Ford Excursion opinions

[Darky]

Uhhh how often do you do this AND attempt life altering maneuvers?

Driving ok is different than being able to swerve and brake to save you and others lives.

Precisely. Cruising is one thing. Maneuvering through traffic is different when one of them does something unexpected. Proper loading and brake setups can't change physics. Double the weight and length of the truck and you drastically alter the way it handles.

 

[MrSimon]

The prices of Excursions, even the 7.3s, are dropping pretty fast. I looked on cars.com and saw a handful of really nice 01s to 03s with the 7.3 for less than $13k. They even had less than 150k miles with nice interiors and exteriors.

I've taken three long trips in a V10 Excursion. It was awesome! Rode and drove nice for a big truck. Got in the low teens for mileage. TONS of space and very comfy leather seats.

 

[ARB-XJ]

Uhhh how often do you do this AND attempt life altering maneuvers?

Driving ok is different than being able to swerve and brake to save you and others lives.

I drive with a 7k trailer almost daily and have no problem doing 75 down the hwy. Not the "life altering" maneuvers happen everyday but I have seen my fair share. If everything is set up correctly, and you're a good driver, there is no reason you cant handle the situations that arise.

 

[WAD357]

I drive with a 7k trailer almost daily and have no problem doing 75 down the hwy. Not the "life altering" maneuvers happen everyday but I have seen my fair share. If everything is set up correctly, and you're a good driver, there is no reason you cant handle the situations that arise.

Precisely. Cruising is one thing. Maneuvering through traffic is different when one of them does something unexpected. Proper loading and brake setups can't change physics. Double the weight and length of the truck and you drastically alter the way it handles.

So what you are saying here is that the 4 brakes on my trailer don't help stop?

Uhhh how often do you do this AND attempt life altering maneuvers?

Driving ok is different than being able to swerve and brake to save you and others lives.

Let me restate what I said. I tow at 75 on open highways such as 495 80 78 etc. Not through the cross bronx or midtown manhattan. When I do have to make a more sudden stop from 75 on the highway my setup stops fine and hasn't given me an issue. Keep a safe following distance and you shouldn't have an issue other then a freak accident.

 

[Ghost]

I've always been a ford guy but the 5.4 and v10s are JUNK Id take a 5.8 351W over the 5.4 any day and Id take a 460 over the v10 as well.. Id take a 7.3 powerstroke over those any day and Id take a 6.0 right to the scrap yard

I would disagree. I have had Ford trucks since 1979 and while the 302's and 351's were great for the time the new 5.4 is very nice with plenty of power for my truck and trailer combo. I put 150K+ on my '02 before I got my '09. The '09 has 50K on it now. Not one mechanical problem out of either. The '09 is getting about 2mpg better on towing too.

@OP My cousin had the gas Excursion and loved it. She hated the mileage though. It got about 14 on what ever road you put it on she told me back then. IIRC she bought it new when they came out and kept it for 3 or 4 years. She is also the manager of her dads Trucking company and very anal about cost and millage. To my knowledge she only towed jet ski's though. I talked to her a lot about it BC at the time I wanted one. Her recommendation was what most have said get the diesel.

 

[Darky]

So what you are saying here is that the 4 brakes on my trailer don't help stop?

Do those same brakes help maneuver? Do they make your truck steer the same with a trailer as it does without? Do they shrink the length of your trailer? Read entire posts if you want to argue them.

 

[DrMoab]

I see a lot of people towing at 80. I also see a lot of big diesel pick ups with nice big trailers scattered all over the freeway because they were going 80 and shouldn't have.

It's not dangerous until something goes wrong right? Guess you have never had a blow out, an animal jump in front of you or had a vehicle do something stupid around you.

 

[ARB-XJ]

I see a lot of people towing at 80. I also see a lot of big diesel pick ups with nice big trailers scattered all over the freeway because they were going 80 and shouldn't have.

It's not dangerous until something goes wrong right? Guess you have never had a blow out, an animal jump in front of you or had a vehicle do something stupid around you.

So we should all drive around at 15mph, right? I mean freeway speeds just are too dangerous, we need to play it safe. :lecture:

So forget the posted speed limit and whatever traffic is doing around you, SLOW DOWN people cause you never know when the road might collapse in front of you, cause unless your doing 3mph your gonna die!

 

[DrMoab]

There is a major difference between 65 and 80.

 

[Darky]

So we should all drive around at 15mph, right? I mean freeway speeds just are too dangerous, we need to play it safe. :lecture:

So forget the posted speed limit and whatever traffic is doing around you, SLOW DOWN people cause you never know when the road might collapse in front of you, cause unless your doing 3mph your gonna die!

Some people is just dense I guess...

When you have changed the handling and maneuverability of your vehicle for the worse, it's best to use extra caution. For example, my XJ on 33s with 5.5" of lift and no sway bars doesn't do 80 on the freeway anymore. Does it have the power and gearing to reach it? Yes, is it wise? No. My 73 Ford with the slide in camper in the bed could pull 70-80 mph probably, but it wouldn't be wise, so I stick to around 60.

