being told i need a weight dist. hitch?

[Todd T]

I traded off my wifes suburban for a 4x4 PSD Ford Excursion. this past weekend i towed with it for the first time. I had a hard time keeping it in a steady line on turns, both empty and loaded. it would start to turn then the trailer would kinda catch up with the turn and cause me to pull to the outside of the turn. i would then have to counter steer to correct for that. this is not the typical too much or not enough tongue weight causing it to fish tail thing. it would track perfectly in a straight line at all speeds. it was as if the steering was too touchy. there is a hint of this without any load or trailer too. I just thought the steering was a real quik ratio and didnt think about it further. we actually comented on that when we test drove a few of them. I know this becuase we test drove a XLT and i remember showing my wife and then her testing it while she was driving it. this was not the one we bought. but it did just have an alignment and all new tires. new brakes too. again we didnt buy that one, but this one drives just like it. the problem has to be in the sway bar setup or tires or leaves. IMO



anyway, as i said i towed this weekend for the first time. i have an 18 foot tandem axle (with one brake axle) flat bed trailer. I used the drop receiver from my dodge truck which was perfectly level with no load on the trailer. once i loaded the trailer, it brought the back down an inch or so and i changed out the reciever to one that was not so much of a drop. this brought it up just past level. my load was oak tree trunks and was not shifting or moving at all. i had about 4-5K on it. I cant tell you for sure. no more than 5K. i have used this trailer for the same thing on the same trip for four years and never had a bit of trouble. i took the problem to the Ford diesel site and they of course are blaming my trailer and are telling me i need a fancy high dollar weight distribution hitch. I would almost believe this except for the empty part. I think it is an alignment problem or suspension problem. it is known that these things sway around and porpus alot and nearly everyone tells you to put a helwig sway bar on the back. some guys have even upgraded the fronts.



has anyone on here ever had a vehicle that would oversteer like this and could you tell me some things to look for. or a setup i should shoot for on the alignment?



I checked all the tires before leaving. the truck had 55 all the way around and the trailer had 35 PSI the cold rating for each.



lets not forget my mileage sucked and i lost 25MPH on one of the biggest hills i had to pull up. of course they havent gotten back to me with a reason for that (must have been the road, hill was too big, ya that's it)



sadly on the way back we nicknamed the slow truck lane to the far right the "Ford Lane" when we would aproach a hill with one, my wife and i would joke that i signal and make my way over to the "Ford Lane"



thanks Gang,

Todd T

 

[Sled Puller]

A weight distributing hitch and an anti- sway help no matter how small a trailer is, but it will not cure the main problem--FORD.

 

[Todd T]

well thanks Gene. here, let me pull this wound open while you poor that salt in.



i still stand behind my first statement when i told my friends i bought this thing

"DON'T make me go home and get my CUMMINS"



kinda like the old saying "I can lose weight but you'll still be ugly" or "if it dont run, chrome it"



i have to be honest here, this thing pulled very poorly i was more than disapointed. and it has an 80HP chip too. just glad its my wife's to drive or I'd be tradin again. how does one of these hitches work? even on an empty trailer you think i could need it?

 

[drees1]

Your problem is basically due to the design of the Excursion. Wheelbase, height, and rear overhang, axle to hitch, are the main factors. The tongue weight of the trailer, in a turn, is pushing the hitch to the outside of the turn and the whole truck is reacting to it. It's no different than if you had 1000 lbs (your tongue weight) mounted to the hitch and went in a turn at high speed. That weight is forcing the rear out, and the front in. All you can do is make changes that will reduce the effect. 1. You should have "E" rated tires, air up the rears to 85psi to make them stiffer. 2. Use a sway control on the trailer if you want to, it will help some. 3. Use an insert in the receiver that minimizes extending the ball any further from the truck axle than necessary. The best long term solution would be a pull rite hitch installed on the truck. That is an expensive hitch, but it moves the swing point of the hitch under your truck so the load is pushing sideways closer to the axle. In that manor the load does not have the leverage push the truck around. I'm sure many on this board know about them. It is probably the best solution to totally cure the problem.



