Searched and Read first--RAS question--please clarify
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Vero Beach, FL
Searched and Read first--RAS question--please clarify
05 V10 4x4 Limited EX. Totally stock suspension, 84k miles
Tow a 26 ft enclosed snowmachine trailer with 4 mountain sleds. When I drop my trailer on, my rear end drops about 2-3 inches. I was thinking about doing add-a-leafs; didn't want to deal with airbags. Just read about the RAS. Will it solve my butt-dropping problem with my trailer on?
Tow a 26 ft enclosed snowmachine trailer with 4 mountain sleds. When I drop my trailer on, my rear end drops about 2-3 inches. I was thinking about doing add-a-leafs; didn't want to deal with airbags. Just read about the RAS. Will it solve my butt-dropping problem with my trailer on?
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Summit, MS
05 V10 4x4 Limited EX. Totally stock suspension, 84k miles
Tow a 26 ft enclosed snowmachine trailer with 4 mountain sleds. When I drop my trailer on, my rear end drops about 2-3 inches. I was thinking about doing add-a-leafs; didn't want to deal with airbags. Just read about the RAS. Will it solve my butt-dropping problem with my trailer on?
Tow a 26 ft enclosed snowmachine trailer with 4 mountain sleds. When I drop my trailer on, my rear end drops about 2-3 inches. I was thinking about doing add-a-leafs; didn't want to deal with airbags. Just read about the RAS. Will it solve my butt-dropping problem with my trailer on?
I would say give it a try. If you shop around, you can find the RAS for just over $200 and it only takes just over an hour to install. Best $200 and hour I've spent on my truck.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Saskatchewan, Canada
I agree, it helped my sagging rear end with the 28' Travel Trailer hooked up. It also reduces the bouncing when you go over bumps in the road.
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Senior User
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From: Vero Beach, FL
That's an "eyeball" estimate. It's a visible drop, although handling's not affected tremendously. I don't seem to have the bouncing/swaying problem a lot of you experience. One of my biggest concerns is getting my nose down to the point that my headlights aren't blinding oncoming traffic.
I think I'll give it a shot.
I think I'll give it a shot.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Lost in Pa.
That's an "eyeball" estimate. It's a visible drop, although handling's not affected tremendously. I don't seem to have the bouncing/swaying problem a lot of you experience. One of my biggest concerns is getting my nose down to the point that my headlights aren't blinding oncoming traffic.
I think I'll give it a shot.
I think I'll give it a shot.
I know you eyeball a 2" to 3" drop, that does seem excessive, but do you know your tongue weight ?
Maybe Joe our local towing expert will chime in.
Posting Guru
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I know you said you didn't want to do the air bags, but I have them and they are great for exactly the issue you are having. RAS may firm it up and keep the sagging from happening, but the air bags will not allow the Excursion to sag at all with 1250 pounds of tongue weight. Look at my gallery pic, my hauler is fully loaded with my Polaris Ranger and gear for 6 people in it and 80 psi in the bags and doesn't sag at all! In fact it's about 1" higher than stock in the rear with the bags aired up! Fireston Ride Rites are around $200 or maybe a little more but money well spent if your sagging in the rear!!
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From: High Point, NC
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: SE PA
I tow a 22' enclosed Haulmark trailer with my 05 V10 Ex. I always used my weight bars with the trailer when loaded. I suppose it was more habit than anything else. (I HAD to use them when towing with my former '94 Bronco)
I put the RAS in when the truck was almost new.
Anyhow...a couple weeks ago, I hooked up, and loaded the car without the weigh bars and to my surprise the drop was so minimal that I decided to go without them.
I saw no adverse issues when towing, and (unless it's my imagination) think it was better. Perhaps too little tongue weight is an equal issue to too much.
I will say that the RAS install added a slight rise in the rear to the Ex. During normal driving the ride was unchanged, handling improved. I think the RAS is worth every cent.
I put the RAS in when the truck was almost new.
