So can you or can you not get a class 4 or 5 hitch for a 2004 Ford excursion 6.0l turbo diesel. We tow a Weekend Warrior FSW 3200 and my hitch looks like its faling.
Thanks,
Nick

 

there was a recent thread on this same subject....look back a page or two.

you (we) are limited on aftermarket hitches for the Ex....and they get expensive. not the same as the SD hitch.

the stock ('03+ I think) hitch is a class V 12,500lbs....however the Ex is of course only rated for 11k but with minor mods and carefull planning and towing many guys have gone over the 11k.

 

weekendwarrior, check my gallery. i have a pic of my factory hitch label. alot of people here say that the v-5 rated hitch isn't on the 00 and 01's. it most certainly is. thats why i took a pic of mine.

 

The "V-5" on the hitchs on our X's does not mean it is a Class 5 hitch - two totally different designations. The V-5 is simply a standards thing (ie... 2" reciever, pin hole located this and such etc ) ...it is NOT a class 5 hitch that comes stock. I know I am not explaning that clearly..bottom line is, it is a Class 4. You theoretically can have a class 3 that complies with V-5 production standards.

But - you do have options to upgrade. Unfortunately none of the common makers of hitchs sell them for X's - except one - Pullrite. Big down side - lowers ground clearance as it mounts below the stock hitch. (8.07" from ground to bottom of tow bar,per their design drawings ). Not available for 2wd. Expensive to (nearly $3,000 new) ..but supposedly one fantastic hitch. Tows like a 5th wheel does. They offer one in a 10,000 total, 1,000 tongue, or a 20,000 total, 2,000 tongue weight rating. Look here: http://www.pullrite.com/

Your other option is a custom built hitch. If in CA - try Eckharts http://www.eckharts.com/ . Here in Michigan, I found two places so far. One in Flint Michigan - (and now I am totally blanking on the name of the place...Mike's something or another....I will remember...), and one in ******* Michigan (which is very close to me) called Patriot Steel 989-732-6414. He will build a hitch to meet your needs - 2 1/2" tow beast sized if you want - said price would be around $500 to $600. He will be doing a hitch for me in the not so distant future. I am sure if you call around where ever you are, you can find some custom welding shops that can help you out. Others have recently posted having some sucess finding places to custom build one for them. Again...do a search, look back just within the last few weeks, a few different threads on this topic.

I am curious how you are noticing your hitch is failing? What is it doing? Would love to see a pic so I can know what to look for! (this is the first time I have heard of an X hitch "failing"). What sort of tongue weight are you running? I have a WW FSC2800 - dual axle (not the newer triple axle type). I recently took it to the scales - loaded up with 4 motorcycles, 75 gallons of water, and supplies food etc for 4 people..I was at 1360 lb tongue weight, 11,100 total weight. By shifting where I had things loaded, how much water on board etc. I could get it down to around 1250 to 1300 lbs. easily. My worst case load, kinda deliberately messing with it to see a worst case load set up, I did get a 1440. That is easy to avoid by moving things around though. I am (or will soon be) using a Hensley Arrow hitch - which will make sway impossible even if i run a light tongue weight %. That and the custom reciever on the truck, I will be good to go...

 

I have checked into this as well I pull a 34 ft tripple axle toy hauler. 13000lbs loaded. I have not found an aftermarket hitch. Eckharts in CA is the only place I found that would do a custom class V hitch. Cost was 500.00 which included the removal of the old one

 

The factory hitch on my 02 is rated at 12,500lbs.

 

yup, so is my 01. pic i my gallery. but the trucks aren't rated for that. i think 11000#