I have '00 ex 5.4 2wd and have hauled horses since day one. I never experienced an actual blow out (have had a few flats) until this past easter sunday. driving the 232 miles home and got just north of temple tx (20 plus miles from my home) and heard an explosion. my left rear blew so hard that it sent my entire rear q panel up under the back end and sent me every which way but south. (god was holdinging on to me so tight that day) After several attempts to get it towed ( holiday and no flatbeds) and sitting by freeway for 5 hours I finally said EF this and drove home on the frontage. Someday i will actually print how many people actually pulled up and said "hey you know your tires flat?"

State trooper who initially was called to scene said the road heat was cause. He stated mine was one of several hundred that day. But who knows.

okay enough sad story.....

I learned early on the most invaluable tool for an excursion is a floor jack. The wimpy lil sucker they give you with its ill placed handles is worthless. I haul horses so i need to change quickly esp when in heat or by highway. So invest in one weight rated for the ex. takes up a little room but soooo worth it.

and okay final truth be told I didnt change tire myself as I went to pull spare and it was flat. so lesson number two..check spare before a trip.

 

Glad you're ok. I just towed our 26' travel trailer up to Vegas on Saturday for 4 straight hrs in 113 degree heat. The night before, I had to let out air out of the tires in the Ex down to 75 psi. I had it at 70 psi when it was cooler. Amazing how much extra pressure builds up in just the ambient temp. I'll lower it again before I leave to prevent the blowouts.

 

WHOA!!! Read the sidewall guys it says max PSI COLD! Set your PSI and go don't let air out if it gains 5 PSI when hot! Tires are designed to be inflated while cold and then leave em alone unless they are under inflated! Under inflation is what kills a tire, it creates heat and destroys the outer edges and sidewalls! Tires are designed to gain psi with road or ambient heat, that psi gain does not cause blow outs!
Just one of several links about not lowering PSI after your driving ona very hot day:

Tire Safety

 

I checked my tire pressure when it was parked for days. We're having a heat wave in S Calif. Before the heat wave, it was at 70. Then I checked it before my trip, almost 80. I knew Vegas was even hotter, so I lowered it down to 75 knowing full well it's gonna get real hot.

 

Ahhh, gotcha! I was thinking you may be driving and then letting air out while the tires were hot........

 

Great info here - glad you are still around to ask questions....
As per the jack - a stout "compact" bottle jack doesn't take up much room and can be utilized for the trailer also - I always keep one in the trailer. Good Sam's (RV club) has a great insurance/towing package - will pay out several years with only one tow - and they know where all of the "RV rated" tow companies in your area (wherever you have a problem) are. Most "RV" tow insurances also cover the rest of the vehicles in your fleet.

One item that has not been covered - tire age. Carlisle (ST tire manufacturer) now recommends tire replacement after the tires are only three years old - might want to check the age on your tires. Marathon, Triangle, Mission, Greenballs, and Maxxis are other tire brands that owner's have reported problems with.

I also had a right rear blow out on a set of BFG's - didn't know the whole history so I changed all of them out - at least 50% of the tread was left. Not worth it to take a chance. On the same trip I also had two ST trailer tires fail (three years old - about 10,000 miles on them) - also changed out all of the trailer tires. I went with a set of tires that would give me the most load rating and still comfortably fit on the rims as replacements for the ST trailer tires - not much of a choice if you run 15" rims, lots of LT tires if you have 16" rims.

Prior to replacing your tires make sure you scale the rig and get the actual weight on EACH axle when set up for "normal" towing. Some trailer manufacturers put tires on wheels that are overloaded with no additional load in the trailer (food, clothing, water, the rest of the "stuff"). Make sure the tires and rims have a rating appropriate for the load.

Remember that ST tires are only rated to 65 mph.

 

I'll keep reading and trying different things. My brother and I are putting the hellwig sway bar on this week. You guys are giving me a lot of great ideas and safety tips. Thanks!!! Any of you tried adding a spring to the leaf springs to help eliminate the swaying? Brother wants to try that. Thanks for all the feedback and help. This is a great forum!!

