2003 Ford Excursion Towing Problems
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2nd Gear
Joined: Nov 2025
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2003 Ford Excursion Towing Problems
Hello, I have a 2003 Ford Excursion 6.0 Powerstroke with an 8-inch lift and 37-inch tires, 4.56 gears, and kill devil diesel heads. Bulletproof EGR, bulletproof oil cooler, Odawg Intake S2R, a fast pump 140, S&B air intake, Banks intercooler, KC Turbo Stage 1, SCT Programmer by GearHead (had it under 'Unlimited Towing'), Blessed Performance, Fuel Pressure Regulator with Fuel Bowl Delete, Adrenaline HPOP, 4-inch exhaust straight pipe, and ARB studs.
The transmission is still stock, and I was running a GearHead tow tune while keeping the RPMs in the 2,200–2,600 range on climbs. Fuel pressure holds steady at 64 psi, and boost peaks between 18 and 20 psi under load. We don’t have an exact trailer weight yet —just an estimate of around 14,000 lbs —so that could also be a factor in how the truck feels on grades.
I have a 26 ft tow hauler (weekend warrior) with an estimated weight of 13,000-14,000 lbs. It has pedal clearance to the floor, and I can only get up to 45 mph on Route 8 going to Glamis. The truck handled the load fine but lacked the pulling power, and was passed by a Toyota Tundra with the same toy hauler. My EGT is at 1,200 ECT, the highest 210 EOT at 190.
What do you think I can improve? Any suggestions? I want a better towing capacity when going up a hill.
The transmission is still stock, and I was running a GearHead tow tune while keeping the RPMs in the 2,200–2,600 range on climbs. Fuel pressure holds steady at 64 psi, and boost peaks between 18 and 20 psi under load. We don’t have an exact trailer weight yet —just an estimate of around 14,000 lbs —so that could also be a factor in how the truck feels on grades.
I have a 26 ft tow hauler (weekend warrior) with an estimated weight of 13,000-14,000 lbs. It has pedal clearance to the floor, and I can only get up to 45 mph on Route 8 going to Glamis. The truck handled the load fine but lacked the pulling power, and was passed by a Toyota Tundra with the same toy hauler. My EGT is at 1,200 ECT, the highest 210 EOT at 190.
What do you think I can improve? Any suggestions? I want a better towing capacity when going up a hill.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,049
Likes: 1,607
Lose the lift and tires. Even with 4.56's you're killing your towing performance. Lift kits ALWAYS hurt towing performance.
Other than that? Since you've likely maxxed out that 6.0, my next suggestion would be a 6.7, either CTD or Powerstroke.
Other than that? Since you've likely maxxed out that 6.0, my next suggestion would be a 6.7, either CTD or Powerstroke.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 4,281
Likes: 2,413
From: Everywhere and nowhere
Trade in your 6.0 for a 7.3 Godzilla. I had a built 6.0 with the same things modded as your 6.0 and a 7.3L with 3.73s outtowed the same trailer with a 6.0 and 4.10s. They are fine towing 10k lbs but trying to pull 14k lbs with 37s and 4.56s just isn't going to get you the results you want.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,049
Likes: 1,607
Trade in your 6.0 for a 7.3 Godzilla. I had a built 6.0 with the same things modded as your 6.0 and a 7.3L with 3.73s outtowed the same trailer with a 6.0 and 4.10s. They are fine towing 10k lbs but trying to pull 14k lbs with 37s and 4.56s just isn't going to get you the results you want.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,049
Likes: 1,607
So I'd venture the OP is also having boost problems, but I would say the real killer is the tires and lift. He put 4.56 gears in it (good) then drastically raised his effective final drive by a LOT (probably closer to 3.73's or 3.52's) with the 37's (bad for towing). And the lift has opened up a LOT of drag under the truck.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,049
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My wife and I have been talking about this a LOT, her Expedition struggles with our tritoon boat (plenty of power but not enough suspension, really). It does decent with the flatbed loaded with quads, but I'm debating a bigger trailer for that, since we're looking at changing things up, maybe a gooseneck that she can't haul...meaning she'd have to pull the TT. She can, she's done it before, she's GOOD at it...but I'd LOVE to have her in an Excursion with either a 7.3 or a 6.7. She drives enough neither one would be an issue for us.
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Moderator
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Sioux Falls Area
we live in different worlds, brother.
99k should be the top of the mark, not the bottom.
start them around 40k and I'm interested, start them at nearly 100k and I don’t care how nice they might be - I’d never even consider one.
Tuned
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 299
Likes: 204
starting them at $99,000 base MSRP is a good way to make sure that they don’t have a back log, imo.
we live in different worlds, brother.
99k should be the top of the mark, not the bottom.
start them around 40k and I'm interested, start them at nearly 100k and I don’t care how nice they might be - I’d never even consider one.
we live in different worlds, brother.
99k should be the top of the mark, not the bottom.
start them around 40k and I'm interested, start them at nearly 100k and I don’t care how nice they might be - I’d never even consider one.
But volume would a small fraction of the Superduty market, hence the need for high margins and premium features to attract that kind of buyer.
Ford would never bring the Excursion back just to lose money again.
Last edited by Black Buzzard; Nov 5, 2025 at 01:50 PM.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 1,576
Likes: 926
Um, no. Ford ended the Excursion because of the bad press the company was getting from all the woke environmentalist wackos. Same reason GM ended the Hummer line around the same time.
The Excursion was always profitable. And Ford is still making these dumb mistakes, look at all the EV crap they're pushing now that no body wants, but damn are they pushing it for the sake of their environmental virtue signaling.
...
The Excursion was always profitable. And Ford is still making these dumb mistakes, look at all the EV crap they're pushing now that no body wants, but damn are they pushing it for the sake of their environmental virtue signaling.
...
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