TV upgrade from F150 to F350

[gregshade]

I have been towing a 2007 25FB with my 4.6 F150 for 4 years. Mountain climbs and payload considerations have convinced me to upgrade to a gas 7.3 F350. I pick it up in 20 days.

Several questions:

Do I need to use a weight distribution hitch on the F350?

F350 are supposed to have sway control “built in”. Does this really work?

Thinking of putting a front hitch on to carry ebikes. Thoughts?

What else should I think about?

Thanks!

[ROBERT CROSS]

No...you don't NEED a 350.
Any properly set up 2500 will do the job with ability to spare.

Wanting a 350 is entirely different.🤩

ESC...may control sway but it won't stop it from starting. You may just not notice it.

AAMOF...a 350 may cause damage you will later regret.

Bob
🇺🇸

[gregshade]

AAMOF...a 350 may cause damage you will later regret.

Please elaborate.

[jondrew55]

Originally Posted by gregshade

AAMOF...a 350 may cause damage you will later regret.

Please elaborate.

ohhhh, you fell for it

[JonDNC]

Originally Posted by gregshade

I have been towing a 2007 25FB with my 4.6 F150 for 4 years. Mountain climbs and payload considerations have convinced me to upgrade to a gas 7.3 F350. I pick it up in 20 days.



Several questions:



Do I need to use a weight distribution hitch on the F350?



F350 are supposed to have sway control “built in”. Does this really work?



Thinking of putting a front hitch on to carry ebikes. Thoughts?



What else should I think about?



Thanks!

1. Do I need to use a weight distribution hitch on the F350?

I use one on mine. If you have it why not use it. I would not set up the same you’ll need a lot less weight transfer. But anti sway is good.

2. F350 are supposed to have sway control “built in”. Does this really work?

No idea.. never had any sway.

3. Thinking of putting a front hitch on to carry ebikes.

Sure. I installed a Curt receiver in the front. Direct bolt on. Used it to transport bikes for a while. Have since had a custom receiver added to the rear of our Airstream to get the bikes off the front of the truck. (That’s a whole separate discussion which several threads exist on). Note if you have a rack up front adaptive cruise will not work.

[pjshier]

^x2

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Ford's anti-sway stuff is *not* anything you want to "trigger". They do a bunch of pulsing on the brake lines. They then put up a bunch of yack on the screen about "sway detected slow down". While it *might* get you out of trouble, my guess is it's alarming enough to create some trouble.

Yes, you do need WD / AS on an F350. It needs be properly adjusted and correctly set up. You will have issues at interstate speeds / in the mountains / in traffic without a proper setup. (This based on the drive through the mountains with the new F350 and my conclusion that I need to tweak things a bit ...).

Bob

[CRH]

I have 2019 F350 and a 25 ft AS. I have towed it with and without the WDH. I believe the ride is a little less bouncy with the WDH on rough roads, bridge joints, ect. Both with and without the WDH, I use a friction sway bar even though the truck has electronic sway control

[SVTRIDE]

Originally Posted by gregshade

I have been towing a 2007 25FB with my 4.6 F150 for 4 years. Mountain climbs and payload considerations have convinced me to upgrade to a gas 7.3 F350. I pick it up in 20 days.

Several questions:

Do I need to use a weight distribution hitch on the F350?

F350 are supposed to have sway control “built in”. Does this really work?

Thinking of putting a front hitch on to carry ebikes. Thoughts?

What else should I think about?

Thanks!

I have '18 F-350 Lariat 4x4 6.7 SRW SB; GVWR 11.5K#; 5260# frt/ 7250# axle ratings, payload, per door sticker, 3693#. Truck empty is about 8k#. We tow a '21 25FBQ International that we took delivery of in April 2021.

I don't use a WHD now, though I have one, Centerline TS (came w/ purchase) and have towed the AS multiple times (so far this season ~4k miles) with WDH and on the ball and I can discern no functional or drive attribute differences with this vehicle and trailer combination. I have driven the identical routes with both hitch configurations and observed closely my trailer tow experiences during my hours long trips up and back to camp.
Below pics:
How my truck is usually loaded for a dirt bike trip. Bike, fuel, tools, ramp, pop-up awning, riding gear, cooler maybe 500-600# in bed.
Last Cat Scale ticket, ready to camp, without WDH. I wish my sports cars had this close a front/rear axle weight distribution. The diesel lump up front is a great counterweight for the AS and bed loads. The 7.3 engine will be lighter but in relative terms, by not much.
Highly recommend the front hitch receiver. Much easier to carry bikes up front than mounting something to the AS.
I modified my snow plow receiver and added the 2" receiver tube.
If you have more specific questions WRT F350 and '25 AS, I'll be glad to try and answer.

