I have an 05 Ex PSD with 120K. I just last weekend purchased a 6830 dry weight 32' TT and a Hensley Arrow hitch. Prior to hookup, I measured the back bumper and front bumper heights and confirmed that these heights moved uniformly down with WD hitch adjustment. Tires are Michelin LTX M/S 285/75/16, load range D. Inflation was 65 rear, 60 front. Tires are rated at 3305 pounds at 65psi, so I would think I am good there (despite these not being load E tires). Prodigy brake controller.

Towing was okay, I guess, but I noticed that with a full tank of fuel stability was noticeably worse. Specifically, the front end got very bouncy and it was a white knuckle experience over 55mph - the front end just seemed that it was going to get away%2

 

A couple of thoughts:
1 - Load Range D tires for the Ex are not heavy duty enough. You really need Es to get the most stability out of the tire.
2 - Check and double check the set up of your hitch. Then check it again. Measure and re-measure. When my Equalizer hitch is not set up right, towing is miserable. When it IS set up right, towning with the Ex is a dream. It does not sound like you are putting enough pressure on the hitch which in turn then pushes down the front end. If you do not have the owners manual for the hitch, look it up online.
3 - Do you need your steering aligned?
4 - you may want to consider installing a Hellwig sway bar. I did and will never regret it.
5 - How old are your shocks? If they are original, you may want to consider swaping them out at the same time you do a Hellwig. These are heavy vehicles and the shocks take a beating.

Your trailer is not too heavy nor too long. It is all about the set up. I have an 05 Ex PSD with 65K and tow a 30TT at 7500#s and when it is all set up right, it tows like a dream.

Good luck and stay tuned on the board. Others will certainly have opinions.

 

Air bags will help, it did on mine and I haul live weight (horses). Run my tires at 65 all four. Need new ones now got 99k on the original BFG's E rated.
You do have front and rear sway bars?
Have you changed the bushing from rubber to Poly?

 

I also agree with Mike's comment about air bags. I installed them as well and they are great. The only thing is that they add one more dimension to the hitch set up. Bags have to be inflated to the same PSI every time you tow unless you want to remeasure your hitch set up. I write all my factors down and keep it with my truck: air bag psi, tire psi, hitch setting.

 

I agree about the tires, you really need E's. Load the X including the family, luggage, gear and fuel, then take you measurements and set-up your hitch.

I personally don't believe in air-bags, but that's just my opinion. If I feel that I have to have air bags, (1)the hitch is not properly set-up,(2) I'm using the wrong torsion bars for the hitch, or I need a larger tow vehicle. The X is gracious plenty for what you are trying to tow though. Good Luck!!!

 

I have an 05 Ex that I replaced my old burb 454 with. THe 454 didn't have the poop to pull our 32ftTT at 7700 dry and about 8500 wet. I got the step down from the Hensley, and got the Cam Sway Control system. That helped, but it wasn't till I replaced the stock Ex springs with a set from a F350 that my Ex finally handled nice. THe stock Ex springs are too soft, and Ford knows this, since they put factory "slapper bars" under the springs to help control spring wrap. Over on "The Diesel Stop" page under Ex's I documented the whole change over, and so have many others. If any one has an Ex, and I have had mine since new, If I knew then what I know now, it would not have left the lot without F350 springs under it. I only found this site since buying another superduty for my work truck that is a 5.4 6spd, and the other site is not always kind to gassers, and they do not have the gas information that is on this site. I hope that helps. Good luck,
Garry in Alaska

 

This is a well documented, well known problem afflicting 4x4 Excursions. However, one does not need to go to TDS in order to learn about this common problem. FTE's Excursion forum has many, many great, informative threads dealing with the stock Excursion suspension, covering not just the V code, B code (or any variation of the spring upgrade, including but not limited to using W codes, X codes, modified B codes, etc) spring swap, but also covering hitch setup, air bags, the Roadmaster Active Suspension (RAS), and Landyots radius rods to name a few.

A lot of those threads have been gathered together and posted in this one thread...

