04-05 Ford Excursion diesel towing?

[lmarcrum]

Anyone tow with a 04-05 Excursion diesel? Have you had any problems with the 6.0 engine, front end, brakes, electrical, trans, 4x4 system or any other issues? I am looking into buying a low mileage Excursion. Being a 10 yr old truck is there anything I should look out for? Any input would be great! Thank you

[spadoctor]

look for an EX with the V10....no headaches less cost to operate...no noise...no smell and tows just as good. MHO from experiance

[johninedmonton]

Thanks rowemkr. I think I'll stick with my original plan, which is to get an '05 diesel and have it bulletproofed.

[rowekmr]

My TT is similar in weight than yours. My 00 Ex V10 with 4.30 gears and Magnaflow exhaust would avg 8 mpg towing it with family of 5 on board. It could hit 9 mpg on flats with OD on cruising at 63 mph (2000 rpm IIRC) but a low of 6 mpgs on hills or in winds. I would do 70 mph in the hills because that put the rpms in the torque band so it would downshift much less. I could tell after several down and up shifts under load the trans shifts would get softer. Empty it would get 14mpg-16mpg short distances (mainly towed with it). I drove 10k miles towing with it through all conditions. It never let me down on the road but I had to spend $$$ when I bought it to get it up to snuff.

The same trailer with 03 Ex 6.0L on a short trip got 12 mpg. I just towed a loaded auto trailer (6K) and got 17 mpg which is more than the V10 got empty. Empty this can hit 22-23 mpg under idea conditions. For long distances (if you address 6.0L reliability) the diesels will recoup the extra expense in fuel savings. For maintenance/purchase economy the V10 would be fine, it's dead reliable out of the box just be prepared to hear it rev (sing) under load on the inclines. There are tunes (Mikes 5 Star), headers and upgraded y pipes/exhaust that have been shown to increase the hp on the dyno if you needed more power. I would just suggest some trans mods to keep it cool and tighten up the soft shifts.

johninedmonton wrote:
I'm also looking at a Excursion, because my Expedition just doesn't have the guts for a year long tour of the continent.

I'm looking at e 6.0L PSD which I'll do a full bulletproof on. I don't think I want a 7.3 because of the weak transmission and the noise. But maybe the v10 is something I should look at. My TT will be about 8,500 at the very most. It's 7,250 dry.

With regards to hitches, I strongly suggest you take the new Andersen WD for a drive. I've driven with a Husky and a Hensley; neither came close to the Andersen for a consistent tow. Plus, it's so fast and easy to hook up that my 10 year old daughter can hook us up. It seems gimmicky, but it delivers!

[Bedlam]

That's too bad about not getting the 2005 upgrades. I figured I didn't see many Excursions with front coils since only 16K were built in 2005 and did not realize they were on the old chassis.

[carringb]

Bedlam wrote:
In 2005, Ford went to a stronger frame, bigger brakes and front coil springs. If looking at Excursions, get the 2005 or a Mexican 2006 model.

The Ex did not get any of the '05 pickup upgrades.

[Bedlam]

In 2005, Ford went to a stronger frame, bigger brakes and front coil springs. If looking at Excursions, get the 2005 or a Mexican 2006 model. They are sprung softer than the trucks, so expect to add some suspension aids if you tow a heavy hitch weight toy hauler.

[johninedmonton]

I'm also looking at a Excursion, because my Expedition just doesn't have the guts for a year long tour of the continent.

I'm looking at e 6.0L PSD which I'll do a full bulletproof on. I don't think I want a 7.3 because of the weak transmission and the noise. But maybe the v10 is something I should look at. My TT will be about 8,500 at the very most. It's 7,250 dry.

With regards to hitches, I strongly suggest you take the new Andersen WD for a drive. I've driven with a Husky and a Hensley; neither came close to the Andersen for a consistent tow. Plus, it's so fast and easy to hook up that my 10 year old daughter can hook us up. It seems gimmicky, but it delivers!

