danmanswag

lol no way. Here in Miami, and even getting into my backyard, there are tons of tight turns. I’d tear up a tri-axle in no time...it was actually cheaper than getting this trailer. I went with 7k pound axles putting me at 12k pound net capacity...which is perfect for this boat.

Truck and suspension are stock 2016.

Vantaredoc

How many miles are on the truck? Some F250's squat more than others with the same load.

danmanswag

50k

Vantaredoc

Check the tongue weight and report back.

danmanswag

I think this is the best start. Going to buy a tongue scale and see where I’m at and go from there.

Ideally I’d like to just put some bags or a rear suspension upgrade, but don’t want to do it unnecessarily.

fishstretchy

Go to a commercial spring shop that does heavy truck suspension repairs they can tear it down and add 2 leaves to make your rear a 1 ton stack.you might have to travel a bit to find one it will ride a bit rougher unloaded but nice when towing.you should check that tongue weight also but I do every truck in my fleet to tow 10-18k no problem.

Rolandt03

its absolutely silly to suggest another axle without know the weight of the boat and the capacity of the current trailer!

even with an extra axle, if he has too much tongue its still going to squat the truck!

danmanswag

Vantaredoc I plan to purchase that same Sheerline tongue scale. Does that extend up to the ball or do I have to put some cinder blocks under to make my trailer level before checking the pressure?

I'm guessing I should buy the 2k pound capacity Sheerline since my truck is mean to handle under that? Basically, if it goes max, I know I'm tongue heavy.......or buy the 5k pound unit?

Vantaredoc

The 2k pound is plenty. I use a floor jack. I set the scale on the floor jack pad and jack it up til the scale touches the top of the housing where the ball goes. I then let the trailer tongue jack down until all the pressure is on the scale. If you want the actual weight of what your truck is carrying right now, measure to the bottom of the tongue while it is connected to the truck and squatting with no pressure on the trailer jack. Take it off the truck and then adjust your floor jack/blocks with the tongue scale located so the trailer tongue is at the same height as it was on your truck. So take to weight measurements. One with trailer level and one at the height when on the truck ball. Make sense??

danmanswag

Sure does. Simple enough. Appreciate the help.

Daddoi7

You have to unhook the boat to get the tongue weight. Did you leave that step out? You can just weigh the drive wheels with the trailer hooked up and then weigh them again with the tongue jack down (making sure it is not on the scale) and the tongue jacked up off the ball. That will give you the tongue weight.

Or just have the trailer wheels on the scale. Get that weight then put the tongue jack down and jack the tongue off the ball, making sure the jack is also on the scale. Subtract the first weight from the second one, that is your tongue weight. I have weighed out thousands of semis on truck scales, I know it works.

LouTiffs

My guess is its your set up (tongue heavy) and not the truck. It looks like a LOT of boat and console in front of the wheels / axles.
If the rig was set up correctly, the truck should not drop that much.

Take Real X setup or "help" with a grain of salt and check it yourself. Trust me!
I had to move my boat position on the trailer about 7" on a 26' boat to get the right tongue weight right.

It seems like fixing the wrong problem to be adding bags to the truck.

autobaun70

you do not unhook or use the tongue jack for tongue weight on a truck scale. The difference in truck weight (pads 1+2) with and without the trailer hooked up will show the tongue weight every time.

RLC2020

I don't think you understand what a "leveling kit" is. A lift lifts the truck, A level kit specifically lifts the front the be level with the back. So in this case you would never level the truck to eliminate squat, that would do the opposite of what you want.

If you are only lifting the back you would never call that "leveling".

mikefloyd

First measure what it is and then move the axles to correct it. I'm not against the airbags to help the ride and stability but I would fix the problem first.

danmanswag

I understand what a leveling kit is. I've had them on other trucks. My truck actually sits level right now...other 250s tend to sit up a little in the rear. Somebody actually mentioned this in this very thread...I guess I got one of the ones that sits lower. A rear kit would help, regardless of towing.

Thanks for your explanation

danmanswag

Guys, I've got a plan...read the thread.

First thing is first, check the tongue weight....makes no sense to do anything other than that first. I'll report back when I do.

Vantaredoc

You might be surprised. I have seen plenty of F250's that were soft and would sag with 1100-1200 pounds on the ball.

danmanswag

Exactly.

I obviously don't know until I check tongue weight, but my guess is that a little help in the rear suspension is going to solve this. I could be wrong, but I've noticed my trucks rear end sit lower than other F250s of the same model years.

That could be from a little abuse. I've hauled around many heavy pallets over the years along with 3 different boats with this truck.

I guess we'll find out when the scale arrives...should be next week, already ordered.

K-dawg

Besides impressing the other bros, is there anything inherently wrong with squat? I'd be more concerned with axle weights, and more specifically how much weight has been lifted off the steering axle and how much added to the rear. The band-aids like airbags and magic springs don't put any weight back on the front axle, or remove any from the rear. In fact, they may do just the opposite.

Have you owned the truck since new? Maybe the truck already has a "level kit" on it?

The first thing to do is get the fully loaded rig on a scale to determine where you sit in regards to GVWRs, payload, axle weights, tongue weight, etc. Then you can adjust as necessary. The correct answers are probably a weight distribution hitch or moving the axles forward, or just living with it if it's not dangerous. A stock F250 should have no problem safely towing a 31 Contender.

https://catscale.com/cat-scale-locator/ Weigh the rig fully loaded, then weigh just the truck. That will give you all the info you need to get started. Just measuring the tongue weight doesn't tell you what the axles are loaded to.

Sweet rig, btw.