Avalanche/Suburban 2500 with 8.1 towing mpg
Anyone who has one or had one, please chime in as to what kind of mpg you got while towing. I hate the idea of having 496 CI, but I'm planning to sell my 03 Suburban 1500 Z71 and am looking for an Ex...
Forum Discussion
Ben, that is not true on the excursion. Pulling the "cab" off on a ford is for the diesels, not the V-10. The excursion has a removable core support and the engine can be pulled right out of the front if need be. Heads can also be removed without pulling the engine.
As for plugs, Not sure what you guys mean, The plugs are on top of the engine, a simple universal adapter and spark plug socket to break it loose works fine. Then use a piece of Rubber hose to drop down into the hole and pull the plug out. I actually had my 12 year old son do it as a lesson in mechanics. I started each plug in the hole though as I didn't want him to cross thread them.
From owning an excursion, I love it, but as a tow vehicle, I'm not sold. You do have to do upgrades. If you find one that someone already did that too, like airbags, rear sway bar or RAS then buy it. I bought mine bone stock from a first owner and man what a headache to get this thing up to par to tow right. I do feel this is where the Suburban shines. But the suburban lacks in comfort of the excursion, especially if you can find a Limited. The limited is top of the line and both front seats are 8 way power. Amazingly comfortable. My suburban, not so much.
From the Yukon compared to the Excursion on Price. Yes, they are more money for some reason. Especially the Yukon 2500 with an 8.1. Not easy to find. I bought my 2003 excursion with 130k miles V10 for 9K, mine is a 4wd Limited, The only thing it doesn't have is a sunroof because it has a DVD system. The suburbans and Yukons are not so easy to find in our neck of the woods.
FYI, on the Fords, they do tend to go through oil, about two quarts every 5k miles. So if towing, keep an extra quart with you at all times.
I go to Valvoline oil change place and they give free top offs, so no worries for me.
As for plugs, Not sure what you guys mean, The plugs are on top of the engine, a simple universal adapter and spark plug socket to break it loose works fine. Then use a piece of Rubber hose to drop down into the hole and pull the plug out. I actually had my 12 year old son do it as a lesson in mechanics. I started each plug in the hole though as I didn't want him to cross thread them.
From owning an excursion, I love it, but as a tow vehicle, I'm not sold. You do have to do upgrades. If you find one that someone already did that too, like airbags, rear sway bar or RAS then buy it. I bought mine bone stock from a first owner and man what a headache to get this thing up to par to tow right. I do feel this is where the Suburban shines. But the suburban lacks in comfort of the excursion, especially if you can find a Limited. The limited is top of the line and both front seats are 8 way power. Amazingly comfortable. My suburban, not so much.
From the Yukon compared to the Excursion on Price. Yes, they are more money for some reason. Especially the Yukon 2500 with an 8.1. Not easy to find. I bought my 2003 excursion with 130k miles V10 for 9K, mine is a 4wd Limited, The only thing it doesn't have is a sunroof because it has a DVD system. The suburbans and Yukons are not so easy to find in our neck of the woods.
FYI, on the Fords, they do tend to go through oil, about two quarts every 5k miles. So if towing, keep an extra quart with you at all times.
I go to Valvoline oil change place and they give free top offs, so no worries for me.
