this past spring i went looking for a new ( bigger ) camper (2 slide-outs vs 1). i had a 1998 gmc suburban 1500. i was a fine vehicle. now here is the "but" when i looked at the bigger camper the suburban would not handle the extra weight. so i started looking for a bigger tow vehicle . 2500 suburban or an excursion. here in east tn a good used ( not worn out ) 2500 suburban is hard to find. a small auto dealer had a 2001 ex on his lot but it had 140,000 miles. i traded the suburban for the excursion. there is a BIG difference between towing with the sub vs the ex. the excursion is a towing machine. usually when i go camping, i have a full house ridding in my vehicle ( me, wife, 2 kids, the inlaws and neice ) plus the camper (6500 lbs ). with the weight distrubution bars set correctly and sway control, towing is not a problem. the ex "planes out" at about 65, passing other vehicles and lane changes are just a matter of giving it the gas. with the suburban, i had to get on it hard before trying to pass. i had to replace the rightside ball joints, replace the front brakes and rotors and pads on the rear. other than that, i have changed the oil the synthic, new napa air filter and fill the tires to the right psi inflation. if i pay attention to how i pull out and keep taps on the rpms the ex will get about 11-12 mpg city, 15-16 mpg hwy and 8-9 mpg towing. with a fill up before leaving home, i can make it pulling the camper from east tn to myrtle beach sc ( about 360 miles) on a tank of gas.

 

"IF" the Excursion is set up properly it tows absolutely awesome! Stock for stock a 2500 Suburban handles the weight better and doesn't wander or sway at all! I have owned 4 2500 Subs and towed with no sway bar and they are awesome.

Now if you install sway bars,weight dit. hitch, air bags, RAS, slotted brake rotors, aftermarket shocks, steering stabilizer, and tighten up the steering box the Excursion is by far better!! I had to install the above item before my Excursion would tow my 11k toy hauler straight down the road! My setup is awesome now but it costs some money to get an EX set up to tow heavy!! Just know if you are buying the EX to tow heavy it will need some mods!!

If you only tow 5-7k in weight you will be fine, it's when you start to get at the weight limit with toy haulers that the Ex does not do as well stock. Most toy haulers are taller and wider than the smaller Travel trailers. My older 6k travel trailer towed nicely before the mods!

If you purchase a gas V-10 get one with more gearing- 4.10 or 4.30's
If you get a diesel 3.73's work perfect, the diesels have tons of hp and torque to get the job done with less gearing! I own a 6.0 and it has tons of power for towing, I get 16 mpg in town and 20 on the highway! While towing I get from 6.5 mpgs to 12 mpgs. With Diesel fuel the same price as gasoline now, the Diesel Excursions may start going back up in price though, ya better get one soon!!

 

I guess it's different between vehicles and loads being towed, but my stock Excursion hands down out pulls and out handles my previous 2 2500 Suburbans. All had stock suspension setups.

 

After my F250 was stolen, my wife and I went to LOOK at a new vehicle one afternoon. We first test drove a Suburban (which we both were interested in) but on a whim we went up the street to the Ford dealership and saw a 2001 Ex. on the lot. We test drove it and bought it 30 minutes later. Subsequently we drove back down to the Suburban dealership and told them they should have had an Ex. on the lot and drove off.
I would buy another Ex. tomorrow if I had the need for it.

 

Hey all,
I knew if I did some looking around I would be able to find some help. So, I am in the market to purchase a good used Excursion. I have found a couple that have excited me, I dont oplan on doing much towing, unless I am towing my mustang to and from the track, and my trailer is and open trailer weighing in at 5750 lbs with my mustang on it. So I came across a good looking 02 Excursion Limited with 33K miles on it. It was a Previous Fleet Viehicle. And the other I was looking at is an 05 Limited as well with 70K miles on it. Now, cosmetically the 05 looks better. The 02 has the V10 and the 05 has the 5.4. Is there one reason I should look at one or the other more based on the motor? I have come across many deals for the V10 motors, I love the white over tan limited excursions, though. Kinda stuck, so it comes down to motor, and mileage I guess, Your thoughts?

 

And does anyone have any input on the Diablosport Predator Tuners, I have acces to one for almost nothing that would fit both motors. I havent heard much of anyone talking about those. As a car enthusiast, Diablosport Tuners are very nice peices and I know work extremely well on the modular motors. Does anyone have any input on those for any increase in MPG or horsepower rating?

 

You do not want to be towing a load with the 5.4 in the excursion, the X is heavy enough to make the motor work, throw on a descent trailor and its working pretty hard to get the job done. You wont even know its back there with the V10. Also, the V8 will be getting revd more to do the same job so you will spend about teh same in gas from all accounts on here.

Go V10 if your towing anything or go home in my opinion! (well, diesel is ideal, but we wont go there right now!)

 

You will be much happier with the V-10 when you are towing. There isn't that much difference in MPG's between them to warrant going for the 5.4l. However, the '05 has the brakes upgraded over the '02. I wouldn't worry about the miles, just do your homework on them (Carfax, Oasis report, etc.)

 

Is there much of a difference in the brakes to think one over the other? What did they do different to the brake system? Vented Rotors? I know they still are using the PBR dual piston calipers in both. Or larger pistons in the calipers? Thanks guys, I appreciate it. Sounds like some simple upgrades to do actually? But I could be way off base. I am definetely leaning towards the V10 as I have been snooping around the V10 forum and getting some owner feedback regarding the V10's and the love a lot of those members have for them.

 

My 2000 Ex 7.3 4wd went 144000 before I had to replace the transmission
The water pump, hoses, and right front wheel bearing were also replaced at the same time.

At 68 mph ~21 mpg on diesel. Pulls my 6000# boat as if it isn't there.

The diesel does cost a bit more to service.