routlaw

Finally received delivery on the 3rd, turns out my payload capacity is 1285. Not great but should be able to work with it. It has the moonroof, max tow pkg, and 4X off road pkg, came with factory tonneau cover all which add to the load. Now that I have installed Li-ON battery I would like to eliminate the charge for the new TV but there is nothing in the manual that specifically states what fuse and or relay fuse is used for this. On my older 2013 it was #9 & 21 for the relay and fuse. Anyone else know anything about which fuse to remove to eliminate the charge to the trailer? There are a few fuses related to the trailer but most them are marked for various lights, brakes etc the other noted as #8 just states Trailer Tow 1 rated at 30A. I suspect #8 is the one I am after but would like confirmation before pulling. Thanks in advance if anyone has insight on this.

I'm not a lawyer but even a quick AI research/query provided this info: Regardless better to be safe than sorry. Generally, a sticker on the bottom of a truck hitch stating load or weight capacities is considered legally binding, but its primary purpose is related to safety and manufacturer specifications, not necessarily creating a contract. Here's why and what it means: Manufacturer Specifications: The sticker indicates the maximum tongue weight and towing capacity the hitch is designed to handle, which are set by the manufacturer. Safety and Responsibility: Adhering to these limits is critical for safe towing and preventing potential damage to the vehicle or hitch. If you exceed these limits and it contributes to an accident, you could be held liable. Not a Contract: These stickers are not generally considered to form a contract in the typical legal sense, like a buyer's order or sales contract. Instead, they provide essential safety information that must be followed. Important Note: Vehicle vs. Hitch Capacity: The sticker on the hitch might indicate a specific weight capacity, but you must always adhere to the lower of the vehicle's towing capacity or the hitch's capacity. The vehicle's towing capacity is determined by the manufacturer based on factors like engine power, chassis strength, and braking systems. Tongue Weight Importance: Proper tongue weight (typically 10-15% of the total trailer weight) is crucial for preventing trailer sway and ensuring safe handling. In summary, while the sticker isn't a legal contract, ignoring the information on it about weight limits could have legal consequences related to negligence or contributing to an accident. Always prioritize safe towing practices and adhere to the manufacturer's specifications on both your vehicle and your hitch.

I don't recall who the forum member was but a couple years back he informed all who were towing with half ton pickups (or less) insurance companies will take you to the cleaners if not properly equipped at time of wreck including but not limited to you being faultless in the wreck. Apparently he was a retired insurance lawyer who did just that investigated people on behalf of the insurance companies who were towing either at their limits or over. Cutting to the chase as I understood it, you could get t-boned at an intersection but if at the limits or over of your towing capacity get taken to the cleaners financially even though it was not your fault. At this point I had been towing for 8 years or more without the use of the Anderson WDH with no issues. I decided it was time to change, bought the Anderson, and still hate it, but also worth the peace of mind not to get taken by insurance companies for all I am worth. Is there a difference using the WDH? Yes. Is the difference monumental? No, but I still keep using it. Not all of us can afford or even want to own a 3/4 ton pickup and for a litany of different reasons. In the meantime a couple of issues the RAS does that airbags will not do. Completely eliminate axle wrap on acceleration, some weight distribution, and purportedly better gas mileage. It also has the disadvantages of lifting the rear truck bed especially noticeable with highest setting. Personally I have not realized better gas mileage but the difference in handling, and towing are noticeable. Not sure what I will do with new truck yet.

Agreed these newer trucks are on a completely different level in performance as well as comfort, features and amenities. Approaching rocket science.

Thanks but for the record I live in Montana not WY but we often travel to and through WY, camp, hike and bike. From what I know the payload does differ a fair amount depending upon what other options are installed from moonroof to off road package. For the most part other than toys, ie bikes or kayaks we are fairly light travelers. Even over estimating our load with everything we might bring along I don't get anywhere near what the lowest payload might be on this truck. Future experience might prove otherwise, hopefully not. Like many others on the forum I have had great success with my previous eco boost engine pulling the Ollie for over 10 years. A 3/4 ton would be great for towing but just not in the cards for me for a litany of reasons. Once I have this new one in hand I will report back on all of the concerns we have all come up with. It's interesting how the Ford truck forums have so much vitriol for this one model of truck though, just on the issue of towing and none other. Almost funny how so many people get worked up over these issues. Oh well.

I've used both a bottle jack and conventional auto jack with long handle pump. Both work just fine but honestly the bottle jack is easier to get placement with given the limited amount of space and the small target areas. Of course I always use jack stands too. As for the wheel lug nuts, have never ran into what you're describing but do torque them to 110 ft/lbs. Seems like this is the official torque values the last time this came up on the forum. Don't have a clue as to whether the bolts are splined or not.

