If you are looking for a 7.3 Excursion with adjustable pedals unfortunately your search just got narrowed down to 2002 Limited Ultimate's and 2003 Limited. Believe some 2003 Eddie Bauer's got them too. The Limited was a higher trim level than the Eddie Bauer but believe some EB's got all the options.
The 2002 Limited Ultimate received the upgraded creature comforts which are,
Homelink (garage door opener in visor
Adjustable Pedals
Memory Driver Seat
Digital Climate Control
Climate and Audio Controls in Steering Wheel
2002+ also has better headlights which I believe they called Crystalite or something. Also better leather seats were installed which I believe were called Nuno leather seats. Middle bucket seats were also an option starting in 2002 and for 2002 year only Limited 2 tone seats was an option. The 00-early 02's had VHS players (as an option) and the later 02+ had DVD players (as an option). The only drawback to an 02 and 03 7.3 is the PMR (Powered Metal Rods). The 00 and early 01's had forged rods. If your not planning to build big horse power your totally fine with the PMR's.

 

if you feel comfortable with the owner and the sound of the truck, let me know. I'll run over and give it a first inspection for you. get more pictures and i'll connect it to AE and see what it says and report back to you.

 

https://memphis.craigslist.org/cto/6036233951.html

 

I was of the same mindset as you when I began my search. Wanted to avoid 6.0s only wanted a 7.3. They were just to expensive for me. I bought an 03 6.0 from the 2nd owner with 175k miles in great a shape. Once i did my research on the 6.0 I knew what to avoid and what to look for.
My suggestion would be not to count out the 6.0 cuz they can be bought right. I avoided any at dealerships s I'mince they usually have garbage trade ins that need work hence why they were traded. Look for one for sale by an individual with plenty of maintenance history like mine had. A compete folder worth. I looked for one that had never had a tuner on it since it is higher boost pressures that can contribute to head gasket failure.
Check my signature for all the original parts mine still has, some of which can be problematic on a 6.0. Hell mine had 7 of the 8 original injectors and that one was replaced before 30k miles. I bought it with everything listed. Adult mature ownership and proper maintenance is important. I paid $13k for mine. I think that's a deal considering what a 7.3 would have cost with those miles.
So 6.0s can be reliable just be cautious what you buy. Look for lots of documentation and maintenance history. Once bought just budget for repairs that may become necessary. Once you stud it you can throw a tuner on it and drag v10s and 7.3s up mountains and never look back.

 

But with all that said a v10 would pull that Airstream just fine. Good excursions are getting harder to find so don't limit yourself. Do you require an X? Maybe consider a super duty crew cab.

 

That's what makes this forum awesome. What knowledge. Guess the adjustable pedals got moved to the "nice to have" category.

Why is it that "rust free" doesn't seem to mean that. Just got done exchanging texts with a Craigslist guy who claimed his Ex was rust free. When he sent underbody pics, to my untrained eye, everything seemed coated by rust. Heck there was even rust on the roof. How does that qualify as rust free?

The search continues,
Lifer

 

The Army trucks are newer V10's. Since I haven't been researching them, I didn't know they were different.

 

"Rust-free" up north, and "rust-free" down south are two different definitions for sure!

 

The "rust free" one I was looking at was in Texas until July 2016. Guess you can rust them out anywhere. I looked under my buddy's 2000 Ex today. Not a spot of rust. All frame parts still look factory new. Maybe I'm setting my standards too high?

 

No, your standards are right where they should be. Mine has been in Texas its whole life. Not a spot of rust on it either. Zero.

 

Good luck on the search, it's not easy. I lucked out when my 2000 was totaled I found my current 2002 Ex the next day on a used car lot. It was traded in the day mine was totaled...pure luck!

For your sake I would at least test drive a V10 and see what you think, it will open up a lot more options if you are not hung up on the diesel thing and I know some people are.

 

Found a nice looking Texas 02 Ex in great shape. One owner and relatively low miles at 166k, according to the picture of the odometer. Ran a Carfax on it and found that it was actually a three owner vehicle (3rd might be the dealer). More disturbing was that the last reported mileage was actually 186k. Can't trust anyone these days...

 

I'll test drive a V10 when I can find one close to home.

 

Up here in MN we are all to familiar with rust. Recently a couple 7.3 Excursions from the rust belt ended up in Florida. The buyers bought them site unseen apparently and decided to part them out because of the rust. The pictures showed what us in the rust belt consider normal rust, lol!
3 years ago when looking for a low mileage 7.3 X found a few in the NE. They were listed in good condition at dealerships 100-120K miles $18-20K. The body pictures proved they were rusty. My 00 X isn't too bad rust wise but the 02 X is quite rusty. Plan to put the rust free doors, new rockers, fenders and dog legs on it in a couple years. Luckily have a fairly clean donor X.

 

What you absolutely can't trust is Carfax. They often report mileage and number of owners wrong. With a vehicle of this age, I would trust my in person visit with the vehicle more than the odometer or reports. Condition is everything. Mine was from Texas and now lives here again. It's what I would call rust free aside from the usual exhaust manifolds and the driveshafts that Ford left neckid to the elements.