Do the 05's still have the same issues with the suspension wandering trailer towing issues? And if so could someone give me some ideas for alternate vehicles to tow a 31' Jayco BHS that would have seating for at least 7. As I really don't want spend that lind of money on a TV then spend even more just to fix it to tow things. Thanks Greg

 

I have an '05 Ex with V10.

I tow a 9000# travel trailer all over the country.

I have towed 1800 miles in 4 days (with 2 of those being 12 hour days!) fighting a 30+ mph cross wind.

I have no wander issues.

I've done a few minimal IMO things to the Ex.

1) I keep my tires aired to 70 rear and 60 front
2) I added a rear hellwig sway bar (~$200) installed by me
3) I added the Roadmaster Active Suspension (RAS) to assist with 1100-1200# of tongue weight. Cost of RAS was ~$250 installed by me. Many on here have gotten their RAS off of Ebay for ~$100
4) I needed shocks and installed Bilsteins installed by me for ~$250
5) I needed an alignment and had the shop install (my choice) adjustable camber/caster shims during the alignment (~$75 over normal alignment)

So for ~$500-700 you can have the most incredible SUV family tow vehicle out there.

BUT...If I were routinely going to haul 7 people around while trailering...I would SERIOUSLY consider an E350 V10 non-extended van...but that would be my choice...the handling characteristics are excellent and the interior room is superior over ANY SUV...even our Excursions. PLUS the payload that the E350 gives you is incredible...the rated payload on an Ex is horrible...with that many people IN the Ex...you WILL be over GVWR BEFORE you even hitch up...simple math...if you doubt what I say...simply post the weights of the 7 people plus whatever stuff you think they will bring (cooler, books, games, food, soda, water, etc)...then subtract their weight from ~1600# for a 4x4 V10 Ex and ~1400# for a 4x4 PSD Ex and see what is left...I've been thru this exercise a few times with folks...the Ex's simply LACK 'rated' payload. Buying a vehicle and then immediately exceeding its 'rated' GVWR BEFORE hitching up can be disappointing...I never recommend anyone ignore mfg ratings...many do...but I am not one to recommend that...

Look E350 would be my best advice and you will be happy.

BTW...ANY SUV will be in the same boat...the Burb's have more 'rated' payload but finding one with an 8.1L BB gas motor can be like making a woman happy it seems...

Good luck,
Joe.

 

My wife and I have 5 kids ages 10,10,11,11 and 12. I would have to say we would have approx. 850# of that payload left. However I respect your opinion if you think a E350 is the way to go can you get those with 4wd as I live in the lovely state of freezing cold and snow IE Wisconsin? Thanks Greg

 

Quigley conversion is the best bet for that. www.quigely4x4.com Check eBay and Quigley's site for pre-owned models. Be prepared to pay, though.

Check out this one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-...QQcmdZViewItem

 

According to Trailerlifes website the 05 Excursion has a higher gcwr than the e350 with the v-10 the E350's only higher when you step up to the power stroke. I don't know if I'm quite up to driving the short bus yet I really like my SUV and the convenience it gives me. Although a quick check on Autotrader didn't have many v-10's either a lot of v-8's and Diesels. And by the way I love your truck it's awesome.

 

I'm really trying to stay with in the $15,000 to $20,000 ball park. As my wife is a stay home teacher for 3 of our kids they home school and I work for the state but don't make that kind of money.

 

Hey! We home-school our 4 kids!

Anyway...look for an Excursion then. It's got the wherewithal to tow that bunkhouse. As for wandering "issues" those can be addressed if they arise. You should budget for something to assist the rear when towing. But you'd probably have to do that for any 7 passenger tow vehicle.

Joe has great suggestions...as always.

 

We had at one time home schooled the all. We have 2 Bio kids and 3 adopted however our school system kind of sucks and the oldest wanted to participate in sports so he went back and the second oldest just didn't adapt well to home schooling needed the structure I guess. We have an earlier model bunkhouse before they went to the bigger dinette although I would love that as ours is just big enough for the kids barely. But we make do as long as it doesn't rain to often or for to long. Thanks for all your help. Greg

 

Let's review your needs:
1) require seating for 7
2) need 4WD
3) towing a TT, 31' Jayco BHS
4) $15K to $20K ballpark price range

Sounds like your choices are slim, an Excursion would fit your need to the T. Now back to the 05 Excursion suspension, I know my 05 came with a rear sway bar which is part of the HD tow package that also included Tow mirrors and 4:30 gears ( maybe missing something ) so other than normal maintance ie Tires and Shocks maybe you may need to purchase the RAS ( I just purchased a set off ebay for $99 ). That being said you may need to locate the right Excursion. Good Luck with your decision and Welcome to FTE.

 

It really IMO depends on how long of trips you are going to take.

If you are only going to stick to the mid-west areas an Ex 'could' work...but I bet when you load up your family into the Ex and cross the scales without a trailer...you will be as surprised as most are as to just how little room on the GVWR you have before topping out on the GVWR. Many I suspect don't scale their trucks because they just don't want to know the answer. I'm a stickler on weights and balance and strive to stick within the ratings...some believe (right or wrongly) that the Ex is under-rated by Ford...perhaps...but the fact remains there are slick lawyers out there and God forbid an accident happens and you are found to be over weight...not that I've ever heard of a case...but there are those ambulance chasing lawyers that keep me worried at least...perhaps unfounded worries...don't know.

As Monsta points out there are 4x4 vans out there but they are salty.

