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After reading feverishly for the past couple of weeks. It seems that a V/C code upgrade is going to work for me. Hoping to "tighten" up the rear end and minimize drag when hooking up the travel trailer.
Nice looking EX, how is your SSV equipped? Some have a rubber floor liner in place of carpet and don't have a third seat or rear heat and AC while others do have the HVAC in the rear. The exterior looks clean, hopefully the FD didn't add too many hole to the interior from radios and other gear. I'm a retired Fireman and our old Suburban had lights added to the front fenders, rear quarter panels, both bumpers and the grille but most of the added electronics were housed in a center console so the interior was unmolested. And ours didn't look nearly as clean as yours when retired from service.
I am also the owner of an '05 XLT V-10 4X4, ours serves as a dedicated tow rig for our 11K TT, it doesn't see very much local unloaded use at all, most of its unloaded miles are running around our travel destinations. I have done a few mods to make it a better tow vehicle and it now handles the big TT very well, much better than back when it was still all stock.
Since you will be towing with it, do you know which gears it has? How long and heavy is your current (or planned future) TT and how long of trips do you plan to tow and will there be any mountains along your routes?
Other than 2 holes on roof (which are sealed) there are not exterior holes. All the strobes are inside the light assemblies (all strobes there but disconnected). Interior holes limited to two on passenger floor board and they have bolts with sealant on them.
This is the xlt model so full carpet all seats front and rear air/heat. All body panels are s gr straight.
TOW trailer is rockwood 2402ds. Dry 4500lbs. Maybe 6000lbs loaded. Should be an easy tow
Drove the X to Abilene last weekend (700 miles round trip) it ran like a champ. Zero leaks anywhere.
What changes did you make to improve the handling while towing? I have not hitched the trailer to it yet.....
Also. Mostly a dedicated tow/vacation vehicle. Not a daily driver. Past trailers have been towed all the way up to Banff National Park in Canada. I expect the X will make it to Colorado and Montana at least once every summer and all over Central Texas any chance we get to go camping.
Currently thinking of a V/C code spring combo.
OK, now you're talking my language...I've been to Banff and Jasper areas a few times and that's exactly why I'm converting this one to Diesel (don't hate me Tom). It will be one wild ride on God's highway up the switch-backs, and out to BC and back.
OP, if you haven't read threads like this one, search is your friend. Tom is getting covered in trans oil at the moment! lol!
Thanks thor. I have been reading every thread here and everywhere that comes up when I hit Excursion in the search world. Expedition Portal has some decent stuff but eventually everything leads back to this forum.
Not looking for crazy lift or tires. Just want a good reliable set up. Currently have 3.73s with stock 245 tires. Current thoughts are 2008 tow mirrors and suspension upgrades with other things down the road
First decent trip is slated for the end of the month up to Crede Colorado with a couple of trail rides thrown in.
Yep, I did a bunch of things myself.
- Installed Tekonsha Prodigy P3 wiring harness and controller
- Installed new drivers door jamb relay
- Installed new passenger door jamb relay
- Installed aluminum upgrade rear latch lock mechanism cable ends and lubed cable
- Lubricated rear hatch elements and checked all power locks and relays functioning properly
- Installed 2007 model telescoping power/heated/lighted towing mirrors
- Installed OEM fuel filter
- Installed new locking gas cap
- Installed 4x2 rear hatch lift support to gain height clearance
- Installed T10 LED's and Festnoon LED's throughout all interior lights
- Upgraded/mod overhead console lights converted with pigtails and T10 LED's
- Installed T10 Amber LED's into marker lights
- Installed T10 Clear LED's into running boards (shorter version to clear the lenses)
- Installed aftermarket front grille assembly
- Installed new transmission filter and pan gasket and flushed
- Installed 6.0L 33 row transmission cooler (918-216)
- Installed Ford Expedition seat back retaining clips
- Front driver and passenger door latches upgraded to new rubber insulated style (no rattle)
- Installed steering column shift tube and bushings and lubed, and set gear indicator
- Installed Warn Premium 38826 4WD manual locking hubs and disabled the vacuum supply to hubs
- Installed premium front sway bar bushings
- Installed Bilstein 24-158848 Monotube Steering Damper
- Flushed and replaced with Motorcraft Gold coolant
- Installed OEM 190* thermostat and OEM seal/gasket
- Installed SDT Front X-Code springs and u-bolts and torqued/retorqued to spec
- Installed ATS Mod rear springs and u-bolts and torqued/retorqued to spec
- Installed Bilstein 33-187297 2" lift shocks
- Installed Hellwig 7878 Sway bar kit at medium setting
- Installed 8000 lumen 6500k hi/low headlight LED bulbs
- Installed 2* Front axle shims installed for positive caster
- Power steering fluid flushed with Mercon V
- Rear Sterling differential maintenance:
Inspected diff and cleaned
Stripped diff cover and painted
Installed Lube Locker LLM-F105 torqued to 35 ft lbs
Royal Purple 75W140 installed
- Transfer case fluid changed with full synthetic
- Repaired cracked exhaust pipe ahead of muffler at L&S
- Alignment at L&S for 6+* positive caster etc
Get ready for a laundry list of things to do with your non-existent spare time
...and I missed having the front diff axle seals and dust seals done along with the upper and lower ball joints and both drag link ends... check everything!!!
Yes sir. She was clean even before I cleaned her up. She was retired and then used to move the city manager for two years before being sold.
this was the day I got her
