Hi Guys,

I've decided my wife and I are going to get rid of all the vehicles we have now and consolidate to just two vehicles. A sedan and either an excursion or f350, has to be diesel. Help me decide which. Here are my pros and cons for both.

Excursion

1. Excellent amount of interior space for our growing family.
2. Will be able to pull my 25' Farallon (10,000lbs.) boat.
3. Will only be able to pull a travel trailer and not a 5th wheel.
4. Shorter wheelbase, easier for wife to drive. 137"
5. Wife favors, i'm "so so" on it

F350 Crew Cab

1. Decent but limited amount of interior space. We only have one child now, but may be a problem when we get to the 3 kid mark especially if mom needs to ride in the back with a newborn + strollers, etc (tonneau maybe?)
2. Will be able to pull my 10,000lb. boat
3. Will be able to pull anything including 5th wheel, travel trailer, cab-over, etc.
4. Longer wheelbase, may be slightly more difficult for wife to drive. 156" (cc shortbed)
5. I favor, wife is "so so" on it

The two biggest purposes of this vehicle will be to carry the family around anywhere/anytime and to haul my 10k lb boat. 5th wheel or travel trailer is added bonus when we get additional funds. Both have to be diesel. She's going to test drive the truck this weekend to see if it's even manageable for her.

Which one carries more weight to you guys?

Thanks in advance.

Erik

 

the only real downside to the Ex is no 5th wheel, so you couldn't pull the "biggest" camper available. But the Ex will carry 6 adults in comfort plus cargo/dogs in the back. if you don't need the bed to carry "raw" cargo (gravel/dirt) I would go with the Ex. I bought a utility trailer for all the stuff I can't carry inside the Ex--plus the trailer will carry WAY more than the bed of a SD could ever carry. I seriously doubt you would be unhappy with the Ex.

 

I love my excursions I have one and the wife has one. They are so good at towing my toy hauler 12,000LB. The pepole room is also good and like XHunter I bought another small trailer for carting stuff around,
Hope this helps,
Nick

 

I would deffenelty go with the excursion. So you can tow ur boat and carry 6 people comfortably.

 

Seems to me the answer is easy - "If Mama ain't happy, ain't no one happy."

I guess it all depends on your tolerance for listening to your wife complain about the CC.

Good luck...

 

I concur with the "if Mama ain't happy" thing...BUT...

The Ex "can" be an incredible tow vehicle...BUT (big BUT) it does take some tweaking and possibly a $3,000 hitch like I bought to get there.

You didn't mention how many are in your family.

The Ex is INCREDIBLE in the way of interior space...no question hands down...not even in the same league as a CC pickemup. BUT (again big BUT) Ford compromised on the design by putting in some softer rear springs to appease the soccer mom crowd that thought they were getting a tool around town people mover...this is NOT a tool around town vehicle (IMO)...this is a TRUCK and the compromise Ford made has scr@wed us royally that want a TOW VEHICLE!!!

The Ex can be made to tow nicely...I've done it as have many. HOwever there are MANY MANY Ex owners that have had to invest the $3,000 in the Hensley to get there. Many make the Equal-i-zer or Dual Cam work effectively too.

If I were to do it again...I seriously think I would go CC short box (so it would fit in my garage) and put a cap on the CC for lockable storage.

Don't get me wrong the added third row seat of the Ex is something that has kept chatter from my two daughters to an absolute minimum while towing 11,000 miles in the past year!...don't try that with a CC!

So it really comes down to in the future what type of camper will you have...anything (IMO) over 31'...and I'd be looking CC or expect to likely be shelling out another $3K for a Hensley...PLUS you will have to do some work on the Ex with rear springs and/or Hellwig rear sway bar. PLUS I'm not completely convinced yet as to whether this "rear-steer" is a real phenomena from the REAR or imparted by the bushings and soft springs up FRONT!...your oil burner will weigh in at over 600#'s HEAVIER than my V10 while you will have heavier rate springs up there...the FRONT may be contributing to this issue.

After owning my Ex for just under 2 years and putting 11,000 miles towing and 5,000 non-towing...I can honestly say it is an incredible vehicle all the way around...BUT (again big BUT) I have invested some sweat in getting here...I've had air bags on and now off, road-master active suspension on, Hensley Arrow hitch to name just a few...

From a people moving standpoint it is a great vehicle.

From a TV standpoint it CAN be a great vehicle...an F350 NO QUESTIONS IS A GREAT TV...

A 10K# boat does NOT present the SAME wind load or sway issues as a TT...so towing that may not present NEAR the problems many have on here getting the setup right...BUT if you want in the future to go and get a 31' PLUS TT that goes 10K#'s or more...expect to have to do some tweaking and possibly a Hensley....

One last thought...TONGUE WEIGHT...The Ex receiver is "limited" to 1250#'s...LARGE TT's or toy haulers can EASILY exceed 1250#'s...when I FIRST started tweaking my setup I was over 1400#'s!!!...I've since got it down to the 1250#'s...

Each vehicle has their pluses and minuses...for a PURE tow vehicle standpoint...the F350 gets my nod even though I have 11,000 miles towing thru all kinds of terrain and weather (Black Hills, Big Horns, Rockies, Appalachians, thunder storms, 30MPH cross winds...you name it I have seen a good deal of stuff with my Ex...and ALL care free)...so I KNOW the Ex CAN be an incredible TV...

But it comes back to the mama thing...your ears my bleed uncontrollably if you don't do as she wants...but remember that it is YOU that will be towing and she may not be happy as mine wasn't when I had to shell out $3K for the Hensley!

Just some rambling thoughts...sorry.

Good luck,
joe.

 

If the price is the same for either then I say get he F-250/350 CC short bed. (Put a cap on it resemble an Excursion.)

More utility with the truck.

The back seat is big enough for 3 kids. You've only got one now so planning your vehicle choice now on what may happen in 2-4 years if you get more is well...kinda proactive... but you never know if either truck will fit the bill in 2-4 years. Get what works for your now.

I don't know how a homeowner can be without a pickup in the stable these days.

 

Thanks for the replies guys, I'm on a short break from work, but can I put F350 rear springs on an excursion?

Will reply more in depth tonight. Thanks again!

Erik

 

yes you can put F-350 springs on a ex.

 

Since this is our 3rd Ex, we put stuff in the back that NO vehicle should have inside

(I always thought mushroom compost was made out of mushrooms )it's not !!!!!!!!!


Monsta -
we get by with the Ex using a 5 x 10 foot utility trailer

it hauls the L110 back and forth...
I'll bet it's hauled 100 yards of soil, mulch, and rocks at 2 to 3 yards per load...
best $500 bucks I've spent - and the L110 has a ball on it so we haul the trailer around with the mower to load up all the tree limbs, etc... that come down on the property....

 

True enough. I prefer a trailer myself.

I was playing devil's advocate, I guess. Plus, I've been shopping for pickups to replace my wife's Avalanche, so pickups have been on my mind.

 

What kind of brand is the L110?

 

Not true. http://www.hitch-buddy.com/

 

WOW! I asked about that years ago but everyone thought I was crazy! I used to move semi-trailers around the compound with something like that hooked the the back of a 10K capacity forklift when I was in the Army in Germany. Man...to think of all the 5th wheels I coulda bought...

 

3 or 4 yr old John Deere