Hello my name is Troy and I am new here. I recently purchased a 2002 2wd Excursion, 5.4 engine from a coworker. It is in like new condition , loaded with 79000 miles and I paid 7 thousand which I thought was a good deal . I have a 3 year old handicapped son so this vehicle was an absolute blessing to us because trying to fit 4 people and a wheelchair into a PT Cruiser takes some yoga not to mention that I am 42, stiff necked and 6 feet 5 inches tall ! The Ex gets us around fine and we love the vehicle . We drove from western N.C. to Savannah recently and I was very surprised by the decent gas mileage, 18.9 on the interstate doing 65 . My question is would I have a problem towing a camper that weighs around 5500 or 6000 pounds loaded ? I have the factory hitch and the tranny cooler. I have owned several Ford trucks and 1 GMC Yukon ( never again ! ) The previous trucks I owned had the 300 straight 6 or the 302 v8 so the 5.4 doesnt seem underpowered at all to me . Any thoughts ? Thanks

 

you will be able to tow 10000 without any trouble.

 

I'm towing that weight with a V-10. What is the tow rating in your manual? I know with the V-10 and the Diesel for 2001 it is 10k. It is a heavy truck, so I don't know what the rating is for the 5.4L.

 

it should be the same thing.

 

Hand calculated via how much you fill in and trip meter? I also check the speedo which affects the trip meter with my GPS and it is a little slower than the speedo says it is which affects the mileage.

 

10000 pounds ? I wish. I think the v10 and diesel model are only rated around that. I think mine is rated around 6600 but I was really wondering if anyone has the same Ex as me and how much have you towed comfortably ? I think 6600 would really be a strain going up a steep grade . Maybe not . Any thoughts ? Yes I calculated the mileage by hand. I am surprised by the vast difference between city and highway mileage in this thing. I still love it though. Thanks

 

You can post your question over at rv.net and get lots of detailed instruction on weight calculations and the science of weight management. If you want exact calculations for safety and what not.

If you are looking at buying a TT (travel trailer) that heavy, I wouldn't.

If you already have one, hook it up and try it. Make sure to have a weight distributing hitch.

It will probably struggle up hills. The weight of the Ex plus the TT is a lot to ask of a 5.4L. The brakes are really good though!

We just got back from the Ozarks. It was so cool going up that mountain with the V-10 pulling the TT instead of the old Yukon. I told my wife "the Yukon wouldn't have been able to do this!"

 

I think my old Yukon with a 350 was actually rated to tow more than the 5.4 EX, however you cant tow if its broken down and it was almost always broken down. I know folks who get great service and longevity from GM stuff but I have always gotten lemons and the Yukon will probably be the last GM vehicle I buy.

 

Thanks Jesterdog I didnt see the trailer towing forum

 

just looking in my 2000 Excursion Guide for the 5.4 2wd you probally have 3.73 gears the maximum GCWR ils is 13000. Maximum trailer weight in lbs is 6200. I found this in the driving section. There are many light weight trailer out there. My brother-in-law pulls a 31 TT aerolite with a Nissan Path finder. I gets a little dicey in the wind but overall he keeps up with me when we are on the interstate pulling our TT to the next campground. I use to pull our 6500lbs dry weight TT with a 5.4 Expedition it did all right but in the wind and hills it did dog down. The same roads with the V10 i do not know the TT is back there for the most part. Good luck and let us know what your decision is!
2000 Excursion V10 6.8 2wd Limited
2000 Expedition 5.4 4x4 eddie bauer

 

The hard part about your question is that the Ex is so much heavier to start with over an Expy or F150 or even the F250.

A 5.4L 2WD Ex has a 'curb' weight of 6680#'s.

The 'good' news is in the payload department because I believe a 5.4L 2WD Ex enjoys the most allowable payload.

Your GVWR should still be 8900#'s (But I can't find that in my source book)...you can verify this on your drivers door sticker...as I am NOT sure about the GVWR of a 2WD 5.4L Ex.

