Hello All,

My first post here, but I've been lurking for more than a month now. Lots of great information on this site.

I'm looking for an 00-03 7.3 4x4 Limited Excursion. I currently have an 03 Tacoma that just can't tow the kind of travel trailer I'm interested in. One of the gear heads I work with has a 2000 7.3 Ex and advised me to look in that direction, so that's what I'm doing.

I've been actively scouring every online car sales place I can find for a low-ish miles (<175,000), good maintenance, rust free example, hopefully under $15k. I missed one off Craigslist that had some hail damage but otherwise mechanically sound for $10,800. It was posted in the evening. I texted the guy. Sounded perfect except I was flying to Phoenix the next morning for the Army. Sold that next evening. I've missed a few others that would have fit the bill by not being quick enough on the trigger.

Guess I'm just lamenting the process of trying to find that needle in the haystack of a very popular vehicle.

How long did it take you guys to find that "perfect" Excursion?

Thanks,
Lifer

 

Welcome to the forum Army!
What type of travel trailer are looking to pull with this EX?
Don't underestimate the V-10's towing abilities, ours currently serves as our dedicated tow rig for our 41' 11,000lb TT. With the few mods I have done it does a very good job with that load. We have towed that TT and our old 9,500lb TH over 30k miles without any issues all over the Eastern states for the past 7 years.

 

I'm looking at 28-30' Airstreams. Used, like the Excursion. Those are usually in the 8,000 pound range. With some maintenance both should last me the rest of my days. My gearhead buddy says to avoid the 6.0 like the plague. My unit also has some V10 work trucks and I've been advised to avoid them too. I'm reasonably mechanical and can do most of my own maintenance. But, if gets more complicated I'll need to rely on the gearhead. He'd probably just laugh at me if I showed up with either of those other motors.

Thanks,
Lifer

 

I can understand the idea of avoiding the 6.0, there are some issues with that one that need attention. However with the right fixes done they can be very strong and fairly reliable engines. I have no idea what your gear head buddy has against the V-10 that would cause him to laugh at one. They are every bit if not more reliable than the gold standard 7.3, they just don't get as good of mileage. Some of them may last as long as some 7.3s, but some do last longer, there are a few million mile V-10s on the web. And if you do wear one out its pretty cheap to replace with a fresh one from Ford.
Some of the early 6.8s had spark plug blow out problems, proper installation seems to greatly reduce that adventure and there are excellent repair kits to repair and improve the damaged threads that make the threads stronger. The short threads ( only 4 threads in the plug holes) were revised in model year '03 to have seven threads for the plugs, this seems to have all but totally eliminated the plug blow out issue. The only other "issue" that comes to mind is the exhaust manifold studs (on all of the modular motors) sometimes break over time. I've read of shop charges from $400 to $800 to removed and replace them, I did mine in the driveway when I installed my headers, close quarters, but not a hard job. I'd be interested to know what your buddy thinks is the reason to avoid these motors.
My V-10 "engine mods" are a set of Banks headers, Aeroturbine muffler, and custom tunes from 5Star tuning. All simple stuff with no real power adders, I did regear from the factory 3.73 gears to 4.88s to put my effective ratio (with 35" tires) at the factory optional 4.30. I have towed a similar weight and profile trailer with a stock 7.3 in the past and I'm convinced that my 6.8 does a better job with its simple mods. Of course the 7.3 has much more potential as far as mods go, but that also gets into a lot of money and may impact longevity or mileage some (and rear tire tread! ).
Good luck with your search, be ready to pounce when the "right one" becomes available, they don't last long on the open market!
Airstreams are quality units, just not my cup of tea, no or very rare slide outs and limited storage are our issues with them, but they can live long lives and they do look cool, especially polished up nice!

 

Once acquired they remain in the stable.


I only (physically) viewed three different vehicles over a period of two months. Others have searched for much longer. You may need to be flexible on either miles or currency invested, or both. Or just wait until fuel goes back up and all the short-timers sell out.

 

Where are you located or where are you willing to travel ?

Plenty of Ex's in NorCal

Currently no 175k 7.3 in your price range but they come up fairly often.

Right now several $10k-ish 7.3's but @ 300k miles

The only sub 175k is $20k

I looked for a few months to find my current Ex.
Church owned, bone stock 150k @ $10k But that was several years ago... prices have risen considerably?

 

6.8 is a great option. I have the EXACT same set-up as WE3ZS and love it. I personally wish I had a 6.0, but that has nothing to do with it's performance.

 

I'm stationed at Ft. Benning, GA. I'd be willing to travel quite a ways to get the right rig. Getting the time off to jump on the "one" could be problematic depending on what I've got going on at work.

Lifer

 

Might not be rust free: https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/d...2108/overview/

It's from where "worthless nuts" originate.

 

Here you go...https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/d...9498/overview/

 

Higher miles...https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/d...7628/overview/

 

Just above the mileage range but lower in price https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/d...9464/overview/

 

Accident or something else...https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/d...5182/overview/

 

Not even priced yet, https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/d...6442/overview/

 

Go with the V-10. they are as bulletproof as they get. and when they do need work the repair prices are minimal. If you can fin a 4.30 geared X that would be even better!


Take your time to find the right one. do what you can to find a rust free vehicle, it will pay off in the long run!