Too short hitch to open rear door - suggestions?

[Canstreamer]

Hello out there,

I traded my old Excursion in for a 2008 Expedition MAX (or EL) and ran into a new problem with this configuration: I was not able to close the hatch of the truck after hitching up with the old Equalizer hitch. The door hit the propane tank cover and after removing that the electric jack. Pulling the hitchbar out one additional hole out of the reciever did not solve the problem but raising the A-frame with the jack allowed me finally to shut the door.
My dogs travel in the rear of the truck in crates so I have to open the door to give them a break during travel but do not want to go through the procedure with the jack each time. I am thinking about getting a Hensley Arrow but am not sure if this will give me enough distance to operate the door.

Thank you
Eckhard

[HankandLois]

Hubby said you may want to look into an extender for your current hitch... but the issue is that the longer the hitch is, the more it flexes.

Just a quick fix... may not be the best choice.
/Lois

[moosetags]

We pull an '05 25FB with an '05 Suburban that has the full lift up hatch like the Expedition. We tow with a Hensley Arrow, and our hatch opens with lots of clearance.

Brian

[Canstreamer]

Thanks to both of you, I think I will go with the Hensley as pulling out the hitchbar already made the ride less stable. Guess the Arrow will also make up for the lesser weight of the Expi compared to the Excurison.

Eckhard

[Silvertwinkie]

Originally Posted by moosetags

We pull an '05 25FB with an '05 Suburban that has the full lift up hatch like the Expedition. We tow with a Hensley Arrow, and our hatch opens with lots of clearance.

Brian

Yea, mine too (minus the Hensley), but we've got GMs, not Fords.

I dunno...even though I'm not a Ford fan, I think the Excursion is a better vehicle than the Expedition MAX (or EL). I haven't been to overly impressed as I was with the Excursion.

[Mexray]

We love our 01 Excursion with the V-10 engine...and that rear 3-door arrangement allows us to fully open the top and one of the bottom swing doors without interference with the flag pole mount on the jack...

The EXC handles our 28 footer like it's almost not back there, and we use an Eaui-l-izer, too...

For those of you thinking about a TV, Ford quit making the EXC's with the 2005 model year, and due to their 'monster SUV' image, can be picked up dirt cheap! Most of them are fully equipped as well, and you can get them Diesel powered if you're an 'oil burner' fan...

We get right at 10 MPG average, and when I reset the mileage computer when we're on an Interstate, on level terrain, at about 55-60 MPH, it indicates around 14 MPG!

Try one, you'll like it for the $...Why pay up to $50K for a new rig when you can get a great used EXC for under $10K!

[Silverhobby]

Isn't the Expedition EL built on the 150 chassis? If so the spring rate rating would be less than with the Excursion.

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by Silverhobby

Isn't the Expedition EL built on the 150 chassis? If so the spring rate rating would be less than with the Excursion.

The Excursion was built on the F250 chassis, and although I haven't crawled under one yet, I think the Expedition EL has an independent rear suspension similar to the Expedition, not a solid (straight) axle such as the F150.
I know we aren't talking about them, but as an example of this, Nissan Armada and Titan share the same underpinnings, but the Armada has independent rear suspension, and the Titan has the old-style straight axle.

[Mexray]

Yes indeed, the Expedition uses multi-link independent suspensions, both front and rear, even the 4x4 version uses independent suspension front and rear.

The 'EL' has a trailer towing weight limit of 9,000 lbs.

The Excursion uses a Live rear axle (solid beam) with independent front suspension in 4x2 versions...4x4 versions use a Live front axle along with the Live rear axle, same as the 3/4 ton pick versions of those years (Super Duty).

The Exc in V-10 gas, 4x4 version, has a trailer tow rating of 9,600 and 11,000 lbs depending on axle ratio. The Diesel version has an 11,000 rating. The V-8 gas version has a rating LESS than the 'EL' due to the Exc being a heavier overall chassis.

I believe, as a rule, 'Live' rear axle TV's will provide a more stable platform for towing...however, today's new vehicles made for towing include all sorts of electronics, etc., added to help with 'sway' problems.

[overlander63]

Just to clarify, unless terminology has changed in this (as it has for other things), a "live" axle is one that has the third member, or differential housing, mounted to the body or frame of the vehicle, with half-shafts going to the wheels/hubs.

[millvalleyca]

Before I got my Hensley I could not open the tail gate of my F250.
With the Hensley there is more than enough room for it to open.
Loading and unloading with the HAHA hooked up is a breeze.
Get the HAHA or Propride
Good luck!
Dennis

[Mexray]

OL63...

A LIVE axle is a sold beam axle assy with the diff and axle shafts in one housing...I believe you were referring to an IRS (Independent Rear Suspension) or IFS (Independent Front Suspenstion)...

Here's part of wikipedia's LIVE axle description:

"A live axle consists of a central differential in a single housing that also contains the driveshafts that connect the differential to the driven wheels."

[LHall]

Originally Posted by Canstreamer

Hello out there,

I traded my old Excursion in for a 2008 Expedition MAX (or EL) and ran into a new problem with this configuration: I was not able to close the hatch of the truck after hitching up with the old Equalizer hitch. The door hit the propane tank cover and after removing that the electric jack. Pulling the hitchbar out one additional hole out of the reciever did not solve the problem but raising the A-frame with the jack allowed me finally to shut the door.
My dogs travel in the rear of the truck in crates so I have to open the door to give them a break during travel but do not want to go through the procedure with the jack each time. I am thinking about getting a Hensley Arrow but am not sure if this will give me enough distance to operate the door.

Thank you
Eckhard

We tow our 28' Ambassador with a standard Expedition and have about 4" of clearance from the hatch to the tanks. I would suggest a longer ball mount from your receiver.