Exactly. No amount of reading internet forums can replace actual experience. This guy makes "recommendations" all the time in the 2009+ forum, even though he drives an '03.

 

I'm still waiting for people to prove anything I say is wrong. I am often wrong (ask my wife) and admit it when proven. If you don't like what I said, ignore my first response and I won't address it further. My words are picked apart, yet still unsubstantiated. This is why I rarely write/speak in absolute terms (note the word "rarely" in this sentence). If all you have to back yourself up on is name calling, I am not worried about my internet reputation. I have referred to myself (17 times?) as just some random schmuck on the internet. Take the advice or leave it.

I'm not sure how owning any given product makes anyone an expert about it. If I comment on electronic stability control systems on the 2009+ F-150 but I have an 03 without ESC, does that mean I have no experience to offer despite my engineering job relating to it? I folow the 09+ F-150's because I am considering replacing my 03 with one. I am here to learn as well as teach others. Do I need to own the truck to provide quotes from someone else's owners manual?

I do consolidate my findings on the internet and other IRL situations and present them. The experience and advice I present is a combination of mine and others. Why does it matter to you how much is mine or others?

 

And how would you know what's going on in the 2009+ forum, mister '08 driver?

 

Sorry, trump not accepted!

What in intelligent post.
Just because you did something it must be good and alright to do it again and again.... but not only that... advise others to do the same.

I too have experience... daily
I am not an internet "warrior".
I work on these trucks and tailers daily.

I am NOT going to start listing the defects that occur when towing over weight that I repair daily?? I did that in an earlier post years ago.

 

Why are the 5'er and GN trailer weights greater than the standard receiver hitch? What is gained by putting the hitch in the box of the truck?

 

Weight placement.
By putting the hitch above and slightly in front of the rear axle the weight is being applied directly to the suspension as a load instead of multipling the load as a torque hanging off the back.

Tongue load on a bumper pull should not exceed 10-15%
Tongue load on a GN or 5'er is 20-25%

 

I would not do it...

just 'cause you can doesn't mean you should

 

And when you have 20 to 25% of the weight of a large trailer in the bed, that puts you over GVWR and rear GAWR of a 1/2 ton truck REAL quick.

 

Give us the link to these repairs you made years ago...

 

this thread is not getting anywhere and the OP is dead set on doing it, so lets help him do it as sfely as possible

 

Which is the reason I want to see these "repairs."

Lets figure out what broke so we can help figure out an upgrade/fix...

 

^^^ yet another good point by fatherford

 

What your seach function broke?
I'm not diggin through 4 years and over 1200 post... dream on.

I will say that we have 3, 2004 or newer F150's in our shop now for repairs that are towing related. From bent reciever hitches to rear axle/suspension reapirs and upgrades.

I've seen it all from cracking aluminum 18-20" wheels, sheared axle wheel studs, snapped axles....

Sorry, this is dumb and going nowhere.

 

What is your search function broke? Don't come in here saying alllll these problems but yet don't give them.

Bent receiver hitches - Not much can be done about that except upgrade(is that even possible). Doesn't apply to this situation.

What rear axles/suspension repairs? What is going out on these? You also said upgrades? How many of your 3 are in there for said upgrades?

You are saying that towing and towing alone cracked wheels, sheared axle studs, and snapped axles? I find that VERY hard to believe.

These are just a few out of how many hundreds of thousand trucks? Are you 100% positive these just weren't factory flaws that caused this?

What was the situation these trucks broke in? Where they pulling just completely retarded loads? Trucks were riding bottom'd out on the axle with NO suspension travel? If so I agree yes that is 100% completely not responsible and would explain the cracked wheels, sheared axle studs, snapped axles....

If you can easily hook up a 5thwheel/goose neck and the truck can drive without bottoming out, and you have a towing package, I see NO reason you can't pull. Just use COMMON SENSE. Unfortunately it seems a lot of people have lost that concept, but that is a whole another thread.

Also does anyone know the difference's between the Mexican F-150 rear ends and the American? I know the Mexican ones are beefier.

 

Cracked wheels, sheared axle wheel studs, and snapped axles are NOT happening because of towing a GN trailer, even if slightly over the manufacturers ratings. I see 1/2 tons towing GN horse trailers DAILY, and talk to plenty of 1/2 ton owners every weekend at barrel races and horse shows. NONE have had any of those issues.