Back in December, after having the Ex for a few weeks, my wife was driving with my son, doing some Christmas shopping. She was at a red light, and when the light changed, the guy behind her hit the foot feed really quickly. He rear-ended the Ex, and my wife got a pretty good kick out of it. Here's why:

The kid behind her (~24 YO, just a couple years older than my son) was driving a nearly restored '72 Malibu. The Malibu has that thin bumper, and it hit between the bumper and the receiver! Got stuck there, too!!! When the tow truck driver arrived, he couldn't get them free, so the cop (he was 3 cars back at the red light) stopped traffic, and had the wife drive around the corner to get out of traffic. My wife told me a) she didn't really feel much of an impact, and b) she pulled around the corner and didn't feel the car behind her!!! As she turned the corner, the bumper on the Ex took out his headlights! She made a left, and then a right into a store driveway and lot. When she went into the driveway, the Malibu finally popped loose! Anyway, his insurance replaced my rear bumper, hitch reciver, and rear parking system (aftermarket). I just noticed the receiver is a Class V. Now, I'm wondering if that will increase the GCWR from the original 20,000 as the receiver gives me a trailer weight of 12,500 w/ WD hitch (1250 on tongue) and 5,000 lbs (500 on tongue) w/o WD.

Any thoughts on the matter????

 

I think the weight load is based on the vehicle, not the hitch. Technically I could put a class V on my Towncar, but that doesn't mean it is now rated for that load.

 

Your GCWR is not going to change.

 

OK - not to redirect this thread. But Since the Class V hitch doesnt increase capacity. Does a RAS System?

 

I don't believe so.

 

Well put, and no argument from me. It just seems to me I read somehere in these threads there was a difference in the GCWR between the '01 and '03 PSD ('03 rated higher), and it was really the receiver which made the difference.

Not any real reason for asking except to acquire knowledge.

 

I don't know, but I've also heard that previous years of superduties and excursions were de-rated so Ford could 'increase' the GCVW and tow ratings as competition also increased without having to redesign anything. I don't know if its true or not for sure though.

But either way, the sticker on the truck says what its gonna say regardless of what kind of hitch, RAS or spring upgrade or airbags or whatever. So if you get stopped, I think you'll still be illegal no matter how well it handles if you are over the factory rating from Ford. Besides, the GCVW isn't just how well the truck can tow the load, but also how well it can STOP the load. And none of these towing upgrades substantially increase the stopping power of the X, so IMHO, its not the ability to support and accelerate the load thats the problem, its the ability to stop it.

Just my $.02

 

The only thing that would help stop it would be brakes on the trailer adjusted just right.

 

True. My trailer has brakes, but my friend has a 2 axle flatbed I've driven that doesn't. I forgot how much trailers affect stopping distances if you don't have any the trailer brakes.

 

A 2 Axle flatbed would typically be able to hold 7000 lbs. Anyone who doesn't put brakes on that is asking for trouble. I have a 2 axle traile that had single axle brakes on it and the first thing I did was add brakes to the second axle along with a battery and breakaway switch.

Then I added enough LED stop, turn, and marker lights to light up a small house

Doug

 

Remember that the only difference between the Excursion and the F250 is the springs and the front axle. Same brakes. 04 F250 V10 is rated to tow 16,500. 04 Excursion V10 is rated to tow 11,000. The curb weights are about 1000 lbs different. If you're in a state where the police stop and weigh Excursions, you might have some 'splaining to do!! I'm considering springs to inrease my payload, not my towing capacity.