Hello All. First off, I'd like to extend my gratitude to all in this forum! There is a plethora of information to learn about these trucks and you guys really make sorting through it a whole lot easier. I have learned so much about the Excursion and the 7.3 since I bought it in October and base many, if not all of my decisions on information I gather here. So with that I have a question for you. I did some mild searching and couldn't find anything specifically related to what I have to ask. So here goes...

I upgraded my Toy Hauler from a SuperLite 19' to a Wide-Lite 28' recently after upgrading my tow vehicle to the Excursion 7.3PSD. My old 19 did fine on the 1200lb bars and friction-type sway controller - only weighed in around 6500lbs loaded with a 800lb tongue weight. But when I went to the 28, BIG difference! Weighs in at 9500 dry and 1150 on the tongue. I was able to seriously feel the weight difference! First trip out, there was some serious sway...total white knuckle experience. The second I passed 60, I was all over the place. In fact, I had to slow to 45-50 in certain areas on 395 due to crosswinds. Based upon all my reading here and rave reviews, I decided to purchase a Roadmaster Active Suspension kit. Now my next trip isn't until 3rd week of June (to Pismo!) but I wanted to make sure I make an improvement over my last experience. Now in reading about the different weight distribution hitches and integrated sway control, which is really the best, most economical product? I know there is the Hensley Arrow..but that one is quite spendy. How do the other ones compare? Equalizer HD? Draw-Tite Cam system? Those two seem like the only other worthy candidates. Should I consider purchasing bars spec'd for 1400lbs instead of 1200? Or just stay within my spec? Any personal reviews? Experiences? Preferences of one over another? Thanks Again! Your input is appreciated!

- Andy

 

I love my Equalizer hitch. It's easy to hook up/disconnect and I can get under it at any angle. It does make a bit of noise, but most 'friction' anti-sway systems will. I found that most of the noise was comming rom the ball - so now I make sure I greese my ball before evey trip.

I'd go ahead with the 1400 lb bars. They won't make a significant difference in your current rig, but if you decide to upgrade again, then you're already set. Also, if you happen to overload (by mistake of course) the tounge, then you have that extra coverage.

I too added the RAS and love it as well. Between my RAS and Equalizer I am once again one happy camper on the road.

 

HEMI is the guy to get your info from, he will help you a lot!

Equalizer Hitch for starts! Dual steering stabilizers, rear air bags, stiffer shocks, Rancho xl9000's or Bilsteins, RAS or course and make sure you have Load E-rated tires inflated to 80psi rear and 65-70 in the front! If you have a lot of slop in your steering box you can adjust it and that will improve things to! There is your list of things to do, get out the check book! Hemi will elaborate on these things more in depth most likely!!

 

I have a Equalizer with a Hellwig rear swaybar, 24' enclosed race trailer no problems whatsoever!

 

I also tow a long triple axle toyhauler. I have the 1700 lbs bars and a dual cam sway control. Along with all the other goodies in my signature. The dual cam works great. i am going to add the RAS and a drawtite sway control as well..
I can tow at 65ish pretty good. but wind and sway is an issue.

 

kappysworld, did the air bags make a big differnce with the stiffness of the rear end? Get blown around a little by other vehicales. Also have 30ft trailer and was concidering air bags.

thanks roger

 

The air bags add some stiffness and since each bag is seperate it did help with the sway. I like the bags for the weight isssues, I am ading RAS, I do have a sway bar on there as well. with all three it should to the trick at the truck end,, Thne with the 2 different sway controllers on the trailer I should be set.

 

The Equalizer rocks!!!

I would like to see your loaded weights... esp the overall weight of the ToyHauler and the tongue weight. I'm guesssing that you may not have enough TW. There is almost no sway control system that can make up for less than 10% TW on a long and heavy load.

Get us some info... we'll get ya hooked up!!

 

Thanks for all the info so far fellas! With regards to the overall weight, I'd have to go to the scales. Any suggestions? Truck stops? Never weighed it before. But I estimate ~11800 loaded with 1150 on the tongue. I also have load range D tires. Is that a big issue? I do inflate them to 60psi though.

 

I use the Reese Dual Cam sway system, we love it, my Excursion is stock and if the DC is set up right you will get hardly any sway, we tow a 34 ft Rockwood, and couldnt be happier with the set up, my .02.

I hear that the eq is a very good product also.

 

Just looking at your picture and it could be the angle, it looks like your not level, first step the trailer must tow level , adjust hitch accordingly. it takes a little fiddling but you do want trailer and tow vehicle to ride as level as possible. Tongue weight is important at least 10% (12-13) ideal. when using wd hitch the difference of a single link is amazing. experiment, its the only way to find that sweet spot for our X's. A good sway control bar is essential on longer trailers, sometimes two. I love my airbags they help overcome the light springs on these things. I've rambled enough Good Luck.

 

I have Reese Dual cam, love it. I pull 32ft. T.T. stock suspension. Using it I have had no problems. I did pull a friends 38ft home w/out the hitch, and a 1hr trip took two.

 

Absolutely, I would never tow with Load D's on an Excursion when towing at at 10-12k pounds! The very 1st thing I would do is dump those D's and get some E's and get them to 80 psi! The stronger sidewalls and higher psi will help with control/sway for sure. If what your towing is what in your pic...the triple axle weekend warrior you better get some Load E tires or your asking for potential tire and control issues!

