to go outside and look at up close! Thanks! |
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Location: Dekalb IL | Also, is 'scorpion' the name for the new Ford 6.7 L 6 speed automatic diesel engine? |
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Expert
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Location: Decatur, Texas | Originally written by Rebecca on 2010-10-29 9:08 AM
Also, is 'scorpion' the name for the new Ford 6.7 L 6 speed automatic diesel engine? This was only the "code name" giving to hem before they came out. Ford was not sure if they would beable to carry over the "POWERSTROKE" name from early years. Had something to do with the International and Ford fight and bottom line was Ford is the one that came up with "POWERSTROKE" so they can use it. As per Ford 3.55 is the lowest gear for single wheel trucks (with out a special order). If you 99 F-350 was a single wheel truck is would have 3.73 gears and if it was a dual wheel truck it would have had 4.10's. Either way the 99 to 03 is way more trucks than Ford is building now. The rear springs are leaf springs. The reason they seam softer is becasue Ford made them longer to try and make for a smoother ride. |
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Location: Dekalb IL | If i'm pulling a 2 horse or 3 horse trailer with a dressing room, no LQ, would it really be that much weight though for the leaf springs to handle? |
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Location: Saskatoon, Canada | Is the new truck a F250 or F350? What size trailer are you looking at, you told us what you have but not what you're getting. Axle ratio is less important than it used to be because of way more powerful engines and better transmissions with more gears. If you were to compare this new truck is putting down significantly more Rear Wheel Horsepower than your old truck. |
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Extreme Veteran
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Location: Ohio | It's not too much weight. The truck and trailer will do great. If you don't like the way your truck sits with the trailer on it, you know you have options to correct it. Enjoy your new rig. Sounds like it will be a sweet one. |
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Expert
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Location: Vermont | Originally written by Rebecca on 2010-10-29 12:24 PM
If i'm pulling a 2 horse or 3 horse trailer with a dressing room, no LQ, would it really be that much weight though for the leaf springs to handle? You should be fine with the springs as delivered...if you find you need more after the fact then order one of these... http://mrtruck.net/springs.htm I put a set on my 2000 K2500 (emergency backup towing truck... ) and they have worked very well. This is for your short bed... http://mrtruck.net/popup.htm
Edited by PaulChristenson 2010-10-29 12:33 PM
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Pulling a Sundowner GN trailer with a 2011 Ford short bed-is this OK and SAFE????
