I just bought a 2001 X. I am pulling a 28' Desert Fox toy hauler. I noticed that the back end of the excursion seems to sway around alot. I am planning on putting a sway bar on and new shocks all the way around. What do you guys think about changing my rear springs to superduty springs? Would this help eliminate some of the wandering issues that I have read about. I know some people are using radius rods. Please help I would love to be able to tow straight down the road.

 

raptor

I agree good shocks are well worth the investment.. the stocks ones are not very good in my opinion.. I use Rancho adustable shocks and made good use of them for towing.. I could "turn up" the shock and gain much improved handling.. I also use Helwig anti sway bar, it helps quite a bit as well.. towing and other driving

you dont mention if youre using an anti-sway set up on your hitch.. I use Reese Dual-Cam... It is a weight distribution/antisway set up many seem to like. It worked well for me.. I used to tow a heavily loaded 27' Jayco Eagle with my "X" and never had any issues with sway or excessive wander.. I always felt confident towing with my "X", no white knuckle moments.. <at least, none caused by my rig itself)

It seems almost all stock "X"'s have an issue with steering... The best way I can describe the issue is that it requires more attention/adjustment of the steering wheel to keep things in a straight line... Many have corrected this with Landyots "radius rods".. Do a search and you will find many postings with more detail.. I would have ordered radious rods for myself but I sold the travel trailer and not sure whats next for the "X".. My wife keeps mentioning how much she likes 5th wheels (grrrooaaannn) Can you say "F250/350"?

good luck!

Bill

 

I pull a 30' Attitude toyhauler with my 2004 V10 X, we have the Firestone airbags and the Helwig sway bar. The sway bar was installed the day we bought the trailer so I can't say what it towed like without it, but the airbags made a huge difference. I don't notice much sway unless I get over 70 mph, but I shouldn't be towing that fast anyway. I would try these first before I started swapping parts off the Superduty.

 

I put airbags on the back for towing and airbags on the front for plowing. My 00 was squirelly without the bags, don't need the swaybar.

 

all the previous posters have good suggestions...

Mine is to make sure that your TIRES are aired up to 80PSI when you are heading out. Side wall "flex" will add to sway if NOT aired up to the max pressure. Tire pressure helps to correct MANY of the X's handling ailments...the others certainly help as well.

Good luck!

 

IMHO, Air Lifts or Ride Rites are a must. Independently plumbed rear bags provide roll control. I don't have a sway bar on mine.

 

Raptor05--Two things.

1) Get the truck under control. I recommend radius rods or ladder bars to keep the rear axle from wandering relative to chassis centerline. This will help all of the time, even when not towing.

2) Get the trailer sway under control. Forget friction bars. They don't work very well, especially in the rain, and need constant attention. With a long trailer, I think a Hensley hitch is definitely worth the investment. The "Dual Cam" hitches may also be effective enough for your towing combination.

I have a Hensley and it has made towing a breeze for us. We towed a 9,000 lb, 32' travel trailer across TX panhandle and NM last spring in 35 - 40 mph crosswinds without a "white knuckle" experience. You still know that darn big trailer is there, but it and the tow vehicle act as one unit.

By the way, I have RideRite air bags, Hellwig sway bar, and the radius rods.

 

Forest,

For a 28' trailer and our X, I wouldn't think a hensley would be needed...especially at $3K. I would suggest going with a Reese Dual Cam setup first. If sway appears to be an issue, then Raptor should look into the Hensley. But I would bet the dual cam will serve him fine...he just needs to make sure he has ample tongue weight (10% minimum).

I tow a 27' TT and will be upgrading from a friction bar NOT because of any sway issues but for more safety margin in cross winds...I NEVER was comfortable with just a friction bar...getting the dual cam put on next month...JMO and experience...Now if I had a 32'R...I would CERTAINLY be looking at a Hensley...

 

Thanks for all the input. It makes me feel much better now.

 

The Excursion is notorious for the rear steer wandering problem. I found, especially towing, that it's not only annoying but very dangerous! I watched a friend towing ahead of me with an Excursion nearly lose control between two trucks, it was very scary. If your front end components get worn, it's much worse. I have replaced nearly everything on the front end.

A rear sway bar will help some, might fix 20% of the problem. Radius rods will fix the rest. I also have ride rite air bags and bilstein shocks. These improvements, especially the radius rods made my Excursion drive like a different vehicle! Best money I've ever spent!

 

what kind of mpg do you guys receive while towing with the X?

 

I get 10-12 with my 7.3 PSD.

 

i have tons of questions,guys so all responses will be appreciated! i have a 33ft Vortex triple axle toybox weighing in loaded at 11k.got a 2001 x 4x4w/ psd/auto stock tires rear hellwig sway bar i put on/ k&n air filter/stock exhaust/air bled tube in wastegate line. just got back from spring break on the texas coast 1100 mile pull round trip. i borrowed a buddies edge programmer set up on 60 hp mode. was very pleased at the power/pull improvement(i do not have any extra gauges but the programmer will let you monitor ext,trans temp and line pressure and exhaust back pressure)traveling during the day(sun shining) x pulled great. when dark/cold air hit hell you would have thought you hit the nitros button. i caught myself dragging this train 75-80 mph with a head wind. back it down to 70 for speed limit. i was not monitoring the data on the programmer so i do not know where everthing was at. i wish i had! started feeling a intermittent jerk over about 15 miles,then i saw smoke in the mirror. aw sh$$! checked gauges everything cool oil pressure up coolant temp normal(i dont have a trans gauge) i wish i had. pulled it over found trans fluid dripping out of the front of trans,thought i blown front pump seal (weird thing fluid dripping down was cold to the touch)limped to next safe spot and road camped.in am pulled starter to research area was wet but seal intact put starter back on fired it up no leaks. lost about 4 quarts.headed to the next big city for trans shop/ x pulled good shifting good/went on to the beach drove all over coast(no trl)hook up to pull home got stuck in houston traffic jam and trans started acting up.programmer showed tran temp ok damn thing just started reving out/slipping in third gear on take off as long as rpm were 2500-2800 it would hook and pulled and then its fine/ got 30 miles from home gettng on interstate trans temp shot up to 220 deg(hell i was babying it just so i knew i make it home) it cooled back down in about 15 miles to 181 degress where it had been running at. ext temp showed 1900deg(steadypull)-2250deg(hardpull/longgrade) i guess time for questions? is exhaust temp in range?trans temp? fuel mileage avg 6-8 mpg,i want 12(dreaming i guess) towing questions- air suspension $how much what about timbren suspension rubber bumpers(replace stock bumpers on rear springs they give extra lift support when loaded/compressed) stopped and weighed rig at truck stop gross out at 19,500- 3780lbs frt axle 6950 rear axle 8950 trailer axle i have dual friction sway bars on pulls good *** end still walks around tire psi at 75 drated tires upgrading to e soon(tread is fairly aggressive and noisey)one size over stock okay i am out off wind and sleepy let hear it! love the x like my camper better do not want to go dually pickup/ needs to be the soccer mom limo and once a month hauler and money is a problem so guessing will not work!

 

i have a kinda silly question when comparing to the loads you guys are pulling, but I plan on towing a single car trailer with a van approx. 3k miles round trip in 3 weeks. should i look into and suspension mods for just single vehicle towing(i do alot of this type of towing, no real large trailers), or is stock good enough for now?

 

what is the specs on the van and how heavy is the load and what does the trailer weigh empty