Is anybody towing a pretty heavy load with an Expy? I have a '98 Expy EB 4X4, 5.4L, 3.73 with heavy duty tow package and load leveling suspension. I towed this weekend with it for the first time and it is obvious I need to change my set up. I tow a 24ft enclosed tralier that carries a dragster. My total weight is about 7000 lbs which is below what the truck is rated at. Truck has plenty of power but the handle is a little tricky. It is wanting to sway with me going around curves on the interstate, not dangerously bad but enough that I don't like it. On the way to the track I had too much tongue weight and it was moving around under breaking. On the way home I reloaded with more weight to the back and it pulled alot better but still had a little sway. I am using a good digital break controller. I did not use a weight dist. hitch or any sway control, just the receiver. The reason I didn't use the weight dist. hitch is because of the load leveling suspension. The air bags are keeping the truck level but do they actually move any of the weight to the front? Do I need the dist. hitch and sway control or will one or the other work? What about a shock change, would this help? The LLS has what looks like air shocks on front and standard shocks and air bags on the back. I looked at the Edelbrock shocks but they don't list a #s for Expys that have the LLS. I'd appreciate any suggestions, I gotta fix it before this weekend. Thanks.

 

You need the distribution hitch and sway bars. That will help level out the whole rig and keep the swaying to a minimum.

The bars transfer the weight through the frame. Leveling out is just an added bonus. Makes the two rigs act like one.

Those things really make a difference. I used them to tow a 15' enclosed trailer that was very heavy with a Ford 3/4 ton van. Also towed without them, and it was like night and day.

 

Without being harsh, I think you're nuts pulling a 7K box trailer with that truck. You're going to need a dual antisway device on the trailer at a minimum. Please look at the units from Reese, Equalizer, and the grandaddy of towing....Hensley (expensive, but you'll appreciate it for sure.
A 2000 Expedition 4x4 with the 3.73 is rated to tow 7800lbs with 16" tires (7300lbs with 17" tires).
You are proabably overloaded. The Gross Combined Weight rating for your truck is 13000. You must take that truck, with the dragster box, full gear, people, and full fuel to a truck stop with a scale (Flying J has a scale..$6 for a weight). It is best to keep the towed rig under 80% of your truck capacity. For safety, you should tow no more than 6000lbs. You can go to the edge, but you must use a weight distributing hitch with a dual anti-sway device or the Hensley.
The important thing about the staying under the GCWR is that if you're ever in an accident and your combined trailer and truck/contents weight exceed the GCWR, you are screwed. You will be classified as overloaded and the insurance companies will have nothing to do with you.
Want to pull 7000lbs? Trade for an F250 V10 with a tow rating of 10,000 lbs. You should be in the zone with that. Sorry if you don't want to hear this, but you are overloaded and don't have enough truck for the weight. IMHO.

 

I'd have to agree that your at least almost maxed on weight. Since the Expy has a rear anti-sway bar already, it may not do much good, but then again, when I changed mine, I was amazed at how weak the OEM bar is; that might help and is only about $130 for the Helwig. Shocks would help too. I'd look at Bilstein over Edelbrocks though. Edelbrock specificly doean't make the IAS shock for the 4 wheel LLS. Bilstein would be the better choise for a heavier load application too. I was told by an Edlebrock dealer that the Edelbrocks although are great shock, tend to deteriorate quicker under heavy applications like heavy towing and off roading. Edelbrock themselves recommended Bilstein as the next best thing to theirs (of course to them theirs are the best)

Are you towing from the bumber? I'd definetly use a weight dist. hitch with that much weight.

 

I'm not sure of the weight of my boat. It does what you describe on occasion. wiggles a little but nothing stupid.

Mike

 

I'm not sure of the weight of my boat. It does what you describe on occasion. wiggles a little but nothing stupid.

Mike

 

I towed my Lightning on an open trailer, 4 adults and a yamaha scooter inside 2 weeks ago. We traveled about 850 miles total on the trip and you couldn't tell we were towing anything once up to speed. I do have the weight distributing hitch with 1 sway bar. I had about 950 lbs. of tongue weight without the equalizing bars hooked up. Yes the air suspension will lift the back end up without the bars hooked up, but there is no way it would of towed smoothly with all that tongue weight. I have a 2 wheel drive with the 5.4L and 3.73 gears. My trailer is 1800 lbs. and the Lightning is about 4500 lbs.

Mike

 

I have a '97 Expy equipped similarly to yours, Greg. This past month I went on a trip to the Rockies and towed my trailer 1,800 miles each way, mostly on interstates at highway speed. The fully loaded trailer is near 7,000 lb.

I have a Hensley Arrow trailer hitch.

The combination performed beautifully! The Expy held speed well on the open road and did much better than expected on the mountain grades. The hitch prevented all sway. Even my wife who never towed a full-size trailer before, was very comfortable with the setup.

Hensely and Pullrite offer free videos at their web sites. They are not cheap, but they will cure your problem.

Dino

 

I'm towing a 26ft travel trailer with the load equilizing bars and anti-sway bar and it handles great. My question is lack of power. I've got a 98 Eddie Bauer with the 5.4 with flowmaster exhuast and K&N air injection kit. I can not pull my 5900 lb trailer up a 5% grade at or above 4500 feet faster than 30 - 35 miles an hour with out down shifting into first gear. I've taken it to the dealer and they ran diagnostics on it and they came up with nothing. Anyone out there have a simular problem with a possible fix.

 

Nick Dressler

What gear do you have? I'd guess 3:31? I'm surprised at that but considering gear (if that's it) and the lower powered 5.4 that could be it. But it still doesn't sound quite right.

If it is just the lack of power in the right range, I would suggest calling Mike Troyer and talk to him about a chip. You may be able to move power curves a little and get shifting adjusted to handle it better.

My guess is the combination of power and gear with a fairly heavy trailer. I'm assuming the trailer is being set up right? (right tow height so tongue weight it right etc.)

 

Family Ride - I've got the 3.73 gears. I also forgot to mention that it is a 4x4. Whats perplexing is that everyday driving is great with plenty of power and good mpg. I friend of mine has the same Expy and pulls a trailer thats about 4900lbs with no problems. His rig is totally stock.

 

well guys, i've got you all beat! i've got a 29' boat w/ twin big blocks and an all steel triple axle trailer (total weight approx. 10,000 lbs). i've put about 20,000 miles on it from towing (77,000 miles total) and no problems at all. it tows it well thanks to 4.56 gears, jet chip, and 92 octane gas, but it does have a 4" lift and 33" tires. there is some sag in the back, but the truck tracks well and is not light in the front (thanks to the 4x4 front end weight).

 

I'm not ever trying to beat that one. I concede.

 

I tow a 30' Wilderness Travel Trailer with my Expy. Not only do I use a weight distribution hitch but I use DUEL sway controls as well! I also have the load leving system but you DON'T want it doing all the work! They are not designed to handle the full load. If you haven't already done so, better read your owners manual which tells you the proper way to use the airbags for towing. Even with the set up I have, the short wheel base on the Expy keeps me busy! Going to use my Supercrew to tow the trailer for the first time next week. Can't wait to compare the 2! GOOD LUCK!

 

I need to ask, what exactly are load equilizing bars? Now that I'm about to be towing (peak will be about 7200#) I just need to know.