You are a lucky man. Try hooking a 9000lb trailer with about 1200lbs of tongue weight then we can talk. Mine doesn't wander until I hook the TT up.

 

The most common hypothesis was Ford figured their target customer would be "soccer mom's" who wouldn't want their daily driver to ride like a truck.

Stewart

 

I don't wanna come across as rude, so I'll just post the "whud" smiley.

Stewart

 

I guess the ras works if so many say so but it just looks like another JC Whitney spring helper gizmo to me...........whatever.
My truck doesn't have them and has zero wander.

 

Well little buddy, RAS are installed and they work like a charm!!! EXv10, you are one of the few who doesn't seem to have a wandering issue with yoursonly thing is that all owners of Excursions out here in my neck of the woods have had one or two steering issues, all a simple fix. But when you are pulling a 30' TT with a full weight of just under 9800lbs, you will change the values in handling. As a mech you already know that... I too had my doubts about these RAS, but talk to a few while having a few and you get a world of information, like this site. Thanks to all on this site, I have been able to really understand my BEASTand take steps to correct issues of concern. I have to admit that I'm also liking the fact that the RAS gave my rear a 1.5" lift

 

I do...



The RAS is the real deal. I tow a 9000# TT with 1100-1200#'s of tongue weight. The TT is 35' long from the front of the hitch to the rear of the bumper...throw on my bike rack back there and add another 4' of overall length...you get anything that long and that heavy pushing on any vehicle not properly sprung (i.e. soft spring rate) in the rear...and then couple that with the large spacer block Ford used between the springs and axle...and you are ripe for axle wrapping. All leaf sprung vehicles are prone to this phenom...some more than others. The Ex's heavy nature, high CG, tall spacer block and soft spring rates make it very prone to rear-steerage when all that tongue weight is pushing on the rear hitch...well at least in my experiences of towing 18,000 miles in 3 summers...

I like the RAS for a couple of reasons (and I do NOT work for RAS or get any commissions from RAS)...

1) it helps to stiffen up the rear leaf springs and resist that rear-steerage when towing.

2) It helps to support my 1100-1200#'s of tongue weight and not sag/porpoise so much. And yes I do have properly rated WD spring bars...in fact I have 1400# bars on my Hensley and I have spent many hours at the CAT scale tweaking my WD...so my setup was dialed in and I still had more sag and porposing than I would like.

Hope this helps.

Flatlander84...we're neighbors...I too am in Fort Wayne...I'm going to send you a PM if you need any assistance with your Ex just let me know...I've been thru a few things on mine already

Joe

 

Mine has a 1/2" thick flat "half leaf" that is in the bottom front half of the spring with a bumper on the tip. Is that stock? 2000 gas.

 

Yes that sounds like a stock set up that all Excursions have.

 

As CB says...this is a stock setup...

This is the 'bumper' you are talking about...right?



If you look at this photo



You will notice that lower ~1/2" leaf is on the bottom of the spring stack and shoots towards the front of the Ex...

This is known as an 'anti-wrap' leaf.

It is Ford's attempt at controlling axle wrapping. However it only works one way...under acceleration conditions and I think it does a pretty good job.

However under braking conditions or when the TT with its tongue weight is pushing on the rear of the Ex these 'anti-wrap' leafs do nothing...so it is a half way fix if you ask me.

Also notice how large the stock spacer block is between the axle and leaf pack...this contributes greatly to the axle-wrap

Hope this helps.

Joe

 

Yes, it is stock, and only the 4WD models have them.

 

Wow see that I learned something today, I would have thought the rear suspension was the same on 2WD and 4x4.

 

Yes that's it,thanks, it all makes since to me. You may not believe this but I invented the Traction Master in the early sixties in my mind and went to the local speed shop and there it was in the counter case. It is a lever that bolts to the U-bolts and to the frame and goes under the front half of the spring. It definately cures any wrap problems.

 

"wander" is a very interesting issue here on the Ex forum...some have it and others don't. In the thread that Stewart_H linked to there are quite a few theories we have come up with for reasons why some have it and others don't.


Some simply don't haul any significant load with their Ex's and that can greatly contribute to why some don't see the issue.

I feel that front end issues can greatly contribute to 'wander' amongst various Ex's but I also feel that Ford's tolerance on the caster spec has a great influence as does what people inflate their tire pressure too...many underestimate the influence that tire pressure plays on 'wander'

It is a complex issue to say the least and one that I have studied for more hours than I care to admit but one that is something us Ex owners need to realize is a real phenom even if it doesn't affect us specifically in our situation.

Joe.

 

This is an exceptionally dumb question but........... What is the V-code spring from is it off a standard F250, with a gas, or diesel motor? or is it just a F350 spring? Thanks

 

Installed the RAS and I gotta say it brought my *** up 1.5", BUT!!! it had no effect on controlling the sway as it says it should do. In my opinion, it's a shot and miss situation. Not even FORD has a solution, infact, they have never known the Excursion to do this... sounds like crap to me! Will try the ProPride Hitch, Sean say's that it will take care of this situation.... we'll see.