FordExcursions.com Forums
gawent
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• Atlanta, GA, USA |
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• Registered on 3/2/2005 |
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• 65 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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 Posted:4/18/2005 13:36 |
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Well, here it is, the reason we bought our Beast! A 34'-8" Sierra Travel trailer  The PSD X pulls this thing with no problem (dry weight 7,900# - GVWR of 10,000#) We even pulled it up Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, TN for it's maiden voyage. Piece of the proverbial cake. The TorqueShift tranny in "tow/haul" mode made for a smooth brake-free voyage coming back down the mountain after our adventure. If you ask me, the PSD X makes the ultimate camper tow vehicle! Three crumb crunchers in the back reclining in comfort (and spread away from each other, very important) watching their favorite DVD (in silence) and the pilot and co-pilot riding in leather comfort in the front. It does not get much better than that! 
more here!
2004 X Limited 6.0 PSD 4x4 - Hellwig Rear Anti-Sway, Timbren Rear Load Boosters, ISSPro Guages: Tranny, Boost, Pyro A-Pilar Mounted, Prodigy Brake Controller, Hensley Arrow Hitch System, PSD Badges
17,400 lbs. of CAT certified combined weight rollin' down the road in style!
1997 Exploder XLT 4x2 V6 DOHC (going, going,...) |
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CHPMustang
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• Plano, TX, USA |
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• Registered on 7/24/2002 |
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• 1,800 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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 Posted:4/18/2005 14:31 |
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Awesome!  and a Big congrats on the new travel trailer it is indeed sweet
The wife and I are seriously considering purchasing one of similar size as we have two snack monsters out selves
Since you're now a big tower it's time to invest in gauges and an upgraded exhaust 
Bill
Bill
2002 Excursion XLT-P 4x4 7.3L Powerstroke Diesel
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E. Long
 
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• Subscriber since 1/1/2001 |
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• Atlanta, GA, USA |
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• Registered on 1/23/2001 |
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• 2,229 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:4/18/2005 14:52 |
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I'm envious!! That is a nice setup. No kids here, but the wife and I are looking into some type of camper/trailer. I want to find a place locally that leases or rents them out. I have absolutely no idea what I'd want. Our neighbors have a 5th wheel camper that he pulls with his F350...it's really nice inside, but nothing compared to yours, gawent!!
-Eric
'67 Galaxie 500 - 390 FE, .030" over, FE to AOD adapter, disc brake conversion. The Daily Driver.
'00 Excursion - 7.3L PSD, LANDYOT Gen-II Radius Rods, Factory Tech Valve Body, 200K+ miles and going |
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gawent
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• Atlanta, GA, USA |
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• Registered on 3/2/2005 |
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• 65 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:4/18/2005 14:53 |
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Thanks Bill!, Yes, I have some more mods to do now. I ordered a Helwig rear anti-sway last Friday from JC Whitney, and will be ordering some Rancho's in the next day or two. I am still trying to figure out what I am going to do guage-wise though (location) Definately going with a Tranny temp. What do you think are the best guages to go with?
I went with a Hensley Arrow Hitch http://www.hensleymfg.com This hitch is truely amazing. Very expensive, but worth it in my book with a trailer this long. Absolutely no sway or tail wagging the dog. Semi-Trucks passing me at 80+ mph had no effect on me at all other than the normal suck-in and push out. Both trailer and 'X' act as one unit until the truck turns. Also includes a Weight Distribution system as well. It mounts to the trailer "A" frame with no mods to the vehicle hitch at all.
Ps, have you seen this from Helwig? Stumbled on them while at JCW the other day. Seems new on the market:
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/ItemBrowse/c-10105/s-10101/p-100000276701/mediaCode-ZX/appId-100000276701/Pr-p_CATENTRY_ID:100000276701
Looks like what the radius rods do, couldn't possibly be as good though. What do you think?
Greg
2004 X Limited 6.0 PSD 4x4 - Hellwig Rear Anti-Sway, Timbren Rear Load Boosters, ISSPro Guages: Tranny, Boost, Pyro A-Pilar Mounted, Prodigy Brake Controller, Hensley Arrow Hitch System, PSD Badges
17,400 lbs. of CAT certified combined weight rollin' down the road in style!
1997 Exploder XLT 4x2 V6 DOHC (going, going,...) |
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gawent
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• Atlanta, GA, USA |
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• Registered on 3/2/2005 |
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• 65 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:4/18/2005 15:05 |
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Thanks Eric,
I will post some inside shots up soon. It has a Queen size bed in the front bedroom and in the slide out in the back it has bunk beds for the kids. The slide-out on the other side holds the dinning table and bench seats and the full size sofa-sleeper. Camping is great, I highly recommend it. You meet some really nice people (kinda like on this forum) that are into the same things you are. We started out with a tent, then a Coleman Pop-up tent camper and now the traveling hotel!  It actually qualifies as a second home and I can deduct the interest on the loan! 