[kscherzi]

The rear springs on the 350 are much stiffer and stronger than your F150. This in turn causes the trailer to experience a much harsher ride, especially up front.

There have been reports of trailer front end separation, and expensive repairs. Also popped rivets. One way to mitigate that problem is to purchase an air safe hitch.

[tbashin]

I went to a F350 in 2018 and I have no regrets. Pulls so much better with so much less stress. No more slow poking, white knuckle driving since. I have the built in sway control but added a WD with Sway Control for additional insurance. I do not need to tighten the WD bars much at all. Just enough to settle it all in. No issues at all with the AS as far as popped rivets, etc. like some on here may want to insinuate. The joy of pulling is a 100% improvement over an F150 or even a F250.

[Life is a Highway]

Maybe like us ,Invest in a Retractable ReTrax bed cover with Rhino rails. Put the bikes above the bed and maybe a cargo Thule.

E bikes are heavy and you DO NOT !! want to be pounding water into electrical controls or motors. If you cover them up front now your messing up Ford engineered air flow. It’s not old school anymore.

I would not get a gas 7.3 350. I would get the gas 250. Unless a Diesel resale on a 7.3 350 will not be as good.

[CRH]

I wouldn't buy a F250 gas or diesel unless registration or taxes were higher on a F350 in the state I lived in.

[gypsydad]

You will likely get various answers, but most of us do use the WDH with AS for better control and ride while towing. I have tried 3 different brand hitches with 4 different AS's, including 3 25's and my currant 28. I have towed with Tahoe, F150 Platinum, and now the F250 6.7D. I like the Blue Ox the best so far..(my 3rd BO) I also run with anti-sway engaged on my TV. I have had 2 seriously close situations where I believe the BO together with the built-in anti sway kept us aligned and stopped without incident, while going from 65 to 0MPH in very short emergency situation. I credit the BO with anti sway bars along with the TV's brakes, anti sway, and heft (able to handle the size AS being towed), with keeping us out of an accident. (Recent pictures of wrecks of both AS's and other trailers, are concern enough to) employ todays technology when towing. I would not tow on a long trip without the WDH and anti sway. The WDH takes the weight off the hitch and redistributes to the front for control/steering, and the anti sway, tension with the Blue Ox, help control any sway that may occur. My experience...have not tried a Propride or Hensley, but what ever you decide, recommend you get a good WDH with anti sway control. i know when a semi blows by or a strong wind, I have a stable rig. Piece of mind if nothing else.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by CRH

I wouldn't buy a F250 gas or diesel unless registration or taxes were higher on a F350 in the state I lived in.

Now that's a new one...taxes determine choice?
The AS was tax free?

Bob
🇺🇸
“I’m not an expert, I’m just a loose association of thought.”
RLC

[CRH]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

Now that's a new one...taxes determine choice?
The AS was tax free?

Bob
����
“I’m not an expert, I’m just a loose association of thought.”
RLC

My state has annual personal property tax. There is a relief for vehicles registered under 10k gross weight. Over 10k, you pay the full amount.

As far as the AS goes, there is no relief on annual personal property tax. You pay the full amount. Taxes on the AS are part of the reason I own an older unit.

As far as Ford SD trucks go, there is a 10000/9900 option that derates the truck on paper for registration/tax purposes.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by CRH

My state has annual personal property tax. There is a relief for vehicles registered under 10k gross weight. Over 10k, you pay the full amount.

As far as the AS goes, there is no relief on annual personal property tax. You pay the full amount. Taxes on the AS are part of the reason I own an older unit.

As far as Ford SD trucks go, there is a 10000/9900 option that derates the truck on paper for registration/tax purposes.

So does ours, what's your point?
I still would not let a tax determine what TV to buy. TETO

Bob
🇺🇸

[CRH]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

So does ours, what's your point?
I still would not let a tax determine what TV to buy. TETO

Bob
🇺🇸

My point was to point out the possible tax implications to someone who might not be in the know but might care.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

One could debate if the Smokies count as mountains or are just hills. I have friends out west who make the claim that if it's not the rockies ... it's not mountains ..

That said, if you are towing in the eastern "hills" (or whatever they are). WD and AS is a really good idea. AS really does not work well without some level of WD. Heading down 6 to 8% grades is going to be a gotcha without some help ....

Based on another day's driving with the F350

Bob

[banderabob]

JMO, an F350 seems like tremendous overkill for a 25 footer..