FordExcursions.com Forums
Scott Read
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• Raleigh, NC, USA |
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• Registered on 1/25/2003 |
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• 22 posts |
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 Posted:4/2/2003 08:40 |
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I just purchased a 31 ft Terry travel trailer, and I tow this with a Power stroke. Bringing this rig home was a real challenge. First it was windy as hell, second was dealiong with a major sway.
I had the friction sway control as tight as I coud get it, but it did little to help.
I am thinking that most of my problem is with the truck's weak or sft suspesion and the Firstone load D tires allow a lot of side wall sway.
I want to shange the suspenion by adding the rancharos, but I think that ithis might not be enough.
Also, hjas anyone changed the tires to a load E ten ply tire? I thinking of doing this with Michelin LTX's. (THis advice comes from my tire dealer)
I have already added the rear sway bar and the super chip. Who has towed this much weight (8000lbs. by the way the truck is an animal for pulling I am very impressed) But I have to do something with the truck's suspension.
I am not to excited about change the leaf springs yet, I was wondier inf the four way adjustable shocks from the dash board, and the tires will fix this.
Please advice. |
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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:4/2/2003 13:33 |
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Hold up there!! Before you start changing expensive parts, what kind of hitch do you have. If your hitch is adjusted properly, you should have no problem towing that size trailer. I don't know if you can log on to goodsam.com. If you can get on and go to the forum. You will find many experienced towing people ready to give you good information. I have a 2002 Excursion 4x4 v10 and it pulls like a deam. I also have a reese dual cam hitch set-up. Maybe you should go to the reese site and look at all the hitches available. The dual cam has the sway control built in. I have not heard anything good about the friction sway control.
Paul Goulet
Easthampton, MA |
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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:4/2/2003 13:37 |
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The correct address for goodsam, www.goodsamclub.com
Paul Goulet
Easthampton, MA |
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Scott Read
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• Raleigh, NC, USA |
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• Registered on 1/25/2003 |
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• 22 posts |
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Posted:4/3/2003 09:48 |
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Thanks,I am a Good Sam member, and don't use the site.
HoweverI am findingthat I may have had the rig too high on the adjustable hitch.
I bought this trailer from a guy that had a Yukon, which squated down to the rubber sstops on the rear axle. The excursion did not drop an inch when we lowered onto the ball.
Meaning that I may have the ball way too high. Still I ordered the four way adjustable Rancharo 9000's Just to be sure I cover all the bases  |
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greateastern
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• Southern, MD, USA |
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• Registered on 9/21/2002 |
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• 93 posts |
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Posted:4/3/2003 19:31 |
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Scot, I tow a 26 ft. Skyline travel trailer that weighs in at about 5500 lbs. Not as heavy or long as your 31 footer, but long enough. I use a Draw Tite hitch with a friction bar anti-sway. It works very well for me, and towing with the X, I have had very few 'white knuckle' experiences. Not so with my 1/2 ton Suburbans I towed the camper with before that.
What I have learned is that trailers 30ft & longer have a lot of surface area behind the trailer axles that can generate quite a sideway force on the tongue, so you need to do everything right.
Loading the trailer is critical as well. You want 10-15% of the weight on the tongue. No more, no less, because if you are out of that narrow range, it will also generate sway. I would make sure that you pump up your tires to the maximum when towing. Don't go by Ford's recommendation on the door. The tires may wear a bit more quickly, but the sidewalls are considerably stiffer and the heat buildup is way less. With LT tires you can even go over the max by 10 psi, though the max load rating does not change.
I would recommend doing all the cheap things if you haven't already done them. Check the tires, weigh the trailer - and get an accurate tongue weight for it with it loaded as you would travel. If that doesn't do it, then work your way into the more expensive solutions.
If I'm preaching to the choir, forgive me. Hope you found this helpful. Best of luck!
Gary
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'02 X LTD, 4X4, PSD, 3.73LS. True Blue & Gold. 15K miles. Pretty much stock. (Sigh!) Upgraded load range Steeltex tires. Roof rack bars removed. Ford spare tire organizer. Way overdue on getting guages... Sunnybrook 30FKS travel trailer, 31ft, 8000lb. |
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birdman127
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• baltimore, MD, USA |
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• Registered on 10/13/2002 |
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• 581 posts |
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Posted:4/3/2003 19:41 |
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I too tow a 30 ft forrest river wildwood, I have a reese dual cam and I love it. I DO know any camper over 25 ft needs two friction type sway reducer's. I suggest a dual cam that stops most sway from starting in the first place. Yes, ggod sam has a excellant forum as well as ours.
Moderator
Scott
2000 ltd 6.8 V10*4.30LS*
Lots of mods
check my gallery
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Wheels
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• Visalia, CA, USA |
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• Registered on 1/20/2003 |
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• 214 posts |
• 1
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Posted:4/4/2003 11:34 |
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| Quote: | I too tow a 30 ft forrest river wildwood, I have a reese dual cam and I love it. I DO know any camper over 25 ft needs two friction type sway reducer's. I suggest a dual cam that stops most sway from starting in the first place. Yes, ggod sam has a excellant forum as well as ours.
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I looked at the Reese web site and am wondering...does the Dual Cam set up have to be used in conjunction with a REESE load leveler??? I have an EAZ-LIFT weight distribution hitch system and the bars do not have the built in cam. If you buy the dual cam kit, can it be adapted to these bars??? or would I also have to buy the Reese load distribution kit? Very interested in the answers...thanks |
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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:4/4/2003 15:45 |
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hey wheels,
why don't you email reese products at [email protected] They answer my questions right away. I found them to be very helpful.
Paul Goulet
Easthampton, MA |
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Wheels
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• Visalia, CA, USA |
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• Registered on 1/20/2003 |
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• 214 posts |
• 1
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Posted:4/4/2003 15:59 |
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| Quote: | hey wheels,
why don't you email reese products at [email protected] They answer my questions right away. I found them to be very helpful. |
Will do right now...thanks.  |
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greateastern
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• Southern, MD, USA |
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• Registered on 9/21/2002 |
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• 93 posts |
• 1
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Posted:4/4/2003 18:04 |
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Scott, one more thought. While you are checking out anti-sway hitches, check out the Hensley Arrow. It is REALLY expensive - $2700, but in all the reading I've done on any website I've never seen a bad word except about the price. Stops sway from starting. Period.
ALL the owners who have them LOVE them, and you can move them from trailer to trailer if you sell your current rig. I do not own one and have NO financial interest in anyone buying one. I have considered one but am holding off at the moment.
Don't have the website, but a search engine will get you right to it with "Hensley Arrow."
- Gary
Gary
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'02 X LTD, 4X4, PSD, 3.73LS. True Blue & Gold. 15K miles. Pretty much stock. (Sigh!) Upgraded load range Steeltex tires. Roof rack bars removed. Ford spare tire organizer. Way overdue on getting guages... Sunnybrook 30FKS travel trailer, 31ft, 8000lb. |
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