FordExcursions.com Forums
Orf
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• Pittsburgh, PA, USA |
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• Registered on 8/29/2003 |
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• 143 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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 Posted:11/2/2004 08:15 |
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| Quote: | | Just incase y'all get curious, I added a photo of me and "Mrs. Land Yot" |
Boy, she sure is purdy. I can't help but wonder why you tied ballons to her. 
Seriously, though, that is a nice picture. You are a lucky man. |
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LANDYOT
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• Subscriber since 11/23/2003 |
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• Newport News, VA, USA |
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• Registered on 7/15/2003 |
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• 1,110 posts |
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Posted:11/6/2004 17:47 |
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The helium ballons were installed in order to lower the gross vehicle weight, and subsequently obtain better MPG. Alas, the aerodynamic drag and turbulence were found to be too much stress for this particular design, and the results were less than stellar ... downright pitiful, actually. (hee-hee) And yes, I am a very lucky man. Thanks, Orf! |
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LANDYOT
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• Subscriber since 11/23/2003 |
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• Newport News, VA, USA |
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• Registered on 7/15/2003 |
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• 1,110 posts |
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Posted:11/12/2004 15:08 |
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A little clarification here ...... I have received a few requests from inquirers who wish to be notified when I start building the radius-rods again. (Thanks!) But please do not remit deposits until AFTER I send y'all that notification. I apologize for any confusion.
When someone inquires about the radius-rods via e-mail, I reply with an "info-pack" attachment that not only describes what they do and provides some illustrations, but also provides the installation instructions. I do that because some folks do not like the installation process, or they cannot perform the installation themselves. If the inquirer still wishes to order a set AFTER studying the info-pack, he/she then must ask me to place them on my "to be contacted later" list. When I start back up, I will contact those folks on the list ... which will probably be right after Christmas. Yeah ... I know .... that's when I'll be broke again, too.  |
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Paul Goulet
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• Easthampton, MA, USA |
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• Registered on 1/29/2003 |
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• 33 posts |
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Posted:11/16/2004 10:43 |
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I have a 2002 Excursion v10, 4X4, which is not a daily driver but a tow vehicle. I tow a 8000 lb. 30ft travel trailer, traveling 4000 miles per year. The X is parked in the garage when not towing.
My experience towing has been less that pleasurable, mostly white knuckled. The sway was totally unacceptable. I started to look for corrective measures. This is when Landyot came into the picture. Ken was very helpful in pointing me in the right direction.
The first modification was the hellwig swaybar. This made a big difference, but still not solid. But it did make the ride and towing feel better.
I purchase the now famous Landyot Radius-rods. Order process very professional. The product arrived VERY WELL packaged. The rods themselves are a very high quality product. The installation documentation very detailed and easy to follow. The install took me about 2 hours. I did have a lift and torches to use. I think it would be difficult to do in your driveway. You should have some mechanical knowledge.
I gave the X a test drive, but I must have gotten carried away as I drove to Florida and back. This was a 2500 mile test drive. All I can say is I did not want to stop.. The radius-rods have TAMED THE BEAST. I drove the X in all driving conditions. Even exceed speeds of 80 mph. The X handled like a cat. Before the install the curves in the road at high speeds where hairy to say the least. Now pure joy.
Unfortunately the trailer is parked for the winter and the second part of my test will come in May. I will report on the handling then.
I feel the cost of the radius-rods is money well spent, and Landyot is one of the nicest people I have done business with.
Paul Goulet
Easthampton, MA |
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LANDYOT
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• Subscriber since 11/23/2003 |
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• Newport News, VA, USA |
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• Registered on 7/15/2003 |
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• 1,110 posts |
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Posted:11/18/2004 18:04 |
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Paul - Thank you very much for the kind words.  I am always thrilled to hear how folks enjoy the improvement.  Did you fall in love with your truck all over again? In regards to packaging the kits for shipment, I do not recall how I packed yours. I've sent a few out using left over bubble-wrap I had on hand, but most kits get packaged using nothing more than crumpled-up copies of the local daily pravda ...oops ... I mean daily newspaper. |
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Paul Goulet
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• Easthampton, MA, USA |
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• Registered on 1/29/2003 |
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• 33 posts |
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Posted:11/19/2004 13:39 |
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Landyot,
I received my radius rods wrapped in bubble wrap. Plus I received a copy of your local newspaper.
Driving the big rig is now a pleasure. Can't wait for my next road trip.
Thanks Again
Paul
Paul Goulet
Easthampton, MA |
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Matt Graham
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• Durham, NC, USA |
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• Registered on 9/20/2004 |
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• 1 post |
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Posted:11/21/2004 17:48 |
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I too can be added to the list of satisfied LANDYOT customers.
I have a 2001 7.3 PSD 4x4 Excursion with 85,000 miles. It is my daily driver (although I work from my home, so I don't commute). Most of the miles I put on the car are towing my 24' enclosed race car trailer (check out www.teamskoa.com to see how I manage to waste most of my hard earned money) and on trips from my current home in Durham, NC to visit family in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The Excursion handled about like I expected when I bought it - like a big whale of a vehicle. Towing on flat, straight roads was great (much better than the Dodge 1500 it replaced). But as with all stock Excursions, it wallowed and swayed more than I would like (or was really comfortable). Especially on the mountainous drive up I77 & I79 thorugh WV and PA to get to Southern Ontario from NC.
