I am currently using my 1994 Club Wagon to tow a 6500# (loaded) 27' travel trailer. I have really enjoyed the massive interior room. The van has the 5.8L V8 (351W) (3.55 rear end). I have a Pullrite hitch and an Add-a-leaf and the trailer pulls very nicely, but I am lacking in power at times and get coolant temps climbing on long grades. To keep up with traffic on the interstate, I am in 2nd on steep grades to maintain ~50mph.

I did do a successful Vermont to South Carolina 2400 mile round trip this last summer that included Skyline Drive and a section of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The old van has 164,000 miles on it and has not let me down yet, but with prices on X's coming down, it has me tempted to upgrade. MPG on the trip: 6.5 to 7.5 at 65 to 70mph, 8.5 at 60, and 9.5 at 55mph.

I am leaning towards a V10 given that I have to deal with harsh Vermont winters. I would not have a place to plug in a diesel in the daytime.

I am considering an '05 Limited V10 with just under 80,000 miles. I would have to add the extendable tow mirrors, and need to find out if it has a rear sway bar. I would get more year round use out of a 4WD X here in the mountains. The RWD van has to stay parked when conditions are difficult.

On some levels the decision seems obvious, but the van is long-since paid for and I guess I am a bit emotionally attached to it.

Thoughts, opinions?

 

Interestingly enough, I was parked next to my uncle-in-laws '94 E250 van over the holidays. We were comparing the size differances. Length-wize they are very close, but we think there is more interior volume in the van due to a shorter nose and slightly higher roof. We also think the front seat ergonomics are better in the X because it has a long nose...no doghouse.

MPG's sound like will be pretty much the same....possibly better with the V10 & 3.73's, but not much. It will certainly tow better, i.e. more power than the 351 w/ 3.55's.

You will probably be faced with the dreaded sway issue, as most who tow with X's have found, but that is fairly painlessly resolved as many threads here will attest.

If you can justify the expense, I would say you will be much happier with the X if not only for the "newer" amenities that come with an '05 vs. your '94

 

I just upgraded from a 98 Expedition to my 04 Excursion. The difference is like night and day. Sure, both had the "truck" type feel, rugged, durable, relatively simple. However the Excursion has a slew of amenities that make comfort that much nicer. Automatic climate control is great. One touch, 75F, defrost and floor, and I'll never have to touch it again.

The radio, is pretty much the same radio. 6 disc in dash vs in the arm rest, but I don't listen to cd's anyways. That's where the pre-installed XM in the new X came in handy. I was against it for ages, cost of the radio, cost of hte service, etc. However I came across a deal that your first year is only $77 when pre-paid, vs like $150 normally. That's $6.51 a month. I lose more than that in my seats, spend more than that on cigarettes, and the lady friend has been bugging me to get Sirius, which she has. On a similar note, XM is NOT Sirius. Who knew? It's the same company, right? Satalite is Satalite. Well, it's not. Some day I'll learn...

Heated seats are very nice, especially this time of year. They're warm before the truck is, so even if your fingers are frozen to the wheels, your posterior is nice and toasty.

It's not a van. Nothing against vans, but the seat comfort and ride quality in my opinion has always been superior with the SUV type. I do, however, recommend 4 captains chairs and just hte 3rd row bench if you upgrade to an X. Van's remind me more of like a school bus, where-as the X reminds me of a heaping pile of AWESOME. I don't want to drive a bus all over, unless it's to the local tailgate party.

My 2 cents, if you're not itching for something new, I'd stick with what you have. The Excursion is nice, but I bought mine because my Expedition completely rusted through. I could poke 3 fingers through my trailing control arms. Fuel and brake lines all needed to be replaced. Ball joints were shot. The list goes on, but I had to buy something. The 04 Expedition cost more than I paid for my Excursion, so it was an easy choice. I do still need to haul, so it was something big. Now I love my Excursion and will never go back.

 

vt,

Here's my advice...

A 1994 van with 160K miles tugging 6500#'s could easily let you down from a mechanical failure...however that could be said about a 2005 with 80K on it...one never knows when a mechanical failure is going to surface.

The van IS a proven performer for you.

You have much invested in that Pull-Rite hitch which likely can NOT be moved to your Ex...and a new Pull-Rite will likely set you back close to $2K for a NEW one...plus I'm not sure if you have looked at a Pull-Rite installation option on an Ex...it installs BELOW the factory receiver which reduces ground clearance...the good news is that you likely do not NEED a Pull-Rite for a 27' TT...I towed my previous 27' 7500# TT thru the Rockies, Big Horns and Black Hills with nothing but a Dual Cam hitch from DrawTite and a rear sway bar...the Ex is that good on a TT of your size pretty much in stock form with a good WD and sway control hitch like the DC or Equal-i-zer BRAND hitch...

My experiences in a northern climate tell me that 4wheel drive is a must. Plus I have been in some campgrounds and camping sites that REQUIRED either 4 wheel drive OR having a bowtie or dodge push my TT into the uphill site in wet grass or loose gravel...so I'll keep my 4x4 for those FEW times I NEED it...cause when you do...you DO!