But if it is 8900#'s that would mean in theory you would have 8900-6680=2220#'s of payload available.

The bad news here is that even IF you had that much payload...your GCWR is mighty low at 13,000#s for a 5.4L or 14,500#s for 4.10s on that 5.4L version.

The other part of the story is not many Ex's actually weigh 'curb'. All the factory installed options add weight to the Ex...so your 6680#'s is likely more likely very near 7000#'s as it sits today (a trip to the scales would verify that for real).

Then you add in your family and their stuff. Depending on the size and weight of your family and what you carry inside the Ex...you could very easily push that up by another 600-800#s

I'm just going thru things in general here as an example of how the towing numbers work.

But I've help families that are just husband and wife and minimal travelers (but they generally don't have an Ex since it is just two of them)...but they are on the low EXTREME side of this balancing act...

Then I've helped families with 4 children or more...where a few of the 'children' are middle school or older football players topping the scales at near 200#'s each...so they are the high EXTREME side of the balancing act...

Point is that depending on YOUR family and how much they add to the Ex will depend on how much weight is left for a trailer.

Best advice is to load up your family and gear as you would for camping (coolers, firewood, WHATEVER you would carry INSIDE the Ex) and head to a scale to get the REAL Ex weight as it sits ready to accept a trailer load.

You will very likely find your Ex will easily scale 7,000-7500#'s as it sits there. I'll work both ends so you can see what that means to the remaining trailer weight you could in 'theory' pull.

First let's get some terms down.

'max' trailer weight is the MOST Ford says you can pull. For a 2WD 5.4L that is 6100 for 3.73's and 7600#'s for 4.10's. I will ASSUME 3.73's for this exercise but if you actually have 4.10's (BTW I believe a 5.4L Ex is the ONLY version that came with the factory option of 4.10's!).

So 6100 is 'max' trailer weight...but read the 'fine' print. To achieve 'max' trailer weight you must have a 'curb' weight Ex with only a 150# driver (BTW all fluids are included in 'curb')

So for each pound OVER 6680#s your Ex weighs in that scale exercise...you must reduce the 'max' trailer weight accordingly but you can add in the 150# allowable driver to that which we will do in a moment.

GCWR is the most the trailer and Ex can weigh when the individual weights are 'combined'

GVWR is the most the Ex can weigh PERIOD...here you combine the scale weight and tongue weight of the trailer (I will ignore the ~15% WD shift of tongue load to trailer axles for this exercise)

Payload is the delta between GVWR and what your Ex actually weighs

Okay enough small talk!

If your Ex was 7000#'s that would mean that your 'max' trailer weight would be:

7000-6680-150 = 170#'s
6100-170=5930#'s is the real 'max' trailer weight

Now if your Ex was 7500#'s that would mean your 'max' trailer weight woud be:

7500-6680-150 = 670#'s
6100-670=5430#'s is the real 'max' trailer weight

As you can see the more you have inside your Ex...the less you can pull.

Now on the GCWR...GCWR for me is a final check as it is darn near impossible to exceed GCWR without FIRST exceeding some other tow rating...here's what I mean by that...

If your Ex is 7000#'s you could in theory pull 6000#'s and not exceed 13,000#'s...BUT your real 'max' trailer weight is limited to 5930 as calculated above.

If your Ex is 7500#'s you could in theory pull 5500#'s and not exceed 13,000#'s...BUT your real 'max' trailer wegiht is limited to 5430#'s as calculated above.

I realize we are only talking about 70#'s which in the scheme of things with an Ex is not going to be noticable...but I'm just going thru the numbers...

Back to your original question now that I have bored you with towing numbers...

The 5.4L is a good motor that in the 2V form (what you have in your Ex) makes 255HP at 4500rpms and 350ft-lb TRQ at 2500rpms...

The hard part is that the Ex is so heavy to begin with...it is like pulling a 1500-2000# traielr around behind an Expy or F150 all the time to start...

