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I bought my first Ex 16 years ago and drive it still like I did then, even working it harder than I did when I got it.
We had it on a camping trip this weekend, working the 6.0L like we always have but the funny thing is I have only saw 2 others Excursions in Myrtle Beach this weekend.
So what does that say about us driving these ageing rigs? Are we to cheap to buy new trucks? Do we see value in the relative ease to work on them? Do we know we can never really get another one. ( I bought a second just for fun.) Or are we just crazy to be running these things all over the country?
I resemble all of the above questions. My truck still does a great job pulling the camper, she is comfortable, has good power, reliable, easy to service, I see $80K for a new F250 and know that I could buy one but really don't want to spend the money. Sure, my Ex needs repairs, heck, I am thinking about taking it to the body shop in a couple of weeks for a fresh paint job. If the engine fails, spend the $20 grand to replace it. Here is the catch, an accident. Insurance companies don't care about an engine or paint job, just vehicle value.
I am still proud of my Ex making it across country twice pulling my camper, did she have a couple of issues, yes she did but got us home and on schedule. Even new trucks have failures under extreme use.
Why do you keep your Ex?
just because they’re cool! What other SUV looks as good as a modified Ex? None! It was our family tow rig for a few years but I recently upgraded to a diesel pusher RV for the long trips and I Have an 18 F150 ecoboost that pulls as well as the Excursion with less stress and noise and less fuel cost, for short day trips with the UTV’s.
The EX is currently sitting with a blown 6.0 though, rod went right through the block. I’m thinking an injector hydrolocked a cylinder. Have a new short block on the stand right now, getting ready to pull the blown motor, swap all my good stuff over from the blown one and get it back on the road by winter hopefully. I won’t drive it much though with diesel being so expensive right now anyway.
It was a part time job keeping the 6.0 running, the Excursion is cool and all, but its not cool enough to justify living with a 6.0 IMHO. The Cummins solved ALL the 6.0 problems.
...
I must have had a "good one". I had a few small issues here and there, but nothing significant and I hit 297K before the issues became apparent. Hard starts even in warm weather. Other than that, no major issues.
just because they’re cool! What other SUV looks as good as a modified Ex? None! It was our family tow rig for a few years but I recently upgraded to a diesel pusher RV for the long trips and I Have an 18 F150 ecoboost that pulls as well as the Excursion with less stress and noise and less fuel cost, for short day trips with the UTV’s.
The EX is currently sitting with a blown 6.0 though, rod went right through the block. I’m thinking an injector hydrolocked a cylinder. Have a new short block on the stand right now, getting ready to pull the blown motor, swap all my good stuff over from the blown one and get it back on the road by winter hopefully. I won’t drive it much though with diesel being so expensive right now anyway.
My camper is just a little to much for a 1/2 ton truck, the Excursions 8000 lbs helps to control and stop the trailer even in the most mountainous conditions. I have towed repeatedly 700+ miles a day and the diesel just keeps pulling getting 15 MPG.
I personally will never get an EcoBoom, I have seen to many people with them have issues across the board, 1.5L to 3.5L
I love my 6.0L, what makes the US great is we have the freedom to choose what we want, like and desire.
I love mine too! I love the 6.0 so much, I went out and bought another one
Originally Posted by Excurvelle
My camper is just a little to much for a 1/2 ton truck, the Excursions 8000 lbs helps to control and stop the trailer even in the most mountainous conditions. I have towed repeatedly 700+ miles a day and the diesel just keeps pulling getting 15 MPG.
I personally will never get an EcoBoom, I have seen to many people with them have issues across the board, 1.5L to 3.5L
Same here, mine delivered no less than 14-15 mpg towing heavy.
Ecoboost engines are AWESOME when they're brand new, but as time and the miles go on, the costly issues come; and they're not cheap either. The most costly is the timing job and cam phasers. Keep in mind, most of the expensive issues can be prolonged (notice I didn't say "avoided") with proper and preventative maintenance.
My camper is just a little to much for a 1/2 ton truck, the Excursions 8000 lbs helps to control and stop the trailer even in the most mountainous conditions. I have towed repeatedly 700+ miles a day and the diesel just keeps pulling getting 15 MPG.
