Community Forums

BikerGirl · 02-24-2011, 12:25 PM

recently got an 04 monaco windsor and we love it! normally, we pull a small trailer with 2 bikes, but next year we want to pull a truck with 1 bike in the bed and the 2nd bike on our recently installed hydralift. here's my dilemma:

I own a 2004 F150 4x2 and it cannot be towed 4 wheels down unless you disengage the driveshaft. or I can spend $1500 on a 2 piece new shaft. the truck is pretty long and with the hydralift now, the MH is 43' long; I had to use a 14" extension on the hitch to come home with the trailer.

or...I could sell the ford and buy a 4x4 smaller truck. this is the more expensive option, but it would weigh about 1500-2000 lbs less.

will the reduction in weight make that much difference pulling/mpg?

thanks ahead, cheryl

DriVer · 02-24-2011, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BikerGirl

will the reduction in weight make that much difference pulling/mpg?

Cheryl, I do not expect that given your 10,000 tow rating that any appreciable improvement will be realized unless the new vehicle is under 4,000 pounds. I would say, keep the vehilce you have and go with the driveshaft disconnect.

BikerGirl · 02-24-2011, 03:08 PM

thanks, I am considering that. it might be just a little too long once all hooked up though. I still need to line this up in the driveway to take a real measurement. so a smaller truck and the 4x4 would be nice to have since our last 3 yrs of winter snowstorms have trapped us in our development. but then, we could go southwest next winter..LOL!

1ciderdog · 02-24-2011, 03:29 PM

To me it's not just whether your RV will handle the F-150 but how much longer is the F-150 than the smaller trailer you tow? Have you had any difficulties at gas stations, RV parks, stores, or passing other vehicles when towing the trailer? If you have had problems or concerns those will probably increase with the longer tow vehicle. If you haven't had problems I see nothing wrong with the F-150. But personally, if it were me I'd sure think about a smaller lighter weighing tow car.

moisheh · 02-24-2011, 06:34 PM

Biker Girl: I don't know what engine is in your Windsor nor the actual weight but I can give you some information. Have an 08 Dynasty. A heavy pig! We were towing my 05 Toyota Tacoma 4 door 4x4. A great truck that towed quite well. Had to install a driveshaft disconnect. Scale weight was around 4300 lbs. This past summer we sold the Taco and now have an 09 Silverdo extended cab 4x4. I have not weighed it but am sure it is about 6000 lbs. or more. I can definitely feel the differance. Especially in the mountains. Lost about 1 mpg. But we love the new truck. Although your Windsor is much lighter than my Dynasty you also have 2 bikes and a hydralift. How much do all that weigh? If you are towing a small PU the only ones that can be towed flat with no disconnect are the Dakota and the Colorado. Both bad choices in my estimation. The Dakota is very heavy with a bad rep and will likely be dropped soon. The Colorado has a 5 cyl engine! The full size Dodge and Chev/GMC can be towed flat ( not all models). I am almost sure that all the others cannot be towed without modification. No matter what you decide to tow the weights listed in brochures are usually for base models with no options. Good Luck.

Steve Ownby · 02-24-2011, 07:00 PM

Hey Cheryl,

I assume that your bike lift is installed on the Windsor & then you are towing behind that. Is it totally out of the question to put both bikes in the bed of the truck? The reason I ask is, I'm concerned about your loaded drive axle weight. You have a 23,000 lb rear axle but if you hang a heavy bike off the back you may be close or over which will also unload the steer axle & affect your steering. Also on the Ohio turnpike now & soon on the PA turnpike the weight limit on the drive axle will be 20,000 lbs. Ohio has the scales at the entrance booths and PA is installing them. If you can get that bike weight off the rear of the Windsor you will be better off. If you had the lift installed the dealer should have disclosed all that.

Good luck,

srydve · 02-24-2011, 08:05 PM

I tow an '07 Ford Ranger 4x4, had to install a neutral tow switch to tow 4 down, but they are very inexpensive. Went to Moab with three dirt bikes, two 400's and a 650, in the box, we left the tail gate down and put a 4x8 sheet of plywood on the box floor to distribute the weight and protect the tailgate, it worked well. I know the Vulcans will be wider and I'm unsure of the length, but I think they would fit in an 8' box. You might have to fold the floorboards up (we used zap straps on the dirt bike footpegs) to get as close to the wheel wells as possible but it just might work. Hope this helps.

