I've only been looking at 6.0 excursions, but what about V10's? How are they? Of course all I hear about is them blowing out plugs... Which I have heard the same thing about my old 2 valve 5.4 in my Expedition, and what a POS it is... LOL

I know that I need 4.10/4.30 gears to pull max, but how do they pull? Would like to hear feedback from guys who have them and pull more than 9k. My current trailer only has a 7600 GVWR, but the one we are looking at has a 10000 GVWR.

I do know the V10's are ALOT cheaper than the 6.0's. So changing the gears for 1500 to 2000 is irrelevant. What kinda fuel mileage do you get with them solo or towing? Thank you!!

 

MPG might depend on the gearing you choose, hauling around a loaded 10000+ TT your gas mileage is gonna hurt .

 

I still tow with my 2003 6.8l V10 4x4 Eddie Bauer version. It's thirsty, but has been absolutely dependable. No issues with plugs as this model year has the deeper threaded plug sockets.

I'm only towing approx 6k and it's done just fine.

 

I've read reports of a couple of 8 thread head and a 3v head Triton blowing plugs.
The 8 thread heads just take awhile longer.
The issue is do not leave the plugs in long enough to work loose from thermal expansion cycles.
The factory torque of 15 ft/lbs was a bit light, too.

 

I still tow with my 2000. At lower elevations towing was very good with mpg between 8-12 depending on my foot. Towing wake boat around Wisconsin. Moved to Colorado and have used it to tow 4 place enclosed snowmobile trailer loaded with sleds and gear. Does ok. But fuel economy is terrible. If you live at elevation I recommend the 6.0.
I have Gibson exhaust manifolds, cat delete, flowmaster, and edge tune. Adding the hellwig rear sway bar was the biggest improvement for handling while towing.

never had a plug blow out. Just changed plugs yesterday and everyone was still tight and came out ok. Little maintenance goes along way.

 

@WE3ZS to the white telephone please....

 

Around 14 alone, 8 towing. My TT weighs about 9K loaded. I have had a plug blow out, cost me a few hours and a few hundred to get fixed on a trip. It still has it's original head gaskets and it is quiet, smooth, and doesn't smell bad.

 

02 V-10/4.30 towing a 9300lbs TT. Added an SPD Y-pipe and 5 star tunes. It tows unbelievable. I've been through he mountains in he west and the east. I've never dropped below 55 going up the steepest grade. I would say if you buy one with 3.73's to swap to 4.56's even with stock size tires.

 

I’m towing with a 2000 V10, 4.56 gears, and SCT tuner. (No custom tune, only standard SCT towing tune for now)
still working out my kinks, but shes a much better workhorse than my 5.4 Expedition.

 

Thanks for the mention Prakash!

My '05 V-10 is our dedicated tow rig for our nearly 12K TT, we have logged over 40K heavy towing miles with it without any drama other than a failed fuel pump six years ago. It has 4.88 gears with 35" tires for an effective 4.39 gear ratio and it does pretty darned good with that but 5.13s would be sweet! I did tow for two seasons with the 4.88s and 32" tire's and it was like driving a locomotive! In its current configuration with the above gears and tires along with a 4" lift, Banks headers, 3030XL muffler, 6.0 trans cooler and 5Star custom tunes (nearly always on the 89 Octane Performance tune) it typically sees 7 (going through small towns on country roads with lots of hills and stops) to 9 (all highway cruising at speeds of 65/70) to a best of 9.5 MPG over a 420 mile run (Niagara Falls to Philly) whith the big TT on the hitch. On a rare unloaded trip last year from Columbus OH to Philly with the cruise set at 65 MPG the entire way it saw 14.5 MPG with the AC on half the trip, it doesn't see any daily driving these days. On most Eastern Interstate Highway grades it will hold onto OD if you let a little speed bleed off on the climb to help keep the MPGs up, I try to run up to 72-ish at the base of the grade and let it bleed off to as low as 55 depending on how long the climb is, I'm always trying to improve my mileage. If it does drop out of OD on a climb it will easily accelerate back up to whatever speed I wish with a little pedal but I have NEVER gone to wide open throttle on this wagon while towing. In 3rd gear at 3500 RPMs it is running at 60+ and eager to climb and accelerate! I do typical periodic maintenance on it with 5,000 miles oil changes, 30K trans flushes, plugs at 110K (plan to do the again after 50K) and otherwise just keep it gassed up and ready to pull. It has been an excellent choice for how we use it for the past 9 years and we plan to continue this level of use for the next two years before moving up to something that can tow a fiver, will need to wait and see how the new 7.3 gasser does towing in the real world.

 

You are welcome! I know you like to bash the diesels whenever you get a chance

 

04 EB V10 with 3.73 rear and stock tire size. I'm pulling about 7k lbs and getting 8 - 8.5 mpg @ 65 mph.

 

Lol, who me?......... Actually, I really don't try bash the oil burners, I have lots of respect for them, but for how we use our wagon and several of my personal reasons gas was just the better choice for us. And we have been very pleased with it over the past nine years of towing.
Like I mentioned earlier we will be shopping for a new bigger tow rig in a couple of years and if the new 7.3 gasser doesn't deliver a marked improvement over the 6.2 we may actually go with a deezle, maybe........

 

New 7.3 gasser? What are they putting THAT in?!

 

I tow with my 2000 V10 2WD 3.73.
I have not weighed my rig. I guesstimate 8000-8500lb trailer loaded for a trip.

My normal trip is 500 miles one way from Austin TX to Waynoka OK.

My last trip, I had a slight tail wind on one leg and towed in OD at 65-70. Roughly 10MPG.
On the way home, I pushed a monster headwind the whole freakin' way. I locked it in 3rd the whole trip 60-65. 7.5 MPG.

I have a 4.30 rear axle ready to swap in. 3.73 OD is too tall for towing - I'd have to run 80+ to have enough RPM for real power.

Otherwise, my Ex is stock except for a cheap turbo muffler.