Ready to laugh? 1/2 Ton towing a Dmax question

[SIKDMAX]

Sup guys!

So, which way would you roll? 2014 1/2 ton towing SIKDMAX 400 miles lol. Only thing Im really worried about is tongue weight, I probably will be over no matter which way I do it. Pulled on forwards lots more tongue weight with the engine, backed on a lot of weight at the back of the trailer that could cause sway.

What are your thoughts?

 

[DMAXchris]

Get a bigger trailer. Lol

I would do it with the truck facing forward. The trailer will prob wag with the tongue light.

 

[SIKDMAX]

Just bought the trailer 3 days ago, its more than adequate. 10,400 with dual electrical brake axles and drive over fenders. Its not a standard 7k model like my old turd that I put 3k+ miles on with the duramax on top LOL

 

[hondarider552]

How far are you going Matt?


Nice to see that LMM out and about again

Id rather tow front forward. Bumper pull trailer pull like ass anyways though.

 

[SIKDMAX]

SLO to Underground Thursday. Ill probably go to the scales today and weigh tongue weight both directions... I have a feeling both will be over LOL but with it forward is gonna be a lot a lot.

 

[clrussell]

Def truck facing forward. It'll wag like a dog facing backwards.

Max out air pressure in rear halfton tires and take it easy, you'll be good to go more or less


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Chevy1925]

Damn Matt, you still got the old girl?!

front facing forward for sure. i towed Steves truck with the ass end facing forward to cali and back when his clutches delaminated but i used a 30ft triple axle tongue pull that had alot of tongue weight to begin with and used my CC/LB. had 0 issues but i wouldnt in your situation.

with your light tow rig and shorter wheel base as well as a load at or beyond the what a 1/2 ton should be hauling, i would be running it front end towards the front of the trailer. scoot the truck back another 6" or so from the location you have it in the pic so you get a bit more weight on the trailer axles and not the truck. your stock 1/2 tires are going to allow the back of the tow rig to wiggle due to the fact they are most likely C rated or possibly D rated but the sidewalls wont be very stiff. this will amplify any trailer wag you get if you flip the truck with the ass end forward. its a VERY uneasy feeling when you feel the back of the trailer wagging and the back of your truck starting to follow suit.

 

[MAXX IT OUT]

I am not sure, I had to haul my turn back from Chicago with a 2012 f150, I backed it on all the way so the back of the truck wasn't bottomed out but over 70 mph it would get a little wiggly, I am not sure if that was the pintel hitched or not though.

 

[SIKDMAX]

LOL over 70... Im all for haulin ass but I am definitely setting the cruise at 55MPH and bringing lots of music.

Pretty sure I will haul it forward facing, going to test load it tonight and drive around a bit and see if the bounce/sway is less than how it was last night testing with it on backwards.

 

[Burn Down]

These animals are supposed to help a bunch with sway... I have never used one but will when I move back home. https://www.google.com/search?q=load+leveler+trailer+hitch&rlz=1CAHPZT_enUS622US622&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=633&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=viWcVcqxCsP0oATT_KuwDg&ved=0CEMQsAQ

 

[weazel]

Load it forward facing. If you have more weight on the rear of the trailer, it will drift left to right on you, and get worse the faster you go. Tongue pull trailers are horrible about that.

 

[Chevy1925]

These animals are supposed to help a bunch with sway... I have never used one but will when I move back home. https://www.google.com/search?q=load+leveler+trailer+hitch&rlz=1CAHPZT_enUS622US622&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=633&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=viWcVcqxCsP0oATT_KuwDg&ved=0CEMQsAQ

i have those and a sway bar on my toy hauler. 37s that are only D rated still squirm enough in windy weather on a down hill as your coasting to keep a finger on the trailer brakes ready to pull and stop the sway the whole way down. cant wait to buy a fifth wheel this winter

 

[bml2200]

I'd tow the the truck forward facing if it were me. That's what I do with my half tons when I need to pull one of the duramaxes.

 

[SIKDMAX]

She made it just fine 420 miles yesterday. I ended up putting 10 ply tires on the rear of the truck which helped a lot, and I loaded it forward facing. It was just fine on cruise control at 65-70.

 

[SIKDMAX]

Just got back - 10.2 MPG Loaded usually with the cruise between 57-67, and 15.0 MPG unloaded with the cruise 65-75. Not bad I guess.

 

[DAVe3283]

Dang. That's not much worse mileage than I get towing with my Duramax. Honestly, if you don't tow often, I think the new gassers might be the right choice in a truck.

Never gonna give up my Duramax, though. :thumb:

 

[wyoscout]

I'm late in this but my .02 is for facing forward. How did it pull?

 

[DMAXchris]

Oh yeah thats defintely not squatting as much with the 10 plys. Glad to hear you made it safely!