[2BLAZERS]

I had both a 2000 V10 Excursion with the 4.30 gears which I traded in for a 2005 6.0 Diesel Excursion.

Both had plenty of power for hauling 8K enclosed trailers or loaded up 10K dump trailer.

The V10 downshifted every hill but pulled like a son of a gone. The Diesel just pulled it better on the HWY.

For a 8K trailer either one worked just fine.

The V10 with no trailer would get 14mpg at the speed limit. The 6.0 Diesel could knock close to 18/19mpg.

I ended up selling the 2005 Excursion and my 2005 Dodge Ram 3500 to get my current truck and upgrade our Truck Camper.

Still really miss having the Excursions around.

Lately I have been actually looking at craigslist trying to find one I can pay cash for. Likely a V10 model.

[Lantley]

I've towed with and owned both V-10 and 7.3 PSD X. THe V-10 was capable of getting the job done in all conditions. However the towing experience and MPG's did not compare to that of the PSD.
If towing in the mountains the V-10 would use 50% more fuel.
Many say the PSD will never pay for itself in fuel savings which I agree however I could easily save $75.00-100.00 on a trip in fuel cost.
If I camp 2-3 weekends a month. The fuel savings is significant.
Lastly I used a Hensley an added air shocks to both X's.
With a back up camera hooking up the Hensley is not a challenge. Check out "Swift Hitch" or I-ball Cam. Both are portable will make hooking up a Hensley a piece of cake

[Wes_Tausend]

johninedmonton wrote:

Hi Wes,

How do you like your v10 excursion? I've considered it instead of the diesel.

I have an expy el now. It's rated at 8,900 lbs. which is lower than a comparable f-150. I expect the new Eco boost wil be about the same. The issue I have with it is that 60mph with my 7,500 lb trailer destroys my fuel economy. Apart from that, it's a good rig.

Since the OP has once considered a V-10 on another thread, I guess we aren't hi-jacking this too bad.

I like my Excursion enough to have painfully stuck $8k into it for a new V-10. When the motor broke, the chassis was suddenly essentially worthless and I mentally wrote it off. So I was able to start over from nothing again and buy a 2000 Ex for $8k. I hope that makes sense, I had to replace it with something anyway, preferably with a known, reliable good engine this time around.

The V-10 is snappier than the 7.3L diesel (we have an F-250 7.3). The V-10 actually has more total power than the older 7.3L also. However, on the highway, the 7.3L runs right in it's max torque range, so hills don't easily cause it to slow and downshift to 3rd gear from OD, which the V-10 does often.

The result is the diesel gets slightly better fuel economy. The V-10 is much more quiet and pleasant to drive, especially in the winter. The old diesel sounds and smells like a tractor. The new ones sound better, as in less sound.

The Ex has gotten as low as 6.5 mpg, towing a 30' TT at 60-65 mph against the wind. On the way home the same wind existed and I was by myself so I drove 55 and got 9.9 mpg with the wind. I think it averages about 8, which I still consider, "destroyed fuel economy" compared to non-towing. Non-towing has netted as high as 14 highway and as low as 7 in the city, in winter (Note the diesel got 11/city while the Ex was in for repair.) Summer, the Ex will be around 9/city. Average highway will be near, or on, 13 mpg. We almost always drive my wifes thrifty small hybrid if possible. But the EX does allow the 8 passengers, if it works out that way, and also burns less fuel than two very ordinary 4-passenger autos.

All in all, the gas powered Ex won't improve on your Expy towing economy; a diesel Ex might, but it won't pay you back the upfront ownership cost unless you tow everyday. If you want a diesel for other less practical reasons, go for it. I did.

I have a Hensley hitch installed for towing right now, but I plan to take it off. I have also towed with an Eazlift WD (no anti-sway friction bars), the cheapest and oldest brand WD hitch alive, and it worked great, possibly partly because the Ex is so massive. The Hensley is a nuisance to hitch quickly and if I don't direly need it, I'm going to mothball it until I do, maybe a larger TT or smaller truck. I'm tired of being the last one of our group to leave the camp.

