Originally Posted by GregA

In general, I've found the Ex quite susceptible to wind and trucks with that big 28' sail back there on a tag hitch. Add in how the Exs have a history of a less-centered front end feel (both of mine are/were that way) and things can get interesting at times. I tried a rear swaybar on the prior Ex and it did nothing to resolve this.

I towed this same trailer one time with a buddy's same-year, same-7.3PSD F-250 (we were both 4WD) and it towed completely differently; much more stable and rock solid than my Ex. I credit this to a big-sailed tag trailer coupled to a front end that has suspension and alignment settings more suited to comfort, turning radius, and soccer moms than working. After I get the shock situation worked out I'm planning on buying some eccentrics and seeing about re-aligning the front end of the current ride to where the F-250s are (always threatened to do that with the prior ride, never did).

Originally Posted by andym

Then I put V/B springs in it, a Hellwig rear sway bar, and a set of bilsteins all around. Now it handles like a truck.

Originally Posted by GregA

Thanks, biz. I used Bilsteins on my prior 4WD Ex and they worked well. I've heard good things on the Rancho 5000, but not familiar with the 9000; are they harsh? We do use this truck for occasional family/dog travel, so I'd like to avoid something that will beat up the passengers.

Advance sell the 9000Xl for the 2WD Ex at $115 each (-20% coupon); Shockwarehouse sells the Bilstein 4600 Heavy Duty for $365/set. Don't mind spending a little extra for a better product.

And toward the discussion on "sway"...I have a bit of an issue when towing. My first tow with this truck, before I put on the rear airbags, was quite interesting: I had some serious tail-wagging to the point it was making my racer-buddy nervous. We kept stopping and moving the load forward and that seemed to help a little bit, but it never went away. Several hours into the trip I began to realize that it wasn't the ***-end that was moving around, it was the front end: the truck just wasn't "coring" the on-center straight-line and was nosing left and right. Since that first time I had all brandy-new ball joints installed and all other steering components were inspected to be in good shape; no play in the steering box yet.

In general, I've found the Ex quite susceptible to wind and trucks with that big 28' sail back there on a tag hitch. Add in how the Exs have a history of a less-centered front end feel (both of mine are/were that way) and things can get interesting at times. I tried a rear swaybar on the prior Ex and it did nothing to resolve this.

I towed this same trailer one time with a buddy's same-year, same-7.3PSD F-250 (we were both 4WD) and it towed completely differently; much more stable and rock solid than my Ex. I credit this to a big-sailed tag trailer coupled to a front end that has suspension and alignment settings more suited to comfort, turning radius, and soccer moms than working. After I get the shock situation worked out I'm planning on buying some eccentrics and seeing about re-aligning the front end of the current ride to where the F-250s are (always threatened to do that with the prior ride, never did).

- GA