I personally will never get an EcoBoom, I have seen to many people with them have issues across the board, 1.5L to 3.5L
You got 15mpg pulling your trailer? Best i ever got was about 11 with the diesel. It’s lifted though so that doesn’t help. I did regear it to account for the bigger tires. I’m sure if i pulled by big trailer with my f150 it would probably get like 7mpg haha but I wouldn’t do that; it’s just for day trips with 2 UTV’s behind it and it does great. Even pulling a 4200 lb suv on a car trailer it did great, as well as the EX but with cheaper fuel. The brakes are bigger and better on the F150 though, so that really helps.
When i get the Ex back together it’ll just be a toy since we have the RV now for long trips. I was never a fan of the 6.0 power curve anyway, all the power is way too high. Every hill needed 2700 rpm to hold 70 which meant a lot of noise, high oil temps and **** fuel mileage. I almost bought back my totalled 6.7 f350 to swap the Ex body on that frame because that 6.7 towed like a diesel should, tons of low RPM torque so it always felt effortless. The 6.0 always feels like it’s working hard. Hell, even my F150 doesn’t feel like it’s working as hard with a trailer behind it.
All that said, I still love the damn thing and can’t wait to get it back on the road!
I love mine too! I love the 6.0 so much, I went out and bought another one
Same here, mine delivered no less than 14-15 mpg towing heavy.
Ecoboost engines are AWESOME when they're brand new, but as time and the miles go on, the costly issues come; and they're not cheap either. The most costly is the timing job and cam phasers. Keep in mind, most of the expensive issues can be prolonged (notice I didn't say "avoided") with proper and preventative maintenance.
What tune do you run to get 15mpg towing? All flat ground or mountains? What speed do you tow ? I run 70 pulling a 28 foot enclosed trailer with two UTVs in it and get like 11mpg with a Blessed tow tune. Mixed mountain and flat ground. Even flat ground though the best I see is about 12.5.
You got 15mpg pulling your trailer? Best i ever got was about 11 with the diesel. It’s lifted though so that doesn’t help. I did regear it to account for the bigger tires. I’m sure if i pulled by big trailer with my f150 it would probably get like 7mpg haha but I wouldn’t do that; it’s just for day trips with 2 UTV’s behind it and it does great. Even pulling a 4200 lb suv on a car trailer it did great, as well as the EX but with cheaper fuel. The brakes are bigger and better on the F150 though, so that really helps.
When i get the Ex back together it’ll just be a toy since we have the RV now for long trips. I was never a fan of the 6.0 power curve anyway, all the power is way too high. Every hill needed 2700 rpm to hold 70 which meant a lot of noise, high oil temps and **** fuel mileage. I almost bought back my totalled 6.7 f350 to swap the Ex body on that frame because that 6.7 towed like a diesel should, tons of low RPM torque so it always felt effortless. The 6.0 always feels like it’s working hard. Hell, even my F150 doesn’t feel like it’s working as hard with a trailer behind it.
All that said, I still love the damn thing and can’t wait to get it back on the road!
My truck is a stock 2WD 6.0L, no power adders or anything. My camper is 36' long about 9,000 lbs and I have towed it coast to coast and border to border, over the Rocky Mountains, and Appalachians. I typically run about 67 MPH on wide open highways, keeping the RPMs around 2000. On steep grades I let the truck climb at a speed and RPM where it is pulling but not trying to strain, 45 seems to be that speed, going slower on the grades also keeps the EOTs and ECTs down.
When I tow a car on my trailer my MPG is of course higher than the camper being pulled, cars are easy for the diesel and I get around 17. When I am not towing the 6.0L averages around 20-21 MPG. I have 4 trailers and the diesel handles each one perfectly
I recently towed with my V-10 4WD gasser Ex, only a car on a trailer and it handled much differently. The 2WD is a dream to drive, one handed all the time, the 4WD is more of a hang-on truck, I blame the front leaf springs.
My truck is a stock 2WD 6.0L, no power adders or anything. My camper is 36' long about 9,000 lbs and I have towed it coast to coast and border to border, over the Rocky Mountains, and Appalachians. I typically run about 67 MPH on wide open highways, keeping the RPMs around 2000. On steep grades I let the truck climb at a speed and RPM where it is pulling but not trying to strain, 45 seems to be that speed, going slower on the grades also keeps the EOTs and ECTs down.
