Is a v10 excursion right for me?
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
You just need to be honest about your needs. If you are going to tow a lot get a diesel. If you are only towing occasionally a v-10 will more than fill your needs. Some guys are just diesel fans and no matter the application, only a diesel will do. Much the same way some guys, myself included, have to have 4wd. It just boils down to personal preference.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
You just need to be honest about your needs. If you are going to tow a lot get a diesel. If you are only towing occasionally a v-10 will more than fill your needs. Some guys are just diesel fans and no matter the application, only a diesel will do. Much the same way some guys, myself included, have to have 4wd. It just boils down to personal preference.
(one of the best posts I have seen in here.)
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,070
Likes: 169
From: Central Texas
Ive got an 01 V10 2wd. It got 9.4 mpg (hand calculated) towing to Orlando and back last month. Camper is 30 foot and weighs 6000 ready to camp. I kept the speed around 70. We havnt made a trip with the campers in the NC mountains yet but it did great in the SC mountains. It got 14 mpg on a trip to Wesser NC a few weeks ago with nothing in tow. 11 around town. I read a lot of post from folks towing 9000 plus pound camper with no problems, many have made mods to help towing. Towing with 6000 lb camper is great with no mods at all. We do use a weight distribution hitch and sway bar.
These agree with my assessment also.
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 12,052
Likes: 1,550
From: Media PA
I tow fairly heavy (9500lbs) with my V-10 EX, I have made several changes to the EX to improve my towing performance with long pulls following nearly every mod. The new heavier springs made the biggest improvement in ride quality, handling and comfort with the trailer in tow. The new deeper gears (from stock 3.73 to 4.88) made the biggest improvement in climbing grades and towing mileage. We have pulled through every Eastern state except FL and VT, and I have no complaints in it's hill pulling abilities. Our trip through TN, KY, VA, WV and PA was a good test of it's hill climbing strength, was able to maintain 60MPH to the top of the hills without having to floor it with very few exceptions. On the flat with the new 4.88 gears it will hold OD very well and that really helps the MPGs, we got 9MPG pulling North on I-95 from Savannah to Philly and it didn't drop out of OD once on that trip. On prior trips with the 3.73 gears over the same route we saw 7 to 7.5MPG.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 470
Likes: 1
From: Havillah, WA
I've been driving my v10 for about a year and a half now. We live in northern WA at elevation so the gas is a blessing for heat and lack of a engine block heater. It's nice to know it'll turn on and the fuel won't gel no matter what.
On the negative is always the MPG. It's terrible. Even for a 4ton pig it's still bad. To add insult to injury, we live at 4K feet elevation and every drive involves going up/down the mountain at least 2K feet (usually 3K feet) elevation change so we average 7-9mpg not towing.
If you can live with single digit MPG then a V10 Excursion is simply awesome. If you can't then look elsewhere, any modern diesel can get better MPGs, Hell a 4dr duramax truck will get in the 20s i believe. If you can live with 4-5 seats then that's a great tow rig. We picked up the Ex simply cause we like space and i got it for $5K or a bit under if i remember right. For a good running, clean Ex.....who can say no to $5k! I figure the money saved should pay for my gas for a few years...
On the negative is always the MPG. It's terrible. Even for a 4ton pig it's still bad. To add insult to injury, we live at 4K feet elevation and every drive involves going up/down the mountain at least 2K feet (usually 3K feet) elevation change so we average 7-9mpg not towing.
If you can live with single digit MPG then a V10 Excursion is simply awesome. If you can't then look elsewhere, any modern diesel can get better MPGs, Hell a 4dr duramax truck will get in the 20s i believe. If you can live with 4-5 seats then that's a great tow rig. We picked up the Ex simply cause we like space and i got it for $5K or a bit under if i remember right. For a good running, clean Ex.....who can say no to $5k! I figure the money saved should pay for my gas for a few years...
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,076
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas, Nevada
The only thing I am concern now is getting stuck thousand of miles from home and be at the mercy of the dealer or a diesel shop which take days to fix.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 26,410
Likes: 6
From: Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,076
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas, Nevada
Just got back from a thousand plus miles round trip with a rough idle ( something wrong with injectors #2 and #8). Glad that it didn't stranded me.
Working on taking the driver side valve cove off and the injectors to see what's wrong the next few days.
Working on taking the driver side valve cove off and the injectors to see what's wrong the next few days.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,076
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas, Nevada
Are you serious? I do not want to work on the truck far away from home.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 466
Likes: 0
I Used to have a 7.3l super duty and now have a v10 excursion. I Love the v10 its a great motor with the 4.30 gears. I had my 7.3l hopped up some but nothing extreme. the v10 pulls amazingly you just got to be willing to rev it up. I just went up to Washington from California to get a tractor. I towed my 3000 pound trailer up there and got 12.5 mpg and when i got the tractor i was towing 10000 pounds and got 9.5 mpg for the trip. I only slowed once below 55 mph towing the hills and that was because of fog. I pulled every hill with no problems. If you do get an excursion be prepared to changed the front leafs over to super duty ones and get some sway bars and air bags in the back or RAS because the suspension on these things stock is just scary!
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 9,176
Likes: 4
From: Western Central NV
I pull with a V10 Dodge. Gas out here is $.70 cheaper than diesel. Personally I think a diesel is more expensive in the maintenance dept. Unless your towing heavy loads non stop a diesel doesn't pay as far as I'm concerned.
The V10 will work just fine & would be my preference.
That is my bias opinion.
The V10 will work just fine & would be my preference.
That is my bias opinion.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 941
Likes: 0
From: Bothell, WA
I have an f-250 with the 6.9idi... So I'm wondering what could be wrong with your idi that you need a v-10 Ex? I just keep fixing mine, runs great, pulls strong, and gets great fuel economy.
I also have a 6l Ex (sig pic) and I get 13-14 pulling my 30 ft Airstream through the Cascade Mountains. Not so much about the 6l for me, I really like the transmission for towing.
All that said I guess I'm in the fix the idi camp.
I also have a 6l Ex (sig pic) and I get 13-14 pulling my 30 ft Airstream through the Cascade Mountains. Not so much about the 6l for me, I really like the transmission for towing.
All that said I guess I'm in the fix the idi camp.