Hey Guys

I'm loooking for a Excursion. Sold mine a while ago and now I want another one.

This truck will be my daily driver. Only cummute about 5 miles aday. I'll also be towing a 7500lbs trailer with it once amonth or so.

Question is: Can I get buy with the 5.4L, the V10?, Or should I go Diesel? I'm just a frade the diesel would never warm-up only going 5 miles.

 

I tow a 9000# TT all over the country with my V10 and 4.30's...

Looks like you live in GA...but not sure where you plan to tow...meaning get into ANY hills with 7500#'s and a 5.4L...and man...that will not be fun...

I used to tow a 7500# TT with my V10 but had 3.73's at the time...I found that once I got out of flat Indiana...I'd simply turn OD off and tow in 3rd and I had NO ISSUES at all maintaining whatever speed I wanted comfortably...using OD is allowed but should be reserved for mostly flat roads...

As far as the diesel not warming up in 5 miles...I would worry about the long term effects of such a short commute on a PSD and the associated moving parts not completely getting up to operating temps...

If it were me and I had to do it all over again 5+ years later...I'd still go V10...especially since fuel prices for a V10 have been offsetting the efficiency gains the PSD's get in mpgs...

Now...if you were saying you are towing 10K+++ and lived in the Rockies or Sierra's...well...then a PSD makes all the sense in the world...but for what you described...a V10 sounds like the most logical choice...and you should be able to find an Ex you like out there even though they are getting harder and harder to get your hands on...

Good luck!
Joe.

 

You could get away with a gas motor if you only drive 10 miles a day. The V10 is rated at 11000 pounds just like the diesel. For such a short drive a diesel will hate you since it will never get to operating temp.

 

I would have to agree about the V-10 being your best choice for your situation. I bought a V-10, basically because I couldnt afford the diesel version, but was really suprised how strong the motor pulls for a gas motor. Good luck

 

Thanks for the info! I hate to ask this question here, but do you think I could get buy with a 5.4L Expedition? They say they can tow 9k?

 

I would say you are over limit with a 5.4.

5.4 are rated from 6200# to a max of 7600# depending on 2wd/4wd.


I am sure it can technically pull more, but the 5.4 only got a 14,500# GCWR compared to the V10 and diesels 20,000# GCWR

Although the 5.4 can use 87, the real world MPG's of the 5.4 are lower than the V10 and diesels. It just has to work much harder due to the higher curb weight of the Excursion.

Best bet would be to test drive one to determine which is best for you. I am pretty sure you would be happier with the V10 while towing.

 

I traded my diesel for a V10 for the exact situation you are in. My travel trailer only weighs 7.5k and I no longer needed my truck for work and found that the diesel was not even warmed on most my trips. The diesel was great for work, but not for short trips.

 

How loud do you want me to laugh?...

Seriously...I'll say "it depends".

First off...What type of towing do you do?...do you ONLY tow your TT to and from local campgrounds a few times a year or do you plan to see our beautiful country and tackle mountain passes like I do?...We're headed back to the Rockies for the third time this coming summer...

I had a hemi powered dodge durango for 30 days (no lie) when I had my 7500# TT...even on the flat lands of Indiana...I could barely maintain 65mph...granted I was fighting a pretty good headwind with a BRICK behind me...what most fail to comprehend in towing ratings...

1) A 7500# low wind profile utility trailer is NOT the same to tow as a 7500# high wind profile travel trailer
2) Tow ratings are a very confusing...to "achieve" the "max" tow ratings...you would have to have a stripped down vehicle and a single 150# driver

The best way to understand "if" the Expy would work is to do a simple weight exercise to see just how much of that 9000# tow rating you can actually use.

First...take the Expy to a scale and get it weighed. The weight you get needs to be compared to the "curb" weight to see how much you would have to 'reduce' the 9000# rating. Each pound the Expy weighs OVER curb plus the 150# driver directly is reducing the 9000# tow rating.

