Increased payload

DownTheAvenue wrote:

Hemling wrote:
but what would be the real-world payload difference in switching stock Excursion rear springs with F250 springs?

Changing the springs does not change the anything.

Yes it does. It can change a lot of things.

Hemling wrote:
I know that modifications don't legally change any of the vehicle's official ratings or capacities, but what would be the real-world payload difference in switching stock Excursion rear springs with F250 springs? The F250 springs are rated at 3,000 lbs.

Yeah, you are totally on the right track here. This is a super common swap.

Couple things to consider.

- There were about a dozen spring codes from that SD era
- After that many years under a truck, there is a decent chance that any used leafs are tired and not performing as when new.

If you have the means, any decent spring shop, should be able to make you a very nice spring pack to meet your needs for not a ton of money.


:-)

Do you have a 3/4 ton and you are putting 1 ton springs on or 1/2ton and putting 3/4ton springs on?

It's not really clear.

Well the X weighs approx. 7300lbs with no one in it. on my V-10 with its 8900lb GVWR that gives me 1600lbs of CCC. I`m not sure off hand but I believe a similarly equipped 250 is rated at 9500lbs (just below a cutoff of the 10k rating). and with an F250 being lighter than an Excursion by almost 600lbs that would give you approx. 2800lbs! maybe a bit less. I have the actual numbers somewhere from a V-10 F250. The Excursion is based on the 250/350 with 2 big differences. the frame behind the front seats is built differently to handle the body of the X and the springs were made softer to give it the mommy ride Ford was after when they built it, as well as making it lower to fit in garages. everything else is Superduty.

I run airbags on my X and it handles my 9200lb TT with no problem.

It's easy to legally increase the payload of the Excusion. Simply take weight out of it. For every pound you remove you get a pound more payload. See wasn't that easy?

Hemling wrote:
Stock tires and axle as a F250 super duty. My understanding is the weak link on Excursions was the springs, as the rest of the suspension was F250 super duty.

You would be correct, although your question will turn into a dozen rvnet weight cops who've never popped a hood on the truck you're talking about suggesting or telling you ridiculous things.
You'd be best off PMing someone like Bedlam who has some real world ford experience, or asking your question on a truck forum where the members are a little less self righteous.
(Oh and yes, some heavier springs would work quite well in your application)

Hemling wrote:
I know that modifications don't legally change any of the vehicle's official ratings or capacities, but what would be the real-world payload difference in switching stock Excursion rear springs with F250 springs? The F250 springs are rated at 3,000 lbs.

Well ...actually Ford F250 use a 4 and 5 pack rear spring rated at 6100 lbs. If the F250 has the camper/heavy service package its the same spring capacity as the F350 srw at 7000 lbs.

I would ask that question at a local Ford truck salvage or a long time Ford truck dealer near you.

Just curious why you wouldn't use airbags or Timbrens instead? Keep the softer ride when you don't need the extra payload.

The same power train is used in the F250 and F350. Swap out to F350 suspension components and wheels to get the same performance as a 2004 F350 even if your tag does not reflect it. In 2005 the F-series got suspension, brake and frame upgrades that were not applied to last model year of the Excursion.

Take your truck to a licensed upfitter shop and have the suspension upgraded and recertified.
Yes, there are such shops, and they can legally recertify a truck after they modify it.
However, if you are only interested in the legality of a suspension upgrade, just go ahead and do it, and upgrade the tires, then re-register the truck to the GVW (not GVWR, you are not buying a "Rating", you are buying a weight limit) you want. In many states, that is all you have to do to be legal, because the manufacturers recommendations and ratings have no legal force.
I had my old 1994 Dodge one ton dually registered at 14,000 GVW. I was certain I would never exceed that weight. It had heavy duty overload springs on it, and Load Range E tires.