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I don't know about the negative arch as I'm on stock springs with no helpers, but ditto on the Hensley Arrow. I gave up on my Dual Cam system I'd used for 15 years and picked up a HA off CL for $500. It cost me a couple of cans of spray paint and a can of grease to restore it. I only have the 1000lb spring bars on the HA and so I'm looking to put in air bags to help with TW. The 1000 lb bars nearly but don't quite restore front axle weight. The HA cured 95% of my towing issues - no more wander, no more sway. My Dual Cam system did a better job with weight distribution with its 1400lb bars, but there is no way I will ever go back. BTW my 30' Jayco weighs in about 9k with about 1.1k of TW for comparison.
If you upgrade to Hensley's slightly bigger 1200lb bar bushings and a new set of the Draw-Tite 1200lb round bars it should put you back to unloaded height up front. Or maybe even upgrade to the 1400lb bars for the extra capacity and the HA's limited WD abilities.
Regarding V/B-mod longevity, I don't know if it was the source I acquired my new springs from or just use and abuse... My X has settled noticeable in the two years the springs have been on there. I used to clear 35's fine, now it runs like crazy at full lock. Comparing before and after measurements, I have lost about an inch front and 1.25-1.5 rear. Towing my friend's Duramax CC/SB the *** end was squatting so hard we had to load his truck on backwards and take backroads slowly to avoid trailer wag due to weight distribution. Even the Chevelle on a tandem axle 20' flatty make my truck squat nearly 2.5". Keep in mind I do NOT have other items to optimize towing performance (DD, occasional medium tow duty) such as the RAS or bags out back, just springs that were new when I go them.
Well I WAS hesitant to drop a name on here since they're fairly well regarded, I'll PM it to you. Razzi knows what's up and has expressed surprise on the situation as well.
Basically I'm displeased with my experience with said vendor, especially after talking to ATS for my spring revamp v2.0. Even though I got some extra stuff like shocks, drop kit and trackbar... The price difference was substantial. Given that the springs have seen two years of duty and are already sagging past the initial (and expected) settle, I am less than pleased. This has been the ONLY time FTE led me astray.
I'm still on stock springs. I added the RAS and my Ex tows amazing. I don't know much about hitches but I followed Tom's (WE3Zs) advice and picked up the Hensley arrow. It was a night/day difference between it and the old standard weight distribution hitch.
I've done a fair amount of spring research and after reading through this thread, my question is...how do you know you have B springs? Can you tell us the spring part number? The reason I ask is for a B spring to be "flat" you would need ~3000 lbs on the back of the truck. The B spring is "flat at ~3000 lbs (one spring). Roughly speaking, an Ex with a full tank of full is about 1500 lbs at each spring (I weighed my truck and did a lot of research), that leaves another 1500 lbs X 2. For some reason if you needed more spring, then I'd try the DRW C code, that spring is flat at ~3600 lbs which would be another ~1200 lbs on the back of the truck. I say "~" because of the distance from the spring perch to the tongue.
Inquiring minds want to know...
PS the DRW C code part number is 3C3Z-5560-DA and when I did my spring research (~2 yrs ago) it was $285 per spring from Ford.
Originally Posted by hstechteacher
This goes out to all those who have done the x or v/b mod springs on their excursions.
I know there are a ton of resources and info on this Modification for the excursion, but i have one specific to my situation. I replaced my rear excursion springs with the f250/350 b-code pack, first without doing the mod (adding the 2 extra leafs from ex pack and spacers). I tow a 11k lbs camper and would like a little more support and lift. I just pulled it all apart and am in the process of doing the mod. My dilemma is that by putting the two small leafs inbetween the bottom load/helper spring and the main pack, it looks like the main pack would now have to go to a negative arch before the bottom helper can "help". Is anyone who did this mod putting a good amount of tong weight on the rear? and how is it holding up?
So after pulling the pack apart and doing the b- mod I only got the truck just to level. So I pulled it back apart and added the excursion half leaf to the bottom. So now I have a slight rake. If the front x codes don't settle out a little I might switch to the 4" rear block.
If you upgrade to Hensley's slightly bigger 1200lb bar bushings and a new set of the Draw-Tite 1200lb round bars it should put you back to unloaded height up front. Or maybe even upgrade to the 1400lb bars for the extra capacity and the HA's limited WD abilities.
Yeah, except the only thing I don't like about the Hensley is the price of their parts. It tows pretty good as is and air bags would be useful for my other trailers.
