I Would like to introduce myself as I am new to this forum and tell you my story. A retired friend and business acquaintance showed me his 2001 Excursion last year. He is the original owner and keeps it in showroom condition ( it's his baby). He has other cars and has primarily used this for his hunting trips. It is a 4x4, 7.3L, Limited with 83k on the clock. It is in stock condition, except for Banks Package. The truck itself is in showroom condition inside and out and I mean showroom condition, it is a SoCal truck. After seeing it, I immediately wanted to buy the truck, I asked when he is ready to sell to let me know first, He came to my office this week and said he is ready to sell. I am buying this as a third car. I currently have a 2002 Expedition since new and has served me well with 165k on the clock, but I wanted to find a suitable replacement for the next 10 years to act as go to hauler / towing / road trip vehicle.

My question is, will my wife hate driving this truck? She currently drives a 2009 Expedition. But more importantly I am trying to get my arms around these trucks as far as strengths and trouble areas. My main concern is this suspension/wandering issue I continue to read about. Is this an issue of design or age and for a stock truck (not going to lift it) what is the solution and cost associated.

Any advice would be appreciated. I have spent the last few days reading through this forum, lots of good information and hope to add to it as my experience with the Ex grows.

 

As I don't know your wife I can not say she will or will not hate driving this TRUCK. We have had one suburban and two excursions. The excursions are more "truck-like" in ride feeling and stability. I have changed the springs, added a sway bar, and a new steering gear box. It drives great and no wandering.

I enjoy driving the Excursion, my wife enjoys driving the Excursion, and our kids love riding in the Excursion. It is the best road trip vehicle ever. Tows my 34 foot camper like a dream now. I also tow my car trailer loaded with a mustang, firewood, or diesel kubota tractor all the time.

On this site you will see that many of us are very passionate about our Excursions and we feel that Ford dropped the ball when it discontinued them in 2005.

I have a 7.3. Its a little sluggish in stock form but can be woken up very nicely and is a great driver.

Good luck on your decision

 

I came out of a 2007 Expy and do miss some of the newer features - power liftgate, power 3rd row, nicer center console. I definitely liked the ride and handling better. However - with a few changes the Excursion is fantastic and will be a better tow vehicle. It is based on a 3/4 ton truck with solid axles front and rear so it will ride and handle differently than the Expy with independent front and rear suspension. No way to know until you test drive one. The interior room is great and I have no regrets on my decision which is 4.5 years old now.

 

Welcome to FTE Tsquare!! We have an 02 Limited, 7.3 4x4 with 163 or so on the clock, only wandering issue we have had was pitman arm, I changed it out when I lifted it and it slowly worked about 1/8 turn loose, big nice wrench and tighten, all well. I did ball joints just cuz, it had about 100k and I have been running 35's since new. You will love it, and as stated, most of us are passionate about them. Always remember, you will always find more "problem/trouble" posts than "I Love my truck" posts, cause a lot come on here looking for help fixin things. With only 83k on it, I would check the brakes and all the fluids and then sit back, adjust your seat and ENJOY the drive!!! BTW, CONGRATS on the purchase and I am sure there are a lot of us jealous types out there that would love to have found that one!!

 

Had a 03 Expedition, it was nice but nothing like the Excursion in terms of power and towing ability. You will notice a downgrade in steering feel and ride most likely.

 

Thanks for posting your thoughts, we take lots of long road trips (especially snow skiing) and am hoping this is a good choice? Was joking (well-half joking) about my wife not liking the drive - she has actually been after me to get a Ford crew cab, I think this Ex is the better ticket. The only car she would probably "hate" to drive is a mini-van. She's a good egg.

Thanks for the post. Her 2009 Exped is a great cruiser, hoping the Ex will be just as good - but bigger and roomer. My crew keeps growing.

Thanks for the post. I know the problem posts always show more on the forums, people needing to get the answers to problems. I have an AMG Mercedes and if you read through the forums you would think they are expensive to own - nothing could be further from the truth. The key always seems to be finding a well maintained vehicle to start with. I have owned Ford trucks for a long time, they have been bullet proof for me. I having my service advisor at Ford check it out next week, she always takes good care of me, by the way she had one and said it was amazing - she regrets ever selling it.

 

Design.

Ford used different 4x4 leaf springs on the Excursion, instead of using the same 4x4 leaf spring they put on the F250/350 trucks.

The solution that many of us have opted for is to remove the flaw (the springs) and replace them with springs from the aforementioned F250/350 trucks. Those truck springs resist side-loading on the springs themselves, as well as controls axle wrap, better than the Excursion springs.

As for your wife, I can't answer how well she'll like the Ex. I will say though, that my Excursion is my wife's daily driver and she absolutely loves it. She tells me if something catastrophic ever happens to the Ex, I better find a way to replace it with another Ex.

Stewart

 

YUP X2!!! I'm watching, always watching Wasowski!! Need to find one and mothball it for later use!

 

the 7.3 engine is good for many miles 400k+.
i love the way my 2wd ex rides much smother then my 4x4 truck, so i can say on the 4x4 ex.
my mother is now driving it she came from a 01 town and county van and she loves the ex more then she liked the van. if the price is good and you you wont regret it.

 

My wife likes driving out Ex. It was her daily driver for the first couple of years that we owned it and she always felt safe.

 

buy it and keep it! low miles and great condition combined with one owner?! hell i'd buy it just to have it!

 

Thanks for the advice and thanks for the vote of confidence from your wife.

 

Thanks for the feedback



This is how I felt the first time I saw it.

 

When I first got our Excursion my wife was nervous about driving it. After a decade of ownership she loves it. It is the best road trip vehicle out there. One thing about 2001's is there is an issue with the diode (I think) Maybe some one else can chime in about that. Otherwise you will not regret it.

 

Mechanical Diode in the transmission of some 2001 PSD Excursions.

It's a one way clutch that was a weak link in the trans. Ford stopped using it during the 2001 production run.

Stewart