2009 Explorer suspension upgrade for towing? | Ford Explorer Forums

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2009 Explorer suspension upgrade for towing?

Uncleford

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December 20, 2013
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City, State
Virginia
Year, Model & Trim Level
09 EB Explorer 4.6 4x4
Hey guys, what kind of options do we have for our rides when towing? I'm looking for a way to stop the back end from sinking when towing the quads. Maybe something like I used to have on my Expedition. The air suspension would automatically adjust to keep it level. Do we have other options? Thanks the input!

2009 Explorer 4.6 EB 4x4
 



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Works just like magic
 






Just make sure to find a wdh that has enough of a tongue weight range to accommodate the differing loads you'll put on the trailer. If you have relatively the same load, shouldn't be a problem or if you trailer on the light side, then just don't hook the wdh up.

IF you have surge brakes, well, then you're looking at some $$$.
 






4th gen Explorer is rated for up to 500 lbs TW. Any more and you need a WDH. Of course, you can use a WDH for less TW if desired.

What's the total loaded trailer weight?
What's your TW?

Suspension upgrades are typically not a good substitution if a WDH is called for (see above). Upgrading the suspension might (?) help you handle payload better. But large tongue-weights actually remove weight from the front wheels, decreasing stability. WDH "distributes" that weight back to the front wheels...suspension upgrades can't do that.
 






I am not sure of the tongue weight. Most of it has to do with what I carry. We tow quads quite often and I would just like to have a way to level out the suspension. When we are loaded we have 3 quads (utility) our gear, dog and all on a 18ft car trailer.

I guess a WDH would work, I just like the ability of having the air ride suspension like our old Expedition. That thing towed great. I will look into the WDH like suggested.
 






my problem with carrying the quads it is a 16ft car trailer with a 2 ft dove tail. I put one quad sideways on the front (Can Am Outlander 800) the next one I drive on (Polaris ACE) and the third is sideways (Polaris 335 Magnum). that takes up all the room. I could and have put my quad in the middle (Can AM)but its a problem because of the trailer fenders. I have to drive up and over them and dong that all the time isn't feasible because I bend them.

If I could find a way to make a platform to drive up on in the middle (on the fenders) then I could store gear underneath and that would give me plenty of room to move quads back and take some tension off the back of the Explorer.

wifes2011xlt - If it was easy to install and remove that would be an option, but I don't want to ride around jacked up in the back when I am not towing, ya know? But it is an alternative to what I am doing right now.

and I do have trailer brakes...

ianyboy is there one to get or are they all about the same?

Brakeman - I kinda answered your question about the weght. I am not sure
 






Ahh ya, I know it's always easy to suggest adjusting tongue weight like it's an option in every instance but ya, sometimes it's just not possible or won't make much of a difference. Sounds like you would really benefit from a wdh though. The initial set up would really be the only real inconvenience, IMO. It does take a bit of trial and error to get the angle on the ball mount height and the shank adjusted properly so that your trailer rides level when loaded. Once that's out of the way, though, the spring bars are really not that much of an inconvenience. After a while, it will just be automatic. Takes me a couple minutes to hook up.

What kinda trailer brakes? If electric, then should have no problems using wdh. Surge brakes, weeeeell, ya might have to get creative.

Do you still get a lot rear end sag when the trailer is running light? If not, as I mentioned previously, then no need to hook up the wdh in those instances. If you still want to use it when running light, you could always just add some ballast to the front of the trailer to add some some tongue weight (tw)... may be a full tool box or I mount a spare tire on my tongue (or both). You could also go down a couple links on the chain so you're not ratcheting it on to its most rigid setting. And you only have the spring bars connected when towing. When not towing, you just have your hitch (and drawbar, shank, ball if you decide to leave them) so no need to worry about riding jacked up when not towing.

It is important to know what your varying tongue weights are though. There is no getting around that. wdh are rated by tw. If you buy one rated too high, you risk bending your hitch receiver. Buy one too low and you don't get the full benefits of a wdh. You might have to do a little bit of research but I'm sure you can find something that will work for you.

The other option would be to move the axles of your trailer forward but that may be another one of those easy suggestions to make but not really practical or feasible. :D
 






Remember tongue weight should be a function of total trailer weight. If stability is important to you at all. There is some free play their but not a ton. Yes I know stability is affected by lots of distances (ball to axle in both directions etc), just saying tongue weight plays a big role.
 






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