Yeah, except the only thing I don't like about the Hensley is the price of their parts. It tows pretty good as is and air bags would be useful for my other trailers.
I agree with you about Hensley's parts prices, that's why I posted that they use the Draw-Tite round bars, you would only need the bar bushings from them if you upgraded the bars.
But I understand want the air bags too, they are on my long list of still to do upgrades.
Thanks Tom, I didn't catch that in your post. That's good to know! I've had some reservations about the 1k bars since I know I'm there or more on TW. If I can find the bars reasonable it'd be worth piece-of-mind.
WE3ZS (Tom) In the picture above (post #4)your x doesn't look as tall (or has more tire and less wheel well) as the pic in your signature. Are those different size tires? If so what size are the tires in the picture. I am thinking of doing the same spring swap as you have. I am actually picking up a set of code P today. Hard to find info on the P's but what i have found seems to indicate they are equal to the B's. You seem to be one of the resident experts on this subject so if that is incorrect please set me straight.
WE3ZS (Tom) In the picture above (post #4)your x doesn't look as tall (or has more tire and less wheel well) as the pic in your signature. Are those different size tires? If so what size are the tires in the picture. I am thinking of doing the same spring swap as you have. I am actually picking up a set of code P today. Hard to find info on the P's but what i have found seems to indicate they are equal to the B's. You seem to be one of the resident experts on this subject so if that is incorrect please set me straight.
Yes, those two pics show the EX with different tires. The signature pic has it with 275/75R18 (pretty sure that was the size) that were 32" tall, they came with the '04 Lariat rims when I bought them. The large pic in that post shows it as it is currently with Nitto Dura Grapplers in 305/70R18 that are 35.28" tall. I'm epically lazy and have not changed my sig pic in the two years since I went with the taller tires. These Duras are EXcellent highway tires that run super quiet and are wearing very slowly. . If your rig sees only on-road use with no snow (I have not used them outside of those conditions) then I highly recommend them.
I'm no EXpert, I just try to help out with mods that I have done myself or have studied enough to comment on. But thanks for the compliment.
Rob Ross has done more research on the rear springs available from the pickups than anyone else I know of, maybe shoot him a PM with your spring info to see if he has detailed specs on them.
Yes, those two pics show the EX with different tires. The signature pic has it with 275/75R18 (pretty sure that was the size) that were 32" tall, they came with the '04 Lariat rims when I bought them. The large pic in that post shows it as it is currently with Nitto Dura Grapplers in 305/70R18 that are 35.28" tall. I'm epically lazy and have not changed my sig pic in the two years since I went with the taller tires. These Duras are EXcellent highway tires that run super quiet and are wearing very slowly. . If your rig sees only on-road use with no snow (I have not used them outside of those conditions) then I highly recommend them.
I'm no EXpert, I just try to help out with mods that I have done myself or have studied enough to comment on. But thanks for the compliment.
Rob Ross has done more research on the rear springs available from the pickups than anyone else I know of, maybe shoot him a PM with your spring info to see if he has detailed specs on them.
I can try and help. Get the pn off of them and I will see what I can find. I thought I looked up a P once but don't think I recorded it. I also think I did post here that it was the same as a B....just not sure which thread it was.
Yes, I have searched and read threads on here until my brains were leaking out my ears. At some point I think you get overloaded and it quits becoming clearer and starts to get confusing again. Any way I just picked up my springs 5 minutes ago.I got a set of rears with the overload(I know I can't use that on the rear but can be reused up front on a mod) and a set of the f-350 blocks. I hope this is the number you are referring to RPN 2033 and under that 3C34 CC.. Thanks to both of you for all the info I have gleaned from your posts and also your direct help here.
Yes, I have searched and read threads on here until my brains were leaking out my ears. At some point I think you get overloaded and it quits becoming clearer and starts to get confusing again. Any way I just picked up my springs 5 minutes ago.I got a set of rears with the overload(I know I can't use that on the rear but can be reused up front on a mod) and a set of the f-350 blocks. I hope this is the number you are referring to RPN 2033 and under that 3C34 CC.. Thanks to both of you for all the info I have gleaned from your posts and also your direct help here.
I'm pretty and will verify in the am but 3C34 CC is a B with an overload. When I say B I am referring to the spring rates (320/670). I will verify tho.
It tows pretty good as is and air bags would be useful for my other trailers.
These Duras are EXcellent highway tires that run super quiet and are wearing very slowly. 