Country Traveler
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I just bought one. I'll be towing it with a Ford Excursion V10 engine. Now for weight distribution. I'm thinking of Reese Dual Cam and it was also suggested by the dealer. Should I get 1000 lb bars or 1200 lb bars?
Also, what are some real life tongue weights (if you have them) also the reason for my qustion.
I'll drive it first to see how it feels, but would air bags be a good add on to help with the suspension or will it be fine as is. I was thinking of F250/350 springs, but the truck is a daily driver and only tows when we go away during the summer.
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jas67
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Joined: 10/12/2009
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Congrats on your purchase. DW. and I really like this model, and if we decide to buy new, this is the one. We found a really nice 31 bhds used that we're considering.
From what I've read, the Reese DC will serve you well, but the Equalizer is supposed to be a little quicker to hook up. If you still get too much sway, get the Hensley.
As for tongue weight, watch how you load it. Don't put heavy items like extra batterie, generators, etc in the front passthrough.
* This post was
edited 11/18/09 03:24pm by jas67 *
2006 Jayco 31BHDS
2006 F-350 SRW,4WD,6.0L Powerstroke,crew/long bed
2004 Coachman 106 (2,000lb GVW, 1526 DVW) --SOLD.
2000 BMW 323iT TV for the popup above (towed it just fine, TV rated for 3400lbs tow weight in europe, the hitch I have is rated for 2000).
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usmc616
Orange County New York
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Hello, I also have a 2004 Excursion and am looking to buy the 32bhds. I had the same questions as you. I went to a Ford Excursion Forum and have heard very good things about the Roadmaster Active Suspension, it acts as some kind of helper for the rear leaf springs. I called the company and went to their website to view the videos. I will order one next week. I have 1000 bars but have been advised to get the 1200 bars. I am looking into dual cams also, just have not made up my mind yet.
Semper Fi
Joe, Joyce 4 kids and 2 dogs
2004 Ford Excursion LTD. 4x4 6.8 V-10 3.73 Gears
2010 Jayco G2 32BHDS at dealer.
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Lantley
Ellicott City, Maryland
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You will want 1200# bars for sure. Your tongue weight will be in excess of 1000#. You will need to properly load your gear to ensure your tongue weight does not exceed 1250# hitch capacity of your X.
I have air bags on my X and they are fine. If I were to do it again I would probably install "Roadmaster Active Suspension" instead of the air bags.
I initially towed my TT with an Equalizer however I was not totally satisfied with my set up until I upgraded to a Hensley Arrow.
In my opinion the X is the best SUV for towing a 10K trailer, however the rear suspension is soft. There a few after market accessories that will help optimize the towing performance of your X. You didn't say what year your X is but if not factory equipped you may also want to add a rear anti sway bar.
01PSD X,06 Trailvision31BHDS,Edge Evolution
4"exhaust,AFE,C-Betr,Tornado
CE L.E.D,air bags,TomTom,Atwood 3500
Hensley,Prodigy,exhaust brake,Swift Hitch
14'PortaBote9.9hp,6"PVC,Thule,Combi-Cam
Toppoprails,16"wheels,Sherline,Maxx Air
Subaru 4300is w/Gen Box
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Country Traveler
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Thanks for the replies all. I really appreciate any advise you all have to offer. I was not aware of the roadmaster active suspension. I'll have to do some research. I was thinking the hitch weight might go up to or over 1K lbs. That is why I was thinking 1200 lb bars.
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LAdams
Northern Illinois
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You need to send a PM to my friend Crappie_Fisherman (Joe) here on this forum... He has the EXACT combination you have and has towed many thousands of miles with it and has made a few modifications to the Excursion... Joe does tow with a Hensley but otherwise same setup...
I suggest you send him a PM...
Les
2000 Ford F-250SD, XLT, 4X4 Off Road, SuperCab
w/ 6.8L (415 C.I.) V-10/3:73LS/4R100
Banks Power Pack w/Trans Command & OttoMind
2006 Nomad 3150 Double Slide (Bunkhouse)
Hensley Arrow
Jordan Ultima 2020
HUNTER THERMOSTAT INSTALL
HOME MADE WHEEL CHOCKS
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chilipyro
CT
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The suspension on my '07 Tundra was a bit soft for this heavy a trailer. I had an Equilizer hitch from my last trailer, with 1000lb bars. When I got the 32BHDS, I bought a Hensley hitch. Hensley calculated that I needed the HD bars (1400lbs), so that is what they sent with the hitch. The ride with the Hensley was very rough - shaking the whole car on any rough highway stretches. I tried switching the the Equilizer (with 1000lb bars). The lighter weight bars on the Equilizer added flex to the weak suspension on the Tundra. The Equilizer smoothed out a great deal - only to have the rough ride replaced by porpoising. I was able to get rid of the porpoising by upgrading the shocks to HD (I used adjustable Rancho 9000XL shocks, so that I could dial them down when not towing). The problem with the 1000lb bars on the Equilizer was that it was very hard to get the weight distibution high enough - there was just too much flex in the bars. So, I added Air Lifts to the Tundra and put the Hensley back on. The rough ride was gone, and everything was good.
