28 RKBS Land Train

First trip to the desert with the Wildcat and the enclosed trailer. the Forest River hitch held up fine

What size is your enclosed trailer? Also what does your enclosed weigh? Are you using an equalizer hitch between the Wildcat and enclosed?

Now THAT'S what I'm talking about!! And its even pulled by a FORD!!

TC

Lograf wrote:What size is your enclosed trailer? Also what does your enclosed weigh? Are you using an equalizer hitch between the Wildcat and enclosed?

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The enclosed trailer is 16 feet and it weighs 2300 lbs. loaded. I only use a sway control bar between the 2 trailers. I've been doing this for about 10 years now and haven't had any problems. I used to tow the enclosed trailer with an 1996 Dutchmen 5th wheel that I installed a hitch on many years ago.

Cool looking set up ....

I like that you have your buddy with you. Could it be the 427 stands for a FE? Where in the desert are you? Very nice looking rig...

Yeh, her name is Kira (akita).

You're exactly right about the 427, I used to tow my dutchmen 5th wheel and enclosed trailer with a 1975 Ford F250 4X4 with a 427 FE motor in it. See picture below.

To get to the desert from San Diego you have to go over the Laguna Mountains which at its highest point on interstate 8 is 4200 feet with a 6% grade. The gas engine just doesn’t have the torque the diesel does.

The desert picture was taken at Gordons Well. It’s 20 mile west of Yuma AZ and about 45 miles east El Centro, CA on interstate 8. It's called the Imperial Sand Dune.

The new Wildcat is still a little too low for the truck so I'm now in the process of installing 2 inch blocks between the springs and the axles. I’m also installing the EZ-FLEX suspension kit. Hopefully when I’m done all the trailers will be level with the truck and have at least 5” to 6” between the bed rail and the trailer.

And thanks for the compliment!!

I am a FE guy since the early 60's. I have a 427 and 428scj in the shop, along with a 428CJ in a Falcon. My WC number is 427.
Before moving to Redding, we lived in the San Bernardino area for over 30 years, and have many hours of fun going to the desert and Colorado river.
Yes, pulling our 5th wheels, diesel "torque" is the only way to go, although the 428 has a 3.98 stroke and lots of torque, diesel is much more efficient.

Did you buy the falcon with the 428 in it or do it your self? In the 70's My neighbor jammed a 428 into a falcon, just wondering if it could be the one he built.

Keep in mind the EZ - Flex is gonna drop your camper about an 1".

I can say I ain't impressed with the EZFlex at all......

I'd seriously stay with the stock type steel triangle especially if somebody made a HD one ,,,, and wet bolts which you can get for the stock one's. Mount some shocks on there and forget the EZflex would be MHO..... Maybe try the Trail/air's


The rubber part thats supposed to flex stays in the squeezed position all the time, no matter what angle or situation I put the axles in.

wildcat427 wrote:Did you buy the falcon with the 428 in it or do it your self? In the 70's My neighbor jammed a 428 into a falcon, just wondering if it could be the one he built.

I purchased ours in 1975 in Redding, and it had a 352 in it. It had the shock towers removed before I purchased it. It has a straight axle. It is in the paint show now, and should be done next week. I will send some pictures when it comes home. It is a 1960 falcon. It is a 434 ci. now.. 4.170 bore.

http://s283.photobucket.com/albums/kk298/Maxtor427/1960%20Ford%20Falcon/?action=view¤t=2010_0327Image0003.jpg#!oZZ1QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs283.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fkk298%2FMaxtor427%2F1960%2520Ford%2520Falcon%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3D2010_0327Image0003.jpg

It's too late, I installed it last weekend. I cut the original center perch off and replaced it with a 4 1/2 " long one, so now it's about 1/2 inch taller than original perch. I also added 2" blocks so it should be 2 1/2" taller than the factory height. I also moved the front and rear springs to the lower perch holes which gives me another 1"

it sounded like everyone on the forum thought a lot of the EZ-FLEX. I guess not.

Maxtor wrote:

wildcat427 wrote:Did you buy the falcon with the 428 in it or do it your self? In the 70's My neighbor jammed a 428 into a falcon, just wondering if it could be the one he built.

I purchased ours in 1975 in Redding, and it had a 352 in it. It had the shock towers removed before I purchased it. It has a straight axle. It is in the paint show now, and should be done next week. I will send some pictures when it comes home. It is a 1960 falcon. It is a 434 ci. now.. 4.170 bore.

http://s283.photobucket.com/albums/kk298/Maxtor427/1960%20Ford%20Falcon/?action=view¤t=2010_0327Image0003.jpg#!oZZ1QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs283.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fkk298%2FMaxtor427%2F1960%2520Ford%2520Falcon%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3D2010_0327Image0003.jpg

Looks fantastic. Yeh my neighbors was a 64. Would love to see the pictures when you get it back!

What did you think about the EX-FLEX after you installed it?

I have mixed feelings on the EZ-Flex. Like Phillip, my center rubber looks compressed more than it should be, but so far it rides very well. I sent pictures of our EZ-Flex to the factory representative, and they sent me replacement center pieces at no charge. I have not taken the time to replace them yet. Our plans are to go on a trip around May. We purchased four new tires to replace the original tires, and we have them in our shop. The original tires look ok, but they are five years old, so we bought the new ones. I think I will buy four new wheels to go with the tires, then before going on a trip, I will put on the new wheels and tires and after the trip take them off, and replace with the old wheels and tires, keeping the new ones in the shop and out of the weather. Why I am telling you this, is because when I take off the old tires, I will replace the center piece of the EZ-Flex. The EZ-Flex is much stronger than the stock setup. The company did say that they had a run of bad rubber, of which I think Phillip got on his. Mine looks ok, but compressed.

At this point the rubber part doesn't look like it has any weight on it at all, hopefully that's good. I didn't know the rubber piece could be changed. How is that done, or do you know yet?

wildcat427 wrote:At this point the rubber part doesn't look like it has any weight on it at all, hopefully that's good. I didn't know the rubber piece could be changed. How is that done, or do you know yet?

They did not change the rubber, they sent me the whole center section. The rubber acts as a shock absorber. It gets compressed from front and rear.

John,

That is good if the rubber looks like its not compressed.
the first one's I ordered had cracks in them as soon as I put them on. The rubber just split right down the middle.
They sent a replacement set, but I think the rubber is really weak.
and stays compressed all the time.
Can you take a picture close up of your rubber section ?

Admin wrote:John,

That is good if the rubber looks like its not compressed.
the first one's I ordered had cracks in them as soon as I put them on. The rubber just split right down the middle.
They sent a replacement set, but I think the rubber is really weak.
and stays compressed all the time.
Can you take a picture close up of your rubber section ?

Sure, I'll do it when I get home from work today.

Phil,

Here's the picture. That's just a scratch you see to the right.

That does not look overly compressed to me.

Yep, yours look like their supposed to. imagine a ballon and you squeezed it between both hands,,,, Thats what mine look like.