 

Tim. I also have a 2001 V10 4x4 Ex. I have towed a 9,500 lb Travel Trailer since the Ex was new. Here's my set up:

Hellwig sway bar
Bilstein Shocks
Timbren springs -> Vehicle Suspension Kits - Timbren Suspension Enhancement Systems These really do the trick to keep the rear end level and cost way less than than RAS or Air Bags.
Reese Trunnion WD hitch with 1,000 lb bars
Reese friction sway control

Rob

 

The swaying problem is probably caused by too much tongue weight or not properly using a WD hitch.
If you're serious about doing this I suggest you get one of these:

Sherline Trailer Tongue Weight Scales

Alot of people would be suprised at how much weight they'e putting on their hitch. It may be as easy as reorganizing some of the stuff in your trailer but it is definitely worth it.

 

When we put on the Hellwig bar, we happened to notice that the driveer side rubber bumper on the traction bar was destroyed. Looked like it had been for awhile and somehow me and a mechanic missed it when looking it over for purchase. That couldn't have helped ride quality much when towing!! Replacing them both today.

 

I like the jack that comes with the EX. If you use a power drill the Ex goes up like no boys business. Plus its great for other vehicles. Real easy to use.

 

I've done many things to my 2005. It now tows like a dream...really. V/B code springs, rear RAS (on original 2" blocks), Hellwig, Bilstein shocks, 80 psig in Michelin tires, new ball joints, and RedHead steering gear.

Funny thing is that I'm still not totally satisfied with the truck when not towing. It still wanders a bit more than I would like. I would not be comfortable having my 16 year old daughter driving it. Putting my heavy trailer with Hensley behind it seems to straighten it out. Even cross winds don't affect it very much.

So, I have 3 more "tricks" up my sleeve.
1) Remove RAS and go back to 3.5" tapered blocks.
2) Install LandYots radius rods. If you don't know about these, I can attest that they really work--my 2003 had these on it for 170,000 miles.
3) Install air bags to avoid rear end "droop".

 

Some questions..

Just to clarify, you have the V/B code spring and the RAS?

Did your 2003 drive better when unloaded while equipped with LandYots and stock Excursion springs vs. your 2005 with the V/B and the RAS?

 

Tim,

Welcome to FTE and welcome to the King of SUV club!!!

Sorry to hear about your blown tire...I can't much help as to the cause of that...other than tires do get old and do blow...

As far as your trailer sway goes...I need answers to a few questions.

1) What type of WD hitch are you using?
2) Have you been to a scale to make sure your weight and balance is proper and you are applying minimum 10% tongue weight?
3) Are your WD bars sized proper for your tongue load?
4) Are you using any sway control?
a) If so...is it a simple friction bar or some other more advanced sway control like an Equal-i-zer BRAND hitch or Reese Dual Cam?

I have towed my 9000# 35' hitch to bumper 1100# tongued trailer all over the country COMFORTABLY with my V10 powered Ex. My trailer tracks incredibly and I can tow one handed almost always...well when the winds were blowing in a cross-wind fashion at 30+mph constant in Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona...well that required 2 hands!

I have done a few what I would call medium mods to my Ex. The rear Helwig sway bar, Bilsteins, wheel alignment with caster/camber set to the positive side of the spec range and a rear RAS installed. I've towed nearly 25,000 miles with this Ex so I can tell you from experience that it IS an incredible tow vehicle if you spend a little bit of time at the scales to get the weights and balance right. It is inexpensive and painless and the rewards are priceless!

I can also speak to the RAS...you will get some sag our of the rear of your truck with the RAS...I feel you NEED some sag out of the rear of the Ex because of the way the leaf springs are stacked in there. My Ex is ROCK SOLID with the way I have it set up...but I've also spent some time at the scales to make sure my TRAILER is balanced properly to give me ~13% tongue weight...

The RAS actually gives you an added benefit over the air bags...air bags do nothing to assist with the phenom of axle wrappage which is something that ALL leaf sprung vehicles are prone to. The Ex is somewhat more prone to axle wrappage due to the larger spacer block between the springs and axle...the greater the space between those and the softer the spring rate like the Ex has...the more potential for axle wrapping...the RAS helps resist that wrapping...the air bags do NOT. Both give you added rear spring capacity...but the RAS IMO gets the leg up is all.

FWIW...I've found higher tire pressures are not necessarily better...my magic number for my setup on BFG Rugged Trail T/A's E rated tires is 60 front and 70 rear.

First step for you to get some help is answer my questions above to help guide where you really need help on your sway conditions...there is NO REASON you should not be towing comfortably.

Joe.

 

Everything stated above is spot on. I also tow a 30 Toy Hauler and did everything listed above and have had no problems since. Best wishes and have fun!