Every weekend since 4th of July (except 1) I have been towing a 7500+ lb 27 foot (overall) Toy Hauler in the Great Smoky moutains, on the Blue Ridge Parkway and all over the Western NC mountains. A 6% grade around here is considered flat. It has done very well considering my truck with me, my dog, my ARE Topper and a full tank of gas weighs 6640lbs WITHOUT the Toy Hauler hitched up (so much for factory specs). I did replace the 3.73s with 4.10s and I have the Roadmaster Active Suspension upgrade in the rear. Don't get me wrong I don't win any races but I keep up with my cousin's F-250 PSD pulling a 9klb Fifth wheel trailer on steep grades and I can keep up with traffic on the Interstate.

 

about 6400 lbs.

 

Jesus that must be nice.

 

What did the gear change from 3.73 to 4.10 cost? 2wd or 4wd? What kind of change in mileage?

 

>What did the gear change from 3.73 to 4.10 cost? 2wd or 4wd?

4WD and cost at Ford Dealership (didn't want to goof up 7 year warranty) was $1250

> What kind of change in mileage?

I think I am getting better MPG since I live in a mountain area and very rarely drive on flat terrain. Also since I have oversized tires (305/55-20) and my truck is very heavy with all the options it gets it a little closer to what stock would have been.

 

I just got back from my 3rd trip to the hills of NC. I love the area & most likely will be moving there when I retire from the USAF.

Would you be willing to post some pics of the inside of that toy hauler? I'm considering one for myself, either the Fleetwood Nitrous Hyperlite F190FKX or the Jayco Octane ZX T19W.

Would you recommend the RoadMaster Active suspension?

KC-10 FE out...

 

>I just got back from my 3rd trip to the hills of NC.
>I love the area & most likely will be moving there when I retire from the USAF.

It is a great place to live, we moved here 6 years ago from Atlanta and never looked back. I was born and raised in this area and left in the late 70s, glad to be back!

>Would you be willing to post some pics of the inside of that toy hauler?
>I'm considering one for myself, either the Fleetwood Nitrous Hyperlite F190>FKX or the Jayco Octane ZX T19W.

Sure, here is a quicky (see below). For more go to http://www.928gt.com/nitrous.htm

BTW, look closely at the details between those 2 Toy Haulers and I know which one you may get :-)

>Would you recommend the RoadMaster Active suspension?

HIGHLY! I have had it on my last 2 F-150s and wouldn't buy anything else.

 

928GT... Thanks for the pics. That thing looks freaking sweet. What kind of "toys" do you haul? All I'm looking for is sleeping space for 2 and enough room for 2 bikes + gear. I haven't actually looked at any of the models, I'm basing my choiced based on weight & length. Fleetwood & Jayco seem to be the only two companies that make a "less than gargantuan" sized toy hauler.

KC-10 FE out...

 

>That thing looks freaking sweet.

Thanks!

>What kind of "toys" do you haul?

Bikes, up to 4 of them at a time , or 2 quads or 1 Yamaha Rhino or 1 Golf Cart (not mine)

> All I'm looking for is sleeping space for 2 and enough room for 2 bikes + gear.

Piece of cake, the Nitrous 19 has the same clear cargo area as mine (9 foot x 8 foot) plus another approx 5 foot x 3 foot area up into the galley.

The Nitrous 19 would look just like mine in the main area, the only difference is mine has the additional front bedroom.

We better get back to F-150 stuff before we get in trouble. Feel free to e-mail me if you have more questions.

 

Hey 928gt
this might be a dumb question but here it goes . What all comes with the Road Master . what does it take to install ? does it change your ride at all? where to get it and any price for 1

 

> this might be a dumb question but here it goes .
>What all comes with the Road Master.

It would be easier to take a look at their website http://www.activesuspension.com

>what does it take to install ?

Floor jack, jackstands (or lift) and normal tools. No modification to truck and takes about 30 minues to install both sides

> does it change your ride at all?

YES, makes it handle much more stable even when not loaded. sort of like having a rear sway bar. Doesn't make it harsher and it is easily adjusted to your liking. It can also be used to slightly raise the rear if desired but not neccesary.

>where to get it and any price for 1

See link above, if I recall pricing seems to range between $175 and $225

 

I guess I'm a little slow, but I just don't see how those RoadMasters do anything more than a helper leaf spring would. It's just another spring, isn't it? Why is it considered more active than anything else, and the 20% better gas mileage? Yeah, I guess if your bumper is dragging on the ground before you install them.

 

They work much better than a normal spring helper. I used Spring helpers for 2 decades and after switching to the RoadMaster system in 2000 it is night and day different. Can't explain why, but it is very different.

First I have seen of the MPG gains statement and I agree with you, doesn't make any sense to me either.

 

928gt That is one awsome toy hauler I have yet to see on in person, but I'm looking at any of the Nitrous Fleet. Got to love the weight, not no huge behemouth(sp)

 

ColoFX4,

Thanks for the compliment, we love it and it has been flawless. Ditto about the behemouth Toy Haulers, yet it still has all the good stuff the big ones have, 20 gallon 12v Fuel Station, 4K Onan Generator, 12v Firestone Air Compressor system etc.

BTW, just got my Edge this week, mainly to fix speedo after 4.10 swap but can't wait to see if it tows even better with the Edge. It already feels peppier on Level 2.