I didn't experience sway from either hitch. I bought the Hensley because I was nervous about having sway from such a long trailer. The Hensley is a great hitch, but it adds about 100lbs to your tongue weight (over the Equilizer), and removes an extra $1K-$2K from your wallet. You might want to try the Equilizer first, to see if it works well enough. I recommend the 1200lb bars, and upgrades to your suspension (air lifts or new springs and HD shocks).
The trailer weight is going to be between 8500 and 9000lbs, so you want a tongue weight of at least 1000lbs. But, you can't have much more than 1100lbs on a 1/2 ton TV. I try to keep the tongue weight at 1100lbs, but it takes effort to stay under that wieght - you really have to watch what you put in that front compartment. With nothing in the front compartment, but loaded for camping, I am at 1000lbs tongue weight (with the Hensley hitch, 900lbs with the Equilizer). Get a tongue weight scale, so you can keep an eye on it.
2009 Jayco G2 32BHDS, 2007 Toyota Tundra SR5 Crew Max w/tow package, Michelin LTX/AT2 275/65 R18, Load range E., Rancho 9000XL shocks, Air Lifts, Hensley Arrow hitch
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Country Traveler
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Chilipyro, Thanks for your insight. I thought about the Hensley, but there are 2 issues I have with it and you mentioned both. 1) It's expensive and I don't plan any far away vacations. I'm always fairly local, no more than 4 hrs driving distance. 2) It's heavy. I have a 2000 Excursion, so it has only a 1000 lb hitch weight limit. I know I will be right there.
Is the equalizer better than the reese dual cam or are they basically the same. Nobody so far mentioned that they have the reese.
LAdams, I have read Joe's posts. I know what he has as a setup. Since he also uses a Hensley, I was looking for additional ideas from others. Actually, in some other posts that he has responded too, I learned a lot.
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chilipyro
CT
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Quote:
Is the equalizer better than the reese dual cam or are they basically the same. Nobody so far mentioned that they have the reese.
That is a hard one to answer objectively. I have heard people speak as highly of the Equilizer as the Reese. Both seem to be high quality hitches that control sway effectively. In that respect, they are the same. Other factors are probably more preferences in style or fits with the rest of your equipment.
I had different experiences with the Equilizer hitch and the two trailers I used it with - a 6500lb Jayco 26L and my current 9000lb 32BHDS. The Equilizer
was very easy to hook up with in the lighter weight trailer I had before the 32BHDS (as long as you have a power tongue jack) - you drop the ball, jack the trailer up high, shift the bars over to the bracket, and lower the jack.
But, with the heavier 32BHDS, the experience with the Equilizer was much less pleasant. The tow experience was fine, once I got the porpoising under control (a problem with the truck, not the hitch). But configuring the hitch to distribute the weight effectively, and hookup after it was configured this way was a pain. With the Equilzier, the amount of weight distribution you get is related to how high you had to get the jack, before you flipped the bars over. It was a challenge to get enough weight distribution without exceeding the max hight of my tongue jack. Heavier bars might have improved this experience - but I am not sure.
From talking with other Reese owners, the difficulties I had with the Equilizer could not be a problem with the Reese. This is because the weight distribution and sway control are handled by different mechanisms.
Since I never had the heavier bars to try on the Equilizer, I can't say for certain whether hookup would have been a better experience. If I were faced with the choice of just those two hitches now (Reese dual cam or Equilizer with heavier bars), I'd probably go with the Reese - my experience with Equilizer hookup and the 32BHDS was that unpleasant.
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mhawk4
South Carolina
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My trailer is not as heavy, i am maybe 2000# under your GVWR with my 27bh compared to your 32bhds. I use the Reese hp dual cam, no complaints, as long as i set it up properly; i also prefer the round bars when using the HPDC.
I have been looking at the 31bhds and 32bhds, and the only things i would need to pull one of them are, sway bar( hellwig )$230, 1200# round bars $150-200, air bags $200+/-, and manage my loading and driving habits.
The Hensley is great, but when it comes to finances, i can do a BETTER job managing $2000.00 (Hensley price), considering my list above is under $1000.00
I have learn a lot from Joe and Lantley about towing w/ the X. IMO, the soft rear suspension of the X is what we (Excursion owners) need improve.
hope it helps! good luck!
2002 Ford Excursion XLT 6.8L,V10 3.73(TB2)
1999 Chevy Suburban 5.7L,V8 3.73 (BUDDY)
2008 Jayco G2, 27BH (MHAWK)
HP dual cam
Luis,Shelia,Noah,Gabriel
All about the family!!
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