Excursion

APT wrote:
3.73 gears are standard with Excursions. 4.10 optional for 2WD, 4.30 for 4WD.

Since she presumably likes her Tahoe, how about an 8.1L 3/4 ton Burb?

She might like the 8.1L Burb better. It has a more car like ride then the X and a little more maneuverable (Smaller) then the X. It is getting hard to find 2500 burbs with the 8.1 though.

dodge guy wrote:
, but there is more to tow with than just a diesel! and the V-10 is a more than acceptable option!

Sure is, which is exactly what I stated. When you start changing gearing, transmissions, etc. then you're changing the argument.

I was more than happy with our X with the V10. The primary reason I traded it was we wanted the 2nd row captain's chairs vs. the 2nd row bench seat.

I found a nice one at a local dealer that happened to have the 7.3L as an added bonus.

MackinawMan wrote:

spadoctor wrote:
my Ex will do everything the diesel will do....and in the mountains of WVa I will pass most diesels. The overall cost of the diesel is slightly higher even with the slightly better mileage (since fuel runs a buck to 1.25 a gallon more) and you have a greater outlay. Als 4:30 was not the only ratio in the v10 ex. I have a friend bought one new with 4:10

Did you pass most diesels because of the way the driver was operating them? I would say more than likely.

The bottom line is a 7.3L PSD is going to outperform a V10 Triton gas engine. It's OK, and doesn't disparage the V10 at all. Much like a 6.7 PSD will blow my 7.3L PSD out of the water. It's no big deal and doesn't disparage the 7.3L PSD at all.

I had an X with the V10 and an X with the 7.3L PSD (as well as our current F350 with the 7.3L PSD. The 7.3L was a better tower, simple as that.

Having said that, I thought the V10 Triton we had was plenty capable and did the job.

I`ll put my V-10/4.30 X up against a 7.3L anyday!

And yes I too have passed a good share of diesels in the mountains. it`s OK the diesel is a good motor, but there is more to tow with than just a diesel! and the V-10 is a more than acceptable option!

spadoctor wrote:
my Ex will do everything the diesel will do....and in the mountains of WVa I will pass most diesels. The overall cost of the diesel is slightly higher even with the slightly better mileage (since fuel runs a buck to 1.25 a gallon more) and you have a greater outlay. Als 4:30 was not the only ratio in the v10 ex. I have a friend bought one new with 4:10

Did you pass most diesels because of the way the driver was operating them? I would say more than likely.

The bottom line is a 7.3L PSD is going to outperform a V10 Triton gas engine. It's OK, and doesn't disparage the V10 at all. Much like a 6.7 PSD will blow my 7.3L PSD out of the water. It's no big deal and doesn't disparage the 7.3L PSD at all.

I had an X with the V10 and an X with the 7.3L PSD (as well as our current F350 with the 7.3L PSD. The 7.3L was a better tower, simple as that.

Having said that, I thought the V10 Triton we had was plenty capable and did the job.

3.73 gears are standard with Excursions. 4.10 optional for 2WD, 4.30 for 4WD.

Since she presumably likes her Tahoe, how about an 8.1L 3/4 ton Burb?

No denying the tow power of the diesel but for DW's daily driver I would definitely go V-10 with 4.30 gears. Most likely the used ones you will find are 3.73's and they can be easily regeared for $1500 or so. I know the best axle guy on LI if you need someplace to have that work done.

my Ex will do everything the diesel will do....and in the mountains of WVa I will pass most diesels. The overall cost of the diesel is slightly higher even with the slightly better mileage (since fuel runs a buck to 1.25 a gallon more) and you have a greater outlay. Als 4:30 was not the only ratio in the v10 ex. I have a friend bought one new with 4:10

Lantley wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
4.30 was the only factory option available with the V-10. The V-10/4.30 is just as capable as the 7.3. I too wanted a diesel X, but couldn't justify the $7k premium the diesel was commanding. I am not sorry about my choice. I get an avg of 7.9 mpg towing. Yes the X will run in second gear in the mountains......that is where it was designed to run!

Interesting that $7K premium never goes away. I don't really now what the price of new Excursions were. However if the diesel was a $7K option when new. The used pricing reflects how well diesels hold their value.
Diesels are more expensive both new and used for a reason. It's not all just hype. They do provide a better towing performance.
I agree a V10 with 4.30 gears is very capable and it will get you there, however if you are towing heavy especially in the mountains the diesel wins hands down. There is a day vs. night difference.
I had 2 identical Excursions at one point a V-10 and a 7.3.
The 7.3 was clearly the better performer, which is why the 7.3 still commands a premium 12 years later.

When I bought my X back in 06 I paid $19k the same X with a diesel was $5-7k more. and now 9 years later my X is worth around $11k, if it had the diesel it would be around $15-18k. but in the end, I still don`t have a need for the diesel and am not sorry I went gas!

dodge guy wrote:
4.30 was the only factory option available with the V-10. The V-10/4.30 is just as capable as the 7.3. I too wanted a diesel X, but couldn't justify the $7k premium the diesel was commanding. I am not sorry about my choice. I get an avg of 7.9 mpg towing. Yes the X will run in second gear in the mountains......that is where it was designed to run!

Interesting that $7K premium never goes away. I don't really now what the price of new Excursions were. However if the diesel was a $7K option when new. The used pricing reflects how well diesels hold their value.
Diesels are more expensive both new and used for a reason. It's not all just hype. They do provide a better towing performance.
I agree a V10 with 4.30 gears is very capable and it will get you there, however if you are towing heavy especially in the mountains the diesel wins hands down. There is a day vs. night difference.
I had 2 identical Excursions at one point a V-10 and a 7.3.
The 7.3 was clearly the better performer, which is why the 7.3 still commands a premium 12 years later.

hstechteacher wrote:
Thanks folks..
The wife's every day driver is a Yukon and she treats like a Race car!!! She doesn't like driving my 7.3 f350 crew with the full 8' bed. Part of it is the nature of the slow winding diesel. The excursion would become her vehicle and i would keep my 7.3L. I agree with everyone that the 7.3 X's are set to tow but it is just tough to swallow $5 k more for a truck with an extra 50-75K miles on it .. Were the lower 4.11 or 4.3 gears a factory option for the V10s?
I am a 3 generation RV camper.. With 3 young kids.. So yes I am in it for the long haul!! Might even consider picking up a real nice gas excursion and swapping motors down the line

The 7.3 is no race car LOL. I have a 7.3 X that I will never part with. That said the V-10 is a capable tow vehicle and sounds like a better choice.

I just bought a V-10 crew cab and from what I have been told the engine will run a very long time if taken care of.