Greg
2004 X Limited 6.0 PSD 4x4 - Hellwig Rear Anti-Sway, Timbren Rear Load Boosters, ISSPro Guages: Tranny, Boost, Pyro A-Pilar Mounted, Prodigy Brake Controller, Hensley Arrow Hitch System, PSD Badges
17,400 lbs. of CAT certified combined weight rollin' down the road in style!
1997 Exploder XLT 4x2 V6 DOHC (going, going,...) |
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CHPMustang
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• Plano, TX, USA |
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• Registered on 7/24/2002 |
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• 1,800 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:4/18/2005 15:06 |
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Yeah you'll be wanting Pyrometer(0-1600 degree),Boost(0-30psi) and Tranny temperature gauges and of course I recommend the overhead gauge pod(above rear view mirror) for outta sight outta mind security.
The AutoMeter brand gauges are one of the more affordable on the market and that's what I've used for the past 15 years.
The traction control springs at JCWhitney I can't vouch for.
All our Excursion will get is Radius rods not because they are custom made but are actual field tested by many Excursion owners from here on the forums and abroad. 
I'd love to see more photos inside/out with features of the travel trailer you purchased,it's indeed sweet
Bill
Bill
2002 Excursion XLT-P 4x4 7.3L Powerstroke Diesel
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Sheboyganjohn
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• Sheboygan, WI, USA |
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• Registered on 3/14/2005 |
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• 38 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:4/19/2005 20:36 |
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Nice set-up.
I bought my X for the same reason, but I am going about it in the other direction. I have the front Rancho's on, will be doing rear shocks and Hellwig in a few weeks, I am hoping to work on the gauges on my off days next week if a get the chick coop done (different very long story) and will do the exhaust in Mid June. My wife will be driving from Wisconsin to Flordia with-out me and I don't want to have to rush to deal with any exhaust drone issues.
We replaced out van which was having front end issues. I wanted a little better tow vehicle for the camper my wife wanted, to which she reponded then we could get a bigger trailer. Decided to get the biggest tow vehicle that can hold 7 people that I could find. Now we keep looking at bigger trailers. I keep telling myself to keep it under 35" 
2001 7.3 PSD 4WD X.
Rancho 9000X all the way around with rear Hellwig
Pyro, tranny, and boost overhead gauges
Predator programmer.
Magnaflow 3 1/2" down pipe 4"back T-409 SS (waiting on install) |
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bigdaddyTank
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• Shawnee, KS, USA |
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• Registered on 2/3/2005 |
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• 7 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:4/21/2005 10:25 |
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Nice setup! That really is the only way to go camping. I got my X for the same general reason. I bought my mom and dad's 30ft Fleetwood Prowler. He got a new 6.0 Dually F350 and wanted a bigger trailer so they got a huge 40 foot 5th wheel with triple slide outs
I just ordered a set of ISSpro EV's and they are very similar priced to the Autometers.
Check out My site
2001 XLT 7.3 4x4
305/75 Dueller's - Walker BTM - Tymar style intake - AIH Delete - Boost valve - Sonnax kit |
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gawent
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• Atlanta, GA, USA |
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• Registered on 3/2/2005 |
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• 65 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:4/21/2005 11:36 |
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Thanks for the comments guys!
We will be pulling it down to St. Augustine next week to camp for a few days with my brother and his family. This will be the longest trip so far with it. I am also ordering the ISSpro EV's. I just got my Hellwig rear anti-sway bar from JCW yesterday. Can't wait to install.
I was kinda nervous about halling this long of a trailer with the X which is why I bought the Hensley Arrow hitch system. I am not sure what it tows like without it (not sure I want to know), but with it, WOW drives like a dream. I frequent www.rv.net alot as well as this site and noted that there were alot of X campers there that were using the Hensely hitch as well. It is expensive as **%#$ but is pure genius the way it works.
I don't know if I would want to go any bigger than this trailer (34'-8"), although there is one guy on RV.NEt that is hauling a 41 footer with his X PSD!
Cheers guys!
2004 X Limited 6.0 PSD 4x4 - Hellwig Rear Anti-Sway, Timbren Rear Load Boosters, ISSPro Guages: Tranny, Boost, Pyro A-Pilar Mounted, Prodigy Brake Controller, Hensley Arrow Hitch System, PSD Badges
17,400 lbs. of CAT certified combined weight rollin' down the road in style!
1997 Exploder XLT 4x2 V6 DOHC (going, going,...) |
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mizzuman
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• Exceslior Springs, MO, USA |
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• Registered on 3/23/2005 |
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• 3 posts |
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Posted:4/21/2005 12:55 |
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The X is the way to go. I bought mine for the same reason. I own 3 kids, wife and sister-in law that goes camping with us. I currently have a 24 foot travel trailer and have wanted to upgrade the trailer for the last 2 years, but could not find the right vechicle that truly could pull the weight. My Expedtion was max'd out on gross pulling wieght The X will pull any TT that I want to buy.
Mizzuman |
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