Posted 2013-11-11 10:13 AM (#155724) Subject: Pulling a Sundowner 2 horse trailer with a rear wheel drive truck in the winter
Regular
Posts: 60 Location: Alberta Canada
I am wondering if anyone has some advice on hauling a 2 horse trailer with a rear wheel drive 1999 F250? This truck is well maintained and passed a safety inspection with flying colors (very low kms as well). Other than installing a good set of winter tires I wonder if there is anything else I should be aware of when hauling with a rear wheel drive? My trailer is a Sundowner 21 foot GVWR of 8000lbs and the truck is rated to pull 8800lbs. I have only ever driven 4x4 trucks and our roads are snowy and icy now. I would appreciate any tips on driving and hauling the trailer with a 2 wheel drive. Thanks in advance!
Posted 2013-11-11 10:31 AM (#155727 - in reply to #155724) Subject: RE: Pulling a Sundowner 2 horse trailer with a rear wheel drive truck in the winter
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
4x4 doesn't do anything for stopping or cornering. So the only advantage is traction to get moving in slippery condition.Reflect back on your previous towing experience. How often did you need to turn in the 4x4 to get the traction needed to get moving?
Posted 2013-11-11 11:19 AM (#155728 - in reply to #155724) Subject: RE: Pulling a Sundowner 2 horse trailer with a rear wheel drive truck in the winter
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Is this a gooseneck or bumper pull trailer? Does the truck have an automatic or manual transmission? Weight in the bed of the truck is always good. 7.3 diesel, V8 or V10 gasser? Two wheel drive diesel trucks tend to be a bit heavy on a non driving front axle...
Posted 2013-11-11 12:48 PM (#155731 - in reply to #155727) Subject: RE: Pulling a Sundowner 2 horse trailer with a rear wheel drive truck in the winter
Regular
Posts: 60 Location: Alberta Canada
Okay that is good to know! I didn't actually have to use 4x4 very often. I have six years of hauling experience so I am fairly comfortable with towing. Thanks!
Posted 2013-11-11 12:51 PM (#155732 - in reply to #155728) Subject: RE: Pulling a Sundowner 2 horse trailer with a rear wheel drive truck in the winter
Regular
Posts: 60 Location: Alberta Canada
Automatic transmission and 5.8 litre V10 gas engine. I was at Home Depot yesterday and one of the guys helping me out recommended buying a few heavy concrete slabs and putting them in the truck bed for added weight. It's either that or sandbags I guess. My trailer is a bumper pull. Thanks!
Posted 2013-11-11 12:52 PM (#155733 - in reply to #155724) Subject: RE: Pulling a Sundowner 2 horse trailer with a rear wheel drive truck in the winter
Posted 2013-11-11 1:33 PM (#155734 - in reply to #155724) Subject: RE: Pulling a Sundowner 2 horse trailer with a rear wheel drive truck in the winter
Veteran
Posts: 136 Location: Watertown, TN
21 Feet of trailer at 8000 #. What is the tongue weight? If it is heavy on the bumper, you might not need the extra weight for taking off but stopping might still be tricky.
Posted 2013-11-11 1:49 PM (#155736 - in reply to #155734) Subject: RE: Pulling a Sundowner 2 horse trailer with a rear wheel drive truck in the winter
Regular
Posts: 60 Location: Alberta Canada
Hmm how do I find out what the tongue weight is? There is a side exit ramp at the front of the trailer so I suspect that adds a bit more weight than an average trailer. How much weight do you think I need in the back of the truck to be safe? I think the concrete slabs weigh a hundred pounds each.
Posted 2013-11-11 1:59 PM (#155738 - in reply to #155724) Subject: RE: Pulling a Sundowner 2 horse trailer with a rear wheel drive truck in the winter
Veteran
Posts: 136 Location: Watertown, TN
To see how much weight the trailer adds to you rear wheels, go to the local truck stop / feed store and weight the rear end of the truck. Then hook up the trailer and weigh it again. The difference is the tongue weight. with good tires, it doesn't usually take a lot of additional weight to give pretty good traction. Except on ice. Then all bets are off.
