Just wanted to drop in and say hey. Been on here for a while. FINALLY got an Excursion. I'll be by from time to time asking questions and doing research.

She ain't the prettiest Excursion out there, but she'll do what needs to be done.

I talked to the previous owners today. Their names were on the title, so I Googled their phone number. Unfortunately, it seems like they didn't have a whole lot of money when they owned this truck, so I'd rate the level of maintenance at below average, or replace as necessary. No insurance claims were filed because it was always under minimum coverage insurance.

The dented driver's fender is from a teenager running across the road and actually physically hitting the side of the vehicle with his body

The dents at the top of the cab are from a tree falling on it, and the baseball sized dent above the passenger tail light is from the lady sliding off the edge of the driveway and hitting a tree while backing.



No big deal on all counts. Doesn't affect my purpose at all.

 

 

Congrats on ur excursion give us some info about your new truck ...your going to love that truck !!!!

 

welcome , welcome to the forum and yes we need pictures please and info...thnx

 

I know, I know, pics pics pics.

I haven't had the chance yet.

2000, V10, Limited, 4x4, 3.73 gears, w/ 224,xxx miles. All stock. Traded straight across, a '98 Expedition XLT 4.6L. Bought the Expedition back in February out of a dealership's trade in lot for $3k and drove for a little while.

The Excursion has a mildly dented driver fender, the top of the cab is mildly dented, and the windshield's cracked, seemingly from a deer. I will post pictures tomorrow. I don't really care about the cosmetic stuff at all. I just need a vehicle big enough to transport me, my wife, our 4 kids, our dog, and all our gear or groceries to and from wherever we may be going. The Expedition may as well have been a mini-van with the lack of cargo space behind the 3rd seat.

Plans for this truck are pretty intense. Far more than your typical FTE'er.
Broad overview off the top of my head:
Recentered HMMWV double beadlocks and 37's (Probably KM2s)
Plate bumpers, rock sliders, belly skids,
rear mounted external upright tire carrier integrated into rear bumper (will include fuel can and jack storage capability)
Slide out lockable drawers in the cargo area for tool and firearms storage
Modification of rear doors to allow for storage of lightweight items
Addition of storage container on flat surface above jack storage/ rear blower motor
(Both will be places for things like first aid kits, tow straps, emergency blankets, etc)
Increased fuel capacity by way of mounting side tank from F series (possibly OBS) or aftermarket unit ($$$)
Toying with a kingpin Dana 60 swap from my 88 F-350. Need to see how much of a PITA changing the spring perch stuff on the DS is gonna be.
And eventually, if I don't kill the body beforehand, 12v Cummins.

If you are familiar with the term, this is essentially our bug out vehicle. Probably be a long slow process unfortunately. Also, as an aside, when I make upgrades to a vehicle, I try to ensure that they can be removed and installed on an identical vehicle in the event that mine is no longer worth having. What this means is, anything I do to this Excursion will easily be swapable to another one.

 

Sounds awesome. sud good luck

 

Welcome to owning the most capable SUV on the planet. Congrats! Oh and by the way, you do realize you have a 44 gallon fuel tank already?

 

Yep. Going for 100 gallon total with minimum 10 gallon reserve (fuel cans). Plan on re-routing the exhaust outside the frame rail to allow for tanks on either side of the drive shaft. According to my research, an Excursion tank will hold a little more than 44 gallons, and a few 26 gal side tanks, along with two large fuel cans that are actually capable of about 6.2gal should put me over my 100 gal goal. I plan to look into stock tanks first, and see what I can make work. There are aftermarket tanks out there, but they are a bit low hanging for my taste. That is a long way off right now, but thanks!

 

Just wondring why u need such a big fuel tank ?

 

Congrats on the purchase, lots of us were in the same boat when we bought ours. Took me a little over a year to get things cleaned, repaired and up to snuff......it'll get there and you'll make her a great vehicle again - one piece at a time.......and the upgrades will continue for quite some time after that.

 

Why not?



It's all about capability and sustainability. I want the longest possible (and practical) range between fill ups. Currently 100 gal would net me about 1200 miles. With a Cummins that would increase to a minimum of 1600, and more likely 1800 to my ultimate goal of 2000 miles. I've witnessed enough diesel pickup trucks attain 18-24 mpg I believe 18-20mpg to be a reasonable goal for the intended setup and weight of this vehicle. I've had step vans (bread trucks) and box trucks with the 5.9L see right around 12mpg, and they weigh in around 14,000-20,000lb.

Also, if you rotate drivers you can go anywhere in the US in about 2 days as long as traffic cooperates. If you have a capable truck, traffic is much less of a concern. Overland travel typically requires more fuel. Of course, overland travel typically takes a lot longer too (if you want your vehicle to live). My initial goal is 14 days of self sustainability from this vehicle. Food, water, fuel, partially shelter, and obviously transportation. I think it is possible, but I will have to be wise with my planning.

When there is no fuel to be purchased, it is nice to have some in reserve.

 

Actually i like the ideal of it .. i just thought maybe ur on the road for long distance ...

 

I edited my post, possibly after you replied. Also, Pics are up in the first post.

 

RotGrubestier44, congrats on your Excursion!

Confused about your signature. Your V10 is a gasser with only 415 cubic inches.

 

It isn't a real truck either. It's an SUV with ball joints, unit bearing hubs, and an automatic transmission. But, I think I'll let it slide for now.