Bad sway when flat towing
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 134
Likes: 10
Bad sway when flat towing
Crazy sway flat towing 2023 Bronco 4D
2002 7.3 4WD Excursion
4" Pirate lift, new leafs and RS9000XL shocks
Front sway bar / new end links
All new steering (sans gear), ball joints, front and rear brakes
New 35x11.50 Maxxis AT (need to check PSI)
Finally got mods done and did a test run flat towing the Bronco today and I was pretty alarmed. Truck was swaying something awful.
My assumption is that the Rancho RS9000XL shocks were set too soft (they were on the softest setting, oops) but wanted to make sure this isn't some expected outcome that I wasn't aware of. (Bigger opps).
Don't have time to try again with stiffer setting for a while so wanted to throw this our there in the interim.
TIA
2002 7.3 4WD Excursion
4" Pirate lift, new leafs and RS9000XL shocks
Front sway bar / new end links
All new steering (sans gear), ball joints, front and rear brakes
New 35x11.50 Maxxis AT (need to check PSI)
Finally got mods done and did a test run flat towing the Bronco today and I was pretty alarmed. Truck was swaying something awful.
My assumption is that the Rancho RS9000XL shocks were set too soft (they were on the softest setting, oops) but wanted to make sure this isn't some expected outcome that I wasn't aware of. (Bigger opps).
Don't have time to try again with stiffer setting for a while so wanted to throw this our there in the interim.
TIA
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 1,583
Likes: 928
Soft shock settings and relatively low tire pressure ( like is typical when running unloaded) can certainly cause towing issues.
Since you specifically said front sway bar and didn’t mention a rear sway bar I’m assuming you don’t have one, the absence of a rear sway bar can,,,well,,, it’s called a sway bar for a reason,,, it helps control sway.
Im also running the pirate procomp lift and 35 inch tires, no sway issues to speak of even when towing a couple different trailers at west Texas highway speeds, but I’m also running bilstein 5100 shocks, 60 psi in the tires (tires are f load range Toyo’s on 20 inch wheels) , and the factory rear sway bar.
I say tighten up the shocks, adjust the tire pressure and try again. If it still sways, look at putting a rear sway bar on it.
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Since you specifically said front sway bar and didn’t mention a rear sway bar I’m assuming you don’t have one, the absence of a rear sway bar can,,,well,,, it’s called a sway bar for a reason,,, it helps control sway.
Im also running the pirate procomp lift and 35 inch tires, no sway issues to speak of even when towing a couple different trailers at west Texas highway speeds, but I’m also running bilstein 5100 shocks, 60 psi in the tires (tires are f load range Toyo’s on 20 inch wheels) , and the factory rear sway bar.
I say tighten up the shocks, adjust the tire pressure and try again. If it still sways, look at putting a rear sway bar on it.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 5,061
Likes: 1,414
From: Oologah, OK
I hate Lifts with a passion, they destroy the stability of the truck.
I have Monroe Flex shocks on my Excursion, no adjustments to them, they are too stiff for comfort when empty,
but flat towing????
solid as a rock, pulled 3 trailers from Utah to Oklahoma, and it never swayed once, even when a semi went by in 50 mph side winds.
I have Monroe Flex shocks on my Excursion, no adjustments to them, they are too stiff for comfort when empty,
but flat towing????
solid as a rock, pulled 3 trailers from Utah to Oklahoma, and it never swayed once, even when a semi went by in 50 mph side winds.
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 353
Likes: 167
From: Central VA
I'm running the pirate lift, 35's, Bilstein 5100's, no sway bar front or rear, and I tow almost every day 6-12k. No sway issues of any kind, in fact it's never been more stable, even 20+ years ago when I got it in the original configuration.
But what I'm towing are tandem axle trailers, and if I'm reading you right you're flat towing a bronco, presumably with a tow bar of some sort?
I wonder if that could have something to do with it , the whole steerable front axle thing...
Edit: I have zero experience with adjustable shocks but as mentioned above that seems plausible that it could be the issue
But what I'm towing are tandem axle trailers, and if I'm reading you right you're flat towing a bronco, presumably with a tow bar of some sort?
