How are you planning to use the truck and TT? Full time from the sounds of it, but will you be traveling much or staying in place for long periods? Long travels?
There is a solid market for big bumper pull TTs, lots of folks use their truck beds for other goodies so a fifth wheel won’t work for them, big SUVs that can only bumper pull and the price of a big TT is lower than the equal sized fiver keep that market segment alive. Our 3 slide TT is 41’ from hitch to bumper and scales at 12,000lbs, it’s basically a “fifth wheel floor plan” but all on one level.
RV prices are still higher than they should be but inventory at dealers is increasing and hopefully that will bring the prices back down a little before too long. The truck market is the worst that it has ever been currently for buyers, dealers marking up above MSRP and used prices equal to new trucks, a bad time to buy. And the order bank is closed for the ‘22 Super Duty with the ‘23s most likely not orderable until the and of Summer at the earliest!
Our EX is the dedicated tow rig for our big TT, it doesn’t see any daily driving miles, it’s been very reliable for us over the past 12 years and 50K+ towing miles, it’s paid for and we love it! That being said, if you don’t need the seating capacity or enclosed cargo area the EX provides then a later model pickup (with the cab size that meets your needs) would be what I’d be looking at. Our ‘05 V-10 gets the job done for us, it works hard and delivers a level of towing performance we are satisfied with, but any pickup of a later model year will have a better transmission and more powerful motor and maybe a little longer wheelbase, which makes for a more stable tow rig.

 

Don't forget that the Excursion's suspension/braking system leaves a lot to be desired so that will need to be reworked as well as the engine. When I had ours, I did the X/B mod springs, drilled and slotted brakes, Hellwig sway bar, Rancho Adjustable shocks etc....

 

I purchased a 2001 v10 Excursion in pretty good shape (8/10) with 165K on it for a little over $10k. I use it to pull our 30ft camper and other hauling as needed.

I went with the Excursion because I needed the tow capacity and also needed the interior room. Many times I travel with 3-4 kids and 3 dogs.

If I didn't need the interior room for kids and dogs I would have gone with a truck.

I went with the v10 mostly due to price, but also because the plan is to downsize the camper in about 4-5 years due to kids growing up. That means possibly downsizing the tow vehicle too. If I was keeping the Excursion for tons of miles I would have looked for a 7.3 diesel.

The Excursion is great to travel in and has lots of room, but I do get about 7mpg while towing and 12-14mpg not towing. Camping used to be a cheap vacation, now 2/3rds of the trip cost is fuel.

I am in the "If you don't need the extra interior room go with a truck" crowd. This opens up the possibility of 5th wheels etc

(Edit):
I would also look at upgrades for the Excursion if towing heavier. Air Bags, sway bars, y-pipe, tune and steeper gears if it has 3.73s. I have 3.73s in mine and it does okay for the most part, but I think it would struggle in any mountains. I also have to tow with OD off since it will shift out of OD going up an ant hill. I usually set the cruise for 65mph and it will downshift on every big hill. This was the situation on my last trip to Kentucky.

 

One member hit on an important note. Brakes. The brakes are undersized for the rig by itself. I have a honda accord with same rotor/pad size. I am not sure if there is a bigger rotor/pad kit but think this is a must for towing next to max capacity.

 

There is a Wilwood big brake kit available for about $5000+ that requires at least 20” wheels.
I tow fairly heavy a lot and only ever felt the brakes were iffy after my local mechanic put on a set of Napa stock-ish replacement pads during the annual safety inspection when I was working a lot of overtime. I ditched them after two trips and went with a set of Hawk pads, now it’s as good or better than the Motorcraft pads that had been on it.
Its not a sports car by any measure, that’s for sure, but it is a nearly 8K station wagon!

 

I agree about not cheaping out on the pads etc.

When I did my brakes I went with the Power Stop kit from Rockauto that was listed under HD/towing. The pads are not the quietest, but they stop well. I also recommend that people make sure they have fresh quality fluid.

There are also stainless lines you can get for them, but I have not done that. When it is time to replace the lines I probably will.

 

I have been looking for Stainless Steel lines, I found some on a few websites, but I have ordered from two different sites now and had the orders cancelled because they could not be fulfilled.

Summit Racing
Skyjacker

Both cancelled my orders.....

I would love to replace the lines with stainless if someone knows where they can actually be found.

 

Yep. Its the world we live in right now. I ordered a box scraper for my tractor the beginning of February. It said backorder, when I called they said not due to arrive in the warehouse until August.

Crazy

 

Classic Tube and Fine Lines will bend custom lines but you have to send them templates. Is it worth buying steel lines and sending them to be made of stainless? I guess at that point you could have 20 sets made and sell them on your own. Hmmm.... materials may be the issue right now.

We do this for the cars we restore but theres a lot of prototype fitting and rebending, send em back and wait for the new prototype. We sell the final parts to other "friends" doing Cobras...or trade for the stuff they create.

 

My 2002 just turned over 200K miles, and to be honest if I were looking for a tow vehicle right now, I would probably get a crew cab long wheelbase truck. Our Excursion was great when we had little kids and all the stuff that comes with having little kids and babies, but right now we have found that we really don't need the 'SUV' aspect of a tow vehicle anymore. We just fill the available space we have. Unfortunately there is not a viable SUV on the market right now for towing a large camper. Everyone assumes that if you pull more than 5,000 lbs. you are doing it with a truck, and they are mostly right. So you have to go for a 15+ year old Excursion or somewhat newer 2500 Suburban up until they killed those too. If you have 3+ kids I guess a truck won't work in any capacity. I plan on keeping my Excursion around even after it is retired from active towing duty and we get a FW, but I can't wait to get my hands on a newer truck with the 10 speed and warranty.

 

X, I used the Dorman kit which I found to be well made and fit perfectly. My nephew and I installed it in a few hours (we had access to a lift) but who knows if is available. I understand your frustration, it took 9 1/2 months to take delivery on our new washer and dryer. Good luck on your search

 

I can't seem to find the dorman stainless steel lines?!?!

 

Are talking about new stainless hard lines that run along the frame or braided stainless flex lines between frame and axle?

 

braided stainless flex lines

 

Says ships today...

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/r...sion/year/2001