Shocks for Towing
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Joined: Nov 2003
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Shocks for Towing
I have a 2003 Excursion diesel. I will have it full of passengers (7) and be towing a 24' boat/trailer. Will the factory shocks be sufficient or is it really worth the monty to upgrade to Rancho's or another brand? I am taking a trip this weekend and want to make sure I am set up right.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2002
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IMHO...
the stock shocks are marginal at best....
remember - it's a mass produced soccer mom vehicle
and only built ater approval by the bean counters
I swapped out the stock shocks or the Rancho 9 way adjustables and I love em !
can adjust the damping to match my needs... from VERY firm ride to VERY plush ride!
Is yours a 4x2 or 4x4 ? If 4x2 I would STRONGLY recomend you get the Hellwig rear sway Bar ! For $150 or so installed it will improve the side to side handling a 100%...
course it's a little tight for this weekend....
but at least pump up the air in all four to help reduce the sidewall flex in your tires...
the stock shocks are marginal at best....
remember - it's a mass produced soccer mom vehicle
and only built ater approval by the bean counters
I swapped out the stock shocks or the Rancho 9 way adjustables and I love em !
can adjust the damping to match my needs... from VERY firm ride to VERY plush ride!
Is yours a 4x2 or 4x4 ? If 4x2 I would STRONGLY recomend you get the Hellwig rear sway Bar ! For $150 or so installed it will improve the side to side handling a 100%...
course it's a little tight for this weekend....
but at least pump up the air in all four to help reduce the sidewall flex in your tires...
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 161,999
Likes: 75
From: 3rd Rock
Everything John talked of....do, the other item you might want is air bags. Check out my gallery, it helped my towing quiet a bit....I run my tires at max PSI when towing.
By the way I have everything on mine, shocks, bar, and bags
The only thing I do is tow with mine, no other driving.
By the way I have everything on mine, shocks, bar, and bags
The only thing I do is tow with mine, no other driving.
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 499
Likes: 20
From: Laguna Hills and Payson
I'm heading down to the dealer in 3 hours to get my 2005...just got the call...
I am wondering about the 18" wheel option that I couldn't get yet
THAT would seemingly deal with sidewall flex...
Oh well...
I'm pretty eXcited...
quietman
I am wondering about the 18" wheel option that I couldn't get yet
THAT would seemingly deal with sidewall flex...
Oh well...
I'm pretty eXcited...
quietman
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,314
Likes: 4
JC whitney is where I got mine...
Always call them and ask for any specials they may be running..
I got free 3rd day shipping and 10% off mine from there...
Always call them and ask for any specials they may be running..
I got free 3rd day shipping and 10% off mine from there...
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Junior User
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For anyone thinking about purchasing Rancho 9-ways, now is the time. Rancho is offering a free remote controller with the purchase of 4 shocks. The guys at Sam's Offroad let me know about the upcoming special a few weeks ago when I called to order a set. The deal runs at least through September. Needless to say, I waited until this week to order them.
I don't plan to go off-road, but I look forward to finding the perfect setting for towing and around town use.
I don't plan to go off-road, but I look forward to finding the perfect setting for towing and around town use.
Last edited by IB Tim; Sep 2, 2004 at 01:24 PM. Reason: Link removed competing with MotorHaven
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Stockbridge
Originally Posted by TowRig
For anyone thinking about purchasing Rancho 9-ways, now is the time. Rancho is offering a free remote controller with the purchase of 4 shocks. The guys at Sam's Offroad let me know about the upcoming special a few weeks ago when I called to order a set. The deal runs at least through September. Needless to say, I waited until this week to order them.
I don't plan to go off-road, but I look forward to finding the perfect setting for towing and around town use.
I don't plan to go off-road, but I look forward to finding the perfect setting for towing and around town use.
I got mine from him a couple of days ago. Ordered last week, wonder if I could still get it? Haven't towed with them yet, they ride nice. Got em set at 2 front 3 rear.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,314
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Are you talking about the in cab adjustments...
I was going to get that and heard that MANY have issues with them losing pressure and therefore losing the settings...
the way it was explained to me it seems that the remote is not a pushbotton where it turns the adjuster, ut rather a pressure kit that must hold the pressure to maintain the setting ???? and if it loses pressure it loses the setting....
not trying to rain on anyones parade... just passing on some info I heard that stpped me from installing the in cab adjusters...
At least ask some questions before you install the remotes...
I was going to get that and heard that MANY have issues with them losing pressure and therefore losing the settings...
the way it was explained to me it seems that the remote is not a pushbotton where it turns the adjuster, ut rather a pressure kit that must hold the pressure to maintain the setting ???? and if it loses pressure it loses the setting....
not trying to rain on anyones parade... just passing on some info I heard that stpped me from installing the in cab adjusters...
At least ask some questions before you install the remotes...
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,372
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From: Broussard USA
You have a compressor and that adds PSI to the lines then you bleed front or rear to the setting you want. To adjust with the screw you turn in and add more pressure on the shim stack making it harder for the oil to pass so 4 is firmer than 1. With air it is the same thing but air pushes the plunger in, if you lost pressure all that would happen is the shock would go to the #1 setting which is no big deal. The air manafolds are plastic but you could update that with brass for almost nothing, the lines are reall top quality lines so no upgrade needed there.
99.9999999% of the problems that I have seen were from overtightning the fittings and that cracked them or poor routing of the lines. In other words opperator error not equipment failure. IMO adjustable shocks are not worth it without the remote adjuster because most folks will remember when the get back on the hwy that DANG I could have adjusted my shocks. lol
99.9999999% of the problems that I have seen were from overtightning the fittings and that cracked them or poor routing of the lines. In other words opperator error not equipment failure. IMO adjustable shocks are not worth it without the remote adjuster because most folks will remember when the get back on the hwy that DANG I could have adjusted my shocks. lol
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 61
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From: Hanna City United States
I have a 4X2 and had a horrible time towing. It was white knuckle time everytime i hooked up. The beast was almost impossible to keep on the road. I replaced the front shocks with Edelbrock IAS and the rears with Rancho RSX's. I also installed the Hellwig. When towing, I keep all 4 tires at 65PSI (D rated tires). With the above mods, I have logged several thousand miles this summer towing a 31ft travel trailer and a family of 7 and the X tows great. Fully loaded the entire rig weighs in at 15,200 lbs. The next mod will be E rated tires which I think will be the icing on the cake.
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 61
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From: Hanna City United States
I forgot to add, when I replaced the stock shocks at 50k, my 5yr old daughter that weighed all of 45 lbs at the time, could compress the shocks my pushing down on them. She could not budge either the Edelbrocks or the Ranchos. Consider those were the shocks on a 7000 lb vehicle and it was no wonder I had control problems. Trying to tow with shocks like that can cause control problems with more than just the truck. It can cause bladder control problems, too!!!!