So - I'm looking for an Excursion and wanted to get some opinions. I've done quite a bit of research and I'm still torn on which engine to get. I have a 27' Sea Ray Sundancer which I'll be towing which weighs in at about 9000 lbs on the trailer. I know I want a later model 4x4, Limited or EB - but V10 or 6.0? I know the problems with 6.0 but feel as though the power and torque would be my best bet.

So... I guess I'm wondering what my chances at success would be if I got a 2005 6.0 with lower miles (50-60k) and:
- Installed a coolant filter bypass
- Added the EGR delete - cooler bypass kit
- Installed EGT and Trans gauges

Or:
If I got a 2004/05 V10 with 4:30 gears and didn't basically have to do anything. I'm not that concerned with mileage - most of my trips are fairly short distance. That short distance driving may not be ideal for a diesel - but I live in the Outer Banks so everything is pretty close around here unless we go on a trip.

So - I know I want an Excursion.... but decisions, decisions....Look forward to hearing everyone's thoughts!

 

In an unrelated matter, ahh, check your e-mail.

 

I just went through the same dilemma. I decided on a 2005 Eddie Bauer (love the two tone seating) with diesel since I plan on towing a camper in the future (not implying the V10 is incapable, just wanted the extra power). Hard to say if it is the right choice, but the price was right and had the features I was looking for.

 

It all boils down to how often you will be towing, how much you want to spend on truck and upkeep, and ultimately, what YOU will be happy with.

I have a V10 and am happy with it for the big reason being it was a gift to me. Well, really I traded my wife's car that was worth about $3,000 with my FIL so I guess it really cost me $3,000.

I would love to have a diesel but it would double the price of the vehicle I have. (2000 XLT 4x4 with 156k miles) Mine is worth about $5,000 I think and a comparable diesel would sell for about $10,000.

I actually created a spread sheet to look at the cost difference and with todays gas/diesel prices and using 9 mpg for the gas and 13 for the diesel (all my driving is towing 7,000 lbs to 15,000 lbs) it would take 61,000 miles to make up the $5,000 difference in the cost of the vehicle.

I know some will argue that you get better resale value but you still have to have the cash up front plus the way I buy and use vehicles, there isn't much value left by the time I get ready to sell it.

My next vehicle will be a diesel but that is because my equipment level is always rising with my tree business and I will need every horsepower/torque I can get.

For now, the V10 suites my needs just fine and it does its daily tasks without complaining one bit even when the scale reads over 21,000 lbs!! It just keeps on pulling.

 

Food for thought; it will probably be easier to find a good 6.0L Excursion than a 4.30 equipped V10 Excursion.

 

i had to decide when i bought recently, for me i refused to buy a 6.0 of any year i just wouldnt do it. i wanted somthing newer then 02 and a 02-03 7.3 limited or even a loaded xlt was just not there in my price range. i happend uppon a '04 V10 xlt loaded that was only 2k over my price limit and i went for it. i kinda ran out of time as my other daily driver was becoming unreliable and i wanted to get somthing "now" insted of waiting.

for what your doing the v10 seems like it would be the perfect fit, but what it comes down to is what you really want.

 

Thanks everyone - you're confirming what I've been thinking. The cost difference is hard to justify along with the additional maintenance and modification costs. My wife isn't too happy about the possibility of a diesel - doesn't like the smell or the noise. She runs our quick lube business and has to work on them everyday so she sees the value but doesn't want to really own one. What year did they start putting in the quad chairs and the electronic climate control?

gr8scott72 - I did a spreadsheet too and came up with similar return. Similar to buying the thing new - very difficult to justify unless it's the only way to pull the load you have.

BTW - thanks Sheriff!

 

In the FTE toolbar there is a "Articles/Specs" column, this will give you all the Specs and options for every year the Excursion was made.

 

I just purchased a V10 2003 4x4 Limited to tow a 7500lbs Cargo Trailer for my business. I also have a 23' Glastron Carlson boat and would like to step up to a 27/29ft Formula next year. That's 10,000 for sure. My wife did not want a diesel either. I only do about 10,000 a year so gas will be fine for me, Mike.

 

Thanks for that - had searched the forums but never even really noticed that toolbar option. Great information in there!

So - how much effort should I really place into the 4.30 gears over the 3.73? Seems both are rated at 11k pounds - I'm sure the 4.30 will accelerate better and may keep it in a better RPM range. Will the 3.73's stress the tranny/xfer case too much?

 

Thanks Mike - which gears do you have?

 

I have the 3.73's in mine, pulling a 8k trailer and it stays in a good RPM range at 60-65 for towing with OD locked out in mild terrain. pulling at 55 would make it need to downshift more for the hills. The 3.73's are perfect for normal driving though, i think. I believe the 4.30's run about 2700 rpm in OD at 70mpg.

 

4.30's put you around 2270RPM at 70 in OD with stock tires.

 

Not sure when the Quads and Electronic Climate control came out, but I had the climate control in my 2003 EB V10 Excursion and have both the Quads and Climate Control in my current 2003 EB 7.3L Excursion.

 

FYI, Is the potential cost of having to regear worth passing up a vehicle you would otherwise like ?

Yeah, if 4x4, it throws a factor in there, but if you go 4x2....
what is it about $1000 to pay someone to regear ? (then you can always resell the pulled gears on fleaby ( or here !)

good luck on your purchase....