Also the weight of the Expy (ideally you would take your family and some gear you "normally" would carry inside the Expy for the weighing exercise) needs to be compared to the GVWR from the drivers door jamb sticker.

Take the GVWR and subtract the weight you got from the scale and that is what you have left to carry as TONGUE weight from the trailer.

On a 7500# TT...you need MINIMUM 10% tongue weight to have a STABLE tow. Ideally you should have ~13% to allow for load shifts due to variation in packing and possible water/holding tank infuence...so that means you need at least 7500*0.13= 975# of weight between the scale weight (remember if you did NOT bring your family and gear to allow for their weights in the Expy too) and the GVWR.

In doing a quick search...it appears that the Expy EL Limited has roughly 1570#'s of payload.

If you used up almost 1000#'s of that on tongue weight...that would leave you roughly 600#'s for the family and gear INCLUDING you before you hit the GVWR of the Expy.

In my experiences...the 1/2 ton chassis' motors typically have enough HP to motivate non-high wind profile loads okay...but when you start talking high wind profile TT's on long trips with head winds AND steep mountain passes...well that's where they run short.

Do yourself a favor...get armed with FACTUAL WEIGHT INFORMATION BEFORE you buy...

You will also suffer from the softer P-rated tires on the Expy EL although you will have 131" of wheelbase...you will still have a soft SUV independent rear suspension ride on those P-rated tires.

The funny part...that 1570#'s of payload on the Expy EL is MORE than that on a PSD Ex...but the PSD Ex has a full floating rear axle, LT tires and a much more stout frame...plus way more power in the engine department...my point...tow ratings are CONFUSING as all get out...and I won't even comment on the fact that a V10 powered 4x4 Ex with 3.73's is only rated at 600#'s MORE than that Expy you are asking about...which vehicle do you think would be able to handle 9000#'s more easily?...like I said...tow ratings are very CONFUSING!

Good luck,
Joe.

 

Yeah, I knew the expy question would get a laugh!

We live in north GA. and it's pretty hilly. Probably just need to get the Excursion with the V10 and been done with it.

 

Well, the Unquestioned tow-master of the V10/Excursion forum has spoken/"taken you to school" (not once, but twice) and you've arrived at the correct conclusion.

I'll just add my two cents in by saying: "Go with the V10! "

 

[QUOTE=SuperDad;11255936
We live in north GA. and it's pretty hilly. [/QUOTE]

So do I and I would go with either the V10 or the 7.3. Of course, I am partial to the 7.3! I do understand the worry of the diesel not warming up which will eventually give you some trouble. Good luck with your decision and finding a good one. When you do, post pics of her!

 

And just incase this comes up, The Ex's also came with 5.4's in them. I test drove one and it didnt get out of its own way and Im pretty sure it wouldnt tow what your towing. Just had to add that, I cant believe Ford put that little motor in this BigAss truck!

 

I had a 5.4l Expy and towed a 5000lb 16' equipment trailer. It didn't like maintaining 65 on Hwy 99 between Sac and Fresno...those underpasses had me downshifting at every one.

It CAN be done, but it wasn't fun.

Now my 6.8l Excursion did the same trailer loaded up to about 7800-8000 lbs up and over the pass to Monterey and loved it...towed like a freight train.

 

Since you are planning on some hills and the 7500# towing. The V10 should be quite fine but I think you'll want to watch for the right rear end gear ratio. You'll want to look for the 4:30 ratio in your Ex and the 3:73 will be less preferable in your applicaiton.

Do a search on this forum for information on the axle code. It is printed on the VIN sticker inside the driver door, on the pillar. The code like "C3" interpterets to the gear ratio. C1 is 3.73 while C3 is 4.30 there is also a different code for Limited Slip, which I forget right now.

 

Great point about gear ratio. I have the 4.30 LS and like the way that it tows.
Here are the gear codes for the V10:
31 - 3.73 non LS
c1 - 3.73 LS
33 - 4.30 non LS
c3 - 4.30 LS