Unfortunately the Excursions don't come factory equipped to tow heavy loads. In order to get them to tow satisfactorily you will have to throw some $$ at the truck!! I was very angry after the first time I towed with mine, but things have improved since then! I have spent $1200 dollars for all the right equipment, that in my opinion should have come standard on the Excursions!! I still am not a completely satisfied person though in regards to towing with the Ex! My older Dodge Mega Cab was way more solid and did not have any sway issues at all unless there was a 30mph crosswind! Good Luck!

 

I have found that the best way to get your trailer level is to measure the frame between the axles,except that you've got three,so I think that I would measure it at the middle one.. Then set your hitch so that the front of the trailer and the back match the middle measurement..Mine is 21" and when the trailer is hooked up it's dropping to a tad over 19", so I just reset the ball one inch higher to see if it pulls better..I have an Equali-z-er hitch,Firestone air bags ,a Hellwig sway bar and new gas schocks..I run between 70-80# in the bags,depending on the tongue weight..
A suggestion that you might do is to go to http://www.rv.net and look for DavidG and he has a VERY definitive towing thing he has put together..

 

VR6Nutt,

You've gotten GREAT advice thus far sorry I'm jumping in late to the game...I was out crappie fishing and I did pretty crappy too!

I'll try and add some to this post.

First to answer your question in the first post. YES a sway control OTHER than a friction bar is what you need. I would not necessarily jump straight to a Hensley or ProPride first (I own a Hensley).

Depending on your current WD hitch...you may simply be able to add a Dual Cam (DC) kit to the spring bars as the most economical option FIRST. I towed around a 27' TT that only went 7500#'s though and had 900-1000# on the tongue with a DC for 8000 sway FREE miles.

Take a look at something like this Dual Cam Sway Control add on these bolt to your FLAT WD bars if you don't have the 'hooked' ones to start and then the cams bolt to your frame...and whalla you have a DC for under $150...may be worth a try...

Regardless...you need to read the following thread over on RV.Net Travel Trailer Hitch Set-up Procedure

It will walk you thru proper balancing of your WD setup.

One thing that stuck out at me...your LOADED trailer is near 12,000#'s. For 'natural' anti-sway you need MINIMUM 10% on the tongue and 12-13 is better as previously pointed out. That means you need MINIMUM 1200#'s as tongue.

The WEAKEST link on our Excursions is the receiver. It has a MAX rating for tongue load of 1250#'s in WD mode. At 10% you are pushing up against that limit quick. And you will likely find that 10% tongue may not be the optimal percentage for your rig...if you need 12,13,14 or more % tongue weight you will exceed the receiver rating...and the sad thing is that there is only one aftermarket manufacturer out there and HE has to INSTALL the receiver and HE is in southern California which may be good for you...his name is Eckhart (sp?)...so you may want to do a search on Eckhart as a couple of guys just had him install one for them on here...

Another option is a Pull-Rite hitch...it IS high end...BUT what it buys you is a 2000# tongue rating PLUS a very STABLE towing experience...the only thing I'm not high on the Pull-Rite for our Excursions...is that it installs below the factory receiver...ground clearance is eaten up.

But it provides a very stable towing experience because it places the pivot point of the hitch very close to the rear axle...tows like a fifth wheel...plus it gets you a 2000# tongue rating...you may want to look at that for such a HEAVY trailer...it may sound like a lot of money at ~$2500 but for what you are towing and the people you are carrying...I'd consider it...

I think you have a balance issue and your trailer appears to be nose high as pointed out...follow the steps from that RV.Net thread to first balance things out...see what your REAL tongue load is on your LOADED trailer...I think you may find a tongue in the 1400# range after you load up and hit a scale...I started at 1400#'s on my tongue for my 31' TT...I had to shift things around to get to 1100# with no fresh water and 1200#'s with fresh water in my tank...but I don't have a near 12,000# trailer either...mine only goes 9000# LOADED.

Your tongue weight is likely a major cause of your sway issues...improper weight loading I have found to be the number one cause. Then your tires...for the loads you are hauling...E's are the way to go...but to be fair to the D's...they are very likely NOT overloaded...once you weigh your axles you will know for sure. What E's buy you are higher pressures and stiffer side walls...which can be a critical **** to turn to find handling stability...

Also...a question...in your ToyHauler...are the fuel and fresh tanks in the FRONT?...are they FULL to the trip and EMPTY on the way home? Do you notice more sway one way over the other?...that could be a clue...

Where do you find a scale you ask?...most truck stops will have them. Costs are really nominal. Usually $8 for first weight and $1 for each one after that.

You will need THREE weights. Make sure you have BOTH the Ex and Trailer LOADED as you would for a trip...that is critical to finding the balance.

Get individual axle weights as follows

a) Ex front
b) Ex rear
c) All three trailer on one scale is fine

1) Ex ALONE.
2) Ex hitched to trailer with WD ENGAGED
3) Ex hitched to trailer with WD NOT engaged

Weight #1 front and rear Ex axle weights are your baseline. You must strive in #2 to return the FRONT axle weight to this #1 weight thru the application of WD. Tweaking the WD tension is how you balance your front axle and apply the proper WD.

Weight #3 will tell you your tongue weight. REMEMBER though that the rear axle weight in #3 will include the SHIFTED load from the FRONT axle. So compare the front axle in #3 to the front axle in #1 to see how much is shifted. Subtract the front weight that appears on the rear axle to find your REAL tongue load that your rear axle will be carrying in #3...

I've been rambling for some time...I need more coffee...let me know how much I have confused you...

To summarize...

1) I think you will over load your receiver when you load up to PROPER tongue weight.
2) You need to hit a scale to properly balance your rig
3) You can possibly look at an add on DC kit as an economical solution FIRST

Good luck,
joe.