ProPride 3P Trailer Sway Control Hitch

[k94x4]

Does anyone have this type of hitch? Do you recommend it? We have an Outback 328RL. It is not the most pleasant trailer to pull with our 04 Ford Excursion 6.0 Diesel. We currently do not have this hitch, but it looks like an excellent item.

[slow]

Yes I recommend it with two requirements. You can afford it and more importantly you have the TV payload capacity to handle the additional weight of the 3P hitch. That may be your challenge with the Excursion (with or without the 3P hitch). What does the door pillar yellow sticker say is the payload capacity for the Excursion?

[k94x4]

Thanks. 11,000 tow capacity.

[slow]

Thanks. 11,000 tow capacity.

Sorry, I should have been more specific. Not how much it can pull, but how many pounds you can load into/unto it which equals payload.

It will look something like this:
21462

[k94x4]

1,512 Payload

[sourdough]

What do you carry in the Excursion? Tools/gear/toys/bbq etc.? You are probably overloaded. The trailer weighs 10,500 gvw; estimate a 1260 tongue weight. That against a 1512 payload leaves you about 252 lbs. people/tools/gear/toys/bbq etc......and then there's the ProPride hitch - which isn't light and probably eats up most of your remaining payload. :(

Realize that the trailer is right at 38' long - a lot to try to control. The Excursion wasn't really built as a "tow" truck - it's a big people hauler/lots of groceries kind of vehicle. It can pull a trailer, but that's a BIG bumper pull. Post back on the above questions and let's see where you are.

[k94x4]

Myself - 200, My Wife - 175, Two Dogs 150 (Total) Misc stuff 50 - 575# Total. Everything else is in the trailer.

[slow]

The Propride will eat away about 127 lbs (P3 head and bars mounted to the trailer) and another 50 lbs of weight for the hitch bar assembly (that goes into the receiver) from your available payload. That is a significant amount of your available payload considering you also need to still cover passenger weights, other "stuff" in the Excursion and the tongue weight of the trailer.

What is your tongue weight when the Outback is loaded and ready for camping?

Be cautious and I suggest you seek further insights from those more knowledgeable than I am on the payload issue. You do not want to have a situation where you are overloading the Excursion with or without the P3 hitch. The P3 hitch will not help (much) if you break an axle, blow a tire or suspension component on the Excursion.

Edit: Looks like the advice has already started while I was outside weighing the hitch bar assembly.

[sourdough]

Looking at max numbers (trailer gvw/hitch estimate) you will be over payload considerably. In the previous post you had about 252lbs. of payload left. With your estimate of 575 that would put you about 325 over payload. We don't have gawr but that number should leave you safe on the axles.

What to do? Do you want a dually? :lol::lol: Just joking. My initial thought is if a truck would be more suitable? I don't have any idea why you use an Excursion (very big) for you, DW and the pups but that is your call. I will promise that trucks nowadays are very nice and comfortable.

Some thoughts; the trailer is 8767 dry with 1733 for payload. The DRY tongue weight is 1075lbs. That combined with the 575 you project is 1650 lbs.; 138 lbs. over payload of the Excursion....and that's with NOTHING in the trailer - no food, water, toiletries, pots/pans, bedding, towels, etc. - nothing.

I think you can kind of see where a big part of your problem is - too much trailer for too little truck. The easy answer is upgrade the TV or get a smaller trailer. Towing overweight can be very dangerous and have terrible consequences. Is an upgrade a possibility? Something that would "fit" (handle that big of a trailer)? A ProPride would help I have no doubt but it absolutely does nothing for being overweight. I'm also worried about the components of the TV. It's 15 years old. What condition are the tires, shocks, springs etc.? What kind of tires (P/LT)?

[busterbrown]

Wow, I never knew there wasn't any decent payload on those diesel behemoths. I'd figure close to 2000 lbs.

To the OP, upgrading to my Hensley put me over on payload so I opted to move into a more appropriate TV. See my signature. Both Hensley's and Propride's are extremely heavy. My back says so twice a year.

[KSH]

Propride works great, it was a huge difference in sway control. They do have a military discount. I have no experience with any other type of wdh or sway control. Support from the owner is great as well.