When I tow a car on my trailer my MPG is of course higher than the camper being pulled, cars are easy for the diesel and I get around 17. When I am not towing the 6.0L averages around 20-21 MPG. I have 4 trailers and the diesel handles each one perfectly
I recently towed with my V-10 4WD gasser Ex, only a car on a trailer and it handled much differently. The 2WD is a dream to drive, one handed all the time, the 4WD is more of a hang-on truck, I blame the front leaf springs.
ok, that makes sense. I’m still trying to lower my expectations for the 6.0. I’ve had a Cummins, a Duramax and a 6.7 f350 and they all pulled up mountains with a lot more grunt than either of my 6.0s. I didn’t buy a diesel to have to go 45 up the hills hahahaha! But the 6.0 just won’t do 70 up the Colorado mountains like the other trucks did. It definitely does fine with a car on a trailer but it hates my enclosed trailer that’s for sure. It handles great due to my suspension upgrades, I’m comfortable doing 70 with one hand but bone stock all the 4wd models are horrible. 2wd’s defintley do better for mileage too.
I had a v10 4wd as well and it sucked for towing until i regeared to 5.13. The stock 3.73s were just miserable in the hills and mountains. Going through Colorado it was down to 22mph in 1st gear, foot to teh floor. I wasn’t sure if it would actually make it to the tunnerl on I70!
ok, that makes sense. I’m still trying to lower my expectations for the 6.0. I’ve had a Cummins, a Duramax and a 6.7 f350 and they all pulled up mountains with a lot more grunt than either of my 6.0s. I didn’t buy a diesel to have to go 45 up the hills hahahaha! But the 6.0 just won’t do 70 up the Colorado mountains like the other trucks did. It definitely does fine with a car on a trailer but it hates my enclosed trailer that’s for sure. It handles great due to my suspension upgrades, I’m comfortable doing 70 with one hand but bone stock all the 4wd models are horrible. 2wd’s defintley do better for mileage too.
I had a v10 4wd as well and it sucked for towing until i regeared to 5.13. The stock 3.73s were just miserable in the hills and mountains. Going through Colorado it was down to 22mph in 1st gear, foot to teh floor. I wasn’t sure if it would actually make it to the tunnerl on I70!
Oh trust me, a 6.7L would be nice but the DEF crap turns me off plus the cost. I would rather put money into something I already own then to buy something new and untested.
What tune do you run to get 15mpg towing? All flat ground or mountains? What speed do you tow ? I run 70 pulling a 28 foot enclosed trailer with two UTVs in it and get like 11mpg with a Blessed tow tune. Mixed mountain and flat ground. Even flat ground though the best I see is about 12.5.
I was using Gearhead's 8K tow tune, it's good for more if you're engine is studded. I was also using an earlier PCM, TCM, and FICM calibration that yielded better power, shifting, and fuel economy. I find the latest strategies to be lazy and soft on power and shifting.
I've seen the effects of all 3 iterations of the stock programming: Non-inductive heating, Post Buzz, and Inductive Heating. I saw this while working on a 2006 Super Duty. The truck got more powerful and shifting improved the further back I went. This is why it's worth it to have PHP roll your PCM/TCM calibration back.
It was mainly flat ground at 75 mph, my 6.0 loves to pull at that RPM.
Oh trust me, a 6.7L would be nice but the DEF crap turns me off plus the cost. I would rather put money into something I already own then to buy something new and untested.
First thing I did was delete and tune it 😅. It would pull in 6th gear what the ex needed 4th gear for at 70. It was ridiculous how much better it was.
I was using Gearhead's 8K tow tune, it's good for more if you're engine is studded. I was also using an earlier PCM, TCM, and FICM calibration that yielded better power, shifting, and fuel economy. I find the latest strategies to be lazy and soft on power and shifting.
I've seen the effects of all 3 iterations of the stock programming: Non-inductive heating, Post Buzz, and Inductive Heating. I saw this while working on a 2006 Super Duty. The truck got more powerful and shifting improved the further back I went. This is why it's worth it to have PHP roll your PCM/TCM calibration back.
It was mainly flat ground at 75 mph, my 6.0 loves to pull at that RPM.
I've run their tow tune and the blessed. Didn't like the refusal to downshift with the gearhead unless I really nailed the skinny pedal. I have the php ficm tune as well with the original calibration. There's no way I'll get close to 15mpg at 75 towing though! I run a 33" tire when pulling my big trailer to get rpm up to about 2150 at 70 so it's not lugging at low rpm which is probably about where you are at 75 if you're on stock height tires..
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