Hello every one.
We tow our 14,000 lb Toy hauler with our 04 Excursion with the 6.0. Our toy hauler is simply out of control! It is just scary to drive it some times fully loaded. Our front weight is on and 60 % of the weight is froward of the front axles. My question is will a Ford F350 Crew Cab long bed SRW to better than out 04 X. I need reason why it will not just ya it will. Thanks
Nick

 

Yes it will. Longer wheel base and stiffer rear springs.

 

Newer trucks will pull the load alot better for a couple of reasons. WT. of the truck has increased, therefore it will make a better towing platform. Also the trans has been upgraded to give better performance and incorporates a tow/haul feature.

If you get the trailering package then you get the integrated trailer brake controller as well. This is factory TBC that works with the trans and the trucks ABS system. Can't go wrong with this setup. Once you plug in your trailer then it too becomes one with the ABS system.

Also if you go with the 6.4 psd, it is a great platform for towing, the power band/torque curve is awesome and it will respond at any speed.

I assume you are using the reciever on the ex for this toy hauler? Are you using any anti-sway bars or stabilizers'?

 

Ya thats what I try to tell my dad but he tells me its the trailer because of the flipped axles. Ya it's a bumper pull and I was thinking more along the lines of a 00 01 350 with the 7.3 in it. We have an Equalizer hitch in it now.

 

You need to tell us a little more about what you mean by out of control Nick. Are you more worried about bouncing, sway, or stopping? Are you using a weight distribution hitch on the trailer? Any overloads or airbags on the X? Rear sway bar?

 

Sorry that would have helped lol. The out of control part is swaying and pushing the truck around like a little toy. The weight distribution hitch is an equalizer hitch and there are Firestone air bags and a helwig sway bar on the truck.

 

The longer wheelbase on the 350 and slightly beefed up suspension will help some. I've towed much heavier than that with my SRW 350 with no bad sway issues. You need to keep in mind that air bags actually worsen sway issues (at least from my experience). Not having the rear bag lines connected to each other will help, as will some sort of device used to engage the bump stops to the overloads (if the X has them). You can google super sway stops to get an idea of what I'm talking about.

A DRW truck would provide the most sway control. I've hauled 22k with my SRW truck, but not longer than 24' plus gooseneck, but the gooseneck has a different weight distribution than a bumper pull.

 

Ya thats my problem my dad and I don't want a DRW heck he doesn't ever want a new truck but I think we need it because of how scary it get some times. So what else can I tell him to convince him. Can you explain how a longer wheel base helps?

 

Nick,

The axles are flipped? As in taller? Look at the specs for that thing. I'm surprised the CHP hasn't had a field day. If you all have that thing loaded to 14k your over spec. Do you know what the tongue weight is? Is the trailer and truck level when you tow? I think max is like 1250 lbs on the hitch with the WD hitch and thats with nothing in the truck. Does your Dad know that the insurance companies will not cover anything if your combo is found to be over spec if there is an accident. Anyway I'm just concerned for you all. No disrespect meant.

Minimum vehicle to tow that thing if it were stock would be a 1-ton dual wheel long-bed of some sort. If it were me I would sell it and go with a goose-neck trailer designed and built to purpose.

 

Yes the axles are flipped. Our Toy Hauler has had some custom stuff done at the factory to give us a 14,000 fully loaded rating and no the truck does not sag at all. We have a Custom Echart hitch in it and when they installed it I said I had 3,000 lb tongue weight and 15k trailer and they said no problem, and the real tongue weight is like 2,200 and selling it is not an option I think!

 

Well I wish you all good luck with it. Truly. But your on a real fine line.

I would agree the axle flip is the root of the problem.

I can't say it's safe because it isn't.

 

Ya but just because you have that hitch doesnt mean that the rest of the trucks frame, susp, and brakes are capable of handling that load. Its like putting a F150 Hitch on a Ranger and expecting it to handle the increased weight because your hitch says it can. And i also agree with pjwoolw, the axle flip is probally causing alot of your sway. But you have a eqaulizer hitch, correct? If you do have the eqaul hitch, the sway deff has to be coming from the flipped axles or to much tounge weight. BTW do you have a rear sway bar? And have you thought about RAS? That helps alot with your towing. Also, if you think about it, the model year F350 you were thinkin about buying has the same towing capicity as the ex (12,500 pd bumper pull) So if you think about it its not worth getting rid of the truck and buyin the Model year F350 you were thinkin about. The only advantage your getting their is the longer wheel base of a long bed. Which is good, but you gotta ask yourself, is it worth "another" truck payment especally considering that your still over the towing capicity of the F350 (bumper pull). The only way to take advantage of the F350 model year you were thinkin about buying is by selling your toy hauler and getting a toy hauler with a 5th wheel hitch.

 

OK... You really need to find a better forum that has better knowledge with X-cars..
Need to know that the x-car was not setup to be a good tow machine, but it can
be made to tow. There are many different diesel forums with folks that have
done work on their x-cars. PM me and I can send you to several of them.. You will
have to make some suspension mods to get the x-car to tow better.

Also, the trailer is loaded all wrong.. With a TT you need about 10% of the
trailer weight on the tongue, you have way too much weight up there. You will
need to distribute the load better.

Are the truck and trailer level with the ground when all hitched up? Trailer
nose high or nose low? IF so then the hitch isnt adjusted correct.

Give a better description of what the issues are... sway? wonder? sag?

 

Well DMD, Nick is familiar with the other forums and does a good job of covering the bases. As most do. There are certainly things one could do to whatever rig to help with towing issues. Is that the safest or best thing to? Consider reading the thread before responding.

 

Thanks for all your suggestions guys. I now know I need to find a 350 to pull it around. Not a fan of buying used but I think that is my only option right now. I want to 7.3 badly but the trans in it is crap compared to my 04 trans mission which is the best out there in my option but then I am kinda scared about getting another 6.0? What to do what to do?