Already has the load range E's on it. Thanks anyway.

 

Those are more than likely the replacement tires from Firestone, the recall has probably already been squared away. When my Excursion was under the recall, I took it to Firestone and they gave me 5 tires for free. They were the same tires that ExcursionMan has on his Excursion and they gave me about 50,000 trouble free miles, so I think he'll be fine with those tires.

 

Ok, then you are all set. I had the Load Range D's and they were replaced with no questions asked. The sales manager mentioned that the safely recall never expired and he would gladly replace any that came into his shop.

 

Exman,

You are correct...I read more into the title.

As someone that tows heavier with the Excursion...I'm personally more sensitive to having my rear axle not wrap under ALL conditions (acceleration, braking and when a heavy tongue trailer PUSHES).

Your enhancement looks good.

I actually fab'd up a set of home made brackets once to attempt to 'pin' the anti-wrap leaf in BOTH directions. See the picture below...my home made bracket is the dark black one in the picture...made from U-bolts and flat stock. It clamps around the anti-wrap leaf and up and over the leaf spring pack by the spring shackle...I had some thick rubber up there to stop 'clanking'...





The issue I ran into when I was 'experimenting' with this setup was that I had my tires aired up too high and that was causing other issues for me...so I can't 100% say this was a failed experiment...but I can say I took them off. Cost was about $40 for all the hardware.

Sorry to side-track your thread...

joe.

 

I don't think the problem is the anti-wrap "spring" itself but rather where it applies the pressure. If it applied it to the frame rather than the spring pack it may be more effective.

Then again removing it and adding a stronger leaf (Add-a-leaf) would probably work better at reducing axle wrap than fiddling with the anti-wrap "spring".

 

The thing I've noticed about the anti-wrap leaf is that because it only comes out the FRONT of the spring pack...it is only effective (and it is effective) when the applied torque tries to 'twist' the leaf springs to 'hold' the axle in place due to the acceleration forces...the anti-wrap spring does apply some force...however it is still a spring that will flex...so the mod ExMan did will stiffen the anti-wrap leaf...and certainly enhance acceleration traction...

However...1/2 the problem is still left on the table for those of us that tow (heavy tongue PUSHING on the rear of the Ex) or under braking forces...the axle will need to be 'held' to resist rotation in the opposite direction...i.e. the leafs will wrap in reverse of acceleration forces...and the anti-wrap leaf will actually PULL AWAY from the spring shackle...hence my attempt to CLAMP the anti-wrap leaf...I still believe this solution will result in positive effects...however my screwed up handling due to my tire pressures messed up my experiment...and I used one of the U-Bolts to fasten my flag pole bracket to my TT...so I 'could' re-create the bracket fairly easily and inexpensively...but the RAS has all but eliminated my braking/TT tongue PUSHING induced rear-steer phenom...

ExMan's traction bars will do just what he has stated...enhance acceleration...but those of us looking to fix the ailment of rear-steer when towing...need the other 1/2 of the fix. That IMO would be any of the following: F250/350 stiffer springs, the RAS or Radius-Rods

Joe.

 

I tow a 30' TT with 2 slides on it and it weighs just over 8000 lbs. and have never experienced the problems other users post. From what I read in some but not all the posts, it sounds like quite a few don't realize just exactly how heavy their TT is and/or how unevenly loaded it is. It is very important to know how heavy and evenly balanced you are to be safe out there. And slow down a little bit. 5 minutes later at your destination isn't the end of the world. Better late than dead or injured and a wrecked X and TT. I'll even go so far as to extend an invitation to anyone needing access to a certified scale to weigh your rig. E-mail me at eugenep@ameritech.net and we can set something up.

 

No cost for the scale either. Forgot to put that in the last post.

 

Your location?

 

ExMan,

I tend to FULLY agree with you on these statements.

My only difficulty is MY situation...

I had JUST left the CAT scale balancing my setup...I actually had right at 15% tongue weight and a DC hitch. WD was PERFECTLY distributing the load back to the unhitched front axle condition as verified by the scale...so I know things were balanced well.