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/789595-attn-dup-steering-wander-search-results-for-you.html

Stewart

 

I don't think the issue here is the tires - you specifically say the towing changed with a full fuel tank. How does it tow with a half tank or close to empty? Remember the fuel tank is at the back - 44 gallons at ~8lbs/gallon = ~350 lbs back there which will change the way the truck feels. You may want get your rig weighed so you truly know what your tongue weight is as I think it's too heavy causing the instability you are feeling. If you don't have easy access to a scale you may try using an extra link in your WD chains to see if that helps any.

 

NOT a towing comment, but when Discount Tire said "Oh, these D's have MORE than enough carrying capacity for the Ex" I should not have listened

the next week I took a 1500 mile trip and aged 5 years from the white knuckle wander and that was without towing....

IMHO, the d's sidewall just flexes too much and will dart and dive from just road imperfections... add a towed vehicle to the mix and it gets worse fast !

 

Tink:

Good suggestions on the tires and suspension ideas mentioned above.

Two of the easiest (and cheapest) possible solutions are:

1). Take your hitched-up rig to an established and reputable RV dealer (or, better yet, an RV insurance type repair place) - where you could find real experts with lots of experience. Have them check out the installation of the Hensley - though not extremly complicated, there are certain things in the Hensley installation and set up procedure that are critical to proper operation.

2). Spend an hour or so at your local CAT scale (nearest full scale truck stop) and record the weights of each axle on the stand alone Ex and on your trailer axles and tongue. Then record the two Ex axles and trailer total axle (there are three weighing pads on a CAT scale - steer axle, drive axle, and trailer axles) at each of the Hensley tension bar settings (there are three "marking lines" on the vertical tensioning adjustments of the Hensley). Make sure you pull around off of the scales for each adjustment - the Hensley needs a bit of forward movement to readjust and make sure all of the bearings are "in alignment".

Neither of the above will cost much in either time or dollars - once you have the basics of weight adjustment and basic alignment checked, then it may be time to go forward with more expensive spring and running gear modifications.

As has been said before, a 8,000 lb (fully loaded) trailer is what the Ex was designed for - you should not have any problems pulling the thing in as delivered configuration.

Congrats to you on trying to get your rig tuned in to be as secure and comfortable as possible.

Trailer safe - please post what you find during your assessments of suggestions 1 and 2 above.

 

I have been towing my 30 ft TT with a GVWR of 9,500lbs for 7 years now with my '01 EX. I don't have any fancy hitch set up, just a standard Reese WD (1,000lb bars) with a friction sway control. I have a Helwig sway bar, Timbren rubber springs, Bilstein shocks, and E load Firestone Transforce A/T's. The first thing you need to do is get E load tires. The whole tire recall situation for the Ex was to change from the factory D's to E's. I think this is your biggest problem. Then make sure your fancy $$$ Hensley Arrow hitch is set up right. IMO, those are a waste of money and are only for tow vehicles that are not adequate for the job (the Ex does not fall into this category).

 

I think way too much is being put on tires - bottom line is what the tire is rated to carry. There are minor differences between most D and E tires - and all of it is centered around what the weight capacity of the tire is. If you go to D's and you lose approx 115lbs weight capacity per tire - you're not going to affect the towing. You have to take into account the full specs of the tire - NOT just the load rating. Stability is very subjective - I had Transforce AT E rated tires on mine when I first got them and they were honestly the worst tire I've had. Steering wander was extreme and the traction was horrible (wet boat ramps and sand). Others love and swear by them. The OP here needs to ensure he has his rig balanced and the hitch setup correctly before he goes and replaces a potentially perfect set of tires.

 

I have to disagree regarding the tires. While I don't think that they are the number one reason for his towing troubles, I do believe that they need to be replaced with the proper E load rating. There was a reason for the recall.

You are correct that he needs to get his Hensley set up right as it is probably not now. I always wondered what the allure is for this high dollar piece.....

Oh, I love my Transforce A/T's. While I haven't had to drive up a slippery boat ramp, I do drive in very snowy and icy conditions up in northern MI during the winter months. They do a great job!!! And they seem to be wearing very well too.

 

After I experienced the towing difference associated with a full tank of fuel, I did go ahead and increase the weight transfer to the front axles by adjusting to the last mark on the Hensley. It made a difference, but not enough. I'll hit the scales.

 

Go to -> RV.Net RV and Camping Forum ? RV, Trailer, Camper, Motorhome, Camping and Campground Information and post in the towing forum. There are guys there that know allot about the Hensley Arrow.