EXCURSION for towing ??
#11
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 531
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Thinking about towing my boat ( 37 Midnight w/quad Outboards approx 8K lbs) and doing a few occassional short trips (3 hours) and some long trips to Florida (14 hours)
I have been looking at Ford Excursions for their interior space and overall secondary vehilce use for my famalia.
Any experiences ??
Im assuming I should go with Diesel and 4x4 any experiences or suggestions. Thanks
I have been looking at Ford Excursions for their interior space and overall secondary vehilce use for my famalia.
Any experiences ??
Im assuming I should go with Diesel and 4x4 any experiences or suggestions. Thanks

#12
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 5,844
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From: Bradenton Florida
There NOT the same as a 1/2 ton. Not even close,they are not as big as they need to be for sure.
If you go to some of the truck forums you can find the part #'s for the Ford oe springs to put f250 or 350 springs under it that will have it sit level and you can run 33-35 inch tires depending what spring you run, get good 6-8 ply tires, I have 18 inch wheels but am putting on 20's for less sidewall and even better ride. You can go aftermarket but the stock stuff seems to ride better. Will it tow as good as a dually no, will it tow the boat in ? yes and 6-8 people and all their crap. I would not go over 15k total boat and trailer for long trips.
Any truck that was not built to tow will need some setup to do the job right, I don't remember Chevy building any dually Suburban's so it must have been a conversion or custom witch the company would have done things to make it tow better. Yes Duallys tow great but they suck to drive all the time if you live in an area with alot of traffic.
If you go to some of the truck forums you can find the part #'s for the Ford oe springs to put f250 or 350 springs under it that will have it sit level and you can run 33-35 inch tires depending what spring you run, get good 6-8 ply tires, I have 18 inch wheels but am putting on 20's for less sidewall and even better ride. You can go aftermarket but the stock stuff seems to ride better. Will it tow as good as a dually no, will it tow the boat in ? yes and 6-8 people and all their crap. I would not go over 15k total boat and trailer for long trips.
Any truck that was not built to tow will need some setup to do the job right, I don't remember Chevy building any dually Suburban's so it must have been a conversion or custom witch the company would have done things to make it tow better. Yes Duallys tow great but they suck to drive all the time if you live in an area with alot of traffic.
If u put springs om it from a 350 ,,yes but still not as good as a dually.
Its like a f150 with a bigger body and f350 engine = EXURSION
Even the frame is not much difrent then f150 !!!!!!!!
Go messure one.
#13
I've had a couple and they tow well, even better with bags from what I have heard.
It does not matter who you are, how far you are towing, or what boat you are towing. If you're *loaded* (fuel and all gear) boat and trailer weight combined is over 9,600LBS (with 3.73 gears) or 11,000LBS (with 4.30 gears) you are illegal.
Someone cuts you off and causes and accident, you now have no insurance and everyone and their cousin can come after your boat, home, business, kids college money....get the idea?
No matter what it "feels" like, your insurance policy only cares about what your truck is legally rated at.
The older Suburbans will bump it up to 12,000LBS.
How much does that bad boy weigh anyway with 4 engines?
It does not matter who you are, how far you are towing, or what boat you are towing. If you're *loaded* (fuel and all gear) boat and trailer weight combined is over 9,600LBS (with 3.73 gears) or 11,000LBS (with 4.30 gears) you are illegal.
Someone cuts you off and causes and accident, you now have no insurance and everyone and their cousin can come after your boat, home, business, kids college money....get the idea?
No matter what it "feels" like, your insurance policy only cares about what your truck is legally rated at.
The older Suburbans will bump it up to 12,000LBS.
How much does that bad boy weigh anyway with 4 engines?
Last edited by damdonzi; 01-16-2009 at 07:50 PM.
#14
I've had a couple and they tow well, even better with bags from what I have heard.
It does not matter who you are, how far you are towing, or what boat you are towing. If you're *loaded* (fuel and all gear) boat and trailer weight combined is over 9,500LBS you are illegal.
Someone cuts you off and causes and accident, you now have no insurance and everyone and their cousin can come after your boat, home, business, kids college money....get the idea?
No matter what it "feels" like, your insurance policy only cares about what your truck is legally rated at.
The older Suburbans will bump it up to 12,000LBS.
How much does that bad boy weigh anyway with 4 engines?
It does not matter who you are, how far you are towing, or what boat you are towing. If you're *loaded* (fuel and all gear) boat and trailer weight combined is over 9,500LBS you are illegal.
Someone cuts you off and causes and accident, you now have no insurance and everyone and their cousin can come after your boat, home, business, kids college money....get the idea?
No matter what it "feels" like, your insurance policy only cares about what your truck is legally rated at.
The older Suburbans will bump it up to 12,000LBS.
How much does that bad boy weigh anyway with 4 engines?
#15
Registered
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: P.G.
Thinking about towing my boat ( 37 Midnight w/quad Outboards approx 8K lbs) and doing a few occassional short trips (3 hours) and some long trips to Florida (14 hours)
I have been looking at Ford Excursions for their interior space and overall secondary vehilce use for my famalia.
Any experiences ??
Im assuming I should go with Diesel and 4x4 any experiences or suggestions. Thanks
I have been looking at Ford Excursions for their interior space and overall secondary vehilce use for my famalia.
Any experiences ??
Im assuming I should go with Diesel and 4x4 any experiences or suggestions. Thanks

