We just bought an 04 Excursion V10 Eddie Bauer. I am assuming 6.8L. Love it. Thought we bought the right vehicle to accomodate the family nicely and pull this camper 2007 Fleetwood Wilderness - Travel Trailer | RVWeb.com the 39' model. Wrong. Contact our RV Dealer to see about putting on a Class V hitch and he tells us he cannot find any aftermarket hitches for Excursion and he has seen this problem before, recommends we contact Ford and does not recommend pulling with this vehicle. Contacted a trailer shop who we buy our plows from etc., can't do anything, don't recommend towing camper with this vehicle.

Now it is time to get creative. I read through this thread which is very helpful. But, I don't know how to do all this math. We just bought BFG E rated tires and springs/coils are the easy part.

If anyone has any time on their hands and wants to tell me what we need to do to put a Class V hitch with stabilizer bars on this vehicle and where to get the stuff, I would greatly appreciate it. I am the wife and my husband does not do forums. He already has some ideas but I want to go for the maximum safety and share any pertinent information with him to help.
<!-- / message -->

 

Welcome. Hopefully you will get everything answered simply, if not just keep asking.
Check your Owners Manual to confirm:

6.8L with 3.73 rear axle ratio can tow max trailer weight of 9600lbs with hitch receiver that came with Excursion.

6.8L with 4.30 rear axle ratio can tow max trailer weight of 11000lbs with hitch receiver that came with Excursion.

Check your Owners Manual to confirm:
"The frame mounted hitch receiver is non-removable.
Towing a Class IV trailer (extra heavy duty) 2,268-4,356 kg (5,001-10,000lbs) trailer weight requires a weight-distributing or fifth wheel hitch"

Hope this helps.

 

I just checked in. I don't have time right now to answer at length. I'll try tonight. That is if Crappiefisherman or X_Hemi_Guy don't beat me to it!!

 

We already know we need 2 1/2 inch receiver which is larger than what is on the truck. I know I am going to mix up my words on the names of the parts.

 

I guess I bought the right one. I have an '04 Ex V10 4.30 and tow an '06 Wilderness 3102BDS using a Hensley Arrow hitch. My TT is almost 40' bumper to ball and has two slides (sofa/dinette and bunks). I've pulled up and down the east coast (PA to FL) and many places in between. Seems to be working OK for us.



I'm curious, how do you know you need a 2 1/2" receiver?

 

As been suggested, a set of 4.30's wouldn't hurt to increase performance. Your hitch should be fine if it's the factory Class V like the one on my 04. That hitch has pulled my 11K#+ toy hauler for close to 70K miles. It's getting a little worn from use, but the trailer has never passed the truck on the road.

 

Sorry to the OP but you are confusing to follow. Since I'm not exactly sure on what your problems are I will try and stab at it.

First, a bigger class of hitch does NOTHING to increase the tow rating of the truck. From what i know, an 04 V10 with a 4.30 ratio should be good to tow up to 11000 lbs. Keep in mind, the weight of added passengers and cargo should be subtracted from the vehicle's tow rating. The OEM hitch is rated to handle any loads the Excursion can handle. If you're looking to exceed the OEM hitch you'll be exceeding the Excursion - so don't do it.

Your trailer at 8600 lbs. dry will likely weigh closer to 9600 lbs. once equipped and loaded to camp. 9600 lbs. and nearly 40' of sail behind even an Excursion is enough to make the tail wag the dog if sway occurs, you'll need top shelf sway control, I too tow with a Hensley Arrow. If you're planing on using $39.00 Harbour Freight friction arms to tame your rig, you'll be way under-protected.

Suspension enhancements e.g helper springs and air bags may level a ride, but do nothing to distribute weight off the rear axle. If the rear axle is over loaded, it's still overloaded with air bags. Don't bother with suspension goodies, get a good weight distribution hitch like a Equal-i-zer, Reese dual cam, or even better a Hensley or ProPride.

 

I believe your rv dealer is naive about Excursion towing capacity, or you have the only Excursion without a classV hitch. All Excursions had the hitch installed at the plants when produced, it is part of a safety system so a car that hits you from behind does not go under the Excursion. I believe all are class V and yours should have a bumper rating of 1250lbs.
My 2004 Limited has a tow rating og 9600lbs and I will use the Reese dual cam weight distribution system to tow my Jayco 32BHDS, dry weight 8303lbs and probably 9500lbs loaded up.
My friend tows his Keystone, scale verified 12,000lbs, with his 2003 Excursion using a Hensley Arrow. His only mod was airbags.
Send me an email if you have any questions and I will get you my phone number so we can talk.

 

Thank you for your responses. I have not been online this weekend. I am going to forward the link to my husband to read over and see what he has to say.

 

I am not sure where in the manual it tells you the rear axle ratio but I can confirm that my manual DOES say "the frame mounted hitch receiver is nonremovable" etc.

 

The manual will tell you what you can tow depending on your axle ratio. So the question is, what axle ratio do you have. The easiest way is to take you VIN to a Ford store and have them run it at the service counter. They should be able to call up many details of how your truck is equipped including the axle ratio. And remember, even if you could remove the hitch, a higher rated hitch does nothing to improve your truck tow numbers. Your OEM hitch is adequately rated for your Excursion - period.

 

You can find your axle ratio from the door jam sticker. You will find an axle code (ex. C3 which is 4.30). You can google Ford axle codes to find what yours is.

 

I can add nothing more to the great advise on this thread. But i have never heard of a 2 1/2 receiver. am i wrong? is there such an animal or do they mean 2 1/2 inch ball? just wondering. and again the hitch on the truck is fine.

 

Should all be there in the same area with axle info in a table.

 

My ignorance. I am going to get my book.