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Car Hauler - SS Shitbox


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I guess I can start a build thread for this? I picked up a car hauler - scratching an itch I've had as long as I've driven a vehicle capable of towing such a rig as I'm sure some of the cronies can attest to. Appears to be "well used" but solid - plenty of life left.

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Previous owner went through it and gave it a coat of paint on the areas you could reach without laying on your back (i.e. crossmembers are still needing paint). He also freshened the brakes, bearings, put new LED lights all around, and got it saftey'd one week before I purchased it.

It's hard to tell in the photos, but there were a couple of items that needed to be addressed right away 1) the trailer brake battery was a lawn tractor battery crudely wired and strapped to the deck (see blue strap at front of deck between the ramps in above pic) and 2) there was no plate mount or plate light (how did that pass safety?).

So I picked up a new trailer brake controller, attached it to the front of the frame, and wired it all in. I also put together a plate bracket and light and put it on the rub rail on the back - it is "supposed" to go on the lower driver's side fender, but I knew that would have just got rekt on the first drive.

A bit hard to see, but the battery box is just inside the second upright on the front. I also yanked off the old straps that are attached to the front of the frame. I think I'll cut the winders off the front someday and perhaps reuse them on the sides ... or I might just take them off and save a couple of pounds lol.

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Here it is with its first payload under new management. I picked up four concrete pillars for our new deck. They are about 900 lbs each and about 5.5 feet high. Pulled it great.

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The deck is fine ... but it's showing age and has a couple of holes. I think I might pull it later this year. That will also give me easy access to rehab the crossmembers and inspect / clean up any wiring hidden below it.

 

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14 hours ago, TomWood said:

How do you find the F150 towing?

TBH it's about the one thing it seems good at. Towed both loads with absolutely no problems. It's the 3.5L Ecoboost which has 400 hp and 500 lb/ft. Mine doesn't have max tow so it'll do 11,300 lbs ... which is a bit much for a 1/2 ton IMO.

Outside of towing it's a basket case, Ford Canada is involved, and I'm considering CAMVAP:

  • Tailgate was replaced - damaged on delivery due to misaligned hinges. It actually shaved the corner off of the tailgate from rubbing the hinge.
    • it has damaged itself again after being fixed ... they cannot determine how it damaged itself, but same symptom (but only paint damage this time).
  • Rear driver's door was removed / realigned because it was sideways (up in back) and contacted the cab corner trim.
  • Cab corner trim had to be removed / reapplied because it was too far forward and contacting the door.
  • GPS randomly stops working and thinks I'm driving through lakes or several streets away from where I am.
  • Shifts hard enough that it feels like you're being kicked in the back or the driveshaft fell out (like it unloads / free wheels).
  • Engine bucks and shudders under light load and idles rough intermittently - feels like you're not downshifting in a manual trans and too much load on engine and / or misfire.

Absolutely no codes or CEL being thrown. Shop Foreman has acknowledged the engine issue, says it is common and hopes Ford releases new tuning / maps for them because it's "not normal".

TBH - this is why I didn't post a thread about the truck because I wasn't / am not sure if I'm going to keep it.

I reeeeeally want to like it. I love the look, colour, power, features, etc ... but I don't trust it to be reliable.

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2 hours ago, autumnwalker said:

 

  • Engine bucks and shudders under light load and idles rough intermittently - feels like you're not downshifting in a manual trans and too much load on engine and / or misfire

I reeeeeally want to like it. I love the look, colour, power, features, etc ... but I don't trust it to be reliable.

The engine thing, I know you shouldn't have to, but have you tried switching to premium fuel, yes more cost but as an expirment. Iv noticed in a car that has always ran regular, it has had some noticable spark rattle lately and has a rough idle. Assuming that this is caused by the ethanol in the fuel, guessing they are pumping more than the 10% as advertised in the lower grades, but supreme doesn't have the ethanol added into it.  The same car now idles smoother and the spark rattle is gone . Never needed to run supreme previously in that car till just lately. 

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2 hours ago, Powerram said:

The engine thing, I know you shouldn't have to, but have you tried switching to premium fuel, yes more cost but as an expirment. Iv noticed in a car that has always ran regular, it has had some noticable spark rattle lately and has a rough idle. Assuming that this is caused by the ethanol in the fuel, guessing they are pumping more than the 10% as advertised in the lower grades, but supreme doesn't have the ethanol added into it.  The same car now idles smoother and the spark rattle is gone . Never needed to run supreme previously in that car till just lately. 

You may be on to something. Shop foreman suggested I run higher grade. I tried 89 through one tank at the suggestion of the dealer with no notable difference, but haven't tried the 91. Like you said - I shouldn't have to based on Ford literature / sales, but shop is saying our gas is "junk" and we need to run high grade in these trucks here.

Out of principle I've not run 91. I asked two different people at dealership before purchasing if the truck required premium fuel and was told no. The owners manual also says 87 is fine. I wouldn't have bought it if it needed 91 (or would have went with a 5L instead).

Even the RAM needed 89 or better - one of the reasons I traded it.

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3 minutes ago, sar4x4 said:

Valve body - In the transmission or something in the engine?

In the transmission - I assume this is to resolve the hard shifting / driveline "unloading" issue.

I did some searching after they gave me the plan - turns out there are others with the same issue and symptoms (and valve body doesn't fix it).

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I would suggest the 91, have been putting that in the Ranger and its awesome. Also you could look for an aftermarket or Ford Performance tune and see if it helps, plan on the Ford Performance tune for the Ranger here soon.

Hopefully the valve body fixes the issue and gets that working. The Ranger has a vibration in the driveline when starting at times but Ford says its nothing to do. They shim the rear diff or replace the center bearing on the two piece. I have the same issue with navigation using CarPlay at times but not sure if its CarPlay or the sync system itself. 

Fingers crossed they get that stuff fixed soon.

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17 hours ago, TomWood said:

I would suggest the 91, have been putting that in the Ranger and its awesome. Also you could look for an aftermarket or Ford Performance tune and see if it helps, plan on the Ford Performance tune for the Ranger here soon.

Hopefully the valve body fixes the issue and gets that working. The Ranger has a vibration in the driveline when starting at times but Ford says its nothing to do. They shim the rear diff or replace the center bearing on the two piece. I have the same issue with navigation using CarPlay at times but not sure if its CarPlay or the sync system itself. 

Fingers crossed they get that stuff fixed soon.

Misery loves company 😉

My GPS issue is the built in Ford / SYNC GPS - CarPlay has been working fine for me.

Is the Ford Performance tune a dealer supported thing? i.e. doesn't void warranty?

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According to the documents with the tune it doesnt, according to Fairley and Stevens it does...I honestly dont know who to believe. Gonna check with MacPhee as well and make sure as they are the dealer I go to.

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