I'm looking to go do some heavy towing with the v10. I'd rather do it iwth my 6.0 but that's not an option at the moment.

Total weight is 12,000, THE rated capacity for a class 4 hitch, and 1000 more than the excursion is rated for. But I know people have done it and it can be done safely.

My question is, is the suspension on the 01 v10 different than the 04 6.0? It feels a bit washy, where-as my 6.0 was happier with the more weight it has. Something else going on that I am unaware of?

It will be via pindle hitch, not ball, I should mention. It's a one time thing, 90 miles, flat, just trying to get a machine home. I'm swapping my E rated tires off my 6.0 as the piddly C's on the v10 I don't trust for the job.

 

I believe that all 4X4 EXs gas and PSD have the same rear springs, I think they are G codes, fronts were different with the PSDs getting a little stronger D codes vs the V-10's C code fronts.
What type of trailer/load are you looking to pull?
How far of a tow will it be?
What type of terrain will you be towing over?
Just this one trip or will it be a repeating adventure?
How high of a tongue weight is the trailer expected to have?
Does the V-10 have a rear sway bar?
Will there be a WD hitch in use for the pull?

I regularly pull our 11K+ TT all over the East with my V-10 EX but it has also been to the gym to get ready for that work.

 

I would do it in my EX IF the trailer has decent brakes that work with a controller in the EX. Try to get enough tongue weight to get a little squat on the rear of the EX without unloading the fronts too much. Machine on a flat open trailer won't be catching too much air so that makes the load feel a lot lighter than a tall box, so that is a plus! The tire swap is a very good idea. I would take it slow and easy, watch for any sway and keep it under control with the trailer brakes, slower speeds will make that a long 90 miles but it should get the job done.
I hate those hitches, the play of the loop in the pintle smacking around drives me nuts.

 

Tri-axel 10 ton trailer with 9500lb backhoe.
NJ to PA, mostly flat.
One time, until my 6.0 is feeling better
Between 1000-1500 tongue weight
I don't know if it has a rear sway bar
No WD hitch.

Plan to keep it around 50mph, maybe a little slower. I'm alright with the extra time as long as we're home safe.

 

I'm more worried about that trailer hitch setup. the a-frame is very low to the ground and when you hit a big bump and the rear suspension compresses, the trailer tongue is likely to bottom out on the road. We had this happen once and it actually forced the 2 5/16" ball to separate from the coupler. This trailer appears to be setup to be towed by a dump truck and "spring squat" is not accounted for in the design.

 

I would have no problem doing that as a one-time thing. Take your time getting it loaded, and take it easy while driving.

 

2000-2003 Excusions didn't come with a rear sway bar. It wasn't until 2004 with the 4x4 trailer tow group that the Excursion got a rear sway bar.

I just put one on my '01 Excursion, the '05 already had one.

 

Is your tow package rated for 12k or 10k? there was an update on the bolts size and grade changing the capacity.

 

Make sure and take photos for us. I want to see how you get that coupled to the ex. Is the trailer adjustable? It looks like it may be and you can set it lower, that would help.

 

No sway bar, just got out from under it. I'll have to look at the trailer when I go out. Will definitely take pictures. If it is to much, I'll leave it at the storage unit for the time being.

As far as I know, all excursions were rated at 10,500lbs that I've seen for towing. The sticker on my v10 and on my 6.0 says that, bringing GVW to 20,000. I suspect it's 10,500 to keep GVW at/under 20,000 for classification reasons, not a physical limitation though.

 

1000lbs of tongue weight is going to be the toughest part. Do you have airbags on the back? If not that might be about all you need. Load it up. Bags near the max and take it slow over bumps to avoid that tongue digging into asphalt.

 

JAY: What he's saying is the hitch rating not the trucks towing ability. I do not know the year they upgraded the STOCK receiver BUT I can assure you all 2000's are rated at 500lb/5000lb DON'T do it if that is the case with your 2001. It will be a hairy enough tow without you pulling the hitch off the truck.

 

Interesting, I thought all the hitches were the same. Why would they put a shoddy hitch that is rated lower than the truck is rated to tow? If need be I can easily swap the hitch off my 04 and put it on the 01. I will feel real dumb if the hitch falls off the truck... I don't suppose it's printed on the hitch is it?

Also, new shoes and bug guard on! Let me tell you, if you have c rated tires throw them in the trash. It's night and day. I htought my suspension was shot the way it handled on the highway, but the E rated tires took all that away. Feels quite solid now.


Road ventures on hte back, old c rated on the front:


And here it is all done. Definitely a big difference.

 

Well, 1st it is a hardware issue 500/5000 without a WDH the better ratting which you have on the 04 is only 600/6000 used without the WDH. Curt is making a 1000/10000 hitch on a straight pull like you will be doing. It runs from $165-$230 depending when & where you get it. To install or remove the ones you have (stock) You have to drop the fuel tank & drill one of the bolts out

 

Let me make sure I understand here, none of the excursions from the factory came with anything rated over 600/6000? I have hauled more than that on my 04 and others have as well. And it's my understanding you can't use WD hitch with pintle and a heavy load like that.