So we have a 33 foot travel trailer but really want a 5th wheel. Not to mention all the other uses we could get out of a truck bed. Except for the wheels, my Excursion is pretty much the way I want it and it has relatively low miles. I've done a ton of little nit-noid maintenance items to it and it's very sound.

I've had a couple dark dark thoughts about trading for a similar set up truck but I know the grass is always greener. When I had my early 4Runner I wanted a truck with a bed and I know if I had a truck I'd want a 4Runner for the covered cargo.
Same problem with my current situation. I love the 6 feet of secured covered cargo and the ability to carry 8 passengers when neccessary. The cargo area also works well for our German Shepherd.

We love the X, it's been so good to us. I really don't want to let it go. Ford will always sell trucks but the Excursion is becoming more and more rare as time goes on.

I suppose the only real option is to just save up for a truck too. We're just expecting to spend somewhere around 12-14K for a truck, as I've priced). Don't want something with a ton of miles on it.

Oh yeah, and before anyone mentions it, my wife already said no to the tag-a-long 5th wheel mount.

So IDK, guess I'm rambling, dark thoughts, dark thoughts. Thanks for listening.

 

I briefly lost my mind Spring of 2011 before I rebuilt the top end of my motor. I wanted to get a 2005 Excursion with an '05 Motor; but then the thought of having to spend the money all over again to get the truck the way I wanted, helped me come back to reality.

Instead of using the money as a down payment on a newer Excursion, I put the money back in the truck with no regrets. Had I sold MY Excursion and bought another, it wouldn't quite be the same. I would miss the sound of my 7.3 barking to life, all the room I had to haul people or whatever I wanted, the sound of the injectors as it purred down the road, and most of all my pipes, loud as they are....

The Excursion is absolutely great if you have kids and a fair amount of gear to haul with you on a roadtrip with the TT. On the other hand, a truck doesn't have the same amount of room for people, but just a little more room for storing gear.

Bottom line: if it's you and the Missus and you really see the need to spend the money on another truck and trailer, trade your truck in and move on. (I say that with a lump in my throat) IF you have kids and a decent amount of gear to haul, I would keep the Excursion unless you like to hear kids fighting about space.

I'm single and really have no need for an Excursion, but it's great to know that I have a vehicle that I LOVE, is comfortable, and can haul or tow anything I want.

 

"I'm in my dark place"
-Stewart from MadTV



Somebody had to do it.

Toreador makes a great point about the kids thing. You can't beat the 8 (or 9) passenger capability of the Ex. However, a pickup certainly has a few advantages. I suppose you and the wife need to weigh all the options and decide what's best for the family. We won't dis-own you if you trade in the Ex

 

Mike,

I'm in a similar dark place brother...

We're really considering selling out travel trailer after our 4500 mile trek in a few weeks...

Once I sell the 9000# TT...I'm at a loss as to why I "need" the Ex and the wonderful fuel mileage of a V10...

I will need a 4x4 for deer hunting and my kids are 13 and 15 and are at a point where we'll have less and less time with them in our vehicles as the oldest will be driving her own vehicle soon (scary thought for me!)...

But...I've struggled with what I will be doing...the Ex is an incredible vehicle...but for the few times per year I really "need" her...I am thinking once the TT is gone...I will downsize to something 4wd capability but much smaller...I'm with you man on the ramblings...

 

I can say this. We have been going up to northern Michigan for 11 years now, spending most of our summer weekends there at the RV park my parents own a lot in. We bought it with a travel trailer, though we traded that in at the same time we bought the lot and got a motorhome. We started traveling back and forth first in the Navigator, then a Mountaineer, then the Ex, and then my mom's MKX. Since the park isn't open year round, we have to pull off at the end of October and put it on in early May.

With the motorhome, we would pull our little Wrangler behind it for that opening weekend, and then cram the three of us, the dog, and all our stuff in the Jeep to come home from that weekend (or go up). But once we were able to store the motorhome up there, we just went back and forth with something else (Navi, Mountaineer, Ex). Since we open/close for the year, we bring stuff like parishable items, liquids, the coffee pot, etc. home for the winter. Granted it would be a little tight in the Mountaineer, but it was never a huge problem, only the Jeep was. With the Ex, if we needed to take up something new and big that weekend too, it wasn't a problem. Ever since I started driving and took such a liking to driving the Ex, I would drive most of the time and my dad would sleep on the back bench. So it was nice to have the flexibility to have all that extra space without being cramped.

