Suspension mods. for Excursion for towing - Diesel Forum

potis · 01-09-2005, 08:53 PM

I'm new to the board. Owned three different Ford F250s over the past several years. Haul a boat throughout the year, except during these rainy months here in No. CA. Total estimated weight of boat/trailer/gear etc. is about 6,000#+. I have given up my trucks for a 2001 Excursion Limited, with 7.3L PSD (family growing, looking for more comfort, etc. as I get older). Looking for advice on mods. needed ford the suspension etc. in order to pull by boat without any worries. I'm not concerned with the X's ability to pull the load, it's the suspension that concerns me. I already know that I need to go to a WD trailer hitch set up, since dead weight max. on the X's stock hitch is 5,000#. I'm thinking of adding a Hellwig swaybar and maybe air bags. I'm not looking for anything radical (X is all stock), plus I commute over two hours (RT) each day in it, I just want to make sure that I can haul with confidence. Any thoughts from other X owners.

Thanks.
Paul

jschira · 01-09-2005, 09:29 PM

HD shocks (of your choice);

and

Hellwig sway bar;

and (your choice):

air bags, or

Timbrens (front and rear)

www.timbren.com

JOE_M · 01-09-2005, 09:55 PM

Check my sig..Mine tows like a champ with what I have.

mike650 · 01-09-2005, 10:44 PM

Don't think; please get a rear swaybar, Hellwig or Ford 30mm. This should be mandatory with an Excursion, towing or not.

Upgrade the shocks to a heavy duty shock like Bilstein, Rancho, Monroe, Edelbrock, etc.

Here are some additional suggestions to make your X handle and perform really well:

Upgrade the front springs to Ford F250 "u" or "v" codes and replace the front bump-stops with 2003 Ford Excursion bump-stops.

If you are towing a lot of weight look into airbags. I can not give a recommendation because I do not have any...yet.

Upgrade the OEM front steering stabilzer bar to Rancho, Procomp, etc.

If stock, upgrade the tires to 285/75/16's.

Good luck,

-Mike

FamilyRide · 01-09-2005, 11:34 PM

6000 lbs???? If you don't have a rear antisway bar, get one.

Otherwise, 6000 lbs for a boat that is set up properly and on a good tandem axle trailer with brakes is nothing just the way it sits (with a rear bar of course).

All the rest might make it better, but it's overkill for 6000 lb boat set up on the right trailer.

Notice I keep going to the trailer and how it's set up? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] If the trailer was not set up for that boat specificly, that could be a problem that nothing else will help with. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

BTW, mine's about 7500# and I DO have the OEM rear bar but that's it. Could it be better, sure, it could always be better. Better shocks might help but it's fine the way it is now.

turbodave · 01-10-2005, 07:03 AM

Here's what I've done. Very little actually.
I tow a 24' enclosed car hauler (trailer's GVWR 9,900$).
I've had to do very little, but I do use a WD hitch, and the best mod I ever made was the addition of the Ride Rite air springs!!!
That's it.
Truck rides just fine as far as I'm concerned. Never felt or saw the need for a hellwig or otherwise yet.

jschira · 01-10-2005, 07:58 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Truck rides just fine as far as I'm concerned. Never felt or saw the need for a hellwig or otherwise yet.

[/ QUOTE ]

Do it and see what you have been missing.

CHPMustang · 01-10-2005, 11:04 AM

It was night and day in comparison going from stock to our Excursion upgraded with a Rear Swaybar,Shocks and steering stabilizer [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

Bill

potis · 01-10-2005, 11:52 AM

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.
Joe_M - What is the weight that you are towing. I noticed from you sig. that you did not add air bags, change springs etc.
FamilyRide, Your points are very valid and important. My boat and trailer combo is set fine. I have owned it for over 4 years and pulled it with two different trucks (a 1997 F250HD PSD 4x4 and 2001 F250SD PSD 4x4). The load has always seemed to be distributed perfectly - never the slightest problem.
Paul

turbodave · 01-10-2005, 05:22 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Truck rides just fine as far as I'm concerned. Never felt or saw the need for a hellwig or otherwise yet.

[/ QUOTE ]

Do it and see what you have been missing.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, as I stated, I'm happy with the ride performance. After all, I do realize and take into account that I'm driving an 8,000# truck, and not trying to treat it like a 2,000# sports car. Trust me, I've seen a LOT of guys trying to drive their X's and SD's like a sports car. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

Maybe my Ride Rite springs are making a huge difference. Don't know. They sure made towing a dream.

Bruce1954 · 01-10-2005, 06:30 PM

Paul

1. See my Bio

2. Forget Timbrens for front unless you are installing a snow plow
See posts by Pharmer he has had both springs and Timbrens

3. Note that TurboDave has a 4x2 Different Front end and no relation to a 4X4

Bruce (AKA the spring Info Guy)

FamilyRide · 01-10-2005, 07:08 PM

[ QUOTE ]
My boat and trailer combo is set fine.

[/ QUOTE ]

In most cases that's the deal and I assumed you were good as well. Unless someone tries real hard to mess one up, boat and boat trailers on Tandem axle are balanced perfectly. Got to a TT that's 2000 lbs lighter and you'd have more challange and really need to show your towing and tow equipment smarts. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

OT but what kind of boat do you have??

jogiba · 01-10-2005, 09:41 PM

I installed Air Lifts in the rear and Bilsteins F&R on my 2000 4x4 PSD Excursion and it towed my 41 ft TT like a champ. I have F&R Air Lifts and a rear Hellwig SB that I plan on installing on my 2003 this spring.

AXTINC · 01-10-2005, 11:02 PM

[ QUOTE ]
rear Hellwig SB that I plan on installing on my 2003 this spring.

[/ QUOTE ]

My 2003 and 2004 have rear sway bars installed from the factory. I tow slightly smaller 31 ft with slide all over the US (over 10K last year) and stock works just fine. I added all the goodies to my 2001 and not much improvement just a harder ride and poorer (money spent).

I would add the rear sway bar to the 2001 though, and that is about it.

OB-1 · 01-16-2005, 01:19 AM

As you’re finding out, the stock Excursion suspension is a bit soft for towing. So far, I’ve changed the front springs to “X” codes with F-350 blocks on the rear, Edlebrock shocks, Firestone rear air bags, Hellweg front & rear sway bars, Rancho steering stabilizer, Toyo M55 285/75 tires, and a Detroit locking rear differential.

Christmas of 2003, we loaded up the Excursion with gear, guns, ammo, and then hooked up a flatbed trailer with an 84 F-250 SC 4x4 on it with a Polaris Sportsman 700 in the bed of the pickup. The whole rig weighed in at 19,440 pounds with 1/4 tank of fuel and four adults. The Excursion handled GREAT! We drove through the mountains from Casper, WY, to Yuma, AZ, and drove the posted speed limit to +5, except when passing slower traffic. The rig seemed a bit heavy on the trip so we pulled into Barney’s Truck Stop in Yuma and onto the Cat Scales. I was more than a bit surprised to see the weight ticket of 19,440 pounds. In my opinion, the suspension mods are well worth the money! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]