Modifying an Excursion

Change the axle gears to 4.30 and add a locker to the rear axle while you're at it.

Add the upper overload spring leafs, spacers and frame brackets from an F350.

Upgrade the receiver for additional tongue weight. Upgrade to integrated WD/sway control hitch for GVWR of the TT.

Once loaded it will definitely know it's there, all 8K plus pounds and nearly 36' long. Tranny cooler and gear change will help, and a much better grade WD/SC hitch will be needed. It's doable although towing comfort won't be ideal particularly when traversing steep inclines at high elevations and merging onto interstate traffic. Excursions have proven to be good tow vehicles and it will get you and your TT where you need to go. Have lots of fun in your new Cougar.

We have an '04 X with a V10 but it's 4WD. We have the 3.73 rear end and pulled a 33' trailer that scaled at about 8500 lb. We have about 175,000 miles and about half that was towing.
We did nothing to the X except tighten the steering box when we got it and it always did a fine job. It is only two of us so only two bikes and two chairs in the X and the worst number at the scales was 160 lb under on the rear axle, no numbers were ever over. Yes, sometimes in the Rockies the teach would be over 5000 for several minutes at a time but we could always go the speed limit if we wanted.

Looked up the specs, 7260 dry with a 1720lb CCC. You'll be close to maxing out the trailers GVWR when loaded for a trip.

So a 9k lb trailer will require 1125lbs of tongue weight 12.5%! That puts you over the factory X's reciever rating. They were rated at 10k/1k lbs. in 2002 the rating went up with nothing more than upgraded hardware. The hitch is exactly the same from 2000-2005. Get new hardware for an 02 or just a complete new hitch from Curt.

Towing that kind of weight requires 4.30 gears as well as a rear sway bar at minimum! Maybe a set of air bags or F250 springs. I'm using a Hellwig rear sway bar and air bags on the rear of my X. I'm also using a Reese Dual Cam for the hitch I wouldn't tow with anything else. Towing performance will also be greatly improved with a tuner from 5star.

I'm towing about the same length and weight as you. Believe me you will not be happy until a few mods have been done. I have towed up to 12 hours a day without issue. The X is an excellent HD SUV and with the right things done to it will offer great towing enjoyment!

4.30 fears for sure. You'll need the additional 5,000 pounds of towing capacity.

Extra tranny oil cooler. Individual Extra air springs for the rear axle

Kinda hard to say off hand. It pulled one well so I would guess you need to pull the new one and see where(if) its lacking. Gearing could be he 1st thing I really cant tell. The 5star tune from mike could be good for the vehicle also. I have an E450 and it calmed the high rpms and gave better control over the transmission shifts.

Dont know anything about the TT but how much is able to carry and what is the dry weight will be the 1st few questions you will see.

Have fun.