Only to learn what is and is not helpful/possible/safe.
I'll throw my $.02 out there for you.
The super duties are great tow platforms, in fact most of the body-on-chassis vehicles are. If you're looking for ways to safely tow a load you're going to want to focus on how the load is distributed over the vehicle and, probably more importantly, how the vehicle can put that load onto the ground.
Air bags will help lift the load up. This will provide the correct drive angles for all the suspension and steering components. If the rear of the vehicle is sagging you'll reduce the front wheels ability to steer. If you've ever picked up too heavy a load on a forklift and lifted the rear off the ground you know what I'm talking about. However, bags are really only good for loads IN the bed. mainly because the bags are pushing against the load and the wheels in directly opposite directions. This will apply to 5th wheel and goose necks as well. Bags are less helpful with conventional or platform hitches. Not to say they're useless, they're just less helpful. In fact, some argue bags for conventional towing is a problem as it adds bending moments in the chassis. You'll want to research level arms/fulcrums, etc. for a better understanding. If you're going to add bags I always recommend making each side's bag have its own fill valve as you provide the truck with side to side stability as well as lifting.
Sway bars. These are removed from the factory on the Tremor package. You can add one back in if you'd like. You trade articulation in off road environments for stability on-road. Sway bars are easily disconnected for times you're not towing. Combined with independently valved air bags, these provide side to side stability and even increase cornering performance. Granted these are 8,000# trucks and not Mazda Miatas.
Correct tires/air pressure. Having tires that can handle the load are probably one of the best "safety" items you can do/add to the truck. Frankly, the factory tires are a bit crap in most driving environments and towing is no exception. Swap out the tires for something more inline with what you'll do with the truck. If this is going to be a pavement pounder with a trailer connected 98% of the time, you don't need A/T tires. There are happy balance tires but you'll have to do some clicking. Don't be put off by having a set of towing tires and a set of "play" tires. There are ways to transport the second set of tires.
Proper hitch. This is a testy area with people who tow. Everyone swears by their hitch. I'm not going to suggest one brand over another as that's for your use-case to decide. If you're towing a big heavy conventional you'll probably want a WD hitch. I find them a bit combersom but I'm also not towing travel trailers/toy haulers for thousands of miles. If you ask my opinion in this area I'll share my decision on the Gen-Y hitch I purchased. I typically tow either a flatbed 'car hauler' (more like tractor hauler) and on several occasions something with a pintle. The Gen-Y allows me to do both without a ton of fuss. The weigh safe hitch has a built in scale so you can adjust the load in your trailer appropriately. If you're moving weight around to ensure balance, this may be a hitch worth researching.
As said in previous comments, the safety of the tow ultimately starts and ends with the operator. There are ways to ensure a successful trip; checking safety chains, break-away brake cable, hitch latch secured, load properly distributed, load properly secured, trailer tire pressures, tire temps, wheel bearings lubed, general proper maintenance, etc. the list goes on but ultimately it's practice and experience which dictate the success of a journey.
Speaking out of turn a little, are the weights on the stickers under the true capability of the truck? Absolutely. It's not even a question, I make this statement with previous experience. There are many factors that go into the GVWR, GCWR, etc. that reduce the load values. A fair amount of those factors are federal and state laws for the "size" of the vehicle and even more of them are lawyer imposed. Going back to the operator comment above, it's about safely operating the load. If one were to overload by 1,000# are you going to damage something? Probably not. But if you cause an accident or damage someone's property you'll be denied insurance coverage, LEOs will hold you responsible for operating unsafe, Ford won't do anything because they 'put the sticker there for a reason'. It's usually not a risk worth taking.
Remember, you can be the safest driver in the world. But there's some idiot in the car next to you one sneeze away from totaling your $90K truck.
www.fordtremor.com