A fellow racer who lives nearby bought a PSD Excursion as well, and installed a Hellwig swaybar and Bilstein shocks. I drove his, thought it was much nicer than mine, and set out to do some suspension work of my own. I ordered the Bilsteins (the stock shocks were toast, as could be expected at 85k miles anyway) as my friend had done, but in researching sway bars came across the LANDYOT radius rods. After reading many posts (much like the one I'm making) I decided to contact Ken and find out about the pricing and ordering technique.
His level of professionalism in all correspondance far exceeds anything else I have received from online retailers. In the very first e-mail he sent me I received an 11 page WORD document, outlining the basic principles of the rods (along with many diagrams and pictures), pricing and ordering instructions, and the complete installation instructions. It was EXCELLENT to read and understand the install procedure BEFORE buying parts. I've bought many parts for the race car and been assured by the vendors "it will only take an hour" only to find myself in the shop for entire days at a time. I knew from looking at the instructions EXACTLY what I was in for.
The rods arrived when promised, as promised. Great packaging, and clearly a quality product. I'm not a fabricator by trade, but I deal with enough custom fabbed race car parts to know a quality piece when I see one. All of my "racing buddies" have been similarly impressed with rods. Ken clearly takes care to ensure every piece is well made and of the highest quality.
I installed the Bilstein shocks (replacing the 85k mile stockers) and the radius rods at the same time. A friend and I started at 11:00am today and we test drove the beast at 3:00pm. That included a trip to Home Depot for cutoff wheels for his grinder, and lunch at Burger King.
We accomplished the entire job (shocks and rods) in his driveway with an impact wrench, socket set, some wrenches, DeWalt Sawzall, angle grinder with cutoff wheel, two floor jacks, jack stands and Rhino Ramps.
The installation instructions were PERFECT, were follwed to the letter, and at no time did I have to say "what the hell am I supposed to do here" or "where does THIS go??". I wish all auto parts were like this!!
The improvement in ride is INCREDIBLE. My friend, with the Hellwig swaybar and Bilsteins drove the car 3 miles and said "I'm ordering a set tonight" and "I wouldn't bother with the Hellwig bar if I were you." I'm very pleased with the entire LANDYOT Radius Rod experience, and would reccoomdend them to anyone.
-Matt Graham
Durham, NC |
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Karl Shultz
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• Durham, NC, USA |
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• Registered on 8/24/2004 |
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• 2 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:11/22/2004 20:35 |
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The stunned friend with the Hellwig-equipped X would be me.
Matt's truck drives astoundingly good. The improvement is much like when I put my Hellwig on, only more so. It no longer feels like the rear end has to roll over onto the bump stops before the vehicle actually turns. You turn the wheel, and...it just kinda turns. I didn't order a set last night but I do intend to get some for my own X. Matt said something to the effect of "it feels like a completely different truck" and he was right.
This Ken guy sure knows how to weld. The quality of construction is first rate and very much NOT what I would have expected from "some guy making these things in his spare time." Good stuff indeed. And as Matt said, the documentation was right on.
Besides...any time I get to use my 4.5" angle grinder on someone else's truck, it's been a good day  |
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David Feldner
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• Morgan's Point Resort, TX, USA |
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• Registered on 4/19/2002 |
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• 11 posts |
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Posted:11/26/2004 19:55 |
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I not only just got my Land Yot radius rods, I had them installed by the master himself. Lucky for me I live fairly locally, and Ken was most accomodating during the installation. During my sixty mile drive home, I felt like I had a new truck. It drove much more civilized and overall, the entire experience was great. Ken, thanks again, I really appreciate it!
David Feldner |
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LANDYOT
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• Subscriber since 11/23/2003 |
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• Newport News, VA, USA |
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• Registered on 7/15/2003 |
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• 1,110 posts |
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Posted:11/28/2004 10:28 |
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Matt, Karl & David - Thank you for the kind words. Like I've said before, I get great satisfaction hearing about how folks enjoy the ride improvement. Matt mentioned how he wished all automotive products were handled like mine. What I've strived to accomplish is to provide the same information I would want when ordering this type of product.
To those who have my radius-rods, but haven't yet installed them -- While installing David's radius-rods, I realized there's a faster way to cut off the small plastic tips on the bottom side of the leaf springs. This may save some scraped knucles, too. I was cutting on one with a hacksaw blade, and was getting exhausted ... my blade was a bit dull, and I was already exhausted from installing a Hellwig swaybar under David's X. I grabbed a sharp, wide wood chisel and knocked off those tips with a couple hammer taps. I realize you woodworking guys are probably cringing right now ... "He's crazy for using a fine tool for such a task." ... but I'd rather re-sharpen that chisel than lay on my back and have those plastic cuttings falling in my face for a few minutes. I hope this little tip may be useful to a few of you. I've already updated my installation instructions to include that bit of information. |
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