1st big trip

[Hemling]

Just wrapped up a 3,000 mile trip that covered 8 states from Wisconsin to Texas. Made a huge oval route so we saw different things on the way back. Towing a Keystone Sprinter 33bh with a 2002 Excursion. Felt really stable just got a little hairy through Kansas and Oklahoma when the prairie winds started whipping up. Not a hiccup or a problem with machinery the entire way. Averaged 7.5 mpg but I could go as fast as I wanted and conditions would allow. We will do a few local trips yet this summer but I'm already planning modifications for next summers big trip!

[justaboutretire]

Had my excursion since I bought it new in 2002. Have only done one mod to it by adding a rear sway bar. Made a big difference in handling. The DW and I took a 10,000 mile, 8 week trip cross country last summer an had no issues pulling our 33 foot TT. Had the oil changed 3 times is all I did during the trip. These machines are made for towing!! Only have 132,600 miles on it.

[DiskDoctr]

Hemling wrote:
I want to do y-pipe and re gear before next summer. Maybe 4.56 I was thinking. Takes a LONG time to get up to speed with the 3.73 gears. Once I'm there it's great, but I have to keep it around 2800-3200 rpm to keep it in 3rd otherwise it wants 2nd on inclines.

You mention Y-pipe, so it's a Gasser? The diesels really wake up with a tuner. I've heard of some who have tuned up the gassers, but taller gears seems to be the #1 benefit.

I hear ya on the SUV part. LOTS of room! Remove the 3rd seat, insert 4x8 sheet of plywood, no problem 😉

[Hemling]

We have two small kids (4 and 5 yrs old), and we don't pack lightly. Also we need an SUV for non-towing road trips, so it had to be a heavy suburban or excursion. I would drive it all the time except for being 2wd, and it was a southern truck so I don't drive it in the WI winter at all anyway. The thing is absolutely spotless. If you didn't know they stopped making them, you'd think it was new. It is absolutely HUGE with the camper out back. Hardest thing I have experienced is getting into and out of non-truck stop gas stations. Only mods I have made to the excursion are f-350 rear springs. I want to do y-pipe and re gear before next summer. Maybe 4.56 I was thinking. Takes a LONG time to get up to speed with the 3.73 gears. Once I'm there it's great, but I have to keep it around 2800-3200 rpm to keep it in 3rd otherwise it wants 2nd on inclines. The only step up I might make one day is to a nice C class. Once the kids are older and moved out maybe. For right now we need a bunkhouse and lots of room!

[DiskDoctr]

K Charles wrote:
We have a 2004 X with about 190,000 miles that pulled a 33ft TT across the country a few times. We just traded the TT for a MH last year but I can't part with my three rows of leather.

Sweet!

There are a lot more of us than most people think 😉

We're about 196k.

[K_Charles]

We have a 2004 X with about 190,000 miles that pulled a 33ft TT across the country a few times. We just traded the TT for a MH last year but I can't part with my three rows of leather.

[DiskDoctr]

That's awesome!

When we picked up our 2002 Excursion a few years ago, it was for the same purpose. We've now moved up to a larger camper and going on our first trip with this camper later this week.

After we enjoy it and get this first shakedown in the books, we hope to take some longer trips.

My goal is to be able to drive casually, hence the bigger vehicle. Is that how it was for you?

How did you like being darn near 60ft long? Tail is a LONG ways back there, LOL.

Got some pics?