Wes
...

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

johninedmonton wrote:
Well, you may want to check on the California emissions laws. They will be changing in 2016, and requiring ALL non-commercial vehicles to meet a minimum standard unless they are used for certain specific (read: non-road) purposes. To register your vehicle beyond a certain age (I admittedly don't know the age requirement) you will have to pass an emissions test. So if you sell your '95 7.3L the new owner will have to get it passed to register it in California.
In 2018 a similar requirement will be placed on commercial vehicles as well. It's part of changes made by the FTA (Federal Transport Act) in 2011, as driven by the Kyoto accords.

Many other states will be passing similar changes to comply with this federal requirement.


I research these laws for big companies for a living, I have literally 100's of hours of research and meetings logged on this particular subject.

Oh and Turtle, I don't deny that a duramax will last a long time; likely as long as a bullet proofed 6.0l powerstroke. I just can't seem to find a large SUV with a duramax in it. If you know of some, please enlighten us!

This is not 2016. I'v seen laws threatened in this state and then never come to pass. Ca may try to outlaw diesels in 2019 so should I not get one just because they are threatening a law in a few years?

I have no idea what new laws are going to be enacted in a few years and frankly neither do you. You might know what laws are going to be "proposed" but that is a loooooooong way off of enactment.

So what is the minimum standard of this new proposed law?. Do you have any numbers? I remember everybody freaking out when Ca started to smog diesels. It turned out to be just a visual opacity test that even a turn up engine could easily pass with flying colors. My 93 would pass a smog test easily even with a turned up pump.

As far as getting a smog test beyond a certain age we already have to do that in Ca. :h I have to get a smog test for my car when I bought it. No big deal. It passed, so no new news there. Diesels are even easier because it just a visual opacity test. Again, no big deal so I'm not sure why you seem to think this is anything new when we have been doing this for years in Ca to get our reg.

Not sure what your definition of big SUV is but lets see if I can help you out since you can't find one. This Suburban is pretty big and pretty cool!

Like the Excursion but think the 6.0 sucks? Think the 7.3 might get smogged in Ca and not pass? :R :B

Get one of these and your worries are over. :B

Another company that will make a dependable X.

Consider yourself enlighten. :B :B :B

PS, I still would sure like the see the many, many, many, non bandaided up 500,000 6.0's.

[johninedmonton]

Wes Tausend wrote:
...

If it has to be a diesel, then that's it. I think the 6.0L is a nice motor after mods. Some say, "just install a coolant filter on it and it will stop plugging anything more than it already has".

The ARP studs seem like way, way overkill to me, especially at $500. Less costly studs should do the same thing; that is adequately improve the stretchy yield bolts they came with. Afterall, how much torque does one need to crank down the much softer heads? The stingy 4 head-bolt per piston pattern is why they are critical, but if left stock or moderately boosted, any new solid bolt/stud should do the trick.

One may note that Fords older Windsor and Cleveland V-8 gasoline blocks also used only 4 bolts as compared to SB Chevy's 5. The advantage for these Ford gassers was more room for improved ports, but the disadvantage was head-gasket leakage at high boost levels. More than one 4-bolt blower 302 (5.0L) block had copper oringed heads for sealing. Therefore one might expect the 4-bolt 6.0L heads to breathe exceptionally well... except nobody worries about it anymore when they can just turn up the boost. Aha! The charge air entering the cylinder can be cooler however, since less overall boost is required. Very efficient.

If it doesn't have to be a diesel, why not a 2015 Expedition XL with EcoBoost? If the Expy is rated anywhere near the F-150, it will have superior tow numbers (11,400) to the old Excursion (11,000). Maybe not as much mass, but the Excursion has a ton and a half frame under it that never gets fully utilized anyway. Besides, I believe the Expy has built-in OEM towing stability control and better brakes than the old Ex.

Wes
...

Hi Wes,

How do you like your v10 excursion? I've considered it instead of the diesel.