Posted 2013-11-11 2:02 PM (#155739 - in reply to #155738) Subject: RE: Pulling a Sundowner 2 horse trailer with a rear wheel drive truck in the winter
Veteran
Posts: 136 Location: Watertown, TN
Originally written by Arieldouglas on 2013-11-11 1:59 PM
To see how much weight the trailer adds to you rear wheels, go to the local truck stop / feed store and weight the rear end of the truck. Then hook up the trailer and weigh it again. The difference is the tongue weight. with good tires, it doesn't usually take a lot of additional weight to give pretty good traction. Except on ice. Then all bets are off.
Of course to be really accurate the trailer should be loaded like you're going for a ride. And, you know, once it's loaded up......
Posted 2013-11-11 2:23 PM (#155741 - in reply to #155724) Subject: RE: Pulling a Sundowner 2 horse trailer with a rear wheel drive truck in the winter
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
On snowy and slick roads, make sure you know how to activate the manual override for the electric brakes. Practise many times before you drive on the slippery roads, until you can apply the brakes manually without looking or searching for the controller.
There may came a time when going around a corner, the trailer may try to pass you whilst jackknifing. Touching the controller with several quick applications will straighten the trailer in line again. If you were to hit the truck brakes, the trailer would continue its arc until it strikes the truck, and possibly pulling both from the road.
Posted 2013-11-12 10:18 PM (#155772 - in reply to #155724) Subject: RE: Pulling a Sundowner 2 horse trailer with a rear wheel drive truck in the winter
Regular
Posts: 60 Location: Alberta Canada
Wow! I was making a visual image of the trailer jacknifing on the icy roads and it made me shudder! I should have asked you this question six years ago! I have fortunately never had a trailer jackknife, however, I did not realize that I should manually adjust the brake controller instead of applying the truck brakes if this were to ever happen. Now I know so thank you Gard! I am going to practice this Ina. Big empty parking lot so that I can do it in an emergency if need be.
Posted 2013-11-18 9:33 PM (#155856 - in reply to #155724) Subject: RE: Pulling a Sundowner 2 horse trailer with a rear wheel drive truck in the winter
Member
Posts: 30 Location: Big Prairie, Ohio
We've run 2WD trucks for years. The only thing we make sure of it has a posi-traction or limited slip rear-end. Have observed 4WD stuck when they only had one wheel on the back and one on the front spinning and couldn't get over a little rise with a 2H BP. We go past with both rear wheels digging with our 2H BP. (yes we helped them out) Am surprised that so many 4WD are sold without posi. Not all ground is flat. Hope this helps a little with your situation or concerns.
Posted 2013-11-18 9:43 PM (#155857 - in reply to #155724) Subject: RE: Pulling a Sundowner 2 horse trailer with a rear wheel drive truck in the winter
Member
Posts: 30 Location: Big Prairie, Ohio
One more note: use some sandbags not concrete that can go ballistic in accident if not secured. Sand bags can too but will rupture more easily. We use plastic feed sacks. Put around 30-40# sand and roll them lengthwise ending up with a 4" by 3' long tube. Wrap duck tape at several places to hold together. We use about 4-5 bags depending on load etc. If you do get in a bind on an icy spot, knife one open and throw some sand down to help with traction if need be. Of course if you're in the ditch it might not matter!
Posted 2013-11-20 8:19 AM (#155884 - in reply to #155724) Subject: RE: Pulling a Sundowner 2 horse trailer with a rear wheel drive truck in the winter
New User
Posts: 1
Location: South Dakota
You will want to know if you have a locker, Posi-tration, or an open rear end. There are goods and bads to each in winter driving. A locker will divide power evenly to both rear tires so if one is on ice and the other is on pavement you will still be able to move and they will go through more because of this. The big disadvantage is if you are going down the road and they both start to spin you will begin to fish tail which will swing your trailer back and forth. This will happen more with a trailer attached because you are using more power to move then unload. The benefit of an open diff is when you are going down the road and hit a slippery spot most of the time just one wheel will spin allowing you to still track straight. But they do not offer the traction of a locker and they are basically one wheel drive. I agree to use sand for weight that way you can use it as a traction aid if you need it
Pulling a Sundowner 2 horse trailer with a rear wheel drive truck in the winter
