Hello, I just joined the site and have a question.
I am interested in buying a used 2004 Excursion 4x4 with the 5.4 V-8, or a 2004 F-150 4x4 crew cab 5.4. The price for the excursion is roughly $10,000 and it has 50,000mi on it. I tow about 10 times a year (about 150mi each way to our campground) a 28ft travel trailer that weighs roughly 5,000lbs dry, after all our gear and a golf cart i would estimate the total load to be about 7,000lbs.

I am wondering which vehicle would be better suited to tow this load. I like the 5.4 vs the 6.8 V-10 due to the fact i am sure it gets better mileage, is more reasonably priced and i dont tow all the time, again about 10 times a year. I really like the excursion and the price is great you can check it out on ebay it is Item number: 160303857750. Is there anything about the 5.4 that i should be concerned about? Also does anyone know what kind of mileage the excursion would get with the 5.4, and would it be any worse that the F-150? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Mike Dabbelt

 

While I have no direct experience with either of those 2 choices, I would think that the F-150 would get much better MPG simply because it weighs less, which also means the 5.4 wont work as hard towing. My opinion would be to go with the F-150. I'd be willing to bet there isn't as much difference between a V10 X and a V8 X as you think. I'm sure someone will chime in that has direct experience though....we'll see.

BTW, welcome to FTE!

 

I would say the F150, only because the v8 is extremely sluggish in the Excursion. Excursion weighs a ton, or 4... add a 5000# boat to it, you're going nowhere fast.

There is quite the difference between the v8, the v10, and the v8 Diesel. The v8 is 255hp and 350# torque. The v10 is 310hp and 425# torque. The v8 Diesel is 325hp and 550# torque, the ultimate towing machine.

My Expedition had the 5.4litre v8, and weighing in at a total of 4850lbs, was pretty peppy. However when I tossed on a 3000lb trailer, it lost a lot of pep. That's just getting to the Excursion base weight, add another 5000lb trailer to it, and you'll really be feeling it.

Just my 2 cents. Good luck, and welcome!

 

Thanks for the replies i will take them into consideration. Would the excursion with the 5.4 really weigh nearly 8,000lbs. My brother in law has an 06 F-250 4wd crew 6in lift with 35's and tows his travel trailer similar in weight to mine. Although his 5.4 i believe has 300hp. Currently i use my 2006 Escalade EXT with the 6.0 to tow my TT and it does just fine. Problem is the lease is coming up and i will noot be buying the vehicle, i am looking for something more reasonably priced.

 

Mike,

Where in Indiana are you located? I'm in Fort Wayne...

The Ex is one HEAVY vehicle as it sits parked on the street...the 5.4L IMO is a good choice for simply moving itself and some people inside the Ex but not a very good motor for towing in an Ex.

V10 Ex's don't get much worse mpgs over a 5.4L Ex and the prices on V10s are just as low right now...

If you are in nothern Indiana (flatter) and are ONLY going to tow here...the 5.4L may be a good choice...do you know if it has 3.73's or 4.10' in the rear end?

If you are going to venture outside of Indiana...even southern Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky or Tennessee...that 5.4L in that heavy base vehicle will be working hard.

The 5.4L in the 2004 F150 will be the 3valve motor whereas the 5.4L in the Ex will be the 2V motor...so the F150 will have more power and be asked to move less overall weight.

Now from sheer towability/handling standpoint...the Ex will be the much preferred dog up front...no questions...but get into hills...and the F150 with the 3V motor will walk away and very likely get better mpgs doing the same thing.

WELCOME to FTE...and let me know if you are close and need any help with anything if you DO buy an Ex...

Joe.

 

my father in law has a 2000 v8 expedition , my 2001 v10 excursion pulls my camper much better ( 30 fleetwood prowler ... about #6000) the expy is nice ... 17 to 18 mpg on the highway not towing , the ex will do 14 to 16 on the highway not towing ... both are nice vehicles ... but i really like my ex ... even with all of it's from the factory faults .... i can even set the pace when we go camping ... my v10 ex vs my father in law's 1989 C class motorhome with a 460 .... and the gas milage is about the same 460 motorhome get about 8 to 9 mpg , v10 ex towing gets 8 mpg