New Raptor, towed for first time

Discussion in 'Suspension' started by Ray Robson, Apr 10, 2017.

  1. Ray Robson

    Ray Robson Member

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    New member here. I picked up my 2017 Raptor from Ziems Ford in Farmington NM on Saturday, April 8, eight weeks to the day from when I ordered it. Great guys, sell for sticker, they had four come in and all were gone on Saturday. I live in AZ, but they treated me like a long time customer. Anyway I have a Super Duty diesel that I do some towing with, and I am trying to figure out if I should keep it. I hooked up to my 7700 lb 25' camp trailer, probably 7000 lbs dry today. The hitch dropped 4.75", and then I hooked up the weight distribution bars and brought it up 1", I can probably raise it another inch or so, but when I braked there was a clunking noise coming from underneath the rear of truck. I stood in the bed and had my wife do the braking at maybe 20 mph, and I coud feel it under my feet, I believe hitting the frame or? I called a suspension shop and they said its probably the spring shackles and to bring it by and they'll find out what hitting. So....any thoughts? Iam under the 8k towing load max and not familiar with this much drop due to the soft suspension. By the way it pulls incredible, surpassing my old dodge 5.7 hemi and 6.2 Ford gas engines, I just need to know what to do to in this situation. Thanks, Ray
     
  2. Big-Foot

    Big-Foot Full Access Member

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    I wouldn't think that spring shackles would bind up given the overall suspension travel of the Raptor - but...
    I would be more inclined to think that the hitch was not properly torqued to the frame.
    Very interested as I will be towing up to 10k with mine (yes I know about the 8k limit).
    Another thought - With the equalizing hitch, you are putting some of that tongue load on the front suspension too.
    Do you have the right size bars for the weight of the trailer?
     
  3. 8zero8

    8zero8 New Member

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    Tongue weight?
     
  4. Ray Robson

    Ray Robson Member

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    Tongue weight about 700 pounds as it was 10% of load when I did my weight test several years ago. I followed the setup in the Raptor manual which only referred to the front tire to fender well distance, which moved very little under load. I lifted the truck up several inches with the trailer jack, but probably not enough, I'll do more today. Yes the bars are for a 10k trailer as that is my trailer gvw. I ran out of time yesterday. But I'll get it figured out today hopefully. Do you guys see your Raptor as an all around vehicle or a hunting/off road specific truck. The reason I ask is there are a lot of opinions that recommend not towing and one of the vendors on this site actually says they trailer their Raptor to where they want to use it, thanks, Ray
     
  5. Vikes91

    Vikes91 Well-Known Member Military

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    If I was going to tow that much I wouldn't have the raptor. But that is me. I buy for what I need. I need a capable vehicle in the snow and light off roading. And of course it needs to look bad ass, so I have Raptor. If I towed regularly I'd have a superduty wth a lift and tires.

    To each their own.
     
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  6. Big-Foot

    Big-Foot Full Access Member

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    I plan on towing a travel trailer pretty regularly with mine. The trailer will be roughly 8k. My enclosed racecar trailer runs about 10k fully loaded and will tow that infrequently.
    I expect that the towing capacity of the Raptor is reduced from that of the standard F150 due to the amount of suspension travel being increased and the compliance of the springs.
    If towing the racecar trailer proves to be too much load for the Raptor, I will add AirLift air bags above the axle.
    I am a fabricator so making the mounts is not a big deal.

    Ray - double check the torque on those hitch bolts. They should have a minimium of 100 ft pounds on them.

    When I hook up my Reese bars on the trailer, I have the tongue jack set just to the point where I have the ball seated in the hitch. The jack is supporting the weight of the tongue at this point.
    Then I install the Reese bars and can generally flip the over-center chain hook by hand rather than having to use a pry bar or lever bar.
    Then I raise the tongue jack which fully loads the weight of the trailer tongue on the truck - thereby putting strain on the Reese Bars.
    My trucks almost always stay pretty level if I have the tongue weight in the 10-15% ball-park.
    I have towed with these bars like that for over 20 years without difficulty.
     
  7. Ray Robson

    Ray Robson Member

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    I got it figured out guys I had to lift the rear of the Raptor up a couple more inches and then apply those bars two more chain links and it's absolutely perfect towed it no problem I'll try and see if I can post a picture tonight, thank for your comments and help, Ray
     
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  8. Ray Robson

    Ray Robson Member

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    Heres a pix ki 20170411_145450.jpg
     
    Last edited: Apr 11, 2017
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  9. Big-Foot

    Big-Foot Full Access Member

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    Sounds good Ray...
     
  10. Gdog

    Gdog Full Access Member

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    I agree with vikes. How many current raptor owners bought their trucks to tow 8 to 10k lb trailers on a regular basis? If you want to tow that much weight buy a power Stroke! Ya the raptor is going to sag in the ass end. It's not a super duty
     
  11. shelteredraptor

    shelteredraptor Full Access Member

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    This is like making a hooker go to church, some things just shouldn't happen. I don't go tuna fishing with a fluke rod for fucks sake. I can't see it being any good for the shocks, drivetrain, blah blah. I'm with Vikes and dog, use it for the intended purpose.
     
  12. Big-Foot

    Big-Foot Full Access Member

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    It's a truck for Pete's sake... I will use it as one...
    I've traded in my F350 CrewCab Dually with 6.7 on the Raptor because I no longer need the dually to drag my 19k# 5th wheel Toy Hauler. The other trailers I own are within the capability of the F150 Raptor (in my opinion).
    I also do a significant amount of off-roading during the winter months where I live in AZ. I may use my Side-by-Side or may use the Raptor or Rubicon..
    If you just want to cruise malls and shoot the dunes with your Raptors - knock yourselves out
    IMG_7209.JPG
     
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  13. Gdog

    Gdog Full Access Member

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    cruise malls and shoot the dunes? no that's some funny shit there..
     
  14. gunnersguru

    gunnersguru Full Access Member

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    right on bigfoot , I'm with you
     
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  15. Vikes91

    Vikes91 Well-Known Member Military

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    As I said, to each their own. But a question was asked and I gave my opinion. I don't pretend to be smarter than the guys that went to school to make these decisions and make the $$$ to figure it out. I do know auto makers tune cars on the very safe side to eliminate engine issues, so would make sense that they would do the same on tow capacity. Best of luck.
     
    Last edited: Apr 12, 2017
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