New F-350 has higher capacities than our old F-350 but is towing much worse

Timmer

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2019
Messages
397
Location
Minnesota
Hello all,

We went from a 2015 F-350 to a 2024 F-350. It has a slightly higher capacity rating for both GVWR (12,000 vs 11,300) and Rear GAWR (7,300 vs 7,000). Surprisingly, it rides and tows much different. Our pleasant surprise is that it's a noticeably softer and smoother ride. However, we really only use this truck for towing and for that we are struggling. With our old truck, we never had any issues with sway. We have a Blue Ox Sway Pro hitch that we only used for added safety on windy days. We also had no problem keeping up with freeway traffic at just about any speed. Now with the new truck we absolutely can't tow without the sway hitch. Without it, we would get serious sway at around 50mph. We also historically never ran with the tow bars at as high of pressure as the manufacturer recommended (specific chain link), but now we do. Even with the sway hitch we do not feel as safe. We have to keep it under 65 for sure, and really feel it when there is a gust of wind or a semi trailer passes. Given sway is often caused by not enough weight on the tongue, I dropped our adjustable hitch to a lower spot and the camper is now noticeably tilted further down in the front. It didn't seem to make any difference at all. Nothing has changed with the camper as far as added weight. Any thoughts? We have been looking at a ProPride hitches as a potential solution, but it is super expensive!
 
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Does the new truck sit higher than the old truck?

I never measured the old one so it's hard to say for sure. My wife and shared our thoughts with each other. We both feel it sits higher with nothing attached, but the hitch is now lower with the camper attached.
 
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Just do a search punching each pickup specs and ground clearance and height should be in there to compare. Also, a quick search of if or when they did a refresh of older models to newer models, like something from gen 4 to gen 5, would tell of what was changed, in models. And, maybe there was/is a more heavy duty option your older one had and the newer one doesnt. Wheel base should pop up also to compare.

Mine, although a cheby has plow/truck camper prep, that would be something different that a standard build.
 
You should tow with the trailer level. Having it in a nose up or tail down attitude will exacerbate the sway issues. Try adding weight to the front of the trailer somehow.
Although many people on here frown upon it, we don’t use the spring bars and have no sway issues with semis or wind.
Maybe your bars need some additional adjustment?
Rich
 
You should tow with the trailer level. Having it in a nose up or tail down attitude will exacerbate the sway issues. Try adding weight to the front of the trailer somehow.
Although many people on here frown upon it, we don’t use the spring bars and have no sway issues with semis or wind.
Maybe your bars need some additional adjustment?
Rich

I did wonder if out of the gate my hitch was ultimately lower than my old truck, but my understanding of tongue weight and sway suggested I drop the front. Maybe I needed to go up, not down, in the first place? it may be worth a try.
 
I will have to look to see if I have that function.

It's almost 100% certain that you do. Even my 2011 F250 had that function, as does my F350 Dually (current truck) It's buried somewhere in the trailering settings and needs to be turned off when you find it.
 
What size spring bars are used? I would expect 2000 pound to work well.

Were both trucks/RV weighed at CAT scale?

Not expecting anything here but does provide more information.
 
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I checked the tire pressure this spring before our first trip, but will do so again.

It's always a good idea to check tire pressures before a camping trip....and especially if there is some time between them AND ambient air temperature changes like spring into summer, or summer into fall, etc.
 
What tires are on the new truck? I ask this because I had a similar situation with my Ram 3500 towing a 9200 lb TT.
It came with Firestone Transforce. I needed new tires so went to Discount tire and settled on some Michelin Defender LTX MS/2 tires. I could tell instantly that they felt smoother. But after towing with them I knew I had an issue. The truck felt like it was on ice. I'd read about some tires needing to get run in to get rid of the squirminess but after a towing enough I knew they weren't going to settling in.
I went back to Discount and told them what's going on and they agreed to replace them and give me 100% of their cost on new tires. We both noticed that Michelen had changed the tread compound on the new MIchelins and that was causing the squirmy feeling while towing. Not towing they were great.

I went with Cooper AT3 XLT's and the problem was solved.
 
It's almost 100% certain that you do. Even my 2011 F250 had that function, as does my F350 Dually (current truck) It's buried somewhere in the trailering settings and needs to be turned off when you find it.
It will, also, have to be set every...single...time you turn off the ignition. Grrrrr......
 
I did wonder if out of the gate my hitch was ultimately lower than my old truck, but my understanding of tongue weight and sway suggested I drop the front. Maybe I needed to go up, not down, in the first place? it may be worth a try.

Raising or lowering the tongue won’t change weight significantly. Add weight to the front of the trailer if you need to. Maybe your bars are either too tight or too loose. Follow the instructions that came with your hitch regarding setup instead of just guessing.
Rich
 
You should tow with the trailer level. Having it in a nose up or tail down attitude will exacerbate the sway issues. Try adding weight to the front of the trailer somehow.
Although many people on here frown upon it, we don’t use the spring bars and have no sway issues with semis or wind.
Maybe your bars need some additional adjustment?
Rich

Raising or lowering the tongue won’t change weight significantly. Add weight to the front of the trailer if you need to. Maybe your bars are either too tight or too loose. Follow the instructions that came with your hitch regarding setup instead of just guessing.
Rich


I have the Blue Ox WD 15,000 lbs hitch. The only adjustment is which chain link to use. I am now using the manufacturers recommended link number 8, which is more pressure. I was using link number 10 on my old truck.
 
I have the Blue Ox WD 15,000 lbs hitch. The only adjustment is which chain link to use. I am now using the manufacturers recommended link number 8, which is more pressure. I was using link number 10 on my old truck.

I can tell you from personal experience, from my Travel Trailer days, the Blue Ox Sway Pro does not play well with the built in Ford Sway Control. I kept mine turned off, and I was pulling a 34 1/2 foot other brand Toy Hauler with a GVWR of 13,000 lbs with my 2011 F250 diesel crewcab, 4x4. You still need to check your settings and make sure that it is in fact turned off when you tow.
 
I have the Blue Ox WD 15,000 lbs hitch. The only adjustment is which chain link to use. I am now using the manufacturers recommended link number 8, which is more pressure. I was using link number 10 on my old truck.

So at link 10 the bars are tighter than link 8--counted from free end, not u-bolt end (standard way of counting--confusing) https://www.blueox.com/how-to-install-sway-pro/

15,000 pound set comes with 1,500 pound spring bars. 2,000 is the maximum optional bar. https://www.blueox.com/product-category/trailer-towing/hitch-accessories/swaypro-spring-bars/

Ideally weight on truck front wheels is the same without trailer and with trailer. If 1,500 pound bars can do this, while staying in the recommended adjustable range (up to 11 links, I believe), you are golden.
 
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