Ronin,

I'm with you...I'm sure the Landyots do a very effective job of fixing the woe's of the Ex.

My only point is that they attack only one aspect of the woes (axle wrap)...for someone like me that needed rear spring capacity...another mod would be needed in conjunction with the landyots...that's all.

My posts should in no way be taken that I am bashing Landyots...because I am not. Those that have put them on are very happy. For me...I just chose a different solution to the common problem all Ex owners seem to face.

I beleive with your spring swap...once you hitch up and tow...you will find your handling very satisfactory. But if not...I'd suggest a few things FIRST.

1) Load up your Ex and TT as you would for towing and GO TO A SCALE to verify weights and balance. Most that fight handling issues have NEVER been to a scale to see what loading they REALLY have. Going to a scale is both inexpensive and painless but a NECESSARY step in achieving a stable tow platform. You MUST have 10-15% of the LOADED TT as TONGUE weight...a poor handling TT may very likely be from too LOW a tongue load...only a scale can verify your tongue load...

2) Weight distribution...your HITCHED front axle weight after you apply WD should return to your UNHITCHED front axle weight...that tells you that you have the BALANCE back. Many that fight handling issues have unloaded their front axle and have a 'floaty' front end they are fighting...ONLY a scale can verify your balance.

3) Tire air pressure...tweaking air pressure as tires are a suspension component many discount in the total handling package. My suggestion is starting at the NEEDED psi for axle loads (you have that data from the scale) and if more stability is desired...up the pressure 5 psi at a time on each axle independently until you hit on your 'desired' stability.

IF (big if)...you find you can't get there AFTER you have verified that all three of these options have been satisfied...well that's when you would need to evaluate 'other' options on your Ex (like the landyots).

Keep us posted...as you can tell...proper towing setup is one of my passions...

Good luck,
joe.

 

Dave,

Excellent information...

I can only report what I have experience with on my Ex.

My Ex is stock height and stock tires.

I roll down the road at the GVWR of the Ex and at 17,000# combined load. My TT is 35' long hitch to bumper. I have towed 5000 miles this year.

I ONLY have a Hellwig and RAS as rear suspension mods. (NO landyots)

I tow mostly at 65-70 mph in some stiff cross winds this year and mostly ONE HANDED...so the Ex tracks very straight and true when towing...to be fair I DO have a Hensley Hitch which DOES aid in stability...but I did not have it in 2006...I had a Drawtite DC...

Prior to installing the RAS I did notice that when the TT tongue PUSHED on the rear of the Ex...I felt a 'crabbing' steering feeling. The RAS addition...STOPPED that feeling.

Ford 'attempted' to fix the inherent design feature of axle wrapping on ALL leaf sprung vehicles...they 'attempted' that with the lower anti-wrap leaf on the spring pack. BUT THIS WAS A HALF WAY FIX. I say half way...because that anti-wrap spring works under acceleration conditions ONLY. Had Ford stuck that leaf fore and aft...that would have likely fixed this ailment.

What I noticed prior to the RAS...when you have 1100-1200# PUSHING on the rear of the Ex under braking conditions...that 'warped' the leaf springs and that's where the crabbing feeling came from. For me and my sensations/feelings...the addition of the RAS has eliminated this condition on my Ex...and that's all I can report on.

I know for me...I can now tow my 12-14 hour days again and not fight handling issues.

BTW...prior to getting my heavier TT...my last one went 7500#...the STOCK rear with a Hellwig resulted in ZERO rear-steerage...perhaps I just got lucky with a good behaved Ex?...I doubt it...or perhaps many have never driven a vehicle this LARGE and don't realize that it handles a certain way...everyones expectations are certainly different...

Again...I'm not arguing with you...only reporting MY experiences with rolling down the road at 17,000# and near 60' long (front of Ex to rear of bike rack on TT) in 5000 miles this year and 7000 miles last year (at 15,500#)...and carrying that much weight on the STOCK springs of the Ex resulted in un-desirable rear end sagging. SOMETHING has to be done when you drop that much weight on the REAR of the Ex...springs, RAS, air bags, etc to ADD rear spring capacity...for me it is my obvious opinion that the RAS or V/B springs fix the spring capacity issue AND aid with reduction (not elimiation) of the spring warpage...but reduction to the point it isn't an issue for towing is sufficient (IMO).

Air bags WOULD require Landyots (IMO) as they do nothing to 'reduce' warpage.

Thanks for the great info.

joe.

 

As Joe said above, Thanks Brian!

My apologies for not responding with a thanks earlier. My DSL went down and I just yesterday got my internet back by switching over to cable.

Matty, that's EXACTLY how I felt after my swap. I felt like I had a new truck. The dang thing felt nimble compared to the way it handled before the spring swap.

Stewart