e-350 vs Excursion for towing TT?

Although our has the 7.3 PSD, she's had some mods to make her stout for the mountains. We've loaded her with 7 adults and two large dogs, pulled 8K into the mountains with little issue. You'll enjoy the ride and be glad you made the jump.

Good to hear! Yes they do ride nice. Especially the low mile ones.

Ok, so we bought an '03 Excursion in amazing condition with low miles. Brake controller already installed. Loaded up the camper and our family and drove from Kansas City to St Louis yesterday. My goodness! Smoothest ride I've had in a long time. Pulled our TT as if it wasnt even there!

I Love my excursion v 10 . Pull a 30 ft 9K loaded trailer with a propride hitch . Excellent tow vehicle , and plow truck and back up work truck .

The issue is not so much the X vs. the E 350 both chassis are capable.
However the V-10 in either vehicle will be superior to the 5.4 in either vehicle.
Bottom line go for the vehicle with the V-10.

You have to remember the gcwr of the e350 5.4 is 13k. I have a suburban and a dry 5600lb, loaded 6400lb camper. I am at 12890. That Is with 4 young kids

I'm afraid you will be over gcwr If it was me I would tow with the e350 for know and just watch your temps. I would also be on the hunt for a v10 e350 and grab one if you find it.

The x will be too small for you in my opinion.

Personally I'd opt for the v10 X. But that's me.

The e350 may offer more seating and better payload. Check the weights and numbers. You might pack light but kids grow (ie get heavier).

The E series vans were also available with the V10 if you wanted.

The excursion and E-350 probably have close to the same GVWR, but I think that the Excursion will have a higher curb weight, especially if the Excursion is 4X4. That one option adds about 500 pounds curb weight!

Also as your family grows, then you will be longing for the room found inside the E-350. It is SO much larger inside, much taller, and more legroom for the growing kids. Also the E-350 can seat 11-15 total, depending on the number of seats inside. While your towing capacity on the E-350 is limited by the smallish 5.4L V8, because yours does not have the V10 or 5 speed transmission... But still the 5.4L is a really strong engine. In the trucks, it will make 300 HP, but is limited in the E-350 due to overheating and the small engine compartment.

For your lightweight trailer, the E-350 will work great!

Good luck,

Fred.

justafordguy wrote:
V10 Excursion for sure. The V10 and higher towing capacity will be much more comfortable pulling a long TT of that weight. If your family fits inside comfortably, I'd go for the Excursion.

I agree. I have a friend who has a 2002 Excursion 4X4 with a 7.3 diesel and it will pull just like my 2000 F-350 with the same engine.

BingCrosby wrote:
Dodge guy, what suspension work might need done?

Bare minimum it needs a rear sway bar! Some X's had them some didn't. I installed a Hellwig rear sway bar which made it noticeably better to tow with. I installed air bags only because I had them. And the X springs are notoriously weak (they designed the ride for soccer moms back then). Many people install F250/350 springs in the X and this fixes the weak rear springs and makes it a great towing SUV.

I also did a Tuner from 5star tuning to fix the terrible shift strategy Ford designed into the computer. I wished I had done that from the beginning! It is that good!