FordExcursions.com Forums
cwbyinjeep
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• Atlanta, GA, USA |
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• Registered on 8/5/2003 |
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• 47 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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 Posted:5/4/2004 12:38 |
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Heya gang,
Dont know how many of you "really tow", but a buddy went to borrow my heavy equipment trailer the other day and asked me what my hitch was rated for. I went to check and to my dismay the factory hitch on my PSD 4x4 X is only rated at 5k dead pull and 10k with load distribution. Thats a big difference between with or without load distribution and it doesnt make me feel comfy knowing I tow around 8k+ regularly with a bumper pull equipment trailer. My F350 had a factory hitch rated at 7500/12000 and I was alright with that. I just assumed this X hitch was rated the same given the same drivetrain and better towing characteristics with the X being a heavier tow vehicle. Well I started doing some research only to find that no hitch manufacturers would make a custom replacement and had done some R&D in the past and concluded that due to liabilities that a better hitch wasnt feasible. So I did some measuring and figured a 12000/14000lb rated hitch for a F350 should work. Well after drilling out the two bolts Ford installs and then grinds off the heads to deter anyone from modifying the hitch I determined that the frame tail section on our X's is the same width, however we have a downward pitch which meant an F350 Hitch will not work without more modifications. So now I am left with beefing up the factory hitch by doubling up the side brackets and gussetting where possible.
Has anyone else here managed to upgrade their hitch or even given it a thought when hooking up their 30+ foot 10,000lb boat or what have you?????
Bobby Wooldridge
BMW Motorcycles of Atlanta
2000 Ford Excursion LTD 4x4/ TTS Performance 3way chip/ Suncoast Transmission& Torque Converter/4"exhaust&downpipe/Autometer/K&N air charger kit/ 33"BFG AllTerrains/Rancho9000's/149k/dual yellow top optimas
1991 Jeep Wrangler/4.0L/Ford HP Dana 60fr/ff dana 60rear/nv3550/AtlasII 4.3/40"boggers/Beadlocks/5.13 gears/Detroits front&rear/dual yellow top optimas/WarnHS9500I/and too many custom doo dads to list |
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Richard Smith
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• Knoxville, TN, USA |
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• Registered on 10/4/2003 |
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• 104 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:5/5/2004 12:49 |
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Well, I see your concerns but I regularly pull a 9200# travel trailer but always use a weight distributing hitch to "spread" the the tongue weight (about 1000#) to all wheels of the tow vehicle and the trailer. Weight distributing hitches provide proper balance and improve the safety level of towing. You have probably seen tow vehicles push way down in the back that takes weight off of the front/steering wheels and also negatively affects braking.
In my opinion the 5000# rating without a distributing hitch has nothing to do with the strenght of the hitch but is intended to limit the undistributed tongue weight to 500#.
Use the right type of hitch for the job and be sure your trailer brakes work properly.
Richard from Knoxville,Tn |
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cwbyinjeep
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• Atlanta, GA, USA |
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• Registered on 8/5/2003 |
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• 47 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:5/5/2004 16:51 |
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Well, I can understand the argument of using weight distributing for the highway. However I tow up some very steep back roads in your neck of the woods where it takes everything I have in 4wd to get the trailer up the hill to unload. A weight distributing set-up just isnt feasible when you need all the traction you can get at the rear wheels on tight gravel switchbacks. If you compare the factory X hitch and an aftermarket hitch rated for almost double you can see a difference in material and integrity. I ended up beefing up factory hitch and feel that there is a big difference in towing with a 4x4 PSD X over a small V8 2wd X, yet they have the same ratings I believe with or without weight distribution.
Bobby Wooldridge
BMW Motorcycles of Atlanta
2000 Ford Excursion LTD 4x4/ TTS Performance 3way chip/ Suncoast Transmission& Torque Converter/4"exhaust&downpipe/Autometer/K&N air charger kit/ 33"BFG AllTerrains/Rancho9000's/149k/dual yellow top optimas
1991 Jeep Wrangler/4.0L/Ford HP Dana 60fr/ff dana 60rear/nv3550/AtlasII 4.3/40"boggers/Beadlocks/5.13 gears/Detroits front&rear/dual yellow top optimas/WarnHS9500I/and too many custom doo dads to list |
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Richard Smith
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• Knoxville, TN, USA |
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• Registered on 10/4/2003 |
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• 104 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:5/6/2004 07:39 |
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Good to hear that your mods have worked for your application. Tow ratings tend to be a bit confusing but they seem to be a function of Total Tow vehicle weight (a 2WD may be rated higher than a 4WD), engine choice can make a difference and Rear Axle ratio 4.1 over 3.73 may give a rating about 15 % higher.
