I've had my 2001 Screw since July last year and only have about 4500 miles on it. The only problem I had with the truck is the ride. It's waaaaaaay to soft and bouncy for me. I'am fixing to tow a 5900 pound trailer this weekend and I'am a little nervous. Is there any way to stiffen up the ride on this thing? I'am willing to sacrific some "smoothness" for better handling. I want a truck not car! My truck has the 5.4L but unfortunately I didn't order the tow package, so I'am having to add the wiring and hitch myself. Is it true that the 5.4's came with the tranny cooler? Should I expect any problems towing a trailer that heavy? I used to tow it with a Ram 2500 cummins which hardly effected it...hey...it was a diesel, but I'am hoping my ole triton with a few mods including superchip can hold it's ground. Thanks for any suggestions you guys can provide.

 

Then why did you get one with a couch in the back?

 

Hi Blake,

I believe the tranny cooler is part of the tow package. The specs for my 2002 SuperCrew show the tow package including the type III hitch receiver, heavy duty shocks, tranny cooler, 7-wire harness and 72 Amp-hour battery.

For a better ride, you might consider adding air springs. My Dad did that on his Chevy half-ton and uses them when he pulls his 7,000 lb twin-axle auto trailer. With air springs you simply add or remove air to adjust the ride as necessary.

Good luck!

Mike Wilson
Bend, Oregon

 

Simple, go down to your local off road shop or something like that and ask them about Bilstiens shocks. They are the best shocks out there and will last for the life of your truck. They will stiffen the ride up considerably and will only set you back a few hundred bucks. Well worth the upgrade as a matter of fact, thats on my wish list...

http://www.bilstein.com/

and no I don't nor have ever worked for them, I put them on my last truck and it made a huge diffrence, also handles better.

 

Take a look at Roadmaster Active Suspension at ..........
"Activesuspension.com" Cost is about $200

 

I think if you had the tow package, you would find the ride to be firmer. I have a 4X4 with the tow package and think the ride is just right. Definitely not floaty.

I put a two horse trailer on it loaded with a total weight of about 4,700 pounds and the rear suspension barely compresses. In fact the tow hitch ball barely clears the tongue on the trailer, it sits so high in the back. My truck has no problem pulling this trailer and its a 4.6L.

I would imagine the Off Road option would make the ride even firmer.

 

It's true. All the 5.4L engines in our trucks come with a tranny cooler. If you had ordered the tow package, the cooler would be a bit larger. The one you have should be just fine.

Change your shocks. Install Bilstiens Ford uses in the fx4 package. My '01 has the ORP and the ride is near perfect. Firm, but not hard. It absorbs big bumps but doesn't feel like a boat on paved roads.

 

Actually I belive that Ford puts the Ranco shocks on the FX4. But I could be wrong.

Bilstiens are probley the firmest shocks out there but are the most stable. If you want a "car" ride then these are NOT the shocks for you, if you want a "truck" ride then here ya go...

 

The shock's on the new FX4 package are rancho's.(supposedly)
Or at least rancho branded.
Later...Mike

 

Yea...they're ranchos. I know because I just traded in my truck. With 0% financing. I got a XLT (miss leather) 4x4 with the offroad package, tow package, etc. Fixed that damn problem..hah

 

Okay, I coulda sworn I read somewhere that that shocks were Bilsteins. Oh well. I had Ranchos on my '99 and they made that truck's ride a hell of a lot better.