Wandering while towing
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Joined: Aug 2017
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Wandering while towing
I'm looking for help with my (new to me) Ex. I bought it primarily for hauling my big family and my big camper. I am having wandering issues with it while going down the freeway doing 55-65 mph. I have attached a photo of my camper. It's a 2017 Venture Sporttrek. I'm thinking with it loaded it's about 9k lbs and it's 36' long. I am pulling with an original Orange Hensley Arrow hitch with the 12k bars.
As far as my Ex goes, it's a 2001 Limited 2wd, v-10 with 170k miles. I purchased it stock but since added; Rear Hellwig sway bar, replaced rear shocks (mid to low grade), Air Lift 5000 bags and I installed a Tranny gauge to monitor my temps while pulling. Mine hasn't been extremely hot but yet spewed fluid and caught my exhaust pipe on fire. That's a different issue for another day!
I heard the typical loose steering wheel can effect it. Maybe something else up front? Maybe the factory leafs? I am completely at a loss and the wife is starting to regret the Ex purchase. If I can get this wondering under control, happy wife, happy camping life!
Thank you for reading!
As far as my Ex goes, it's a 2001 Limited 2wd, v-10 with 170k miles. I purchased it stock but since added; Rear Hellwig sway bar, replaced rear shocks (mid to low grade), Air Lift 5000 bags and I installed a Tranny gauge to monitor my temps while pulling. Mine hasn't been extremely hot but yet spewed fluid and caught my exhaust pipe on fire. That's a different issue for another day!
I heard the typical loose steering wheel can effect it. Maybe something else up front? Maybe the factory leafs? I am completely at a loss and the wife is starting to regret the Ex purchase. If I can get this wondering under control, happy wife, happy camping life!
Thank you for reading!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,812
Likes: 88
From: Thousand Oaks, CA
We bought our Ex with 104k and 2 of the tie rods ends were bad.
Easy enough to check, just have someone turn the steering wheel a 1/2 turn each way while you watch the rod end movement.
Also, watch the steering gear box pitman arm while under there, it should be turning as soon as the steering shaft turns. There may be some slop in the gear box.
I installed F250 rear leafs to better handle the weight, but that doesn't affect steering much.
Once you find your issue it will be fine, ours tows very well, no wander.
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I've been checking air pressure every other camping trip. I made that mistake on the very first trip out. It was a big difference.
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New User
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Check your trailer tongue weight, very important.
We bought our Ex with 104k and 2 of the tie rods ends were bad.
Easy enough to check, just have someone turn the steering wheel a 1/2 turn each way while you watch the rod end movement.
Also, watch the steering gear box pitman arm while under there, it should be turning as soon as the steering shaft turns. There may be some slop in the gear box.
I installed F250 rear leafs to better handle the weight, but that doesn't affect steering much.
Once you find your issue it will be fine, ours tows very well, no wander.
We bought our Ex with 104k and 2 of the tie rods ends were bad.
Easy enough to check, just have someone turn the steering wheel a 1/2 turn each way while you watch the rod end movement.
Also, watch the steering gear box pitman arm while under there, it should be turning as soon as the steering shaft turns. There may be some slop in the gear box.
I installed F250 rear leafs to better handle the weight, but that doesn't affect steering much.
Once you find your issue it will be fine, ours tows very well, no wander.
I'll definitely get underneath the front hear soon and start checking things out. I heard a lot about the steering boxes going bad if everything else seems tight.
I'm also planning on the rear leaf upgrade. I just need to get the wandering under control first.
Thanks for the info.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,097
Likes: 5
From: chicago northwest suburbs
Ok. A few questions. Are your tires load range "E"? They need to be. And they need to be run at max pressure or something close. I run 75psi fry and 80 rear. You need to know the loaded ready to travel weight of the trailer. And then you need to verify your tongue weight is at 12%. Same goes for the trailer tires. My original trailer tires were Chinese "D" rated tires. I had a similar issue as you and this was one of the fixes. After I shifted belts on 2 of the tires after 500 miles I changed to "E" rated Carlisles this fixed half of my sway issues.
There is a lot to check. So go over everything real good.
FWIW, I'm towing a 9200 lb loaded trailer with my X and I have it set up perfect. No sway or wander. I can drive 10-11 hours without any issue.
There is a lot to check. So go over everything real good.
FWIW, I'm towing a 9200 lb loaded trailer with my X and I have it set up perfect. No sway or wander. I can drive 10-11 hours without any issue.
Senior User
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 351
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From: South Texas/RGV
X2 on tongue weight. If it is too light that trailer will be all over the road. A large number of consumer trailers I see are too light. People think that they are helping by not putting too much weight on the hitch when they are actually creating a dangerous situation. General rule of thumb is 10% of the total trailer loaded weight. Your trailer should have the proper specs either on a sticker inside or stamped on the front. They are usually a range. If unsure use the larger weight. Also remember the water tank is usually behind the axles and so if that is full you will sometimes need to add weight up front to compensate.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,727
Likes: 42
From: Almost back in TX biotche
X3 on the tongue weight. I usually tow between 13-14k and try to keep 1500 to 1700 on the tongue, depending on what trailer and what hitch I have on. Just ran the Toy Hauler dwon to TX from MD weighing in at 13500. No sway issues at all.
I also have a Helwig sway bar and it also seemed to help.
I also have a Helwig sway bar and it also seemed to help.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
Likes: 38
From: Bonita Springs FL
One thing I didn't see addressed, and why I quoted your post, is the weak factory suspension on Excursions. A lot of people who tow heavy, myself included, have swapped out the suspension for a set of F-250/F-350 springs. It made a WORLD of difference in handling. It greatly reduced wandering and body roll when it was unloaded. I never towed with the stock suspension, but I bet it would have sucked really bad. Ford designed these to be comfortable people-haulers and the suspension is too soft to tow anything really heavy despite the fact that it's rated for it.
Get some new springs on there and I bet your wandering issue disappears.
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