Excursion towing has a bouncy ride.
 

When my kids sit in the 3rd row I think they need to be wearing helmets when I`m towing lol

Towing a 33' 12K# boat is it normal going over bumps (highway) to be so bouncy/rocking ? Is it because all the weight of the boat is in the back and it transfers the weight back and forth?

I`ve upgraded to a large Hellwig sway bar, air bags, ( at 60psi). Bilstein shocks all around.

Is it the suspension?
Would a weight distribution hitch stop the bouncing?
F350 springs?

Hey dan, is your trailer a leaf spring style or torsion style? Also, is the bow stop adjustable? Just a thought, but maybe moving the boat forward a bit, and playing with the hitch height, will help. Could be a issue of not enough tongue weight. With Torsion axles you gotta be careful not to have to low or too high of a hitch. Loads the front or rear axles unevenly. With leafs, you can go lower or higher, and the axles wont really be affected much weight wise.

What is the total weight of the boat/trailer/fuel/gear/etc. etc.?

I would never tow 12K with a excursion. Look at the GCVW.....They are bouncy even not towing. Too light

I believe the max towing capacity of any Excursion is 11K lbs; and that's only with a WD hitch. You are way over that, and then you are also packing the truck with people, luggage, gear, etc. etc. Max towing capacity and GVWR are calculated with the weight of a driver and that's it.

Joe, its leaf springs, you think the tongue weight might be too light? My experience for better ride has been to put the tongue a bit higher than rear.

At 20psi in the bags its worse, airing them up to 60psi and as the rear of the truck goes higher it gets better.

Maybe i`ll try more level this weekend.

Brian, boat is 7500#`s empty I figured at most 12K# with trailer and gear, may be way under thou, haven`t weight it.

need more tonque weight..move boat forward or axles back..also that weight/size really need a dually for stability...

My friend had the same issue with his diesel Excursion, he replaced all the springs with HD versions and it now rides like a truck instead of the stock bouncy ride. Handles ten times better as well.

Its the bags,,,,,I put them on my buddies Ex and it does the same thing now.

Another buddy that tows a 38 Formula had torsion bars, and seems like a much better option.

P.S. Dock Holiday weighed his rig (36 OL ) at just over 12K, I would guess yours at 11k loaded and full of fuel.

I've never been a fan of the Excursions suspension, stock it rides harsh as hell unloaded, yet when towing it's like a mushy wallowy blob bouncin...makes no sense considering how hard it rides unloaded. Suburban rides so much nicer unloaded and loaded/towing.

Redo the suspension and leafs, huge difference.

exsursions are horrible vehicles better off getting a crew cab truck

a weight distribution hitch will make a huge diff, i use a equalizer hitch and that fixed the bounce.

the suspension are the same as the trucks, and they have 3/4 tons springs... thats the only diff.. change them 1 ton springs and it will ride-tow great... my bother has a 1 ton excursion and it pulls everything great.. he pulls a s300 bobcat every week...

HThat's not an option, my wife loves the Ex. Had a crew cab and she would shoot me before going back..lol
The extra room is priceless.

Sounds like just the right size tow vehicle for a 25-28 Active Thunder. Anything else is living on the edge :evilb:
Steve

As far as I know, a F250 and F350 had the same rear springs in those years. The different springs were available with different option packages, such as camper package, heavy service package, etc. A standard f250 and a standard f350 had the same springs. F350's just got a 2" taller block under the springs.

So, its not so much you need "1 ton" springs, but need the spring code for say a camper package equipped f250 or f350, if you wanna stiffen it up

I think ezstriper has got your problem figured out. Try that and see if it works.

I agree with Mrs. ICDEDPPL. I like the big ones like that, used to tow a 23' Sea Ray with a custom E150 and the 351 engine, pulled like a dream and all that room in the back. Really comfortable vehicle, wish I had one now.

The Excursion is a really good tow vehicle though...

(Just a thought, you can convert it to a dually with an aftermarket kit. Check the Excursion forums, I bet someone there knows somebody who can make the change for you.)

right on the money! From my research V code and B code springs are the heavier duty springs. Thats is what I was going to do originally but tried the air bags at first.
I`ll try more tongue weight first.

Thats just as big of a downgrade as a crew cab truck HAHA!:party-smiley-004:

what you have to remember is if in fact they use F-250 springs, is that you already have 1000lbs over them with the body, seats, etc that a excursion has that a pick up does not...so springs would be weak...still to ck that tonque weight...with those twin big blocks hanging over the rear...some times tuff to get the proper balance ratio to get to tow right...there is a correct weight to tonque weight ratio...but cannot remember what it is right off..but it would be easy to find...does the truck squat when you hook it up ? how hard is it to jack up the front ?

Fixx
 

i used a friends once to tow a car back to chi town from ma...once i loaded the car on the trailer it got really bouncy,i pulled over at a rest stop and moved the car back on the trailer and that took care of the bouncy ride..

Try re-setting the tongue weight, i bet your boat mat be to far forward on your trailer..

You guys are right on the money I moved the hitch 2 slots lower and it was WAAAAY better. Not perfect but figuring a heavy load like that isn`t ever gonna ride great.

Theres a stretch of Highway that is uneven by my house, every trailer i have bounces there, this time I didn`t even notice it.

Thanx!

I have the weight distributing Hitch and mine tows like its on rails. And I am way heavier then you. It rides better with the boat on the back then without.

Mark

Snap pic. If you get a chance of your set up.. I'm interested how that hooks up. Thanx.

Nice. Cheap fix for ya!

I thought i had some pics of that but I can't find them. I hope I won't be hooked up to the trailer until fall again. Boat is in the Marina on the lift. If I find the pics I will post them

Mark