Community Forums

NYtravelers · 08-28-2014, 05:18 AM

so bought a sunnybrook lite 3008 SLe and i have a 2007 ford expedition for towing it. Went out with them both yesterday and have to say the trailer seemed like it was making the truck swerve all over the place, I have the stabilizer and weight reducers.. is there another trick or is that to much trailer for the expedition. The ford is supposed to be able to tow 9100 lbs and the trailer dry is 6100 lbs and i have many at absolute most 1300 lbs of stuff inside.. tongue weight off ?

any ideas would be great

rideandslide · 08-28-2014, 06:20 AM

Do you have a weight dist. hitch ? Plus i'm a little doughtful of you towing capacity. I'm a big believer in the 20% safety zone as far as towing capacities.

Jim

ahicks · 08-28-2014, 06:38 AM

There is quite a bit to setting up a weight equalizing hitch properly. Who did that for you? Did you have the truck and trailer there at the same time?

Ball height must be set correctly for trailer.
Equalizer bars must be sized properly, depending on tongue weight of trailer
Angle of head and bar chain tension must be correct for bars to be tensioned properly when the rig is level.
Some type of sway control properly installed.

Doesn't sound like much, but if each item isn't set correctly, the chances of your rig handling as well as it's supposed to are slim to none.

NYtravelers · 08-28-2014, 07:39 AM

[QUOTE=ahicks;2202540]There is quite a bit to setting up a weight equalizing hitch properly. Who did that for you? Did you have the truck and trailer there at the same time?

Ball height must be set correctly for trailer.
Equalizer bars must be sized properly, depending on tongue weight of trailer
Angle of head and bar chain tension must be correct for bars to be tensioned properly when the rig is level.
Some type of sway control properly installed.

Doesn't sound like much, but if each item isn't set correctly, the chances of your rig handling as well as it's supposed to are slim to none.[/QUOTE

No one really set it up for my truck, bought the trailer the other day and put a new hitch assembly on my truck with sway attachments. I am used to pulling a 15,ooo lbs equipment trailer behind my F-350 and never had any problems and when or if i did i just adjusted machine to compensate for tongue weight. I just calculated my tongue weight on the camper to be around 780 lbs. my trailer is about 6100 dry, guessing no more than 1000 lbs of gear.

rideandslide · 08-28-2014, 07:47 AM

Ford 3500 to a Expedition, there's going to be a leaning curve ????

jimcumminsw · 08-28-2014, 08:11 AM

I could be all wet but I believe the Expedition may have P rated tires on the vehicle from the factory. Your F350 has LT tires on the truck which have stiffer side walls for load carrying ability. The P passenger tires that the Expedition has on it may be part of the problem when towing. The softer side wall construction that a P rated tire has for a smoother ride will not help for towing also they are rated less for towing loads if used for towing. Also what speed where you towing at?

I would also have the dealer check out the towing equipment to insure it is correctly adjusted for your trailer and vehicle.

HHIDan · 08-28-2014, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahicks

There is quite a bit to setting up a weight equalizing hitch properly. Who did that for you? Did you have the truck and trailer there at the same time?

Ball height must be set correctly for trailer.
Equalizer bars must be sized properly, depending on tongue weight of trailer
Angle of head and bar chain tension must be correct for bars to be tensioned properly when the rig is level.
Some type of sway control properly installed.

Doesn't sound like much, but if each item isn't set correctly, the chances of your rig handling as well as it's supposed to are slim to none.

X2

If the ball height is wrong (not parallel to ground) that's how a trailer behaves (or mis-behaves). 20% more margin than the manufacturer already and probably allows is also a good thing.

mike.t · 08-30-2014, 02:20 PM

I don't care what the manufacture say's SUV's are not very good a towing travel trailers. Yes the can pull it. The brakes don't like it the 3rd member doesn't like it the trans doesn't like it! JMHO of course.

Bamaman · 08-30-2014, 04:13 PM

I agree with those above--ball adjustment, cranking up the bars and sway control.

I'm also a big believer in having any tow vehicle's wheels aligned yearly--whether or not they need it. I want the suspension man to make sure my front suspension, shock absorbers and brakes are in 100% condition before I tow any heavy weight.

Tomtall · 08-30-2014, 05:37 PM

Many good videos on the net regarding set-up. Here is one of them.

This one by "Curt" manufacturing is a good one.
http://youtu.be/mkewkvU8Ot8

wingnut60 · 08-30-2014, 06:16 PM

I towed a Sunnybrook 30FKS (9500GVWR, maybe 8500actual) with an '03 Expy--the only way I could get to behave was to put Michelin LT tires on it. Even then, it wasn't a great experience--eventually went to an F250.
Joe

Cummins12V98 · 08-30-2014, 09:14 PM

Add all the Band-Aids you want. Unless you have more TV than you need towing a TT is no fun!

raytwntrvlr · 09-01-2014, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cummins12V98

Add all the Band-Aids you want. Unless you have more TV than you need towing a TT is no fun!

This poster is absolutely right. BTW I have my shield up and my tin foil helmet on... I am sure to hear from that guy who towed a 30'TT weighing 4 tons w a chevy blazer and I don't question that. To me it's about how much you do or don't feel the trailer and how much it affects your TV going down the road.

We tow our light weight (5K) TT w a RAM 2500 CTD.. I like that my rig outweighs the TT by over a ton. Makes for easy-peasy, low stress travlin

. Plus great gas mileage!

TDI-Minnie · 09-01-2014, 06:58 PM

I agree with these two points that were already made:
#1- tires! You need strong sidewalls and I would try them at max pressure and see how it is

#2- ball hight. If the trailer in even slightly nose-high, it will be less stable. I run mine slightly low in the front.

To the second point, you may actually have too much weight distribution OR too little hitch weight. Make sure your tanks are empty and load some cargo forward in the trailer.