Yeah, I'm not getting into a spec war, nor do I really care to participate further. Stock size 2001 Excursion and stock size 2017 F-250...I'm sure the info is on the Internet if it's important to you.

Simply one man's anecdotal experience offered before you guys start nit-picking him to death (it's already started in Post #2; and he wouldn't be the first).

Feel free to ignore if you prefer.

GA, still not dead.

 

not sure how you take it as a war, you experience was a good example that the devil is in the details.
stock Ex tire size 265/75-16. = 6.8 sidewall
stock F250 tire size 275/65-20 = 7” sidewall

what i get from your experience is the dramatic improvement was a result of a Better Tire that had a stiffer sidewall despite the fact it had MORE sidewall. like i said, just switching to a bigger rim doesn't equate to better handling, the better handling was almost certainly a result of a stiffer tire even though it had more sidewall.

 

Greg, asking for specifics to help someone is nitpicking in your opinion?

How else can the guys here help someone without the nitty-gritty info?

Stewart

 

FP & FD = 23.5"
RP & RD = 24.5"

Front PSI = 43.5
Rear PSI = 45.0

Rims size is stock & original. Tire size is 285/75/16. The back has always been 1" higher even before the bags. I'll update once I make it to the alignment shop. Thanks!!!

 

just to be clear

factory ride height is measured at the bump stop landing area to the frame but since most folks don't want to crawl under and measure I ask for the hub to fender measurements because it is easy to take and gives a fair indicator.

stock and unloaded the measurement is roughly
front 23”
rear 24”

as you can see the rear sits 1” higher unloaded but at max payload the rear is supposed to sag and be about 2” lower. when sagged the front GAINS positive caster and this helps with tracking straight.

yours being stock rake while towing makes it more susceptible to “wander” due to the trailers wag or “sway”

also at those PSI your tires sidewall is going to be less stiff. i highly urge you to run the 60 front 55 rear as indicated on your door jamb sticker.

me thinks proper PSI, and lower rake would help considerably, the alignment specs i gave you should make it track straight and rock solid. ( although some better shocks would be a considerable improvement all around).

fwiw, if you are so inclined i suggest the KYB Mono Max for stock ride height Excursions with stock-ish size tires

 

i get the feeling he took my request as picking on him when in fact I was simply trying to point out for others the specific reason his tire swap improved his handling. and yes, trying to diagnose and cure a handling issue especially via the internet or when not able to see the vehicle in person requires an annoying amount of nit picky detail.

 

hell, for all we know the problem could be somebody installed the wrong pitman arm and it’s causing bump steer, some think a 5 minute visual inspection by a sharp tech would catch but easily go unresolved via internet postings

 

With that size of tire (285-75-16 E) my X always gets 55PSI front and 80 PSI back when towing, I have no rear sway bar and its a 2wd and it handled a borrowed 32' travel trailer just fine, no sway even passing semi's on the freeway doing 65+ MPH.
I believe his problem can indeed be tire pressure.
Ps. This was with out a WDH.

 

no, I’m not convinced. For all we know, Greg’s wife is posting in an attempt to prove he’s still alive so she can continue to receive his benefits package.

 

I had always thought that when using bags, you adjusted the rear back to unloaded measurements or level.
Learn something new everyday!!

 

level to 1” lower is typically the sweet spot

 

I towed this all over the country. 35ft 9300lb loaded. 02 V-10 with 4.30`s on stock suspension. OE springs all around and new Rancho shocks at 75k miles.
I bought this in 2006 at 2 1/2 years old with 19k miles. It took a couple of weeks of driving to realize it was a handful to keep in a lane. and towing with it was downright impossible. I was ready to trade it after a month! However I wanted to keep it because I needed a HD SUV for the family and dog. I had a set of air bags I installed from my conversion van. I don't feel I needed them, I just installed them because I had them. I only ever put 20 psi in them. Then I tightened the gear box. this made it feel tighter but it was very darty. I then read about the Hellwig sway bar and how it made a huge difference for many people. that as the last thing I was going to try. Well that cured my stability/sway problem. I towed with that exact setup for 80k miles. it still had the stock springs and suspension when I sold it at 102k miles. I could tow the trailer all over the country at 75mh and it would handle incredible.

Also, this thing was off-roaded a few times so it was used!

A couple thing that stick out. your tire pressures are very low. set them at 75 frt and 80 rear. Also those airlift bags are not the best for stock rear springs. they will actually unload the spring which will make it wander worse because of the weak rear springs Ford put under the these things. My Air bags were mounted to the spring just in front of the axle tube. this put resistance on the spring, if and when I did put air in them. I also ran a Reese Dual Cam WD hitch. I say to try what I had and see how it does.

BTW, I thought you were the new owner of my X. I sold it back in March.

 

LOL. Thanks for the feedback. I'll give it a try. What confuses me is that the EX wonders even if it isn't towing. What then? What solves the problem with the "loose" steering wheel? My Dodge has a tight steering. How do I get that on the EX? Tighten the gear box, adjust caster, new springs?

 

1. the “loose” steering wheel is the result of worn out steering components. steering gear, collapsable steering shaft coupler, pitman arm, tie rods, wheel bearings, you Fix it by replacing the worn out parts. when you take it in to be aligned the will inspect and measure all the critical components I just mentioned and can not do a proper alignment until any worn item is replaced. if it is a steering box i strongly recommend a “red head steering gear”

2. second step is the alignment specs i already posted.

if it wanders a little bit when not towing it is going to be worse when towing. every thing I already posted is how you fix it correctly, there is no short cut or magic bullet.

the rear sway bar is a band aid that helps over come poor alignment and or tires with a flimsy sidewall stiffness but should not be needed if you follow my advice.

 

also,

Airlift airbags are a well engineered product, there is no inherent problem with using them on your Ex.

the reason any airbag will make the Ex wander is the reason i explained earlier. over inflating them raises the rear end to high creating to much positive rake which reduces your caster. positive caster is the alignment spec that causes a vehicle to track straight. i.e. not wander.

contrary to popular internet forum lore, the excursion does not have “weak springs”. that is total nonsense made popular by people who do not understand suspensions the physics involved. the stock rear springs have a spring rate of 420 lbs inch. plenty to support the Gross vehicle weight rating of the Ex. if anything the ex lacks travel not spring strength.