Looking for tow vehicle purchase guidance
New guy here, I'm looking for some help and guidance with the purchase of a new to me tow vehicle. A little about what I'm currently towing with and what I am towing; I have a 2000 Excursion, 2WD....
Forum Discussion
Thanks for all of the great feedback!
I will try to answer a few comments and add my thoughts from what you guys gave me, please do not take offense if I leave somebody out, I appreciate all of the feedback and anymore you have.
It sounds like I should shy away from anything 1/2 ton. That is kind of what I was thinking, though if I went to a 1/2 ton, there are a lot more options and choices out there. I’m not really interested in a Flex, it looks like a cool car, and I’m a Ford fan, but I want (and think I need) a truck based SUV. So this leaves me with either a 3/4 ton Suburban or another Excursion. If I go with an Excursion, it will be a V10, based on the 7.3l prices and I do not want a 6.0l truck and I really do not want a 5.4l Excursion.
I have looked into doing a 4wd conversion on my truck. It is a little more involved than one would think. The front suspension mounts different, the electronics are different, etc. It is not cost effective for me either, I have been quoted in the neighborhood of $6 - $8k to have it done. I am mechanically capable of doing it myself but do not have a garage and lack the motivation to do this kind of swap :) And I still end up with a truck with 250k miles on it, I have no issues with the motor in my truck, it will probably run forever. I am starting to see some other age/mileage issues creep in that I would rather not mess with. As much as my wife and I like the Excursion, it’s days with us are numbered.
So I guess it come down to deciding if I want an Excursion or Suburban and tracking down the right one. Prices on the 8.1l Sub’s seem pretty soft, I have found a couple of nice trucks with acceptable mileage on them for under $8k. V10 Excursion prices seem to always be low as everybody wants a diesel.
I will try to answer a few comments and add my thoughts from what you guys gave me, please do not take offense if I leave somebody out, I appreciate all of the feedback and anymore you have.
It sounds like I should shy away from anything 1/2 ton. That is kind of what I was thinking, though if I went to a 1/2 ton, there are a lot more options and choices out there. I’m not really interested in a Flex, it looks like a cool car, and I’m a Ford fan, but I want (and think I need) a truck based SUV. So this leaves me with either a 3/4 ton Suburban or another Excursion. If I go with an Excursion, it will be a V10, based on the 7.3l prices and I do not want a 6.0l truck and I really do not want a 5.4l Excursion.
I have looked into doing a 4wd conversion on my truck. It is a little more involved than one would think. The front suspension mounts different, the electronics are different, etc. It is not cost effective for me either, I have been quoted in the neighborhood of $6 - $8k to have it done. I am mechanically capable of doing it myself but do not have a garage and lack the motivation to do this kind of swap :) And I still end up with a truck with 250k miles on it, I have no issues with the motor in my truck, it will probably run forever. I am starting to see some other age/mileage issues creep in that I would rather not mess with. As much as my wife and I like the Excursion, it’s days with us are numbered.
So I guess it come down to deciding if I want an Excursion or Suburban and tracking down the right one. Prices on the 8.1l Sub’s seem pretty soft, I have found a couple of nice trucks with acceptable mileage on them for under $8k. V10 Excursion prices seem to always be low as everybody wants a diesel.