Thanks for joining the Excursion forum,Richard from Knoxville,Tn |
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cwbyinjeep
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• Atlanta, GA, USA |
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• Registered on 8/5/2003 |
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• 47 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:5/6/2004 15:28 |
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Thanks for the welcome. I guess I should be welcoming you though since I joined about 2 months before ya. lol
Bobby Wooldridge
BMW Motorcycles of Atlanta
2000 Ford Excursion LTD 4x4/ TTS Performance 3way chip/ Suncoast Transmission& Torque Converter/4"exhaust&downpipe/Autometer/K&N air charger kit/ 33"BFG AllTerrains/Rancho9000's/149k/dual yellow top optimas
1991 Jeep Wrangler/4.0L/Ford HP Dana 60fr/ff dana 60rear/nv3550/AtlasII 4.3/40"boggers/Beadlocks/5.13 gears/Detroits front&rear/dual yellow top optimas/WarnHS9500I/and too many custom doo dads to list |
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Jay Hanratty
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• Millbury, MA, USA |
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• Registered on 8/13/2004 |
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• 35 posts |
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Posted:11/5/2004 23:34 |
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Hi
I changed mine out to a Pull Rite Hitch, I purchased a Pull Rite for a ford Econoline and actually cut the Ford hitch off leaving the plates that bolt to the frame and then welded the Pull Rite to them. It took a lot of time effort and fabrication to do this but worth every effort. I got terriffic results my 12k lb 37' trailer tows like a dream. |
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dddenio
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• Detroit Lakes, MN, USA |
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• Registered on 8/18/2004 |
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• 41 posts |
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Posted:11/6/2004 01:23 |
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| Quote: | Well, I see your concerns but I regularly pull a 9200# travel trailer but always use a weight distributing hitch to "spread" the the tongue weight (about 1000#) to all wheels of the tow vehicle and the trailer. Weight distributing hitches provide proper balance and improve the safety level of towing. You have probably seen tow vehicles push way down in the back that takes weight off of the front/steering wheels and also negatively affects braking.
In my opinion the 5000# rating without a distributing hitch has nothing to do with the strenght of the hitch but is intended to limit the undistributed tongue weight to 500#.
Use the right type of hitch for the job and be sure your trailer brakes work properly.
Richard from Knoxville,Tn |
I agree Richard, The Hitch is under more force with a weight distribution hitch than without. There is a lot of force on a weight distribution setup due to leveling out the vehicle. I have seen an X with a weight distribution hitch still sag in the rear end and the distribution bars bowing/flexing all being within rated capacity. The 5,000 lbs rating is for liability reasons, nothing more. If you go over 5,000 lbs, vehicle will handle better with a weight dist. setup.
I agree with other gentleman going with a 12K hitch due to going over the rated limit of the factory setup.
DDD
2002 7.3L Excursion 4x4, FTVB, MBRP 4" SS Exhaust, Rancho 9000X shocks, "V" code Front Springs & "B" Code Rear Springs, Ride Rite AirBags, Rear Hellwig Swaybar, Cut Front BumpStops, DieselSite Ext Trans Filter Kit - Coolant Filter Kit & 203 stat, "Scotpart" mod, "Hutched & Pooned", "LandYot" Radius Rods
2001 7.3L F250 CC SB 4x4 with banks monster SS 4", pillar guages, BTS Trans, Cale tuned 6 pos chip, 6oh Trans Cooler, Rancho 9,000X Shocks, DieselSite - Coolant Filter Kit & 203 stat. "Sound Deadend the Cab"
2001 7.3L F350 CC LB 4x4 5" Exhaust, pillar guages, BTS Trans, US Gear Underdrive, DP 6 pos chip, V10 Trans Cooler, DieselSite - Coolant Filter Kit, Evans Coolant, 203 stat, DI reg Fuel Return, GT38R BB Turbo, AFE 2 Intake, Banks Intercooler, Air Rite Bags, |
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Gen-X
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• Toronto, XX, Canada |
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• Registered on 1/19/2004 |
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• 344 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:11/6/2004 08:00 |
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Bobby,
Welcome....
Just one comment to add, the hitches rated for 1000/10000 lbs are pretty much the same as stock, the main different is the hitch reaches further on the frame rails toward the back axle. This helps with the additional tongue weight. You can purchase a new hitch for little money and it should be bolt in.
Here is a good link to help you out...
http://www.hitchesonline.com
They even ship to Canada.... 
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J-Douglas
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• San Antonio, TX, USA |
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• Registered on 3/18/2004 |
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• 89 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:11/8/2004 04:39 |
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I was catching up on all those missed posts while I was out of town, and this one was very informative. Thanks guys for the great info. Just a small comment, though.... I have a stock hitch on my 04 X 4wd Powerstroke, and I just got home from pulling an 11,000 travel trailer across the state with NO problems. Of course, I had my weight distribution bars tuned in just right, but I really don't think Excursion owners should have too much to worry about regarding these hitches. Mine seems to be plenty strong for pulling an 11,000 pound trailer. I can't imagine this hitch not being string enough.
5.5" Fabtech, 37x12.5x17 BFG AllTerrains, 17x9 Helo Maxx 8 Chrome. 6.0 Powerstroke Diesel. |
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Matt Cawson
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• Caledonia, MI, USA |
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• Registered on 10/20/2004 |
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• 82 posts |
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Posted:11/8/2004 07:08 |
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That surprises me that the factory hitch is weaker than some aftermarkets. Don't know about you guys, but mine looks a hell of a lot stronger than any Reese I've installed. It's got 4" square tubing for the cross bar cut right into the frame and welded...no bolts holding it on. You'd have to bend the frame on it first! Anyone else have this setup, or is there a chance mine was done by the previous owner? Good luck. |
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