FordExcursions.com Forums
mfwhite22
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• Chicago area, IL, USA |
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• Registered on 10/10/2005 |
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• 8 posts |
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 Posted:11/19/2006 23:18 |
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Hi all, just noticed that on my '04 EB 6.8 Excursion the hitch receiver has a crack on either side at the top bend. I have a 7,000 lb TT that I tow probably 5000 miles/year with an equalizer hitch. The band around the hitch where the receiver fits in is intact but just behind it there are two small cracks on either side. Is this normal? or do I need a new hitch put on the truck?  |
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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:11/21/2006 15:07 |
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Normal? I would think not. If the metal is cracking like that on top, who knows where else it may also be cracking? I wouldn't even attempt a weld repair for fear of other areas deteriorating. Is your X still under warranty? This could be construed as a safety item since loosing a trailer of any size at speed could easily cause someone to die ... even you if the safety chains were to pull the X into a rollover. In addition, the hitch receiver is considered part of your rear bumper "system" in that it's supposed to reduce the likelihood of a car driving underneath your X, and into the fuel tank. |
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housedad
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• mt royal, NJ, USA |
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• Registered on 10/8/2005 |
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• 88 posts |
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Posted:11/21/2006 18:12 |
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Order a new replacement receiver. Click on the Link below:
CLICK HERE
$254.36 plus shipping. Small amount for peace of mind and safety.
Drill out and Bolt on procedure. Just get the torque values right.
NOTE: Do not reuse body support mounting fasteners. New fasteners must be installed for each fastener that has been removed or loosened, including SHEER BOLTS. (as per Ford tech manual.)
I have the ford procedures with drawings if you need them. I can email them to you.
[size=18]HOWEVER[/size], if it is still under warranty, get thee down to the house of Ford and tell them to replace it pronto!!!! |
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mfwhite22
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• Chicago area, IL, USA |
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• Registered on 10/10/2005 |
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• 8 posts |
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Posted:11/21/2006 21:40 |
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The X is out of warranty so this will be on my dime. I am more concearned why it craked though. I bought the truck used and have no idea of what abuse it suffered, also wondered if some nasty road construction on I-294 in Northern Illinois which sent the whole rig up and down a few times over some nasty bumbs did it, may never know but I think I will get the WD hitch setup evaluated before the next trip, after I replace the reciever on the truck.
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mfwhite22
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• Chicago area, IL, USA |
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• Registered on 10/10/2005 |
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• 8 posts |
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Posted:11/21/2006 21:43 |
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Thanks Housedad I will get some quotes and see if it is worth it to me to do myself since the truck is past its warranty period. Oh well there goes the money for the sway bar....  |
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housedad
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• mt royal, NJ, USA |
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• Registered on 10/8/2005 |
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• 88 posts |
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Posted:11/21/2006 23:33 |
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More than likely, it was cracked due to some unfortunate soul that owned it before you and decided that Ford's declared weight carrying (non weight distributing) capacity limit was a bunch of hogwash. The Excursion, as you probably know, is allowed a maximum of 500lbs tongue weight non WD.
I saw something similar a few weeks ago at Home Depot.. A guy with a white diesel Excursion was towing a heavy equipment trailer, the kind they haul 555 loader backhoes with. He had a pintle hitch on his reciever, and the trailer had 2 30 sheet stacks of of sheetrock, about 40 sheets of 3/4" ply, an estimated 40 bags of concrete, various lumber, and over 60 bags of mulchThere were more bags of stuff that I could not identify, maybe another 30 to 40, piled on with the rest. All of this was loaded at the FRONT of the trailer, as far forward as it could go.
I stood there slackjawed as it drove slowly past me, The rear hitch of the Excursion was about 3 inches from the ground. It was so low that they had taken the chains off, and just thrown them over the trailer tongue. The frontend was pointing at the sky. The front looked like it had a 16 inch lift system on it. How he could still steer was beyond me. At one point, he tapped his brakes, and the front of the truck bobbed up and down like a apple in a barrel of water, while tapping the receiver on the ground. I could hear the groan of the springs and creaking of the frame and body. The tongue weight had to be way in excess of 2500lbs!!!!
For this guy, it is only a matter of time before he has a catastrophic failure, and blames it on Ford making a 'crappy' hitch. That is, if he lives to blame it on Ford. Or if the guy behind him lives.......
Anyway, major overstresses like this will show up at the weakest point that is in the direction of the stress. The receiver must have taken an incredible stress load to have cracked it like that.. A stress load that would make me want to have the frame itself closely inspected by a GOOD Ford bodyshop, that knows what they are doing, to look for signs of overstress on it.
Replace the hitch in ANY case. |
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