Also like I eluded to above...the Ex with nothing more than a good WD hitch and rear sway bar makes for an awesome TV in pretty much stock trim for trailers of your size...I didn't find a need to add the RAS until I dropped 1100#+ of tongue weight on the rear of the Ex...

An Ex with V10 and 3.73's would be a great match for your TT...however if you have any idea that you will be going heavier on the TT in the future...the 4.30 gearing is a PERFECT match IMO to the V10 for towing heavy...but I also found that for my 7500# TT with 3.73's...I simply locked out OD and she would pull all day long at 63-65 in 3rd without downshifting...

MPG's...you will very likely see very similar mpg's as you currently are with your 5.8L V8...and you may even see higher...mpg's are very driver dependant (along with many other factors)...and if you can achieve those with your current TV...you should have no issues with a motor that doesn't have to work as hard...and considering those 3.55's were not really an ideal towing gear...you may see better towing mpgs...but keep in mind the Ex is one HEAVY TV to start...so your combined weight rolling down the road will be significantly heavier too...so mpg's may be a wash...

I know that I have hauled a TT 18,000 miles in the last 3 summers with my family inside the Ex...everyone is more than happy with the comfort and ROOM afforded by this TV...and I am more than happy with the POWER of the V10 for some pretty serious grades and altitudes in the Rockies as we roll down the road at 17,000#'s combined weight...

The overall towing stability and interior comfort is something that cannot be denied...now just getting over the emotional attachment is another thing.

Towing puts a large strain on vehicles...and it may be time to upgrade just for piece of mind...but also given the area you live...4wheel drive also affords piece of mind when the road conditions worsen...my Ex is primarily my Snow and Tow vehicle...two things she does exceptionally well...I don't ask her to be a fuel efficient commuter box...that isn't something she is built to do...I ask her to do what she does best and she keeps a BSEG on my face...

Let us know if you have any questions...I think we all are kind of biased towards the awesome nature of the Ex...so if you want someone to tell you to keep the van and not get the Ex...you need to post this question in another room!

Seriously...let us know how we can help on any specific questions you have on the Ex you are looking at...post a VIN number here and someone can run an OASIS report for you to tell you how the beginning life of your candidate Ex has been spent under Ford warranty!

Good luck,
Joe.

 

Thanks for the thoughtful replies.

I started another thread with an OASIS request on the X I am considering. I'm sure I'll hear back from someone before too long.

I did read about a guy that moved his PullRite from a Ford van to an X. It required some custom work, but it sounds like it worked out well. Even with the installation below the stock hitch, I would end up with far more ground clearance than my current vehicle. There is a custom hitch shop that is willing to look at the possible transfer. I have been extremely pleased with the stability of the PullRite and would like to stay with it if possible. It sounds like there are other good options if the transfer is cost prohibitive.

The X is in Mass. a couple hundred miles from home. I'll have to watch the weather and my schedule to see if I can check it out before it sells. FWIW, the carfax checks out ok.

 

Sounds like a good choice that you won't regret, the Ex is an awesome TV. I only pull on weekends a 4000# Cuddy Cabin, the Ex doesn't even know its back there.

BTW where in VT are you from? and I would assume your in law enforcment by your handle. My GG-Grandfather was Chief of Middlebury PD...

Great to have you aboard the Ex family if all pans out, they are a great bunch of folks here.

 

I want to warn you, from personal experience... Mass is hard on vehicles, especially ones that are prone to rust. My Expedition came from there, and it was blatently obvious. I picked up a few cars there last winter for restoration, 4 to be exact. Their restoration was such a nightmare due to the extensive RUST, and they were SUBARU's! Just a thought, if you want your X to last you as long as your van, be sure to check all over for rust, including brake lines, as they're an easy $1000 to replace. If you do find it is in good condition, take it to your dealer and have them spray on a rubber undercoating on the truck. This helps a lot. My 96 subaru legacy had it, with 200k miles, and resided in a harsh wintery climate. There was no a spec of rust on the underside of that vehicle.

 

Hi all.

I am in the Burlington area. The trooper in Vttrooper0 comes from my days of owning two Isuzu Troopers. I have an Army National Guard background from my Kansas days, but no law enforcement history.

I hear you about the rust concerns. The roads up here are heavily salted and take a real toll on vehicles. I will have to take that into account with the Mass. X.

 

I'd just hate to see someone get into something like I did. I didn't take particular notice, didn't feel it necessary, when I bought my Expedition. 8 months later I was forced to trade it in, without inspection, and got about 30% of what I paid for it, on the trade. That was after I negotiated up from 10%. It would have cost me $5000 just to get it through inspection, and that left a hand full of things not done. I wish Ford would do more to protect against rust, but I guess it's just part of that planned obsolescence.

 

With a 27' TT an Equal-i-zer hitch is more than sufficient, I usually straight pull 27' and shorter TT's. I have up to 30' TT with an Equal-i-zer and a Helig rear sway on the X and the trailers pull very smooth and straight, even is strong cross winds.