Question about X & Towing - Diesel Forum

New_Diesel_Guy · 01-08-2004, 04:09 PM

Hi,
Currently I Have a brand new Eddie Baur X that is all stock. I plan on using it to tow 7,800 pound trailer and possible heavier in the future. With it stock can it tow this and something a little heavier without problem because I have heard a lot of confusing talk about mod chips and exhaust systems and such. If you think that it needs something more to preform it's best please let me know cause I am so confused [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]. Thanks a lot for the help.

JOE_M · 01-08-2004, 04:16 PM

My only honest suggestion is shocks and rear sway bar.Check my signature,mine tows my aprox.8,000 lb. TT like a dream. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

New_Diesel_Guy · 01-08-2004, 04:24 PM

Supposely mine came with a stock rear sway bar because it had the new towing package, but what type of shocks would you reccommend and how much $$. Thanks.

dmftoy1 · 01-08-2004, 04:26 PM

I think you'll be very happy with it in that weight range. The only complaint I had with mine (stock) was that when trying to tow at 60mph in flat Illinois it would downshift at every interstate overpass. This didn't happen at 55 with OD locked out, or 65 in OD, but at 60mph it would. After installing an SCMT that problem completely went away.

The other stuff like springs/shocks, etc are all good. The swaybar sure makes it sweet.

Have a good one,
Dave

jogiba · 01-09-2004, 08:01 PM

I towed a 41 ft TT (9940 loaded) with my 2000 7.3 4x4 Excursion and the only mod was Air Lift rear air bags and Bilstein shocks. I plan on installing F&R Air Lifts and rear sway bar to my 2003 6.0 4x4 before I tow the 41 ft with it.

Snug · 01-10-2004, 01:51 AM

X and TT weighed in at 16,800. The X is stock, towed from Cali to Alaska...no problems at all.

Doug

jejb · 01-10-2004, 10:28 PM

My 03 Ex lmtd also has the stock anti-sway bar. I tow a fairly small load for it in a 19.5'x8.5' double axle basically empty enclosed trailer. Maybe 4-4.5k max. My only tow so far with it was almost all interstate and about 1200 miles. Mine has a pretty significant sway problem when passing semi's. The truck really wags it's tail hard at the truck/trailer swivel joint. This is a common problem with these trucks.

I'm still can't believe this problem. It's a 3/4-1 ton truck chassis/running gear and it can't haul a smallish trailer like that without help. I knew about the quirky motor going into this deal but I was caught off guard by the severe soccer mom'ing of the suspension. Neither of my recent 3/4 ton GM trucks (burb and HD2500) had this problem with the same trailer. Very disappointing.

I'll likely go to air shocks or air bags to fix the problem. I want to try one more tow with more pressure in my E rated tires first, though. I don't expect it to help much, though. You'll likely find you'll need to work on both ends and get an equalizer hitch to be comfortable towing.

AXTINC · 01-11-2004, 01:03 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I have heard a lot of confusing talk about mod chips and exhaust systems and such.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is my third X and I would suggest just keeping it stock. I have gone both ways with a heavily modified 2001 7.3, but I bought the 04 6.0 just to leave every thing as is. I pull a 32 ft 9k trailer without any problems what-so-ever. I do run an equalizer hitch and double anti-sway brakes on the tongue. You will significantly overload the X trailer towing/weight limits before you run out of power, all the other add-on junk is for bragging rights.

dmftoy1 · 01-11-2004, 07:51 AM

Are you running a WD hitch? It's curious that you get the sway with that trailer. Do you have more weight ahead of the axle than behind it? Just curious.

Have a good one,
Dave

989171 · 01-11-2004, 08:38 AM

Youve got to understand where jejb is coming from. He loved his burb, he loved his dmax. He hates his PSD X, he has never made a post without faulting something on the X AND praising how his old burb or dmax was better (wait, I take that back, posted he liked the wheels on the X). Its amazing how he almost gets driven off the road towing a small 5k lb trailer, but just one post later someone states they tow something twice as big and heavy with no problems.

The only towing Ive done is about 100 miles with a 5 k lb car trailer and had no problems, no sway, no wander. The car trailer doesnt have the flat sides a box trailer does, Im sure that makes a difference.

birdman127 · 01-11-2004, 09:25 AM

I tow about 3000-4000 miles a yr. I tow on a average trip about 500 to 600 miles each way. The X is awesome when set up right. The problem is every one is a towing expert and every one else is wrong. My camper weighs in about 7500 lbs with a family of five in the X. I have a reece dual cam weight dist. hitch and a prodigy brake controller and highly recomend them both. Air up the tires on both vehicles, proper tongue weight, adjust the Rancho 9000x's to 8 or 9. I dont want to get in a peeing contest, I want the safest people and trucks on the road. If you have a 1/2 ton burb that pulls 10,000lbs stay the hell away from the east coast as I dont want my family and freinds killed. I think some towing problems also come from lack of paying attention to driving and your condtions in front of you!

I am always looking for a safer product or tips from others to make me a safer person and I thank all the posters for sharing there comments good or bad.

2002ExcursionPSD · 01-11-2004, 09:33 AM

I have a 2002 X that I regularly tow 6000 lb's plus another 1000 in the back cargo area with.

I did it bone stock for the first year and it was easy as pie

Then I added the Rancho 9000 shocks and the Superchips tuner and now it is even better.

JOE_M · 01-11-2004, 01:38 PM

Anyone who states their X is not towing well don't have the right set up,or has the right set thats not set up correctly.Once I clear the city and get on the open road I forget the TT is back there.I keep the CB on to remind myself.Joe M. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/warmsmile.gif[/img]

jejb · 01-11-2004, 06:26 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Are you running a WD hitch? It's curious that you get the sway with that trailer. Do you have more weight ahead of the axle than behind it? Just curious.

[/ QUOTE ]
No WD hitch. Shouldn't be needed with this light of a trailer with a 3/4 ton truck. I did not have any problems towing this same trailer with my other 3/4 tons so, as I say, this caught me off guard.

jejb · 01-11-2004, 06:34 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Youve got to understand where jejb is coming from. He loved his burb, he loved his dmax. He hates his PSD X, he has never made a post without faulting something on the X AND praising how his old burb or dmax was better (wait, I take that back, posted he liked the wheels on the X). Its amazing how he almost gets driven off the road towing a small 5k lb trailer, but just one post later someone states they tow something twice as big and heavy with no problems.

The only towing Ive done is about 100 miles with a 5 k lb car trailer and had no problems, no sway, no wander. The car trailer doesnt have the flat sides a box trailer does, Im sure that makes a difference.

[/ QUOTE ]
wanabe has been chasing me around for a while now. I gather he's not happy that I'm not entirely pleased with my Ex. I won't apologize for my opinions and I'll stand by my experiences. I've owned several new 3/4 tons in the last few years and I call 'em like I see 'em.

I like my Ex overall. I don't "hate" the truck at all. But I'm disappointed in it's towing prowess, engine quirkiness, loudness and low power output. I was expecting the engine quirks so that's it's hard to hold that against it. I do regret having moved to the Ex over my 01 HD2500 LT CC dmax/allison in some ways but that's water over the dam. I just hope my experiences can benefit others that have open minds, unlike some of the posters here.