Posted 2016-01-31 11:14 PM (#165972) Subject: Towing with Lifted truck
Member
Posts: 14
Found myself a deal on LQ gooseneck trailer, couldn't resist, but my F350 is lifted 8"(have had this truck since new 12 years ago. Its really low miles, and lifted it, like any other young kid at the time.
Anyone have experience with a lifted truck, I'm thinking I can get away with it, by just installing a CM truck bed, since they're low, and no bed rails, I think it would work. Anyone out there have a similar setup. I don't really want to lift the trailer 3 or 4 inches, it would hurt resale value later if ever, and makes it tougher on green broke horses.
Posted 2016-02-01 12:02 PM (#165974 - in reply to #165972) Subject: RE: Towing with Lifted truck
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
A trick modified by lifting, will experience a change in its center of gravity. This will negatively affect its cornering, braking and over all handling. Adding to those changes, a switch to larger diameter tires that most owners make, and any semblance of stability that the manufacturer originally engineered, will be drastically changed. Attaching a GN trailer to the bed of this truck, with an even higher center of gravity, is going to further degrade an already bad case of instability. Your best bet would be to bring your truck back to its original suspension/tire configuration, when you will enjoy stable and safe trailer travels. You will also enjoy the additional power whilst towing, from the smaller, original sized wheels and tires.
Posted 2016-02-01 3:23 PM (#165976 - in reply to #165972) Subject: RE: Towing with Lifted truck
Elite Veteran
Posts: 720
I'll leave the lowering thing alone....
But- most of the time with a flatbed, the ball seems higher and my trailer's coupler is sucked all the way up into the neck. If I raise the truck 8", it'll never level out. The flatbed helps the bedrail issue, but you need a trailer with a lifted neck, not lowered like most LQs.
Posted 2016-02-01 7:01 PM (#165979 - in reply to #165972) Subject: RE: Towing with Lifted truck
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
Agree with all above posts. The truck should be restored to get back to those tow ratings...Big tires usually don't handle loads well from my experience. The GN coupler would be the next major concern as it most likely won't have the ability to slide up the extra 8 inches to hitch to the ball even on a flatbed. I live within a short drive of the CM bed plant but will also encourage you to look at the J and I manufacturing beds. One bonus is that you can order from CM a kit that will allow you to mount your spare tire on the headache rack. I have a J and I bed and I had to find a welder that would create the mount I wanted...J and I literally told me that I should just leave the tire flung-up in the front of the bed because it wasn't going anywhere. They have idiots that answer the phones but the products are quality made and have an enamel paint unlike the CM beds. Just my 2 cents.
Posted 2016-02-02 12:14 AM (#165984 - in reply to #165972) Subject: RE: Towing with Lifted truck
Member
Posts: 14
When the truck was lifted, it was lifted correctly, modified the gearing to obtain stock configuration, if not better. Gearing was redone in the front and the rears to 4.56 gearing(stock 3.73) My wheels and tires are E rated at 4K pounds each, giving me better than stock Gross vehicle weight rating of 16K payload(14K stock).
However, it does move the center of gravity higher, but that is it. I'd hate to modify the trailer or my truck, so
I'm just curious to see who else, if any, is running anything similar. Our previous trailer for a 40 foot toy hauler(23K empty) using the fifth wheel setup. Our plan is to drive out as far off road to camp and ride into the sunset, so the higher clearance would be good.
Posted 2016-02-02 1:28 PM (#165993 - in reply to #165972) Subject: RE: Towing with Lifted truck
Member
Posts: 14
I also forgot to mention, the $5K wheel upgrade. While I do have bigger wheels and tires, It did shorten the sidewall by using the lower profile tires, giving me 50% less sway than conventional tall tires. In addition,the wheel width, went from 8.75 to 11 inches, and tires are a whole 13.50 in width. Giving me better handling and grip than even a dually truck.
Posted 2016-02-03 5:14 PM (#165998 - in reply to #165972) Subject: RE: Towing with Lifted truck
Veteran
Posts: 233 Location: Pataskala, Ohio
The only way I see this working well is with a shortened coupler tube. I personally have never seen one but as far as I can see that would leave the trailer ride hight the same. The higher CG on the truck will be a liability. But I am not one to judge, I too have lifted toys, just not my tow rig by much. If you keep your trailer low you will bennifit from its lower CG. I tow a 4 horse 10 SW with a Chevy 2500HD extra cab short bed. The only time I really got swinging was when I had about 40 gallons of water in my 100 gallon tank. I think the best thing to do is shorten the goose neck. I think any welding shop could do the cutting and drilling new holes. As a side bennifit no one will be able to steal your trailer but it will also make it more difficult to sell.
Posted 2016-02-08 10:44 PM (#166062 - in reply to #165972) Subject: RE: safty hitch system
Veteran
Posts: 185 Location: riverside ca
I am confused about what your question is, mechanically can you make it work yes, the 650 you showed has a hauler bed that runs about 5K, There are a number of people who make them, installing one on your truck would probably work but my main concern would be that you are towing with lifted leaf springs, they normally make them as thin as possible because when you add arch for lift it adds harshness to the ride, normally heavy duty trucks(like the F650)run almost flat leaf springs. These soft leaf springs combined with being 12 years old wont help. This may not seem like a huge issue but once you but several thousand pounds of payload on them the truck will be all over the place. Not to mention you will probably have to rework the hitch on the trailer as well which will cost additional $$$. In the end you may find that it is cheaper and easier to just buy another truck to tow with. IF you only drive the truck a couple of times a year short distances that may be fine, but frequent use will probably be painful
Posted 2016-02-08 10:54 PM (#166064 - in reply to #165972) Subject: RE: Towing with Lifted truck
Member
Posts: 14
This is a weekend truck, only has 108K miles, and its 2003. Tow once every two months or so, but yes, was looking for the hauler beds that would fit. Dont really want to buy another truck just yet, especially with this one being 108K miles.
I looked at the f650's and freightliner haulers, they're all running the same height and tires, but noticed their hauler beds have the gooseneck, attached toward the very bottom of the frame to adjust for clearance. I'm not familiar with the hauler beds, suggestions to manufactures would be great.
Towing with Lifted truck
