As you can see from my user name I was all ready to turn my 1997 ford E250 cargo van into a 4x4 primarily to use for family vacations. After recently taking a trip from Delaware to Utah I decided the little 6 cylinder 4.2 in my van does not have enough muscle to drive at highway speeds out west or climb steep mountains quickly. I started to look at Ford E350's with the 7.3 engine but I soon realized the vans don't have intercoolers primarily because there was not room to put them. The E350 7.3's were also de-tuned because there is not enough air flow around the engine. Remembering how tight it was just getting the 4.2 engine into the Van, I can not imagine trying to work around the 7.3 with the limited amount of space in the front of the van.

Because of these issues I was thinking a 2000 - 2003 7.3 Excursion may be a better idea. Pros: Much more engine space to work in. The excursion came with an intercooler, Excursions are already 4WD so I won't have to install an aftermarket 4x4 kit, transfer case, different transmission and new axles (even though I already have most of these items sitting in my garage for my 4.2 E250 van).
Cons: loosing a bunch of headroom. The van has significantly more interior space.

Has anyone here pulled out all the rear seating and created a comfortable setup for camping with a decent sized bed, 12 volt refrigerator etc.. in an Excursion? Photos would be great.

Lastly what type of gas mileage can I expect from a 7.3 on the expressway? I've seen people mention anything from 10mpg to over 20 mpg. My 4.2 E250 got around 16 mpg on my recent 5000 mile roadtrip to Moab Utah. Are there any 7.3 mods that create a worthwhile improvement in gas mileage? Everyone likes bigger tires but how much do they hurt mpg?

 

There is plenty of room for a double sized blow up mattress, If you fold down the seats and take out the 3rd row. I have done that a bunch. I get about 18 maybe 19 on the highway, but 14 - 15 around town.

 

yup, that's what I do too. I have the DVD rear entertainment package, so I lay on the air mattress and watch movies!

 

I've slept in mine also. It can get quite warm inside during the summer even with the windows down - and then it started raining.....

 

Been doing this for my EX, but have not finished yet. There is another site that caters to this sort of thing....hope I am not pissing off the powers that be with linking it. If so mods can remove my link and sorry.

Try. Expeditionportal

There are not many EX owners on there, but many people there that can help you. I currently have installed a york compressor with connections in the front and rear bumpers. I am also working on my tire mount for the rear bumper to free up space in the rear. I have a small pull out that raised the floor 6" that holds all my extraction gear, cooking gear and assorted necessities. I have a AcuTemp HMC-MIL-1/AX56L waiting to go in. Still have not installed yet.

I removed my 3rd row and only use the two folding captains chairs for my kids. We are building a rack in the next week or so, so we can put up a rooftop tent for the kids on the ex.

I will definitely get pics when we start building out the rack.

 

I may go a little further and install some type up pop up tent on the roof. I looked into the top they use on Sportsmobiles, but unfortunately they are a little too large to fit. The Volkswagon pop top should however fit with no problems.

 

I use an f250 cc sb for family camping (love Moab), canoes and stuff on the rack above the ARE shell, motorcycle on a hitch carrier. the bench seats sleep kids while parents sleep in the back. or we tow the jayco baja lifted popup and take all 6 of us plus 5 dirtbikes and two rotts, we still get 15 towing all this. I could see an X with a rooftop tent(a la ARB) working very well.

 

camping in one isnt so fun unless your 3 feet tall. we did that one time, not gonna do it again unless forced to.