Anyhow...a couple weeks ago, I hooked up, and loaded the car without the weigh bars and to my surprise the drop was so minimal that I decided to go without them.
I saw no adverse issues when towing, and (unless it's my imagination) think it was better. Perhaps too little tongue weight is an equal issue to too much.
I will say that the RAS install added a slight rise in the rear to the Ex. During normal driving the ride was unchanged, handling improved. I think the RAS is worth every cent.
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Vero Beach, FL
WD Hitch isn't really a good option. I don't have a way to hook onto the A frame of the tongue, since it's not exposed. At least not any WD hitch I've ever seen. The ones I know of you need to be able to wrap around the frame rails--I've got trailer on top of mine.
No, I don't know my tongue weight.
Scottman 70, I hear what you're saying about airbags, but I'd prefer not to have to do something that complex if I can get away with a bolt-on as simple as the RAS appears. To make airbags convenient, you need the on-board compressor and remote, and that drives the price up. The RAS appears to be an "install and forget" setup. Getting my crew loaded and headed out is enough of a challenge without having to mess with resetting suspension.
Plus, I'm not sure what the impact of subzero temps are on airbags, onboard compressors, air lines, etc, but there's got to be a potential for ice, clogging, etc. RAS just looks simpler.
I think that's what I'm going to try, anyway.
No, I don't know my tongue weight.
Scottman 70, I hear what you're saying about airbags, but I'd prefer not to have to do something that complex if I can get away with a bolt-on as simple as the RAS appears. To make airbags convenient, you need the on-board compressor and remote, and that drives the price up. The RAS appears to be an "install and forget" setup. Getting my crew loaded and headed out is enough of a challenge without having to mess with resetting suspension.
Plus, I'm not sure what the impact of subzero temps are on airbags, onboard compressors, air lines, etc, but there's got to be a potential for ice, clogging, etc. RAS just looks simpler.
I think that's what I'm going to try, anyway.
Fleet Owner
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From: Lost in Pa.
WD Hitch isn't really a good option. I don't have a way to hook onto the A frame of the tongue, since it's not exposed. At least not any WD hitch I've ever seen. The ones I know of you need to be able to wrap around the frame rails--I've got trailer on top of mine.
No, I don't know my tongue weight.
No, I don't know my tongue weight.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Lost in Pa.
1st you should know what your tongue weight to be sure your not overloading the hitch.
2nd you need to know the max weight of trailer to be sure your within MFGer (FORD) recommendation as far as if a WD is required.
2nd you need to know the max weight of trailer to be sure your within MFGer (FORD) recommendation as far as if a WD is required.
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From: Vero Beach, FL
I didn't expend a whole lot of energy trying to determine tongue weight (which it would take in AK, cuz there's not a public scale on every corner), in part because I knew trailer weight was fairly reasonable for this tow rig, and because after almost 4 years of towing with it, I have had ZERO handling issues, even when loaded with a car and a LOT of other stuff.
As I stated earlier, I know of no WD hitch design that will work on this type of trailer, as there's no way to install the brackets on the trailer frame.
I appreciate your concern, but I think your conclusion was a little excessive. I hardly think I'm courting disaster.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Elk Point; Alberta
There is a thread entitled "Sale on RoadMaster Active Suspension" on pg 2 of this forum which might help you find a good deal.
Personally; I have RAS on my 73 F100 and my 01 Ex and highly recommend the system; I'd be amazed to hear anything bad about the system
Personally; I have RAS on my 73 F100 and my 01 Ex and highly recommend the system; I'd be amazed to hear anything bad about the system
Elder User
Joined: May 2006
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From: Outside Boise, Idaho
It's a good thread too. I know the author is still waiting for his RAS to show.
He believes in it enough to order two, one for the X and the other for his Sub. What a guy, two big SUVs...
He believes in it enough to order two, one for the X and the other for his Sub. What a guy, two big SUVs...
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