Rough towing
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Rough towing
Hi All
I am towing about 8000# worth of tractor with my '04 Excursion (10,000 miles, built in March of '03) and have been noticing that I am getting an increasingly rough ride. It feels like a "bucking" as if the break is intermittently being tapped on the trailer or someone is jerking the front of the vehicle forward. This seems to occur only in towing and is not affected by use of the tow/haul function. It happens up hill, down hill and on flat terrain. It is a bit less noticable during acceleration and is proportional to the weight that I am towing. The cycles seem to come in 1 second intervals and will be consistent for a while then let up, then resume again. The severity is also variable but the behavior is failry constant.
Sound familiar?
Thanks
Jack
I am towing about 8000# worth of tractor with my '04 Excursion (10,000 miles, built in March of '03) and have been noticing that I am getting an increasingly rough ride. It feels like a "bucking" as if the break is intermittently being tapped on the trailer or someone is jerking the front of the vehicle forward. This seems to occur only in towing and is not affected by use of the tow/haul function. It happens up hill, down hill and on flat terrain. It is a bit less noticable during acceleration and is proportional to the weight that I am towing. The cycles seem to come in 1 second intervals and will be consistent for a while then let up, then resume again. The severity is also variable but the behavior is failry constant.
Sound familiar?
Thanks
Jack
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 974
Likes: 5
From: FLA
Originally Posted by Petrops
Hi All
I am towing about 8000# worth of tractor with my '04 Excursion (10,000 miles, built in March of '03) and have been noticing that I am getting an increasingly rough ride. It feels like a "bucking" as if the break is intermittently being tapped on the trailer or someone is jerking the front of the vehicle forward. This seems to occur only in towing and is not affected by use of the tow/haul function. It happens up hill, down hill and on flat terrain. It is a bit less noticable during acceleration and is proportional to the weight that I am towing. The cycles seem to come in 1 second intervals and will be consistent for a while then let up, then resume again. The severity is also variable but the behavior is failry constant.
Sound familiar?
Thanks
Jack
I am towing about 8000# worth of tractor with my '04 Excursion (10,000 miles, built in March of '03) and have been noticing that I am getting an increasingly rough ride. It feels like a "bucking" as if the break is intermittently being tapped on the trailer or someone is jerking the front of the vehicle forward. This seems to occur only in towing and is not affected by use of the tow/haul function. It happens up hill, down hill and on flat terrain. It is a bit less noticable during acceleration and is proportional to the weight that I am towing. The cycles seem to come in 1 second intervals and will be consistent for a while then let up, then resume again. The severity is also variable but the behavior is failry constant.
Sound familiar?
Thanks
Jack
Do you run surge brakes or electric brakes?
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Hi Purple
I run electric brakes.
I am not really feeling a bouncing effect in the front though I am sure that a shock issue could manifest itself a number of ways. The placement of the load is consistent on the trailer due to some reference points that I use.
Thanks for the reply.
I run electric brakes.
I am not really feeling a bouncing effect in the front though I am sure that a shock issue could manifest itself a number of ways. The placement of the load is consistent on the trailer due to some reference points that I use.
Thanks for the reply.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 974
Likes: 5
From: FLA
Originally Posted by Petrops
Hi Purple
I run electric brakes.
I am not really feeling a bouncing effect in the front though I am sure that a shock issue could manifest itself a number of ways. The placement of the load is consistent on the trailer due to some reference points that I use.
Thanks for the reply.
I run electric brakes.
I am not really feeling a bouncing effect in the front though I am sure that a shock issue could manifest itself a number of ways. The placement of the load is consistent on the trailer due to some reference points that I use.
Thanks for the reply.
Thread Starter
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New User
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Thanks Purple
I'll check the oil level (leaking injectors if I am not mistaken) and the bearings on the trailer. The trailer is borrowed from a friend who also tows a lg tractor so I will see if he has the same experience with his truck and the same trailer.
Jack
I'll check the oil level (leaking injectors if I am not mistaken) and the bearings on the trailer. The trailer is borrowed from a friend who also tows a lg tractor so I will see if he has the same experience with his truck and the same trailer.
Jack
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Hi Tim
Yes I do still have OEM shocks, shouldn't they be rated to handle this kind of load?
BTW it is a '03 not a '04 (ooops!)
Yes I do still have OEM shocks, shouldn't they be rated to handle this kind of load?
BTW it is a '03 not a '04 (ooops!)
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Joined: Jan 2003
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From: 3rd Rock
Originally Posted by Petrops
Hi Tim
Yes I do still have OEM shocks, shouldn't they be rated to handle this kind of load?
BTW it is a '03 not a '04 (ooops!)
Yes I do still have OEM shocks, shouldn't they be rated to handle this kind of load?
BTW it is a '03 not a '04 (ooops!)
I pulled mine at 3k, it was well worth it. I pull a big trailer, (check gallery).
I would highly suggest calling MotorHaven and replacing them, you will be AMAZED how good it drives afterwards. Please remember this is all my own experience.
Yours is like mine 03/03.....I love my truck, but only use it for towing.
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