I wonder if that could have something to do with it , the whole steerable front axle thing...
Edit: I have zero experience with adjustable shocks but as mentioned above that seems plausible that it could be the issue
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 304
Likes: 192
From: Northern California
How’s it been towing other trailers? What kind of tow bar and is it fairly level (no more than 4 inches delta between Ex and Bronco)
Last, but not least, is the Bronco modified? Suspension/Tires?
I recently flat towed my daughter’s Jeep (with hard top on) 600 miles out to Salt Lake City and it was very stable even in cross winds or passing semi’s.
Last, but not least, is the Bronco modified? Suspension/Tires?
I recently flat towed my daughter’s Jeep (with hard top on) 600 miles out to Salt Lake City and it was very stable even in cross winds or passing semi’s.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 1,583
Likes: 928
A huge and poorly engineered Bro-truck style lift could certainly cause negative effects , but something like the Pirate Procomp lift, with decent shocks, is an improvement over stock (especially over 20 year old clapped out stock). Having towed the same trailers, over the same roads, at the same speeds, both before and after the pirate lift,,,,I'll take the after experience every time.
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Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 134
Likes: 10
Small update...
I set shocks to level 9 and it helped - but sway still an issue.
I was watching the Bronco and it seems like the "tail is wagging the dog" - i.e., when the Bronco hits imperfection in the road, it untracks and pulls the Ex *** with it.
I set shocks to level 9 and it helped - but sway still an issue.
I was watching the Bronco and it seems like the "tail is wagging the dog" - i.e., when the Bronco hits imperfection in the road, it untracks and pulls the Ex *** with it.
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Moderator
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Media PA
Any update on the EX tire pressures?
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 5,061
Likes: 1,414
From: Oologah, OK
Really,,, guess that's why 18 wheelers and pretty much all other heavy duty trucks are always so low to the ground then.
A huge and poorly engineered Bro-truck style lift could certainly cause negative effects , but something like the Pirate Procomp lift, with decent shocks, is an improvement over stock (especially over 20 year old clapped out stock). Having towed the same trailers, over the same roads, at the same speeds, both before and after the pirate lift,,,,I'll take the after experience every time.
...
A huge and poorly engineered Bro-truck style lift could certainly cause negative effects , but something like the Pirate Procomp lift, with decent shocks, is an improvement over stock (especially over 20 year old clapped out stock). Having towed the same trailers, over the same roads, at the same speeds, both before and after the pirate lift,,,,I'll take the after experience every time.
...
Roll over more than low slung cars....
I watch a lot of Recovery videos, and top heavy 18 wheelers don't fare well in tight turns.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 1,583
Likes: 928
Normal lifted trucks ( not bro trucks that are fifteen feet in the air with lights around the wheels) tow and drive just fine. Lifts do not as you put it “ destroy the stability of the truck”, many actually improve the stability as a result of the wider tires being ran because of the lift.
You’ve obviously never actually used, driven or towed with a mildly lifted truck ( mildly lifted being anything 6inch lift height and under) and are just saying things you think are true, but aren’t.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,654
Likes: 979
From: Near Yosemite CA
#1 check rear tire pressure, when I had my '02 Ex 7.3 4x I had 4" lift and 35's, towing I ran 65 in the rear, 55 fronts, had a Ra'gen toy hauler and never had an issue with sway... take a pic of your set up, also, how's the road you tested it on? There's a few around here, and esp. the 80 up north I've towed on and it's a white knuckler... still, shouldn't have the tail waggin the dog with an Ex..
I don't remember if mine had the rear sway bar... pretty sure it did. Is your towbar and all parts of it tight?
I don't remember if mine had the rear sway bar... pretty sure it did. Is your towbar and all parts of it tight?
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,079
Likes: 63
From: Florida and Tennessee
I say it's trailer and how it's set up. Check tongue weight. and keep the load forward. At least 10% of the GTW on the tongue. In fact if the trailer is a bit low in the front....That's OK as opposed to being a bit high, that's bad.
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 12,050
Likes: 1,549
From: Media PA
For trailer towing, spot on. But the OP is flat towing his Bronco 4 down.