7.3,

Yeah my Ex has a tranny temp gauge in the original dash, so I am OK there. I have towed my older trailer that weighed 6000 pounds an the 6.0 Ex did ok with it. Hopefully it will do just as good with the heavier toy hauler!!

 

I picked up the Attitude toy hauler yesterday and towed it home which was about 45 miles from the dealer. It is 7200 empty but I filled the water tank and the pumping station tank which added about 1200 pounds. Wow the 6.0 Ex was grunting hard. I was very surprised! I really couldn't go much over 65mph just because it seemed like I was all over the road with it. I have the Equalizer brand weight dist and dual sway bar hitch so I guess that's as good as she gets! My mileage with my old 5-6000 pound trailer used to be 14-15 at 65mph, well this baby knocked the 6.0 down to 11.5 mpg. Love the trailer, can't wait to get it out and hit some of those 6-7% hills and see what it'll do..............I am definitely thinking ride rite firestone air bags for towing this much weight. I will probably be around 9500 pounds fully loaded with food, clothes and equipment.

QUESTION: WHo has the best price on the Firestone Ride Rite air bags and conroller system that you can get with it too??

 

scottman,

Not sure if it is the "best" price or not...but I just got a JCWhitney catalog with my order and they have them for $229.99 (cheaper than I paid last week!) and then $40 off for over $200 but you have to pay $21.99 shipping...

Catalog code is NMPK06 to get the $40 off...

Call 800-529-4486 and give them that code and then part number wu15937g and then the year of your Excursion and whether it is a 4x2 or 4x4.

I just picked up a set for my Ex...haven't got here yet...I did NOT get the inside controller...I carry a 12V inflator...you only pump minimal volume into them...once you determine the psi you need for your load...it never changes unless you add weight to the TH...40-60psi is what I've heard guys use...for me it didn't seem like it was worth another $175 for an air compressor?...JMO...

Do you have a rear sway bar on the Ex?...some come with and some without...mine did NOT have one and I installed the Hellwig...an easy install EXCEPT I had to drill out the shock brackets since the new Hellwig came with 1/2" U-bolts and the stock U-bolts are 3/8"...no big deal...just wasn't expecting it...BTW...JCWhitney has the Hellwig TOO!...that's where I got mine last year for $150...not sure what they are now...but the part number is wu15923g

Hope this helps.

 

Thanks for that info I am going to look under the Ex for that rear stabilizer right now, and the air bag are getting ordered first thing tomorrow!!

 

Scottman70;
Congratulations on the Attitude TH! I have an '03 25' Tailgator TH. I have a Donohoe Racing 5" lift kit. It replaces the stock EX springs. At the same time I had Firestone air bags installed. I don't know exactly which helped more but the combination is great.

Also, as someone mentioned above, the dealer had my Reese Dual Cam install all screwed up. The first couple of trips with the stock Ex were white knuckle affairs. I found a great article on RV.NET on how to dial the Dual Cam hitch in and it made a great deal of improvement even before the air bags. Turns out the dealer installed it about 4" too low and it wasn't transferring any weight and used 800lb spring bars instead of 1200lb bars. Make sure the hitch is installed correctly if it was fighting you.

I went to 4.88 gears because I have the V10 and 35" tires. My engine and drivetrain are completely stock and I tow in Southern California with no problem so I would think the PSD would be great.

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fu...d/17730894.cfm

Michael

 

Enjoy the Attitude on your Ex, and your new TH! haha My wife gets an attitude with her Ex all the time. Read the post by riko, some good stuff, I have the round WD bars, I have enough clearance on 4 links, and it really snugs everything up good. Good choice on going a bit shorter, I have seen so MANY dangerous set-ups, with a 33' triple axle behind an Ex, the Ex was draggin a--, way way over loaded. You just need to get used to the 6.0mg working for a living!!

 

Enjoy the Attitude on your Ex, and your new TH! haha My wife gets an attitude with her Ex all the time. Read the post by riko, some good stuff, I have the round WD bars, I have enough clearance on 4 links, and it really snugs everything up good. Good choice on going a bit shorter, I have seen so MANY dangerous set-ups, with a 33' triple axle behind an Ex, the Ex was draggin a--, way way over loaded. You just need to get used to the 6.0mg working for a living!!

 

Thank you all for your input! I ordered the Firestone air bags yesterday from www.got-chrome.com for $226.00! Can't wait to get em on and get towing...........

 

Got the airbags installed on the EX. They seemed to raise the back up about 1.5 inches. Dang it now I need the leveling kit to raise the front end! Man if it aint one thing it's another. I think the air bags should really help the towing though. Anyone know where to get a cheap leveling kit for the front!!

 

how much pressure you running in them to raise the rear 1.5"? most people I have spoken to run 5-10 unloaded...and depending on the load in the rear...run between 30-50psi...

 

I have them at 20 psi. I ran them to 50 psi and gained exactly 1" haven't gone any higher though with the psi. I may lower them to 10psi, sure rides nice though!!

 

tow away, 01 ex 7.3 psd I regularly tow 12k with 04 tailgator 28, evolution programer tow setting, k&n filter, air bags, 1500# wd bars, classV hitch, billet tc, tugger kit. no problem watch temps (tranny cooler also 46000#) single friction bar these things tow and in comfort. ps no less than 10 psi in empty bags bags may pinch ( as per firestone)

 

I think the 10psi is a good piece of advice since that leaves weather/temperature changes (colder temps mean lower pressure) with some buffer. There is not a whole lot of VOLUME in these bags!

Per Firestone http://www.firestoneindustrial.com/r...s/rrinfo.shtml though they do "claim" 5-100psi is the range but I don't think I would run 5 simply due to too much compression possible?

Scottman,

Don't forget that once you drop the tongue weight on the rear everything will compress as well...the "goal" of airbags as I understand them is to keep your receiver at the "same" unloaded height after the tongue is dropped on...i.e. load leveling. Once you figure out how much pressure is needed for your setup, it should never change unless you make drastic loading/load changes. Meaning if my TT tongue runs 1100#'s and never changes and it requires 40psi to level the rear of my Ex...I should always be able to run 40psi in the bags when I hitch up...

 

I hear ya Hemi. I am towing the Hauler across the country from AZ to Iowa during the first 2 weeks of April so I will have a chance to get it dialed in real nice!! Thanks for the info!

 

Heh, betontheturtle, how do you like your Tailgator? I have an '03 25' and love it. There is a picture of it out in the desert in my gallery. I have had very few problems and it has been out a lot. I did wear out the links on the leaf springs though. Got home and the steps almost touched the ground! A local shop had the parts to repair everything.

Have you made any modifications? My mods are pretty simple: electric tongue jack, flag pole holder, coffee maker under the cabinets. I would like to replace the CD\radio with something digital.
Michael