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Sep 24, 2002 | 09:03 AM

texaskid728

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Towing

Anyone out there have any comments about aftermarket load levelers on a 97 Exped? It also has a frame mounted hitch. Does it make for a horrible ride, etc? What about overload shocks? When towing my boat, it pushes the rear end down about 2 - 3 inches. I believe the exped has coil springs in the rear.

Thanks

97 Expedition Eddie Bauer

Sep 24, 2002 | 04:41 PM

Petrol

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From: Virginia

Towing

I don't know much about any 'aftermarket' oad levelers but the factory system on mine works great.

You can be sure if you have coil springs or not ny simply looking under the back on the truck, but if she sags under load, that to is a pretty good sign

Sep 24, 2002 | 07:49 PM

97xlt

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Towing

I use Aftermarket air Bags when using my dirt bike mount on the back. It levels well and you can let it back down to 5 Lb. for no load. Sure it's stiff when aired up 25-30 Lb, but much better steering/control when level. Pretty cheap (< $100) JC Whitney. (air Ride? brand lifetime warrenty)Takes a couple hours to put in
Mark 97 XLT 4x4

Sep 25, 2002 | 10:59 AM

Jet300

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From: Ronkonkoma

Towing

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 25-Sep-02 AT 11:59 AM (EST)]>Anyone out there have any comments about aftermarket load
>levelers on a 97 Exped? It also has a frame mounted hitch.
>Does it make for a horrible ride, etc? What about overload
>shocks? When towing my boat, it pushes the rear end down
>about 2 - 3 inches. I believe the exped has coil springs in
>the rear.
>
>Thanks
>
>97 Expedition Eddie Bauer

The frame mounted hitch on our Expeditions is a "weight distributing" hitch design which is ment to eliminate most of the squat your seeing ...

Most likely you can correct the problem by moving the Bow Post / Roller on the trailer further ... thus changing the center of gravity of the trailer and shifting some on the weight of the boat aft being that it doesnt sit as far forward on the trailer now ...

This will substantially decrease your tongue weight and help with your sagging problem .... Provided you have some room to move the boat back of course.

Good luck!

>>Jet300<<
2000 Expedition EB

Sep 25, 2002 | 09:59 PM

97xlt

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Towing

I agree too much tounge wt. not good if you can avoid it. (10-15%)
One expy owner with a big boat went to a class 4 hitch 8k lb (800t)dead wt.), by rights the factory hitch is 5K dead weight(500 tongue) and 8K in the load dist mode. I use leveling bars on my 6K lb camper trailer, this is the only way to stay within rating. I don't see any boat guys using weight dist "springs" (although I don't see many boats...) Air "springs" better that shocks (stronger mount) Mark in Ohio

Sep 26, 2002 | 07:01 AM

PaulC

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Towing

Just don't go overboard moving the boat rearward on the trailer. Too little tongue weight is worse than too much. Shifting the weight too far rearward risks a "tail-wagging-the-dog" situation on the highway.

Sep 26, 2002 | 09:19 AM

Jet300

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From: Ronkonkoma

Towing

>Just don't go overboard moving the boat rearward on the
>trailer. Too little tongue weight is worse than too much.
>Shifting the weight too far rearward risks a
>"tail-wagging-the-dog" situation on the highway.

I gotta agree 110% with this statement ... move your bow post back only a couple of inches at a time and check the effects ... You want to get it to a point where your rear of the truck drops just about an inch or less when hooked up .. You never want it to be where the trailer is lifting the rear suspensiopn of the tow vehicle .. that can get ugly ... Quick!
:-(