Towing help
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New User
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Jefferson,NH
Towing help
Ok, first, I am a newbie when it comes to towing, so I've asked a couple of questions on here and gotten some great answers to them. Completely read the RAS/swaybar thread and, boy, did that help!! So we took off today for NH from the Detroit area after getting it set up yesterday and I think I did ok with it. Not completely perfect, but I don't have a reference to go by. Stopped at a CAT scale on the first fuel stop and here's the data:
Steer Axle: 3620
Drive Axle: 5400
Trailer axle: 8520
Gross wt.: 17540
Now, this is a 24ft. TAG enclosed car hauler with my '84 Mustang in it (backwards), and most of my garage equipment and parts. Plus some household goods, btw. The reason its backwards is the escape door is on the curbside. Speaking of curbs, got a little bit in a hurry and clipped the curb pulling into the hotel parking lot, bent 1 rim on the trailer(still holds air) so I got to use my tire changing skills already!!
John
Steer Axle: 3620
Drive Axle: 5400
Trailer axle: 8520
Gross wt.: 17540
Now, this is a 24ft. TAG enclosed car hauler with my '84 Mustang in it (backwards), and most of my garage equipment and parts. Plus some household goods, btw. The reason its backwards is the escape door is on the curbside. Speaking of curbs, got a little bit in a hurry and clipped the curb pulling into the hotel parking lot, bent 1 rim on the trailer(still holds air) so I got to use my tire changing skills already!!
John
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From: Jefferson,NH
Well, not really saying it wasn't, just that I have nothing to reference it to. There was alot of extra movement in the truck, but nothing severe, just what I expected with the extra mass. The sway bar really helped in the rear, and the added psi in the tires seemed great, I guess I just need to mess around with it until I've gotten more feel for it. John
PS: The truck sits a little nose high(but same as where I started with it before I hooked up), trailer a little nose down, WD bars look level with the ground, maybe a little more weight on the front might be better?
PS: The truck sits a little nose high(but same as where I started with it before I hooked up), trailer a little nose down, WD bars look level with the ground, maybe a little more weight on the front might be better?
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Apex, N.C.
Do you have a weight distributing hitch? If not maybe you should consider one with sway control such as Reese or Equal-i-zer with sway control. Seems like a lot of weight without a weight distributing setup.
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Joined: Feb 2008
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You may want to take a look at the WD hitch set-up. I had to play with mine a little before I got it. Try to drop another link and see what it does to the set-up. If the trailer nose is down, and the Ex is up, maybe another link would help. I have found, after adding the Hellwig, that the tire pressure and WD are the key to how easy of a tow vehicle this can become!
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From: Jefferson,NH
Yep, thats what I was going to try in the morning, drop a link and double check the tires(especially the spare!!)
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From: sw mich
it sounds to me like you need to pull a link or 2 tighter on hitch. the truck shouldn't be nose up with the wd set up correctly. the entire truck should drop evenly to distribute the tongue weight.
if your truck normally rides nose up, then you probably need some rear suspension work.
if the trailer is still not level when you have the wd set correctly, then you will need to raise or lower the ball mount accordingly. if setting up the hitch for that TV & trailer combo for the first time, this should actually be your starting point.
if your truck normally rides nose up, then you probably need some rear suspension work.
if the trailer is still not level when you have the wd set correctly, then you will need to raise or lower the ball mount accordingly. if setting up the hitch for that TV & trailer combo for the first time, this should actually be your starting point.
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Joined: Feb 2007
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You also may need to slightly redistribute the load in your trailer. WD hitches will compensate somewhat, but if you're loaded too nose-heavy you'll have problems. However, don't go too far and get too much weight on the rear of the trailer - it will become a handling nightmare.
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 37
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From: Virginia
Hi John,
Glad to hear things went fairly well with your 1st tow. I would echo the caution about rearward bias of weight in the trailer. Trailer whipping can be deadly dangerous. I also concur: the trailer and vehicle should both be level if your hitch configuration is correct. Seriously, use a building level to verify it. I'd also turn that Mustang around to face forward (I realize you'd have to have another exit door installed, but it would be MUCH better for weight distribution). Check some related advice from my post on this topic if you'd like since some of the same issues were addressed.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...ses-light.html
While this is my first Excursion (did I mention I LOVE THIS TRUCK) I've towed all kinds of trailer and weights (Race Car, Boat and Travel Trailer) and I've been towing since I was 14 (no kidding, started with farm tractors) and 16 on the highways. The lessons learned have been invaluable. One of the things I love about this forum is the wealth of accurate advice and the generosity of the posters with their experiences. Needless to say, I hope to be an active participant in the forums.
Glad to hear things went fairly well with your 1st tow. I would echo the caution about rearward bias of weight in the trailer. Trailer whipping can be deadly dangerous. I also concur: the trailer and vehicle should both be level if your hitch configuration is correct. Seriously, use a building level to verify it. I'd also turn that Mustang around to face forward (I realize you'd have to have another exit door installed, but it would be MUCH better for weight distribution). Check some related advice from my post on this topic if you'd like since some of the same issues were addressed.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...ses-light.html
While this is my first Excursion (did I mention I LOVE THIS TRUCK) I've towed all kinds of trailer and weights (Race Car, Boat and Travel Trailer) and I've been towing since I was 14 (no kidding, started with farm tractors) and 16 on the highways. The lessons learned have been invaluable. One of the things I love about this forum is the wealth of accurate advice and the generosity of the posters with their experiences. Needless to say, I hope to be an active participant in the forums.
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From: Jefferson,NH
Well, got back from New Hampshire on Sunday, basically an empty trailer the whole way back, truck ran good, trailer towed great. Definately could tell it was empty in the crosswinds. Thanks for all of the advice you guys have given me, next weekend will be the real test, loading the '66 Stang and the rest of my tools and parts, maybe some household stuff, and the wife driving the whole way in the Ex or in the moving van towing the '07 Stang. On a side note, took the Ex up Mt. Washington with the wife and 4 teen/tween girls, had some idiot try to push me off the road on the way up, since he was on the edge, I took the ditch trying to be nice, dropped the right side into the ditch a good 2 ft., causing mayhem in the backseats and definate staining of my undershorts but she pulled right out after a brief re-group and some deep breaths. Sorry, no pictures of the truck up there. John