So my family has been long time Ford people, and my daily driver is a Ford pickup. But we recently acquired a 2003 Excursion.

As these things go, its pretty much bottom of the pile:

-5.4L V8
-3.73 rear end
-2WD

It is an Eddie Bauer, and despite its age and 150k miles, it is in really nice shape. It runs and shifts very smoothly. So far, we've replaced the rear glass hydraulics, put 4 new tires and a wheel alignment on it, replaced one brake line from the front to the rear, replaced a cracked rim and one missing wheel hub cap. The driver's seat base cushion leather is ripped, but I procured a replacement leather seat cushion cover which is brand new and a perfect match to the original two-tone leather.

Otherwise, the radio works fine, A/C front and rear is ice cold.

The shifter linkage is very stiff and not accurate. I'm guessing the switch selector on the outside of the transmission is failing?

The driver's side power window does not work, and the reverse sensing system has only worked once. The switch always says "off" and if you push it, it won't stay in the "on" setting.

But anyway, here it is:

 

Very clean ride. Do you have any upgrading plans for it? What was the whole purpose for needing a Ex?

 

Didn't "need" one just had been intrigued by them for awhile. The purchase price was very low, and initially the thought was to just resell it for a buck or two. But I really like it. Being 2WD, it turns almost nimbly...much better turning circle than my 4x4 Super Duty. Fuel economy is terrible in the city as expected, but on the highway it will return 16mpg.

Upgrades? I prefer the "towing" style mirrors, even though these have the red signal arrows in them. I'm contemplating a 2" lift to make it sit a little more "normally." Other than that, fix the minor issues it currently has and just enjoy it.

I own a small landscaping company and thought about using it as a company vehicle. But according to what I read, this combination of 5.4L and 3.73 rear end has an utterly wimpy 6800lb towing capacity, despite being an F-250 platform. I wonder if the engine is what is causing the low capacity, since the axle appears to be the same Sterling 10.5" as found in the Super Duty. Were these things ever offered with a factory trailer brake controller? Otherwise, what is the best solution for adding one?

 

The 5.4L engine is the culprit behind the low tow rating. I don't know when factory brake controllers started, but mine didn't have one. It was very easy to add one though. The wiring harness for them is there under the dash, you just need to cut and crimp some wires.

 

No, Ford didn't start doing that until well after the Excursions were no longer being made.

Tekonsha Prodigy P3 brake contoller.

Stewart

 

Nice to see you on this side of the forum. You always have good input. Congrats!!

 

Thanks! The Excursion is definitely cool.

 

You can buy an adapter harness cheap . You will find the prewired harness under dash though it is hidden pretty well.

 

Perfect candidate for a drop
Sweet ride

 

The EXs never got the factory integrated trailer brake controller, but there is a plug up under the dash waiting to accept an aftermarket one.
Get the Teknosha P3 Tekonsha - Trailer Brake Control - Proportional
And the Ford pigtail harness Tekonsha - 2 - Plug Adapters
And there will be no need to cut or crimp anything, it's all plug and play and it works great!

 

I didn't know about the adapter pigtail. I wired mine in like a MAN.

 

Fixed it for ya.