Towing with Supercharged 2014 Icon Stage 4?

[michiganave]

I have a 2014 6.2L Raptor. I am looking to do more towing (like travel trailers) and wanted your thoughts on my tongue weight and towing limitations with my modifications? Are there any upgrades/changes that you recommend to improve towing for me? Or am I just using the wrong vehicle at this point? I live at 7K feet and drive in the Colorado Rockies but I don't think power is the concern here. I'm more worried about brakes and soft suspension.

I have a Roush supercharger, JDM 650HP upgrade with 75mm pulley, 65mm FRPP throttle body, NGK Iridium spark plugs, Stainless Works 1-7/8" long tube catted headers.

I have upgraded brakes with EBC USR slotted rotors, EBC green pads, and Crown brake lines. The current braking power is not impressive with all the extra weight I have. I've got 37" BFT AT KO2 on VenomRex 602 17" wheels, and added weight with front/rear ADD Honeybadger bumpers, a Warn winch, RCI ski plates, and a stereo.

I have the Icon Stage 4 suspension. I didn't install the extra rear leaf that came with the kit. I presume that would be the first suggestion to change?

Thanks

 

[CoronaRaptor]

I'm not privy with Icons kit, but I have done a lot of towing with my gen 1, you will have no problem with power or with braking. I went with Deaver plus 3's for towing with an equalizer hitch. I towed a 4000 lb (empty) travel trailer, plus 2 sport quads and a dirt bike in the box. Yeah I have an extended receiver and drove with the tailgate down, lol. Adjust your air pressure in the rear tires especially, I was 55psi in the rear and 50 in the front. I have the same headers and exhaust. 9.9 mpg, lol

 

[Dane]

Oooo, I can help here. I tow through the Rockies frequently with a Roush supercharged 2012. I'm running the 69mm pulley, 65mm throttle body, and Kooks full true dual exhaust. My travel trailer/toy hauler is 5,700 dry and can start getting close to 8,000 depending on what I throw in there + gas/water/toys/etc.
Power and brakes aren't your concern. You'll have as much power as you want to make your motor scream and burn gas. Your concerns are heat. The first thing that gets hot is your transmission. You CAN overheat it on some uphill pulls, especially if you have to go slow due to traffic and don't have air passing over your transmission cooler. I upgraded my tranny cooler and I put in an oversized AFE transmission pan. These helped a lot.
Next heat concern is motor, after transmission you can start heating up the motor unless you chill out on certain uphill pulls - this is when you can get on the gas and aren't stuck in traffic. Think places like pulling up to Winter Park or a few nasty hills on I70. I upgraded my radiator to a CBR and it helped, but I still have to be mindful in certain places.

I have also upgraded my heat exchanger to the AFCO with fans.

I have +3 Deavers in the rear as well as the SDHQ frame reinforcement/adjustable bump stop setup and I don't have much problem suspension-wise. I'm not familiar with your suspension, but it's a good guess that the extra leaf would be helpful. I always use a WDH, I would have extreme sag without it.

 

[michiganave]

My JDM Roush kit came with an AFCO heat exchanger with dual fans I believe. But I don't think I've upgraded any other cooling. So more cooling sounds like something to target.

Adding in the included rear leaf sounds mandatory for me. This is a Icon RXT rear. My current configuration is already supposed to be +.75" as follows:


Standard
• +0.75" Lift over stock


Rate Option #1
• 10% Rate over standard configuration
• +1.25" Lift over stock
• +0.75" Lift over stock w/ 300lb constant load


Rate Option #2
• 20% Rate over standard Configuration
• +1.75" lift over stock
• +0.75" lift over stock w/ 600lb constant load


Not sure how much the stiffer setups might impact ride quality when not towing. My constant load weight increases are more on the front than rear when I started adding it up (front bumper weighs more than rear, and there's the winch up front too. The other gear is more centered and weight spread out).

 

[michiganave]

I take that back. We couldn't do the AFCO heat exchanger and clear my bumper/winch setup. So this is the stock Roush heat exchanger.

 

[Ruckus08]

I had a 2013 with almost same setup as yours: Stage 4, Roush SC, JDM, 37’s. I towed my 5K lb Black Series all over. I did have the add a leaf in my leafs though. I also upgraded to a dual fan intercooler and a Full Race radiator which made an enormous difference on temps when towing. Not required but will benefit you in long run. Happy towing, then Gen1 will eat it up.

 

[michiganave]

Thanks Ruckus,

Is this the radiator you got?

Full-Race 2011-2014 Ford F-150 Radiator Upgrade

Full-Race 2011-2014 Ford F-150 radiator upgrade will help keep your engine cool

www.full-race.com

Did you add the transmission cooler too?

Full-Race 2011-2014 Ford F150 / Raptor 20 Row Transmission Cooler

2011-2014 Ford F-150 16 Row 6R80 Transmission Cooler Upgrade

www.full-race.com

Which fans did you get or were they integrated with the heat exchanger?

 

[Dane]

I take that back. We couldn't do the AFCO heat exchanger and clear my bumper/winch setup. So this is the stock Roush heat exchanger.View attachment 321285

I had to get a little custom in the mounting on mine since I also have a winch, but it all fit. It had to go a little higher and those horns had to move. I DID have that one you have pictured. I sold it a while ago after putting in the AFCO.

 

[bubblehead93]

just use a weight distribution hitch... i run icon springs...

 

[HighHP]

I tow an 8000 lb cargo car trailer with a 2014 Raptor running a 700 HP Shelby Baja700 package. This uses a Whipple SC and softer rear leaf springs. The engine coolant and trans fluid could tend to run hotter on a 90 -105 degree outside temp day, pulling a couple of long (7-10 mile) 6%-7% grades at 70 MPH. I installed a fan cooled Derale cooler part # 15870. I installed it in a Rogue Racing skid plate behind the front bumper, fan on the bottom side blowing up. Not the best for rough off road use. The trans fluid flows thru the cooler prior to the stock external and radiator coolers. This runs much cooler trans fluid thru the radiator. Both engine coolant and trans fluid temps now run normal pullling the same grades. The ram air flow is adequate, I never need to run the fan. So Derale cooler part # 54008 without the fan probably would be fine.
I also use an Andersen weight distribution hitch which also acts as an anti-sway by design. This hitch is simple and works great.

RETRO TRUCKER’S CAP (FLAT BILL) - Andersen Hitches

View the best Retro Trucker’s Cap (Flat Bill) here. Shop with us today for high quality trailer hitches and gear that is strong and versatile.

andersenhitches.com