The eckhart hitch is indeed welded to the frame...well it's a bit of both. They acutally weld part of the hitch to the frame and leave the angle iron (part of the original hitch) that's bolted onto the excursion frame...and weld their hitch to this as well. Hopefully that just made sense....
We just had a hitch from Eckharts installed in March of 2008. So far I've been real happy with the unit.
Well yours might be different because mine is fully welded to the frame. When I brought it down there to get it I did not have a Hitch in it because of the accident so they had to weld the whole thing on to the frame!
__________________
-Nick
Worlds Youngest Power Stroker
PAA#9
04 X 6.0
08 mirrors, 15,000 trailer hitch receiver, Fire stone air bags
01 X 7.3
6637, 05 head lights, MBRP 4in Exhaust, Running boardlights, Cab lights, Dipricol Gauges Boost, Pryo, Trans, Dp tuner, Powerslot rotors and Hawk LTS Pads, OBA, WW
Maybe both of you can answer this question for me. However, let me explain myself first. I have been thinking about up-grading my hitch for some time now. I have a 2000 Excursion and the hitch rating is only 1,000 lbs. on the tongue and 10,000 lbs. towing. I don’t think I will go over the towing rating of the hitch by much but I would like to have a higher tongue rating so I can put about 12 to 15 percent of the weight on the tongue of the Excursion. For example if I am towing a trailer that is 9,000 lbs. the tongue weight would be somewhere between 1,080 lbs. to 1,350 lbs. Since both of these amounts are greater than the current tongue weight capacity I thought I might install the later 2001 – 2005 hitch that is rated for 1,250 lbs. tongue and 12,500 towing.
Some have said that the hitch for the 2000 Excursion and the later years Excursion is the same and the certificate on the hitch is all that has changed. I find this to be incorrect by communicating with Ford and researching the thickness of the hitch and the bolt size difference. Since the newer Excursion hitch that I am interested in is about $300 less costly than the Eckhart hitch I am thinking of going in that direction instead of the Eckhart. Now back to my question. Did either of you consider buying the new Excursion hitch and if so why did you choose the Eckhart over the 2001 to 2005 Ford Excursion hitch.
I was in the exact same spot you are, we have a 9000 - 9500 lb loaded travel trailer and I our hitch was rated for max of 1000 lbs, not enough for me to be in that 12-13% range.
From my research there is a difference on the 2000 hitch vs the newer ones...bolt size (14mm vs 18mm).
Yes I did look at going to Ford and buying an 02 -05 hitch, down side for me was that I'd have to drop the fuel tank to remove the old receiver (getting access to the bolts) ...didn't want to get into that whole scene.
We were on holidays in Palm Springs, CA this past March...so I took a trip over to LA to have the hitch put on. If it wasn't for the planned vacation, I likely would have had somone drop the fuel tank and put on the newer Ford Hitch.
The Eckhart hitch is stout for sure...they do claim that the tongue weight is really a mute point with it.
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2000 Ford Excursion - V10, 4:30 axle, 4x4
Well the truck that I put the Echart hitch on is a 04 so it already had the new stile hitch. The problem with the old hitch was that the pin hole was elongating and that was my major problem with that hitch so thats why I went with the heavy duty hitch!
__________________
-Nick
Worlds Youngest Power Stroker
PAA#9
04 X 6.0
08 mirrors, 15,000 trailer hitch receiver, Fire stone air bags
01 X 7.3
6637, 05 head lights, MBRP 4in Exhaust, Running boardlights, Cab lights, Dipricol Gauges Boost, Pryo, Trans, Dp tuner, Powerslot rotors and Hawk LTS Pads, OBA, WW
You can get the old hitch out without removing the fuel tank by drilling out the old bolts...but...the only way you can get those new bolts on is to drop the tank. You can't get access to the inside of the frame without removing that fuel tank...SUCKS.
Seeing you aren't that far from some of the Eckharts locations...I'd just take it over to them. Just my opinion...you decide.
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2000 Ford Excursion - V10, 4:30 axle, 4x4
You can get the old hitch out without removing the fuel tank by drilling out the old bolts...but...the only way you can get those new bolts on is to drop the tank. You can't get access to the inside of the frame without removing that fuel tank...SUCKS.
Seeing you aren't that far from some of the Eckharts locations...I'd just take it over to them. Just my opinion...you decide.
Since you still have your old hitch with the the Eckhart hitch welded to it can you put up some pictures? I am just wondering how everything is welded up. I have heard from others that the hitch should not be welded to the frame because you want your hitch to be able to flex with out causing problems to the frame. Have you heard the same thing?
I have the same hitch Echart hitch. I will take some photos in the morning....I love it strong and solid. I til them that I wanted to tow over 17K pounds.. way over the 14K of my hauler. They had no problem with the weights
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__________________ 2000 Ex V10 4.88's
- Class V hitch, Reese 1700 lb WD hitch
- Rear Hellwig, Ride Rite Air Suspension
- Procomp 6 inch lift, double shock front loop,
- 315*75*16 BFG AT's
Since you still have your old hitch with the the Eckhart hitch welded to it can you put up some pictures? I am just wondering how everything is welded up. I have heard from others that the hitch should not be welded to the frame because you want your hitch to be able to flex with out causing problems to the frame. Have you heard the same thing?
Ya I will take some tomorrow morning
__________________
-Nick
Worlds Youngest Power Stroker
PAA#9
04 X 6.0
08 mirrors, 15,000 trailer hitch receiver, Fire stone air bags
01 X 7.3
6637, 05 head lights, MBRP 4in Exhaust, Running boardlights, Cab lights, Dipricol Gauges Boost, Pryo, Trans, Dp tuner, Powerslot rotors and Hawk LTS Pads, OBA, WW
I have the same hitch Echart hitch. I will take some photos in the morning....I love it strong and solid. I til them that I wanted to tow over 17K pounds.. way over the 14K of my hauler. They had no problem with the weights
I told him the exact same thing!!
__________________
-Nick
Worlds Youngest Power Stroker
PAA#9
04 X 6.0
08 mirrors, 15,000 trailer hitch receiver, Fire stone air bags
01 X 7.3
6637, 05 head lights, MBRP 4in Exhaust, Running boardlights, Cab lights, Dipricol Gauges Boost, Pryo, Trans, Dp tuner, Powerslot rotors and Hawk LTS Pads, OBA, WW
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