Daily Slideshow: 2005 Excursion Has High Hopes

Flipping the Script

Typically, when we cover a story about a father and son build or one inspired by the paternal/child bond, it's the son who follows in the father's footsteps. Well, things are going to be a bit different today. Josh Beachum is a guy who had gearhead tendencies all on his own. However, it wasn't until his son, Tristan, bought a 1992 Ford Bronco that Josh got the itch to build a truck. Fast forward to today and the result is a 2005 Ford Expedition that has surpassed anything Ford dreamed of when it originally left the factory floor. Toss in a gambler theme to the build and this Excursion is in a class all of its own.   

The Facelift Begins

Beachum's build started off innocently enough. The modifications were initially designed to clean up the look of the Excursion. The first step was to remove the factory side steps and install cleaner Amp Research power steps which stow away tight to the cab when not in use. A modest lift and some bigger wheels and tires followed soon after. Things took a turn to the more dramatic after Beachum saw the redesigned Super Duty front ends in 2015. With some help from a chap named Bob Daft, Beachum got the front end he was envying a short time ago. 

>Join the conversation about Josh Beachum's 2005 Excursion right here in Ford-trucks.com.

Things Get Out of Hand

After the front end swap, Beachum's Excursion started to get some well-deserved attention. The funny thing about attention is that it's highly addictive. Once he had a taste, Beachum had a craving for more and more adoration for his truck. In a world where everyone, including the teenager living down the block, has a lifted truck. The only way to stand out is to build something bigger and better than anyone else. Enter in Brian and Daniel Davis, the masterminds behind Davis Off-Road. It took them nine weeks, but after the nine weeks, Beachum was the proud owner of a certified monster. 

>Join the conversation about Josh Beachum's 2005 Excursion right here in Ford-trucks.com.

Totally Reworked

The Davis Brothers put in work on the suspension of the Excursion. They built a custom four-link setup highlighted by King chrome coilovers and triple bypass remote reservoir shocks. Front suspension travel is good for up to 16 inches. Out back, a similar setup is certified for 12 inches of travel. Take that Raptor owners. 

>Join the conversation about Josh Beachum's 2005 Excursion right here in Ford-trucks.com.

The Right Friends

In the truck world, good things happen to people who build good things. After catching the attention of American Force Wheels, Beachum got a deal on some 26-inch American Force Crux Wheels. With rims so big, only a 40-inch tire courtesy of Fury could get the job done. 

>Join the conversation about Josh Beachum's 2005 Excursion right here in Ford-trucks.com.

Labor Intensive

The overhaul from 2005 styling to the 2016 look doesn't end on the exterior. Beachum flirted with obsession when it came to converting and updating his Excursion. For proof look no further than the interior of his truck. Beachum found a complete interior from a 2016 model and drove nine hours to pick up every single piece. Unfortunately, Ford decided to change a few things over a decade and there was plenty of cutting, trimming, and customizing to be done. All told, approximately 500 hours went into making the two generations meld together. To take things a step further, an iPad was installed in the dash which controls the Excursion's stereo. 

>Join the conversation about Josh Beachum's 2005 Excursion right here in Ford-trucks.com.

Heads Up

When you put 500 hours into an interior, you better not forget the headliner. Beachum is no chump, so he and his team rewrapped the OEM headliner. It wasn't enough to reupholster the headliner so a custom backlit panel was fitted to the sunroof slot. A nice touch for an over-the-top build. 

>Join the conversation about Josh Beachum's 2005 Excursion right here in Ford-trucks.com.

Finishing Touches

With a SEMA deadline to meet, Beachum had the Davis Brothers add a Boost Bars grille and Bodyguard front and rear bumpers. Pretty fitting that Beachum's four-of-a-kind "Ace" grille was the face of the Fury booth at the annual SEMA Show in Sin City. 

>Join the conversation about Josh Beachum's 2005 Excursion right here in Ford-trucks.com.

Ready for a Return?

Sadly, Ford killed off the Excursion in 2005. It was a time of a down economy and a move towards more fuel-efficient vehicles geared towards comfort and road manners, not brute strength and presence. With the return of an updated Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator, the question has to be asked. How long until we see the Expedition's big brother back in action. Seeing the potential of a decade-old Excursion with a new face certainly makes me salivate for a new uber-sized Ford Excursion. 

>Join the conversation about Josh Beachum's 2005 Excursion right here in Ford-trucks.com.

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