Excursion Trailer Towing
Thread Starter
|
Trailering
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Excursion Trailer Towing
I have a 2005 Excursion diesel and plan on towing a 10,000 # + boat. The hitch is rated at 5,000 # non WD and 11,500 WD. My problems seem to be that no after market hitches are available for the Excursion as the hitch is factory installed and several attachment points are not accessible. Further, as the trailer is submerged for launch and retrieval of the boat electric brakes aren't an option.
I've seen many Excursions towing equally large boats. Does anyone know the solution to this problem?
Thanks
I've seen many Excursions towing equally large boats. Does anyone know the solution to this problem?
Thanks
Thread Starter
|
Trailering
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Thanks for your reply.
What capacity draw bar do you use?
What capacity draw bar do you use?
Originally Posted by DiscountPowerPrt
The brakes run on DC electricity and doesnt care about water. The factory hitch on our 2000 Excurion hauls 12000 lbs with out WD all summer, no problems.
FTE *******
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 791
Likes: 1
From: Pittsburgh, PA
I have a solid bar with a 12K rating and a ball from a 5th wheel mount that has a 17K rating on that 2000 Excursion. The trailer is a 28" flatbed with a dual axles and a 79 F-250 on it that goes 8K lbs with the hanging weights that are on the trailer under the truck. There is a 4x4x8 foot box on the front of the trailer that houses the 30 gallon stand up compressor, 5,500 watt generator, 4 spare tires on wheels, 5 ton floor jacks, all air tools and hand tools, spare fuel and misc junk. The trailer is between 12 and 13K lbs on any given day on the way to and from the truck pulls. The Excursion does not mind it at all.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,529
Likes: 390
From: SEVA
Originally Posted by DiscountPowerPrt
The brakes run on DC electricity and doesnt care about water. The factory hitch on our 2000 Excurion hauls 12000 lbs with out WD all summer, no problems.
Also, boat trailers have a lot of available adjustment to position the load and fine-tune the tongue weight to an acceptable amount.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 161,999
Likes: 75
From: 3rd Rock
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Trailering
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
THanks. I omiitted the surge part in my question.
Based on replies it seems I'll be fine with the right draw bar.
Based on replies it seems I'll be fine with the right draw bar.
Originally Posted by cficare
Boat trailers typically do not use electric brakes. They use hydraulic brakes with a surge-activated master cylinder in the trailer's tongue. I have heard that a WD hitch arrangement is now available that does not hamper the activation of the master brake cylinder. Unfortunately, other than hearing about this new WD hitch, I have no other info on it.
Also, boat trailers have a lot of available adjustment to position the load and fine-tune the tongue weight to an acceptable amount.
Also, boat trailers have a lot of available adjustment to position the load and fine-tune the tongue weight to an acceptable amount.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
New User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
I use a weight distributing hitch (from U-HAUL) on my '2000 v10 3.73 X to pull my 40' 10000lb boat trailer. In order to get around the problem of the weight distributing bars keeping a hydraulic surge brake actuator from working, I installed an Electric brake controller onto the front of the trailer...this unit takes the signals from the electric brake controller (in the cab) and applies the hydraulic pressure to the brakes...which always are submerged when launching.....This solution is AWESOME and gives a tremendous amount of braking control (because it is ajustable from inside the cab). Good Luck
Thread Starter
|
Trailering
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Thanks for your input. My local trailer hitch Co. said an equalizing hitch will work if the sway bars are omitted. The chain attaching the equalizer bars is supposed to rotate enough to allow the surge brakes to function normally.
Have you tried this approach?
Have you tried this approach?
Originally Posted by paulallred
I use a weight distributing hitch (from U-HAUL) on my '2000 v10 3.73 X to pull my 40' 10000lb boat trailer. In order to get around the problem of the weight distributing bars keeping a hydraulic surge brake actuator from working, I installed an Electric brake controller onto the front of the trailer...this unit takes the signals from the electric brake controller (in the cab) and applies the hydraulic pressure to the brakes...which always are submerged when launching.....This solution is AWESOME and gives a tremendous amount of braking control (because it is ajustable from inside the cab). Good Luck
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
I used to tow a 26' deckboat on a steel tandem axle trailer 10k GVW trailer with surge brakes. I used a WD hitch as I had 840lbs of tongue wt and a total wt just under 7500 lbs. The surge actuator was not installed correctly by the trailer manufacture and never worked right when used with the WD hitch.
I swapped the trailer for an aluminum tri axle trailer and had an electric over hydraulic actuator installed. I cut about 1000 lbs from the towed wt and reduced the tongue wt to 450-500 lbs. I have a solid hitch rated at 10k and love the way the trailer tows and more importantly, stops!!!!
I swapped the trailer for an aluminum tri axle trailer and had an electric over hydraulic actuator installed. I cut about 1000 lbs from the towed wt and reduced the tongue wt to 450-500 lbs. I have a solid hitch rated at 10k and love the way the trailer tows and more importantly, stops!!!!
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 162
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by guiri
Tim (Lamkin)
I didn't see an X in your gallery. Just some dually?
George
I didn't see an X in your gallery. Just some dually?
George
What did that thing weigh in at, Tim?
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
luisp1966
Excursion - King of SUVs
20
May 10, 2012 10:45 PM
blue92f150
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
12
Aug 4, 2009 07:27 PM