BikerGirl · 02-25-2011, 04:27 AM

yes, the hydralift is installed already. it weighs 250lbs and one bike weighs about 600 wet. the engine is the 400hp cummins with the larger allison auto trans. I am not sure what the weight is of the rear axle; how does one do that? just stop in at the weigh station? how much does it cost? I've been pulling the small trailer behind. I have not had any problems driving with the trailer, nor do I anticiate the extra length will be a problem. my for cannot hold both bikes; they are too wide to fit 2 across; hence the hydralift.

I was not aware of any new restrictions on the turnpikes for rear axle weight, but will do some research for that as well as get myself weighed out.

right now I am leaning at either keeping my ford and modify the driveshaft or go to the colorado. it's about 2' shorter and 1500 lbs less.

thanks for all the help, will let you all know the final decision! cheryl

sparkydog · 02-25-2011, 05:52 AM

Hey Cheryl, I am from il haha! The state law says I can only be 60 ft overall length. I have a 45 ft holiday Rambler Imperial that I tow a Jeep Wrangler behind. With tow bar I am right at the max. Now I have never seen or heard of anyone being stopped for length . I am thinking of a cruiser lift for the back of my rig. It will add about 2 ft to length. With a 425 Cummins mileage doesn't vary much towing or not, 7to7.5 mpg, but 70 mph is my normal speed! I like the Idea of truck with m/ c in the bed, but still have to have lift to get Harley in the bed safely. dilemma

Bill2 · 02-25-2011, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sparkydog

Hey Cheryl, I am from il haha! The state law says I can only be 60 ft overall length. I have a 45 ft holiday Rambler Imperial that I tow a Jeep Wrangler behind. With tow bar I am right at the max. Now I have never seen or heard of anyone being stopped for length . I am thinking of a cruiser lift for the back of my rig. It will add about 2 ft to length. With a 425 Cummins mileage doesn't vary much towing or not, 7to7.5 mpg, but 70 mph is my normal speed! I like the Idea of truck with m/ c in the bed, but still have to have lift to get Harley in the bed safely. dilemma

Sparkydog, this is the loader I have been using for about 4 yrs. now and realy love it. I load a Harley UC on my Chev. silverado 4x4 and tow with a blue ox aventa 10,000 tow bar. 400 ILS engine, it walks the dog up hills and all around. I get around 8 to 8.5 MPG towing. The good thing if you are willing to trust the law not getting you is it also has a hookup for another pulling setup on the back of the loader and you could pull another trailer if you wanted to.
Bill

www.tripledloader.com

Steve Ownby · 02-25-2011, 10:20 AM

Becky,

You can get weighted at most truck stops. You will see a sign that says " Cat Scales" & it will cost $10 or so to weigh. If not close to a truck stop try a Co-Op or big farm store that sells stuff in bulk.

The turnpike weight restriction is not new but the scales at the entrance is new. They just did not have an easy way to check weight before.

If it turns out you are significantly over on drive axle weight, is it possible to install hydralift on the Ford?

BikerGirl · 02-26-2011, 06:47 AM

Steve,

doubt you could install this one, but not sure. the hydralift weighs in at 250, add a bike to that, and I am pretty sure it would teeter the front end up in the air. it's only a 150; I've had a little over a ton of stone in her before and can feel the front end up higher; makes for interesting steering!

Steve Ownby · 02-26-2011, 09:34 AM

Yea, you're right Cheryl. I'm very concerned about your "ready to rock & roll" weight on the drive axle, but I've been wrong before. No, really, I have!! Maybe the thing to do is load her up like you were heading out for a week or two with a bike on the hydralift & go get weighed some where. Don't bother with the truck at this point as it won't affect the weight anyway. If it turns out you are under 20 k on that axle then "no worries". If you are between 20-23 k then just avoid the turnpikes that weigh ( currently Ohio & some entrances of PA). If you are over 23 k then you will have some decisions to make as at that point you are over the design weight for the rear drive train and will be unloading the steer axle enough to affect steering.

Also this would be a good time to check the production dates of your tires. On one sidewall of each tire is a DOT code. The last 4 digits are usually in an oval box and will be something like "2305" which is the 23rd week of 2005. At 5 years of age they should be thoroughly inspected and start looking at replacement at between 7-10 years. Also look up an inflation pressure table for your tire manufacturer and make sure the tires are inflated to the proper psi for the weight you are carrying.