First tow with V10

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Jul 9, 2005 | 07:22 PM

concretecamper

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First tow with V10

Well it was the first time towing with my 2004 Excursion. Took a 450 mile hike to Maine with a fully loaded SUV and a 6,500# trailer in tow. All I can say is the V10 exceeded my expectaitons. My expectations were very high after reading all the other posts but the motor blew me away.

I could not believe how it stayed in OD and just churned along. Even up some mild grades it pulled nicely at 1800 RPM's. When a steeper grade came along a quick push on the OD button it would downshift...the TC would lock 2 seconds later and up the hill we went. On some 6% grades it slowed to 55 and I dropped it into second gear and was back at 60 in no time. I could of accelerated up to 70 mph up tose grades..amazing!

We were pulling a 6500# trailer and had the Ex loaded with 8 people. Although I didn't get weighed I figured we we pushed 15,000# GCW. I got a bit over 8 mpg which pleased me....I84 is up and down the whole way (with some nice grades). I wondered what I will get when I head to the Jersey Shore (a much flatter trip).

The V10 is everything you guys said and more!!!

Jul 10, 2005 | 08:00 AM

Fredvon4

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concreatcamper

Thanks for adding to the knowledge base of owners that have high expectations with the V10 powered trucks and Excursions.

Many of us in here had/have experience with Fords large displacement gas motors and more than a few of us worked the diesel motored trucks and Ex versions.

For what it is (451 Cubic Inch) and what it costs to own ($510 option and 7-15mpg range) the V10 motor is a pleasant surprise to most of us.

Again thanks another great testament!

Jul 10, 2005 | 10:21 AM

Wrenchtraveller

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Good news, You read some of the new Diesel owners describing how their V10s bogged down on hills and you have to wonder if they ever owned one. My V10, with my camper on , total weight over 11000 pounds will keep increasing speed up an 8 % grade where it will get me a speeding ticket or get me in trouble on the corners. Good to hear another happy V10 owner's experiences. Take care, Wrench.

Jul 10, 2005 | 10:28 AM

live2hunt

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But I gotta know: where were your RPM's? about 3800 - over 4K?

Jul 10, 2005 | 10:58 AM

cloleson

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From: Southeast Texas

I think this is where the confusion comes in. I believe most of the towing complaints with the V-10 are from people who are afraid to rev 'em. From pulling heavy loads at work with F150's, I've learned that revving these modular engines doesn't hurt them a bit. Many of ours have 150K+ on them, with tons of heavy pulling under their belts at high rpm.

If you want to tow steep grades at low rpm, get a PSD. If you have a gas engine, drop it down and let it scream. Trust me, it likes it. ;-)

Jul 10, 2005 | 12:51 PM

Wrenchtraveller

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Quote:

Originally Posted by live2hunt

But I gotta know: where were your RPM's? about 3800 - over 4K?

On steep grades around 4200 and if I was forced to slow down for a Semi and the passing lane comes, down the hammer goes, downshift , rev up to 5200 , upshift and away we go. Revs don't hurt this motor. This is the nature of this beast. If you can't let her rev than let her go but on this same trip last Sept, same camper on my 04 F350 6.0 PSD, I was pulling 3200 revs on that diesel and with my old ears, 5200 revs on a V10 sounds sweeter than 3200 on a PSD. Each to his own, My 95 and 00 7.3's were'nt as quick as the 6.0 and the V10 on this haul but they would pull her at 2000 RPM. If you could get them to kick down, you gained very little. As has been said before, the 7.3 is a work horse, the 6.0 is a race horse and the V10 is a race horse on Speed.

Jul 10, 2005 | 04:05 PM

Fredvon4

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gratuitous post to help my post count and admit that I fat fingered the 451 Cubic inches and I did not miraculously add 36 new cubes to the V10 (grin)