Doug Rees

 

[dalton4]

Drees1 covered most of my thoughts on the issue. I also think you should address the hitch height. You stated that your second hitch ball brought it "up just past level". A high tongue will contribute to swaying and increase the forces in motion that Drees 1 addressed.

 

[Sled Puller]

I still don't comprehend how those hitches work, but I know they do.



Maybe aset of air bags on the truck, help stiffen it up some.



Transmission upgrades will help some, maybe even a snort of propane, moderate, of course.



Face, it PSDS are slugs, and it will take alot to get 300 hp, let alone real towing power.



I feel for you man, but like the Ford boys have said, Fords are to work, not to race, they all charge by the hour, take your time, and enjoy the scenery you have missed flying by in the Cummins!!

 

[paccool]

Dalton is right about the "hitch high" causing problems. I always want the hitch a little low.





I used to tow a race car every weekend. Never used a load leveler hitch, just made sure there was 400# or so on the tongue. Only time I had a problem was when the car was wreaked and had to be loaded on backwards. This made the tongue light and the truck wanted to sway a little.



I don't feel I really need one with my travel trailer either other than to help keep the bounce out when going down the road. (I do use them though). I have the 5K airbag over loads and these really stiffen up the ride and keep things level when towing.

 

[Todd T]

well you guys and the ford people make about twenty people that think i should use at least, spring bars. I'll check into a pair they couldnt hurt. i have felt the sway from a light tongue before and this really wasnt it. i could just feel the load catch up to the turn and push me. like drees said, i think he's right. the load is too far from the axle and has the leverage. also i am comparing how an excursion that is probably 50/50 weight distribution to a truck that is more like 70/30. again the spring bars would help this.



i know some upgrades are in my future. no Gene, not a new truck, UPGRADES.



until Dodge builds me something that can haul three car seats and two or more adults comfortably, I will be cruising the ford scene.



I hope someone that can make a difference sees this trend and reacts to it.

 

[Jetson]

Have you ever driven a Corvair?

I have driven quite a few. You get used to the back end moving around. Ones with no sway bar and low air pressure would really move around. WIth a sway bar and higher tire pressure, they were pretty predictable.

 

[Prairie Dog]

I had the same problem when I put load range "D" tires on my 93 CTD. I installed an anti-sway bar W/O the load equalizing hitch and the problem was completely solved for only about $65. If the back end of your Ferd doesnt' seem to sluch, I'd try the anti sway first. You can always add the load hitch later.

 

[Fireman]

Todd,



If money isn't an object look at a Pullrite. They make a tag-a-long behave like a 5th wheel... ... for a price. But it's like anold guy told me once "get a good hitch, and if you have any money left buy a trailer. "



Fireman



BTW check it out on their web site.

 

[Todd T]

Originally posted by fireman56

But it's like anold guy told me once "get a good hitch, and if you have any money left buy a trailer. "

well i have a couple good trailers already so I'll just have to save up my lunch money and get a good hitch



actually i plan to put on the helwig sway bar on the rear and from there get new E rated tires. the power I'll just have to live with.



besides, people can get a better look at me when i'm going slower... . that's who they are looking at right? me, not my wife?



I'll get a bumper sticker that reads "faster traffic, keep left" maybe a yellow strobe for the roof





BTW those ford guys are all bent out shape that i suggested the fords were not as powerful as my dodge :-{}

 

[dvaughan]

weightn dist. hitch

Todd, How much does your trailer weigh empty. I have always found that when I am pulling a trailer, either semi or rv that when I come into a corner that I slow down till about half way through and then power out of the corner so the trailer will not push me through the corner, I will pull it. This works great empty or full, try it, but it could be the wheel base or the FORD.