Bill, yep been aware for that for many years, and ended up adopting the Anderson a couple of years ago although I had towed the Ollie for some 8 years with no issues. However I have seen another Olivers out on the road with half ton pickups with no WDH including last summer in Glacier. I will admit they help, but are also a PITA to use. I hear you though the liability just isn't worth going without a WDH. Thanks

I do have the 6.5 foot bed, but doubt it would make a huge difference one way or the other. Just curious are you also using the Anderson WDH? It seems there are still some folks with half tons and not using it so that certain could make a noticeable difference too. Regardless using the RAS system will raise the bed, no way around that, to what degree depends largely on adjustment implemented, ie heavy vs light. Unfortunately I can't take any photos now of my setup having just traded in my older '13 F150. I see you have the 2.7 engine, probably somewhat lighter in weight. Curious if that throws the front to rear weight balance off compared to my setup.

Allow me to add this, I installed the RAS on my 2013 Lariat Super Crew 3.5 Eco Boost a couple of years ago. Initially I adjusted it for the max setting using black thicker gauge disc. On my setup this was just too much and felt the ride was a bit too hard, tail up too high and finally the the tow vehicle to trailer looked like an inverted V with trailer pointing upwards at the hitch ever so slightly. A few months ago I adjusted the RAS back down to the lower setting using the thinner white disc and like this setting a lot compared to the previous max. Ride is better, TV and trailer are flat out level and the truck bed tail gate combo set lower while not towing. From my perspective I don't think the max setting is needed on an Oliver given its modest size and weight. I would encourage you to at least try this method and see how you feel about it before abandoning the RAS. BTW never used air bags so no idea how it compares.

That's some very helpful and interesting information @STEVEnBETTY thanks for sharing this. Clearly I have a lot to learn about these new vehicles. Thus far on my test drives I have been truly impressed by the difference from the older units. I was starting to become a bit concerned regarding the reduced payload capacity at first due to the additional weight of the onboard battery but given how we travel I think the Powerboost will be fine. Ford is really hitting with some of their new features on these trucks but reliability might be a concern too, only time will tell.

@I M in KS actually the Powerboost does come in a 6.5 bed, have been driving one today, Lariat model. It's impressive and a cut above my older 2013 EB in every way. Truthfully I am not sure how much use I would get out of the 7.2 KW generator, maybe some but given our solar and LI-ON battery and how little electricity we use while camping but its still a very nice forward thinking attribute and feature. I am surprised you are not getting better gas mileage though. Even my older eco boost gets on average much better MPG unless its severe windy conditions. Thanks for the info.

Bill your results are very similar to mine in terms of MPG for towing but much depends on the wind out here in the west. I have gotten lower but also higher too under very ideal conditions. Good point regarding my older unit getting close to 100K and this more than anything has prompted me to make a move rather than getting in trouble back in the boonies and all that entails potentially. Otherwise the yes the 3.5 EB are surely a tech marvel, well the entire truck line is for that matter. Very close to closing the deal on new one as we speak. While the longer beds are a PITA in urban areas I still prefer them, but local dealer had very few on the lot but otherwise just about ideal. Thanks

@STEVEnBETTY thanks for this info. Just about to close a deal on one. I do have one more question for you though. What is you normal assuming there is one, cruising range on a tank of gas. I understand the EV portion does nothing on behalf of towing and the tank is smaller by 6 gallons so your range between fill ups should be shorter and more frequent, right?

I will take a stab at this. By filling the fresh water tank until it overflows via the weep holes you now have a tank that is so full the water will tend to flow out of the lowest point. Understand too the bubble level at the front is NOT a perfect indication of true level until its calibrated to a known source. What I am getting at is unless you know there is water leaking between the hulls I wouldn't worry about it too much so long as it's coming out of the weep holes. However one way to check this is take your kitchen drawers completely out of the cabinets and with light in hand peer over to the outside of the trailer, backside of the cabinets at the floor area to make sure nothing is leaking into this area caused by a bad fitting. You could also prevent this by shutting of your water supply during fill up when tank indicator states 100%. On my Ollie even after 100% indication the water will keep filling for another few gallons until it overflows via the weep holes Hope this helps Rob

Considering a new TV and the Powerboost caught my attention yesterday. A 3/4 ton would be nice but just don't have the space to park it or the budget to own and keep one so still going with a half ton. I have had great service from my existing F150 3.5 EB but it is getting long in the tooth (2013) and I now have one major repair to do to the HVAC system (over $2K) with potential concerns for more major repairs in the future now that I am coming up on 100K miles. Other than this one repair the truck has been near faultless for well over 12 years other than basic maintenance. Given my tendencies to be far off the beaten path with #70 in tow reliability is becoming a concern. I know there are a few of you who have been towing with the Powerboost F150 and wanted to check in with you to see how thats still going? MPG, towing range, or anything else you would like to share regarding its towing capability as well as day to day driving? Curiously what I see on dealer lots recently is the 5.5 beds vs the 6.5 foot beds. Not sure why, but not happy about it. I really like the longer bed length for a variety of reasons but maybe I could get used to the 5.5 foot bed length. Thanks Rob