On my trip home from the scale...I had to venture onto the interstate...I almost NEVER exceed 65mph and did NOT do so on this trip...in fact I was going about 62 as a semi truck over took me...he was traveling at ~70+ mph...his bow-wave sent me into a really squirley (sp?) place...I never felt like I'd lose control...but it was definitely DIFFERENT than the previous 8,000+ miles of towing with this Ex...

So the LONGER TT leverage was gaining great advantage on my Ex...the PUSHING of the TONGUE on the rear of the Ex due to the bow-wave is what I suspect caused my instability.

I will admit that I had some messed up tire pressures at this point (too high)...but I don't think that was all the contribution to the instability...but I could be wrong...

I've since done some more to my Ex...RAS, Bilsteins, Hensley as I already HAD the Hellwig...and I've since lowered my tire pressures to 70 rear and 60 front...the Ex is ROCK SOLID in this configuration...

I don't care how fast the semi passes and I've towed in 35mph+ CROSS WINDS with NO ILL EFFECTS in this setup...

I towed 5,000+ miles last year with this setup...GREAT combo now...

I know my setup is dialed in...NOW

I know my setup was NOT dialed in before and I had JUST left the CAT scale to boot!

These gentle giants are difficult to tweak...lots going on...and I agree that poor WD setups or too fast greatly accentuates that POOR setup...but in my case...I had a good WD balance as verified by the CAT scale and I was not traveling overly fast...it gave me a pretty good pucker factor when that truck got me loose...and I knew that I didn't want to deal with that setup ALL SUMMER LONG

joe.

 

HowieE - Racine, WI
XHemi - I thought that Hensley setup was supposed to eliminate sway altogether? You are only one of a handful that probably takes the time to scale your rig. It is well worth the 7 to 10 bucks at a CAT scale. The CAT scales are good because they also weigh the tow vehicle seperate from the TT on the same scale which helps determine tongue weight. My problem with towing is sometimes I don't get the sway controller tight enough and don't find out till I'm on the fast road and have to take the next exit, readjust and get back on.

 

ExMan,

When I left the scales that time and had that issue...is when I DECIDED to buy the Hensley...since then...NO SWAY what-so-ever...the Hensley plus the other mods have made this Ex one STABLE TV...

Prior to this long TT...I tugged a 30' ball to bumper 7500# TT with a DrawTite Dual Cam WD hitch...the only mod I had was the Hellwig...the Ex was incredible...

The addition of 1500# and 5' of leverage changed that...even though she was balanced via the scale...the mechanical advantage the TT enjoyed on the Ex was simply more than my comfort level would tolerate...I'm the only driver when towing and I tow 12-14 hours to GET TO the vacation...then we relax for a long time...but in getting there...

1) MUST be SAFE towing for my family, me and those I share the road with...no matter what the weather conditions
2) Not white knuckled for me...meaning I am no more tired pulling than I am simply driving

So you are right...most don't take the time to hit a scale...I have and do...the scale here in town charges $8 for the first weight and $1 for each after that. You get 3 pad scales too (TV steer, TV drive and both TT's)...three weights is ALL that is needed to confirm your setup...if you are tweaking your setup...more will be needed.

1) TV unhitched as ready for camping gives baseline axle loads
2) TV hitched to TT with WD engaged gives info on whether the WD is properly shifting weight BACK to the FRONT axle (should match the front axle weight from #1)
3) TV hitched to TT but NO WD engaged gives TONGUE load. Remember here that the FRONT axle will UNLOAD and ADD to the rear axle weight...you must use the baseline FRONT axle load from #1 to determine how much load on your rear axle is from the front...the delta is your TONGUE.

Simple and painless and relatively inexpensive to VERIFY your WD config...everyone should visit a scale once per year IMO...

What WD and sway setup do you use?

Joe.

 

I use an old round bar trunion style WD w/sway controller. Never had any problems with it other than forgetting to tighten the sway controller. I too, am the only driver, but I occasionally make the wife drive a short distance so she can at least get somewhere safe if something were to happen to me while were out. We generally don't go more than about 6 hrs away. I already drive for a living so it's not a vacation if I have to spend the majority driving.