Dual Cam Setup

mrekim wrote:

ST255/75R15 - Load range D 2540@ 65 PSI.

If it comes to it, I will convert to E or even 16" E if they will fit.

I have an open deck trailer with 16" tires already. Although the rims will never swap over (8 lug vs 5), I can still share off rim spares between them.

Boy do we have more in common with each other then one thinks... See here.., including the flat deck... ST225/75R15 to LT225/75R16 Conversion I had to "work" at getting the 16's in there but I will never go back to ST's now. See here for more on my tire saga

If you can't make the jump to 16's, ST225/75R15's do come in E load range. You just have to deal with the rim pressure of 80 psi. Some folks luck out and their rims where 80 lb rims.

mrekim wrote:

I have Firestone Transforce HT 'E' rated tires. They have been good towing a ~6,000 lb load on an open deck trailer. No other suspension tweaks on the Excursion yet. I'm aware of F250/350 spring mods,air bags, and rear swaybar upgrades. I'm still researching that stuff. It may be a whole different thread...

It sounds like I should almost shoot for 1200 lbs TW as the trailer gets more loaded down. That can be balanced with rear storage, to the extent that I stay as close to 13% tongue weight as possible.

I assume that if everything seems stable at slightly lower percentages that I should be good to do.

My current order of importance is:

1) rear sway bar
2) Rear Springs
3) Front Springs

I guess all those would benefit if using a Hensley so might as well take that path.

Odd you mention the Transforce. This weekend I helped one of my camper buds in the CG tweak in his hitch and deal with soggy tires. He too had the HT E's on his Dodge. The tire needs to approach close to full pressure before it get's stiff. However he is on 1/2 ton suspension and he upgraded to LT's from his P's trying to get out of wiggle. You have stiffer suspension so that helps greatly. Point is you can very well be in a tire pressure experiment. You have to have enough to pressure for the load, that is a must, next is for stiffness all the way to max cold side wall pressure. 5 psi increments is the experiment. The rears may start at 75 or 80 and the fronts 60 and then keep going up as needed. If it gets to bounce so hard the front end jumps left to right, back it down 5 psi. On the odd chance you have the EX diesel over the V10, the diesel will allow the higher pressure and not so much bounce as the engine just plan weighs more. Airing tires up and down after towing trips is a way of dealing with it empty.

An open flat deck tows a lot better then the 34 foot bricks we pull. The frontal area of wind resistance adds a whole new dynamic once you start going over 45 mph. That seems to be the critical speed when "things" start to happen.

And yes, get your TW up as high as the receiver and bars will take you. It will not be that hard once you start loading "stuff" Come a year from now, revisit this as some how, stuff all adds up... I know I filled mine... If your GVWR is 10K, then at 1,200# that is 12%. While 13% and even better 15% helps, it is only "part" of the solution. If you are at 12%, and have an issue, going to 13% is not going to cure it. The issue to watch for on the lower %'s is when loads change, like both LP bottles go empty, rare but not impossible. Or gear got moved to the back wall and lost some from up front. Those gear shifts you have to watch so you do not go too low by accident. Lift trailers have this worse than larger one. 100# change has a lot more effect on a light trailer then a heavy one. Just be aware of it and plan to not get in that low spot.

On the Reese DC, higher TW means more high friction resistance too.

The one down side to the EX is the receiver. There is only 1 place I know of who will take the liability on of changing the receiver. A place in CA can do it but they have to have the truck there to do it.

A pullrite is an option too. It goes under the EX receiver and it will hands down eliminate sway as the entire concept does not allow it. New, it is cheaper than the Hensley, however it is low under the EX.

Good luck, drop me a PM etc if you need to yak off line.

Enjoy the camper.

John