Towing with Ford Expedition

[JJensen79]

First off I want to say this forum is great. What a wealth of knowledge.

Now to my question. This was my first time pulling a TT with this truck and it seemed like if the road got a little bumpy the back end wanted to roll side to side. I am wondering if this is because of the Independant rear suspension?

All of my experience with towing has been with straight axle trucks. The roll didn't scare me or make me feel out of control, just different.

[Fordlover]

JJensen79 wrote:
After the new shakedown run all problems are gone.

glad you got it fixed up.

[JJensen79]

ReferDog wrote:
Tires

If you are asking if I changed the tires the answer is no. I had to readjust the equalizer hitch to solve the problem.

[ReferDog]

Tires

[JJensen79]

After the new shakedown run all problems are gone.

[JJensen79]

So, what I have learned is that the "expert" installed the Equalizer wrong. The L brackets on the trailer were mounted at 25" from center of ball. I also had to flip the stinger over and raise the ball almost 3". It is amazing what you find when you read the instructions.

[JJensen79]

It's a hard sensation to describe because when it is windy or even driving by large trucks it tracks straight as an arrow. I appreciate all the pointers and will keep chipping away at it.

[BigBoy11]

I have a 2011 Expy with the HD tow package and 3.73 rear end plus trailer sway control and WD hitch to pull a 31' Dutchmen Kodiak that weighs 7500 fully loaded including 2 passengers and am at my limit for comfort. I think if I had bought the LWB version, it would have helped with stability but my Expy does okay power wise. 8200 lbs. seems like a lot for the Expy. I do not get the side to side sensation you describe but wind and large trucks do make things a little exciting on occasion.

[Chuck_Gail]

How many washers in the Equalizer head? I need EIGHT in mine. Bet your just not adjusted right yet.

[BenK]

Just commenting on tires and towing HEAVY for 'any' TV's ratings...

I have a 'half ton' C10 Silverado (1980) with after market alloys (8" rims) and
LT tires (33/12.5R15LT load range 'C').

It yaws when towing heavy and the main reason has to do with the tire/wheel
setup

Sidewall bend-back is the main issue. I know it. Live with it. Not worth going
out and buying new wheels for a 33 year old beater truck (that used to be a high
end option package...Silverado...and the HD version of it's time)

It has 1 ton helper coil springs on the rear axle. When a pallet of wood pellets
(about 2200 lbs), some busted bags they toss in for free total around 2,800 +/-
the rear only drops about 2 inches or less

It yaws hauling that load without anything being towed.

Load range C (6 ply rating) is down in the load range of a 'P' class tire.

Married with too much sidewall bend-back...it has the tire roll over, even when
going straight when something pushes the side of the truck...like the bow wave
from a big vehicle either coming or passing.

Helps if those tires are aired up to the mas listed on the sidewall...35PSI
which is 'P' class territory

This is only part of the whole system that manages yaw and trailer sway.

Why my Suburban has 10 inch wide alloys with LT265/75R16E's. 265 / 25.4mm = 10.4
inch wide tires on a 10 inch wide rim. So little to almost no side-wall bend-back
That means that setup has almost no side to side give from the tire/wheel combo

It also means the slip angle is much, much less than if that tire were mounted
on it's recommended rim width (IIRC 8-9 inch). The sidewall does NOT have much
give or any give at all

Easy to check, even at a dealers showroom...

Push the rear bumper sideways. Time it to that vehicles natural harmonics and
you can get one to actually jump off of the tire pads to tile that many have

Have had that discussion with a salesman who was trying to convince my friend
that there is no difference between 'P' class and 'LT' class after I told my
friend in front of him.

What I didn't mention was that the 'half ton' suspension also contributes, but
he made me mad, so a gosh darn....I forgot that...

It was a full sized 'half ton' SUV

Think that is sensation you (OP) have described...that yawing of the TV

[JJensen79]

BenK wrote:
More items of information needed to help us assist you

How many miles

Lifted and/or over sized tires

Yes, 'P' rated tires and their ride quality that then makes the sidewalls

What is the tongue weight?

Has the OEM shocks been changed yet? What to?

Truck has 48000 on it, no lift, standard sized tires, no shock change. I'll have to get the tongue weight later as I am still at work.

[JJensen79]

I didn't think about the tires. They are P tires not LT. While I would love to get a Hensley or ProPride my pockets aren't that deep.
The truck pulls the trailer great other than the rolling effect and it isn't bad just an observation.

[BenK]

More items of information needed to help us assist you

How many miles

Lifted and/or over sized tires

Yes, 'P' rated tires and their ride quality that then makes the sidewalls

What is the tongue weight?

Has the OEM shocks been changed yet? What to?

[Road_Ruler]

With that size of TT this is what you should have...

Hensley or Pro Pride connection systems.

[fla-gypsy]

Lot of possiblities here. LT tires? Soft suspension? Improper WD adjustment? Tongue weight?