Now we do the same trip with the F-450. Granted I drive quite a bit (diesel withdrawl), and my dad still tries to sleep on that (very uncomfortable) rear bench. In the bed, we have the fifth wheel hitch, the transfer flow tank, and a bin with a jack, fuel can, etc. So our space in the bed below the bed cover is pretty limited, and all we have is the space on the floor in the back seat. This past year, my refrigerator died at school, so I brought our small extra refrigerator back from up north, and we had to take it back up this May. We couldn't take it until a few weeks later when we took two cars because it wouldn't fit under the bed cover and would require part of the seat folded in the back seat.

One thing you don't hear much about when comparing the trucks and Excursions is the back seat. Maybe the 2010 version is different because I haven't been in another to compare, but the seat is SO much harder than Excursion second or even third row seats. It's really stiff.

Another thing, there really isn't much storage space to speak of compared to an Excursion. In mine, I have the front console, glovebox, door pockets, seat pockets, spare tire bag, under the second row seats, and rear jack door area all filled up, in addition to a little stuff behind the second row seats. With a SD, you only have the console, glovebox, door pockets (which the 2010 at least has rear ones), seatback pockets, and a tiny little bit of space behind the second row seat and under it. We put the Undercover Swing Cases in the F-450 and those are both full, but it's hard because all the storage space is for small things. That's why we have the big bin between the aux tank and the fifth wheel hitch.

So all in all, it's not just the difference of a lack of a third row and exposed cargo area, it's a bit more than that. A pickup is great, and I absolutely love the Island Blue over tan color combo available on the SD for a little while, but I think I'll stick with the Ex even though I don't have a family yet.

On the plus side, the fuel fill is farther forward, so you don't have to take up almost two pumps to put the Ex fuel fill right by the pump.

 

One of these would do nicely http://globalxvehicles.com/uxv-550/

 

Thanks for the response and support guys. I failed to mention we do have two kids, 6 and 8 so the X-tra room (pun intended) does come in handy plus my wife wants another dog.

We started out with a 2000 F250 7.3 but it was a supercab and the kids had zero legroom when in their car seats. And yes, it didn't have near the interior storage, not even close. Had it been a crew cab, we may not have been so quick to look for an Excursion. Thanks again Brothers!!

Here's what we sold to buy the X.

 

I went the other route. I bought two crewcabs first (see sig). Now I have the X and a utility trailer. The dogs are much happier in the cooled/heated environment with us vs the bed of the truck. We only used the bed of the truck a couple times a year. Utility trailer works perfect and I can still haul 8 people and two boxers around. That is just my experience.

 

Mike,

The Ex has COMFORTABLY transported our family to and through 40 states in our near 7 years of ownership and RV'ing...

When I was buying a TV...the ONE THOUGHT that drove me was SEPARATE ROWS OF SEATS FOR THE KIDS!!!...

And in all of those hours and miles and states...having one in the third row and one in the second row has certainly SAVED WHAT LITTLE SANITY I HAVE LEFT!

With your kids still being 6 and 8...I'd stick with the Ex...I STARTED with my kids 6 and 8 and 40 states later...I'm no more looney then I was when I started...well at least that is my story and I'm sticking to it!...

Seriously...with all the family RV trips you have ahead of you...I think it would be a big mistake to trade DOWN in interior comfort for those long rides...but that's just my opinion.

Good luck with whatever you do!

Joe.

 

I have an Ex and an f-250. They are paid for and I will never sell them. My wife has a CRV which is a great car but we always take the Ex when we run around as a family. My youngest daughter is 9 and my oldest daughter is 19 and lives on her own now. My son who would be 20 died in a car accident April of 2011. Still with only 3 of us that travel The Ex is way easier to take. If I wanted to save fuel I would get a beater Honda. My F250 is my work truck and since it has a dump bed I prolly shouldn't put in a fifth wheel haha.

We are leaving in September for a 2 year tour of the country while my wife does traveling nursing. Gonna rent the house store our stuff and be gone for 2 years with our TT. I think the Exes will be classics in 20 years haha so I told my wife it's here to stay.

Plus I can't figure on ever buying something new again, I paid $27,000 in 2001 for my f250 and now it would cost more than twice that amount. Maybe if i win the lotto.

 

I hear ya Scott.

Joe, Deep down inside I know the X will stay as it is the ultimate family truckster and multi-purpose vehicle. This is our third season using the X to tow our 8K lb trailer and it has and still is serving us well with no problems. I know I'd regret seeing it go so it will stay. Hell, when my wife takes it somewhere I run outside to watch and hear it pull away .

John, so sorry to hear about your son, he was far too young. I wish you and your family the best.

Your road trip sounds awesome. My wife is an E.R. RN and works with travelers. You'll have a blast, quite the adventure.

Thanks again guys!

 

No problem dude!!! Do what ya gotta do, but I'm keeping mine

 

Yeah, me too!

 

Preach on brotha!