2003 Suspension Upgrade?

[cahess]

I have an 03 expy eddie without the air ride suspension. I tow a camper quite regularly through the summer, and would like to upgrade the rear suspension to handle the load a little better. I have found nothing for anything newer then a 2002 on the internet. I even called the suspension guys in town and they said they could ad a leaf... ha, I laughed and told the guy there are no leafs on this truck. I have even thought about buying a compressor, dryer, and a couple air shocks (all replacement for a expy with air-ride) but I am not sure that I can just bold it all in, and hook it up with some help from the auto parts store for all the little stuff I need.

Guess I should mention it's a 4x4

Has anyone found a way to get a little more suspension on these 2003 and up expeditions?

I'll try to attach a couple pictures so you can see my problem.

Thanks for all your help.

 

[ELVATO]

Wow, that's a huge trailer. And the make matters worse, the faster you go more it "sinks" because the more the trailer "weighs" because of the air resistance.

 

[pronstar]

DAmn...are you sure you are within the weight limits of your truck? That thing is huge!

 

[cahess]

When I am "fully loaded" (which I dobu I ever am) the GVR of the trailer is 11,348 but the dry weight is just over 8,000 lbs, so by the way I figure it, I should be under the 9,900 lb towing cap of the expy. The hitch weight is what kills. It's almost 1200 lbs.


Just remember, if I was driving a GM product... I couldn't tow more then 6,800 lbs. I'm really glad I own a ford, well that is until I have to put a new motor or tranny in this thing.

I had my 99 F150 with the 4.6 tow my old camper which weighed in at 7,500 lbs, 63 mph, gas pedal burried. I put 55,000 miles on that truck and never did anything, less brakes and oil. Never even replaced the tires, just bought a new rig with more power. lol. New camper is much heavier then old, expy didn't really sag much with the old one, just picked this one up a year ago and I know it would handle better as well, if I could get the ass end off the ground.

 

[pronstar]

Man, things sure progress... new 1/2-ton trucks can out-tow 1-ton trucks of just a few years ago.

My 97 Expy is only rated to tow 7700 lb. max, I htink that was the top rating for Expy's that year.

 

[phantom_1]

I just bought an air ride suspension system from air ride technology. It includes a compressor, tank and a set of there shockwave air shocks. I purchused the kit that has automatic self leveling system. It isn't a cheap solution ,but works very well. you can also look at some after market coil over manufactures like King and Belstein to have a heavier progressive rated spring made up.

 

[charles.jessjr]

what year is your expy phantom_1? I went to air ride technologies and they say that they do not have a bolt on solution. How easy was it to do your install or did you have it done somewhere? Thanks

 

[phantom_1]

I have a 2003 eddie bauer. I started out with coil over suspension. I did install the kit myself. If you go to air ride web site look under the shockwave v.3.0 shocks for the expo shocks then look under the air pro leveling system.I used the 2nd air leveling kit. I did remove my spare tire underneath to mount the air tank and compresssor there. the cost for the whole system was a shade under 5 grand. If you do decide on this and if you don't smoke the control monitor fits perfectly in the front ash tray where it can be hidden very nicely

 

[cahess]

being an 03 and knowing that i pull the guts out of it, if i have to spend 5,000 i'll just go buy a new one and make sure i buy one with air-ride. i would like to not do that though, as i am getting married in 4 months and i shouldn't blow money.. ha, i mean credit like that. the woman and i did go test drive a new one though, and boy we like some of the things about them. i wanted the top of the line when i bought this one, but the new limited put a whole new twist on things. anyway, if i keep talking about the new ones, i'll give in and end up with a new 47,000 truck in the garage, so i better back off and find something a little more around 1,000 to 1,500 that might work.

 

[cahess]

Someone must have had a 03-06 that has air-ride that changed to regular??? Come on, help me out! Did you just bolt the new shocks and springs right in, or was their modification. I really want to find a cheaper solution like just buying replacement parts as if my eddie expy has the air-ride and converting it like that. I know I'll have some wiring to do (no big deal) and I know I'll have to run an air hose to the back (should be able to find a replacement for that too, or find something at the parts store). I can find rear replacements for around 100 each side, and a compressor with dryer for another 135, so thats 335.00. I'm trying to figuire out what else I might need, and if it should bolt right in after that. Also don't know if it will work without the computer components. I should probably see if there's an 03,4,5,6 in the salvage yard that someone totalled that has air ride and buy the computer out of that. I've heard it's bolted on the kick panel of the driver's side, right behind / side of the parking brake. Please help as I am looking for an afordable solution.

 

[Blwnl36]

i did it on my 03. Just unbolt and bolt new coilovers in. not hard at all.