krazymatt
NM
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Is there a correct way to set up the EQ hitch when your vehicle has air suspension? I have a 2006 Expedition w/ air suspension, and when I brought the new TT home the dealer couldn't figure out how to get it just right because the vehicle would automatically lift the rear when it sensed the weight. So they finally just asked me to switch off the suspension. Now I don't think it's too good for it to be off when towing a 6,000+lb TT. Does anyone have experiences with this or shall I just give up on the Expedition for towing the TT and use my F-150? I'd greatly appreciate any advice on this. Thanks...
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skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
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I believe the correct way is to disengage the air system until the trailer is properly set up.
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salrosa
NJ
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Check the manual. There is a whole section in there about towing and the air suspension. There is a procedure to follow to correctly connect the trailer.
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krazymatt
NM
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Check the Expedition manual or the EQ hitch manual? Thanks
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krazymatt
NM
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"I believe the correct way is to disengage the air system until the trailer is properly set up."
The thing is that when you switch it back on, the vehicle senses weight and then lifts the back end several inches. What the dealer told me as that the air suspension and the EQ hitch work against each other.
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NHguy
NH
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It won't lift several inches. When you set up your weight distribution hitch you should get a drop of around 3/8 to 3/4" at each wheel well. Once you repower the ride control it will raise the rear (I believe only your rear suspension has the air lift shocks) back to normal height. Read the instructions on your hitch and the "sticky" posts on weight distribution in the towing section of this forum, that will give you the info you'll really need to understand it. To verify it works you ought to take it to be weighed, and if you get values that you don't like you can then readjust things.
Oh BTW, to turn off the ride control during setup there is a switch on the passenger side kick panel just in front of the RF door. Read the Ford documents too, they may warn you of when you can and cannot use the ride control switch.
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krazymatt
NM
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My Expedition has air suspension front and back, and yes it does lift the rear several inches (a tad higher than normal empty ride height)--when it senses weight. I will take a look at my Ford manual, but I'm likely going to use an F150 I have instead as a tow vehicle because of this headache of a suspension system. When I towed the TT home everything ran great, but nobody can answer my question if it's bad for my suspension to tow with it off. Thanks...
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RustySocket
SW Washington
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skipnchar wrote:I believe the correct way is to disengage the air system until the trailer is properly set up.
As a previous expy owner that is the correct way to do it.
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PrivatePilot
Courtice, Ontario, Canada
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When I used to pull with a vehicle with air suspension on the rear I did it one of two ways:
1/ Pull the fuse for the air suspension system before hooking up.
2/ Lower the ball onto the hitch but stop short of puting any tongue weight on the TV. Latch hitch and snap the WD bars. Retract tongue jack the rest of the way. This way there should be no drop on the back of the vehicle to trigger the air suspension to pump up to begin with.
Either method worked for me but after getting used to things I most often went with #2.
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eric james
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
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It's in the owner's manual.
Turn it off.
Hook up the trailer and set up the WD hitch like you did not have the air suspension.
Turn if back on.
If the air suspension over corrects for the load, you don't have your WD hitch adjusted properly. It won't really jack up high, you just don't want the extra load on the suspension for the long haul.
Even without air suspension, setting up the WD hitch the first time is time consuming.
Once it is done correctly, the Expy is a nice tow vehicle, especially with kids and friends.
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