I have an expy el now. It's rated at 8,900 lbs. which is lower than a comparable f-150. I expect the new Eco boost wil be about the same. The issue I have with it is that 60mph with my 7,500 lb trailer destroys my fuel economy. Apart from that, it's a good rig.

[Wes_Tausend]

...

If it has to be a diesel, then that's it. I think the 6.0L is a nice motor after mods. Some say, "just install a coolant filter on it and it will stop plugging anything more than it already has".

The ARP studs seem like way, way overkill to me, especially at $500. Less costly studs should do the same thing; that is adequately improve the stretchy yield bolts they came with. Afterall, how much torque does one need to crank down the much softer heads? The stingy 4 head-bolt per piston pattern is why they are critical, but if left stock or moderately boosted, any new solid bolt/stud should do the trick.

One may note that Fords older Windsor and Cleveland V-8 gasoline blocks also used only 4 bolts as compared to SB Chevy's 5. The advantage for these Ford gassers was more room for improved ports, but the disadvantage was head-gasket leakage at high boost levels. More than one 4-bolt blower 302 (5.0L) block had copper oringed heads for sealing. Therefore one might expect the 4-bolt 6.0L heads to breathe exceptionally well... except nobody worries about it anymore when they can just turn up the boost. Aha! The charge air entering the cylinder can be cooler however, since less overall boost is required. Very efficient.

If it doesn't have to be a diesel, why not a 2015 Expedition XL with EcoBoost? If the Expy is rated anywhere near the F-150, it will have superior tow numbers (11,400) to the old Excursion (11,000). Maybe not as much mass, but the Excursion has a ton and a half frame under it that never gets fully utilized anyway. Besides, I believe the Expy has built-in OEM towing stability control and better brakes than the old Ex.

Wes
...

[rowekmr]

To the OP while I have only owned a 00 Ex and a 03 Ex from my experience and the forums some of the areas that might need attention and are known to wear/need attention/checking

Non engine: ball joints, shocks, steering box (wandering), leaking EFOF systems (4x4), stuck front hubs (non use), maybe front u joints, axle seals, drive shaft clunk from lack of lube, door lock actuators (can stick), rear hatch lock mechanism (can stick), rear hatch struts (weak upgrade with longer ones), etc.

Some complain about the stock soft suspension (hits bump stops) and do a V/modified B spring swap or a X/modified B spring swap off of F250/350 or some just use longer shackles to gain suspension height and preserve stock ride.

6.0L engine wise: dirty/wrong coolant (clogged oil cooler leading to EGR cooler failure then HG failure), also sand casting left from block formation that can clog oil cooler(mult flushes and/or coolant filters). Most recommend either using Ford Gold (w/distilled H20) and religiously check and flush at scheduled intervals or flush several times with water and use an approved ELC coolant w/distilled H20 that last 300K+ miles.

Cold start issues from bad injectors (dirty fuel, low lubricity) or stiction (oil quality, newer FICM flash addresses problem), EGR valve coking up or stuck, VGT vanes sticking (too much idling), glow plugs/modules, FICM failures from weak solder joints that can fail under heat/vibration and/or weak batteries/alt, underperforming FICM also gives cold start/drivability problems and leads to premature injector failure.

HPOP failures (03-04 poor design), hot start issues caused by high pressure oil leaks on because of STC fitting, stand pipes and dummy plugs used on 05 and up

Fan clutch (expensive), various harnesses (chaffing or oil contamination), IPR and ICP sensors (cause no start/drivability problems), ruptured or missing oil screen (allowing junk to go into HPOP/inj) intercooler boots, radiators (leak at seams), degas bottle (weak cap and/or cracked bottle).

As one said earlier not the best vehicle to buy "as is" then jump on an across country trip. Will cost $$$ to upgrade but is an efficient/strong/quieter engine, strong stock trans (5/6 sp auto) and only diesel suv unless you go with a Duraburb (Suburban 2500 with Duramax/Allison combo).

https://sites.google.com/a/duraburb.com/duraburb/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCmONI_sanE

but might have problems with local emission inspectors explaining why the gas engine sounds like a diesel 🙂