I HAVE A 01 EXCURSION 7.3 4X4 12IN LIFT AND 39'S IN TIRES ON 20X12 RIMS, IT PULLS A 28 DONZI FINE MY BOAT AND EVERTHING IS RITE AT 8K, WITH ALL THE STUFF ON MINE EXTRA THE TRUCK ONLY WAS 8842 FULL OF DIESEL.
#16
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 715
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Thinking about towing my boat ( 37 Midnight w/quad Outboards approx 8K lbs) and doing a few occassional short trips (3 hours) and some long trips to Florida (14 hours)
I have been looking at Ford Excursions for their interior space and overall secondary vehilce use for my famalia.
Any experiences ??
Im assuming I should go with Diesel and 4x4 any experiences or suggestions. Thanks
I have been looking at Ford Excursions for their interior space and overall secondary vehilce use for my famalia.
Any experiences ??
Im assuming I should go with Diesel and 4x4 any experiences or suggestions. Thanks

P.S. stay away from the 2003's. Ford had all kinds of issues with that year.
#17
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 715
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
The frame on an Excursion is an F350 frame, 1 ton. Its not even close to an F150.
#18
Same frame as an F250 subercab shot bed. same front axle same spring less one leaf, same rear sping diff. rear because ford never saw the need to make it a dually. I use to work for Ford
#19
Engine/Rear Axle Ratio/Max GCWR/Max Trailer Weight
5.4L/4.10/14,500/7,200
6.8L/3.73/17,000/9,600
6.8L/4.30/20,000/11,000
I think the diesel tow ratings are identical. Someone could grab thier manual and chime in as well.
So if you have an 8,000LB boat on a 1,500LB trailer, and the Excursion weighs 8,600LBS, you will need the 4.30 gears to be legal, because you would have already exceeded 17,000LBS Max GCWR based on the truck+trailer+boat -forget the people and gear in the truck which you need to account for as well.
My point is, no matter what it "feels" like, it's what the insurance company will say in the event of an accident that counts in addition to being able to safely tow your boat.
#20
Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 831
Likes: 2
From: Ocean Pines, Maryland. Wish I was at MANGOS in MIAMI!
Thanks everyone!!! I greatly appreciate all the info. Sounds like Ill be okay. Dont plan on taken too many trips to Florida , I did think about the dually. I will be using this vehicle as a secondary vehicle so either way I will be okay. But I will probably get more use out of the Excursion. Thanks again.



