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Old 06-18-2015, 11:41 PM   #1
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Need advice

Finally found a tv that will hold the whole family. Got a 2001 excursion 4x4 with a 7.3 diesel engine to tow our 2013 st26bh. Just got back from a 2500 mile white knuckle trip from Denver to Prescott, Az. Had sway all the way there and back. Almost lost it twice. A little information: Truck wt 8900, trailer wt 5720 with empty tanks, tongue is 820. Trailer tires at 50, truck tires at 60 and 65. Had 4 shocks, 4 wheel alignment, gear in steering box, ball joints replaced. I'm to the point of being afraid to take a trip. Tried differ truck tire pressures and filled the fresh water tank. Still have the feeling of not being in control. We have a equalizer 2 point wd hitch and latest advise was to raise the bar height one notch. Did this today and did a test drive with very little improvement.
Any advise from excursion people out there? Thanks
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Old 06-19-2015, 12:11 AM   #2
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I had three 'diesel' Excursions and loved em all...
2002 7.3, 2003 6.0, and 2005 6.0....and they are defintely people movers, not tow-ers (as you found out)

With the last one, I did opt for a PRICEY pro-pride hitch and that solved a lot of my towing issues...

You might do some reading on the Excursion forum on ford-trucks.com or their towing forum here.
they will be able to help you.... good luck !
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Old 06-19-2015, 12:49 AM   #3
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Do you have an anti-sway bar/device in addition to the WD hitch? Something that works like this: Sway Control Kit - Curt Manufacturing 17200 - Sway Controls - Camping World These things work well, but you want to disconnect them before parking into a lock-to-lock maneuver.
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Old 06-19-2015, 12:56 AM   #4
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No Marty I don't. The WD I have is an equalizer E2 with built-in sway control.
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Old 06-19-2015, 04:49 AM   #5
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The tires on the Ford, are they LT's Or P's
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Old 06-19-2015, 06:47 AM   #6
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try the equilizer 4 pt (borrow one if you can). I have towed with yukon , avalanche and 2500 pickup and never a sway.
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Old 06-19-2015, 08:42 AM   #7
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You might try adding some weight to the hitch weight. Not sure where your water tank is (front or back of axles) but you should have about 15% of the loaded trailer weight on the ball. Your close but adding another 100 lbs might help. Is the 820lbs you mention actual scale weight or brochure weight?
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Old 06-19-2015, 09:10 AM   #8
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What speed do you tow at?
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Old 06-19-2015, 10:12 AM   #9
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x2 - How fast are you driving.

Also, how much tension do you have on spring bars? Maybe you have too much being pushed to the front and need to "lighten" the WD tension.
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Old 06-19-2015, 03:24 PM   #10
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Frank, the tires on the Ford are Michelin LT 265/75R16 M/S E rated.
Wayne, Had the same hitch set-up with a Expodition and had no sway.
Stan, the fresh water tank is in front of the axles, 40 gal. The way I figured it am between 12-15 %.
Darrell and Eddy, I try to keep the speed at about 60 because the trailer tires are only rated for 65.
Eddy, the bars are rated at 1,000 lb and the dealer suggested I raise the angle plate up one inch.
Thanks all for the help.
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Old 06-19-2015, 06:47 PM   #11
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Sway?

This may sound silly, ...... but is your trailer and tv level with each other?
If not, you might try to level then together. Best of luck
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Old 06-20-2015, 01:17 AM   #12
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Hi Co Kid. Yes they are level. And the 820 is actual tongue weight.
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Old 06-20-2015, 06:10 PM   #13
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I think you need to verify weights on a scale. Sway, if not caused by wrong tires or tire pressure is usually caused by being too light on tongue weight. 5720 sounds like empty weight for that trailer from the manufacturer, not including propane, battery, and your supplies. If that's the case your tongue weight is likely too light. accurate weights from a scale such as CAT scale is also the best way to properly set up your E2 equalizer hitch.
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Old 06-21-2015, 09:11 AM   #14
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I think sometimes you need to be 20% tongue weight. 10% is on the light side. Does the sway start with the rear of the tow vehicle bouncing and not being able to handle the weight? If so air bags would help.
What is the maximum psi the tires are rated for? You need 10 ply tires with 80 psi for the best handling while towing.
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Old 06-21-2015, 12:53 PM   #15
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With E rated tires you could stand to raise your rear tire pressure to 75 or 80 psi. Check your door sticker for recommended settings. I run at 80 psi rear all the time for better mileage but I also have a high 5er pin weight so when towing it's a must. Definitely a hitch adjustment is required for your E2. It should work better than that.
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Old 06-21-2015, 01:40 PM   #16
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The Excursion may have been equipped with a D rated 8 ply tire from the factory. If that is the case that is why Ford recommended a pressure of 60 psi. If you have 10 ply E rated tires take the pressure up to the tires recommended maximum while towing.
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Old 06-21-2015, 04:18 PM   #17
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Is the issue sway, porpoising, tail wiggle or light in the front end? Are you being pushed and pulled badly by traffic, was it side winds etc? A little more about what it's doing may help narrow the responses. I definitely think a trip to cat scales is warranted. Weigh the excursion without the tt with front end in scale pad #1 and rear end on scale pad #2. Then weigh the ex and tt without WDH bars on. This time have the excursion as in first weigh and put both tt axles on scale pad #3. Finally do a pass with the WDH completely hooked up ex and tt as in second pass. Now look at your numbers. Your goal is to get the front end as close to unloaded weight as possible without going heavier. You can also use these numbers to check your true tongue weight. Ideal tongue weight should be 13-15% if loaded tt weight. If you are too light in the tongue and too heavy in the rear then that will induce sway. Bring back these weights and we can give better advice. Go to catscale.com to find a location near you. It is usually $9-12 for first weigh and $1-3 for each subsequent weigh in a 24 he period. Do these weights with full tank of fuel and all passengers and fear etc as loaded for camping.
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