Here's one in Illinois. A 2005 PSD Quigley...don't know the asking price. Cars.com: 2005 Ford E350

An E350 weighs much less than an Ex. An E350 Super Duty non-extended van has a curb weight of 5340#'s. An Ex has a curb weight of over 7200#'s!

An E350 has 4160#'s of payload. An Ex has 1400-1600#'s

An E350 has a GVWR of 9500#'s. An Ex has 8900-9200#'s

My points are that the ratings on the E350 allow so much more freedom and ability to stay within the mfg ratings. This is especially important with large families.

You can basically have an E350 with 2000#'s LESS on the GCWR and be at the same point as with the heavier Ex if you do the math.

I drive a 4x4 because as you...I am in a northern snow riden climate...however I only have 2 young daughters.

As an example let me give you my numbers from my scale trips.

The last time I scaled (last year) I was loaded as I would for camping. Family, gear in the Ex, some firewood (not a lot). I was hitched to my 9000# TT. In this outbound condition I was OVER on my rear axle rating by 100#'s (i.e. I was at 5350#'s) and OVER my GVWR by 100#'s (i.e. I was at 9000#'s). Neither of these numbers bothered me...BUT I have researched this vehicle to the nats eyelash. The rear springs are what limits the rear axle for the most part. The rear axle is the same rear axle as the SRW F350...so 100#'s isn't going to bother that rear end...plus I added the RAS to add spring capacity...if the frame/axle can't take 100#'s...there's an issue.

On the GVWR...I have a V10...the PSD's have the SAME frame, axle, brakes, everything...BUT springs are differnet...they have a GVWR of 9200#'s...so my 9000#'s with my RAS is acceptable to ME...NOT SUGGESTING THAT OTHERS FOLLOW MY LEAD HERE...this is a personal choice that I have made...

My point in sharing my numbers is that my family of FOUR (mom, dad, 80# 9 yr old daughter and 75# 11 yr old daughter (yeah shes a peanut)) loaded in the Ex and hitched to a large TT...we MAX out our GVWR and GAWR's...we are UNDER our 'max' tow rating and GCWR.

The funny things about ratings though is that you can't pick and choose which ones to follow and ignore...when you trip one...you're done...many simply look at one...I look at ALL...again...perhaps I'm overly strict...but that's how I was taught...all in or all out is my logic...

I started to say it depends on where you travel...I said that because the traveling comfort for my family is important. You see we spend 12-14 hours in the truck when pulling TO and FROM our vacations to maximize the time AT the destination. Each daughter can spread out some and have some room...having 5 kids in the rear of the Ex will be tight no matter how you slice it.

My opinion still 'leans' to the E350 due to the size of your family and their comfort...plus I don't think you can slice the numbers to not exceed at least one rating...the only way to really tell is when you take a test drive...hit a nearby scale to see how it looks with just your family on board...but remember to compensate for fuel...~6.6#/gallon and the Ex has a 44 gallon fuel tank...so you could have near 300#'s of just fuel!...many vehicles on lots don't have full fuel tanks...scales are the most accurate way to know where you stand weight wise. Sadly the beast of the trucks we drive have sissy GVWR and GAWR numbers...but that's how they are rated and that's how I work within them.

FWIW...a dual slide Jayco 32BHDS would be an awesome layout for your family! Jayco 2009 It is BIG and HEAVY though...7800# DRY and near 10K# WET!!!...but an awesome quad bunk with rear slide for the kid area...our 31BHDS only has the rear bunk slide with 2 bunks...the one I linked to is much better suited for your family IMO...we're sold on Jayco's too!

I know this is an Excursion forum and all...but with your large family needed seating space and comfort...I'd seriously consider the E350 chassis...don't worry about the GCWR like I said...the Ex is near 2000#'s heavier on the hoof and eats up lots of that anyway...look at 'max' tow rating, payload and GVWR and the E350 wins hands down not to mention interior comfort for all...

I've been typing for like 5 minutes now and my fingers need a break...again this is simply my opinion and $0.02

Good luck,
Joe.

 

If you (Or anyone else) is interested, here is a brand new-in the box RAS kit # 2451 XXF-MKII
for the Excursion for $125 and $21 shipping. Pretty good deal.....
eBay Motors: Brand new in box Roadmaster active suspension system ! (item 140297503278 end time Feb-25-09 14:21:10 PST)

This guy has a few of them.....

 

Kind of off subject here, but is the 05' coil spring front, or still leaf spring?

 

I know the 4WD has Leaf spring fronts and I think the 2WD are coil springs fronts

 

with ANY bumper-hitch arrangement, you are going to be subject to sway. Sway can be introduced from cross-winds, or from being passed by larger vehicles.

I have a V10 4wd 2005, with air bags to control rear riding height, and a Helwig sway bar. Tow heavy loads with flat sides, so I do get "sway" under some conditions.

Even if you found a van 350 with the "right" spring/suspension package, you are still dealing with a flat-sided vehicle that IS going to have SOME sway under some wind-conditions.

If your need is to go much over 60 mph with VERY heavy loads, strongly recommend you FORGET about ANY bumper-hitch arrangement in ANY vehicle, save your money, buy an older "dualie" heavy pick-up (preferably with a DIESEL) , and use a "fifth wheel" arrangement. That places the weight and "leverage-arm" of the towed vehicle DIRECTLY over the rear axle. Explains why the "big rigs" are able to go so much faster with SOME degree of safety you can NEVER get with ANY bumper-hitch. Again, in EITHER the EX or a VAN, you are applying the forces the towed vehicle generates, on a "lever-arm" way out from the center of the rear axle.

The laws of physics are pretty simple if you think them thru !

 

a dualie has a 7 passenger capability?

Read the OP...