The Ex platform (tires, axles, brakes, cooling, wheelbase, etc) are MORE than capable of pulling long and heavy trailers...

The 5.4L is going to be your weak link in your system.

Once you factor in WIND resistance that is added from high profile travel trailers...and then add in some hills or mountains...I think even a 6000# TT is going to really tax your 5.4L.

But not knowing WHERE you will be towing is also hard to answer this question...

If you are like me and know NO BOUNDS...well you may not be happy with the performance...but towing performance is VERY subjective...what is acceptable to one is totally NOT to another.

I am not one that has to crest each and every mountain pass accelerating with my hair on fire!...but I like to be able to pull at a steady pace and not have power enough to get going again if I lose my momentum due to slow traffic or something else...

You may get folks tell you here or on RV.net that they have a 5.4L and tow a 6000# TT all the time with no issues...BUT you need to realize the added weight of YOUR Ex over their TV makes that more like YOU will be pulling a 7500#-8000# TT behind YOUR Ex...and if you ask them if they would pull a 7500#-8000# TT behind THEIR TV with the 5.4L...they will likely say NO.

Sorry to ramble on and on...and my kids are screaming to eat...so I have to go cook...

Let me know if I have confused you...and I can clarify...

Good luck,
Joe.

 

whew, even though it wasnt me asking the question, that was a very good post. rep points to you.

 

Thanks X Hemi Guy
I will be towing in western N.C. which is extremely hilly . I recently pulled a 3 thousand pound pop up up black mountain with no problems at all. I know that is apples and oranges but it had power to spare and that is a very steep and long mountain to drive up, ask any truck driver. I think my best bet is to search for the lightest travel trailer possible that will fit my needs and there are several out there that are light enough for me to stay below a safe weight, or get a more powerful towing vehicle which right now isnt really an option. Thanks again

 

BTW that answered a lot of questions I had. Thanks again Troy

 

Troy,

First off my apologies for not saying this earlier...WELCOME to FTE!

Second...keep an eye out for the SECOND ANNUAL Excursion Diversion which will be announced here in the next 2-3 weeks for the Summer of 2009...we'd love to have you...

Lastly...you are right about apples to oranges...but not from a weight perspective...the WIND really BLOWS (hehe)...meaning the high profile nature of a TT really lays a hurting on TV's...

A 6000# low profile utility trailer is a much different beast to tow than a 6000# TT...especially when you have to fight 30+ MPH head winds!

If we could always count on 30+ MPH TAIL winds...we'd be all set...problem is that we can't obviously select a TV/TT combo for 'perfect' days...

My best advice...

Load up your family and gear into the Ex and go get a weight of how the Ex sits for REAL loaded for camping...this way you can use the outline above to calculate how much (or little) room you have before you max out the 'max' trailer weight.

BTW...the GCWR is IMO a 'performance' rating...meaning the closer you come to or even exceed it...the manufacturers are telling you performance will be impacted. So like I said...performance acceptability is SUBJECTIVE at best...

For me...since I have been thru the Rockies twice in three summers...and I tow a 9000# TT...I wanted more motor...and for those steep and high (10,000+ foot elevations)...My V10 has not disappointed me in any of my climbs...granted I am not the fastest on the climbs...which is perfectly fine with me...but I am by no means the slowest either!...

And since you indicated you aren't really planning those types of altitudes...if you get your weight of the Ex...and look lightweight TT's and keep it to around a 5000# LOADED TT (give or take a few hundred pounds)...and if you aren't a speed freak...you should be fine...

Just know that on those days when you are bucking a massive head wind...you will be putting more foot in it than you normally do...

Good luck with your search...if you have any questions at all...just let me know...I do enjoy working thru the numbers with folks...yeah I'm kind of a geek that way I guess.

BTW...I am crappie_fisherman over on RV.net...if we should happen to cross paths over there.

Again...Good luck and Welcome to FTE...and keep an eye out for Excursion Diversion 2009...last year was in Gatlinburg...location has not been publically announced just yet...but as I said...will be in a few weeks.

Joe.