Towing with Ford Excursion V10
 

Reaching out to my fellow BEAK DRIVERS. Having to adjust some things in the toy department and refuse to do anything but keep my 2000 38 Lightning. Long story short getting out of a hefty truck payment. I have a 2000 38 Lightning with a triple axle steel trailer. I'd say for argument sake towing 10,000lbs. I hit 4-6 poker runs per year usually in the southeast. Other than those trips its back and forth to the local ramps. You can pick up a V10 Excursion fairly cheap. Before I make a decision I'd like to hear your opinions on the matter. Lets keep it to a 4x4 V10 Excursion. I have looked up in the tow section the capacities but I would like comments from those of you who have towed with them. Good or bad let me know. Thanks in advance!!!!

It'll get worse fuel mileage than the boat.

I think you are more then 10k. May be a good time to take it and scale the boat and trailer with what you normally carry so that it's not a guessing game.

You will get people telling you it's a fountain and a feather weight to ones saying you should have a 650.

I tow my 38 Powerquest with a 2002 Excursion with a V-10. Milage is bad, but she is paid for. Does a fine job. It gets 9 mpg when towing, gets about 13 mpg with nothing behind it. My wife had a Jeep Wrangler before the Excursion, it got 11 mpg empty.

I don't own a Fountain but did own an Excursion 7.3 Diesel. Your boat/trailer/misc should be around 12k going down the road. After 1 tow from Wisconsin to Ohio with 12k+ behind me I installed Firestone Air Ride, Hellwig rear sway bar and 4 new Michelins. Truck road night and day difference. At 75+ speed still got a little" tail wagging the dog" on bumps and windy situations. Around 60 ish, truck was very planted. I would look for 7.3 diesel over the V10 gasser or 6.0. The MPG on the V10 is poor on its best day. You will be happier with the diesel when launching at steep ramps, put it in low and walk right up.

Right now I have a 2006 Duramax dually. I get 14.5 in the city +/- and 10-11 towing. I have a heavy foot and tow the same way.

hell we all know the Fountains are gas sippers!!!!

We all know diesels are better. No news there guys. You're not telling anyone anything they didn't know.

But if I had to guess, I bet this guy is right for using it a handful of times a year...what he saves on the truck he'll spend on gas and still come out way ahead.

It would do the job if you can find one priced right. Unfortunately Excursions are one of a handful of vehicles I have found with out of line pricing. people are overly proud of them.

[QUOTE=phragle;4303123]It would do the job if you can find one priced right. Unfortunately Excursions are one of a handful of vehicles I have found with out of line pricing. people are overly proud of them.[/QU
More than a few times I had people ask me if I wanted to sell my diesel Excursion over the past 3 years. The offers were all unsolicited and very strong offers. I just wasn't selling at that time. I sold the truck to one of Full Forces buddys on a phone call. If he didn't buy it I had a couple more people with money in hand. Just like the H2, there is a strong following for the trucks and people will pay for the good ones. The demand dictates the price.

I just bought a mint 03 Excursion V10 last August to tow my 32 Fever. I know the 32 is much lighter but it tows like there is nothing behind me. Although I knew the V!0 would be a gas hog I went with that instead of the diesel as I didn't want the extra large diesel oil changes or the diesel in the subzero winters here as I drive it in the winter.

Tow my Baja 34 CC on a tri axle Eagle with the 7.3 Excursion.....tows like a dream.....had a F350 dually before the excursion....2 wd....won't do that again

I have a 38 lightning and pull it with a 11 f350 dually. I also just sold a 00 v10 excursion that was a extra vehicle. After driving the ex for a few months and never towing with it, I don't think I would attempt to try to pull it on a long trip. Couple miles to the boat ramp maybe but thats it. Stock, the older excursions drive like sh!!. You can add air bags, rear sway bar, super duty rear springs but with that kind of weight it would be a hairy ride! I tried to weigh mine at one point but the scale was acting up. I would assume they are around 13-14k loaded with a trailer. O, and horrible fuel mileage! The transmissions are weak in those too. Another thing to consider.

Just sold mine with 104K miles for $8K. pulled my 42 with a little strain but with air bags on the rear it did just fine.

I have an '01 7.3. It WILL be my last truck. There is nothing out there that is better. When I get some $$$ together my plan is to make it into a duallie. Did that with my '99 Suburban. ****ing awesome looking. Suburban was a little weak. Boat and trailer is 12K. At 70 MPH it doesn't even realize something is behind it. Car trailer loaded is 10K. Straight as an arrow for both. When the load is situated correctly I get NO tail waggin the dog.