Just because your truck has the power to reach high speeds while towing doesn't mean that it's safe at those speeds. Next time you've got your trailer hitched up, try and perform an emergency lane change at highway speeds. Practice on a deserted road though so nobody else gets caught up when your truck goes careening out of control.

 

[ARB-XJ]

Some people is just dense I guess...

When you have changed the handling and maneuverability of your vehicle for the worse, it's best to use extra caution. For example, my XJ on 33s with 5.5" of lift and no sway bars doesn't do 80 on the freeway anymore. Does it have the power and gearing to reach it? Yes, is it wise? No. My 73 Ford with the slide in camper in the bed could pull 70-80 mph probably, but it wouldn't be wise, so I stick to around 60.

Just because your truck has the power to reach high speeds while towing doesn't mean that it's safe at those speeds. Next time you've got your trailer hitched up, try and perform an emergency lane change at highway speeds. Practice on a deserted road though so nobody else gets caught up when your truck goes careening out of control.

People forget that every tow rig is different. I have done emergency lane changes/stops from 70-80mph before, and ya it can get a little hairy. But if you know how to handle the situation and have a proper tow rig, then there is no reason you can't. Then again i am not towing with a 73 ford, im towing with a C5500 that is over double the weight of the loaded trailer behind it.

 

[DrMoab]

People forget that every tow rig is different. I have done emergency lane changes/stops from 70-80mph before, and ya it can get a little hairy. But if you know how to handle the situation and have a proper tow rig, then there is no reason you can't. Then again i am not towing with a 73 ford, im towing with a C5500 that is over double the weight of the loaded trailer behind it.

I put on 120,000 miles a year in a vehicle made to pull 120,000 pounds. It also has the power, gearing and such to pull at well over 80 MPH. It still doesn't make it wise. No matter how good your brakes are, you are going to increase stopping distance with every pound of weight you hook behind your rig. 80 Mph and towing = stupid...period. You might get away with it forever and never have an issue but it doesn't make it any safer.

 

[Milford Cubicle II]

People forget that every tow rig is different. I have done emergency lane changes/stops from 70-80mph before, and ya it can get a little hairy. But if you know how to handle the situation and have a proper tow rig, then there is no reason you can't. Then again i am not towing with a 73 ford, im towing with a C5500 that is over double the weight of the loaded trailer behind it.

So what you are saying here is that the 4 brakes on my trailer don't help stop?


Let me restate what I said. I tow at 75 on open highways such as 495 80 78 etc. Not through the cross bronx or midtown manhattan. When I do have to make a more sudden stop from 75 on the highway my setup stops fine and hasn't given me an issue. Keep a safe following distance and you shouldn't have an issue other then a freak accident.

:doh:

I have a question. Soooo, what exactly is the point of going 75 or 80 instead of closer to 70 anyways? Trying shave a whopping 4 minutes off your hour long trip? :dunno:

Cause to me it seems useless. Except for being that much more dangerous.

 

[Darky]

People forget that every tow rig is different. I have done emergency lane changes/stops from 70-80mph before, and ya it can get a little hairy. But if you know how to handle the situation and have a proper tow rig, then there is no reason you can't. Then again i am not towing with a 73 ford, im towing with a C5500 that is over double the weight of the loaded trailer behind it.

I haven't towed with the Ford, and I'm not basing my opinion off towing with it either. My opinion is based off towing with an F350 dually, a 26' UHaul, and just general common sense.

Listen to the man who was trained and has mucho experience towing larger loads than we could ever dream of.

 

[ARB-XJ]

I haven't towed with the Ford, and I'm not basing my opinion off towing with it either. My opinion is based off towing with an F350 dually, a 26' UHaul, and just general common sense.

Listen to the man who was trained and has mucho experience towing larger loads than we could ever dream of.

I love how people keep bringing up that they are towing massive loads, who gives a **** ? We are talking about towing an XJ not a load of tanks.

 

[DrMoab]

I love how people keep bringing up that they are towing massive loads, who gives a **** ? We are talking about towing an XJ not a load of tanks.

Doesn't matter. A six foot utility trailer, a 16 foot flat bed or a 40 foot triple axle toy hauler will go out of control in a bad situation all the same.

 

[Keithmania]

To return to bashing the 5.4l... Just heard a couple of days ago on Motorweek that Ford is dropping the 5.4l in favor of the 5.0l from the mustang (though with some tweaking for truck use). At least they are dropping the 5.4l from their truck lineup, not sure about the Excursion.

 

[jakeWI]

Guys,
Thanks for your opinions on the Excursion itself. I think this thread has gotten way off topic and now repetitive...

 

[BostonIrish]

I had one..towed well.Sucked at the pump,It also was horrible in the snow and the brakes were weak.I traded it in on a Tj Unlimited..I wouldn't waste your time on a Excursion.

 

[ARB-XJ]

To return to bashing the 5.4l... Just heard a couple of days ago on Motorweek that Ford is dropping the 5.4l in favor of the 5.0l from the mustang (though with some tweaking for truck use). At least they are dropping the 5.4l from their truck lineup, not sure about the Excursion.

Ford already dropped the 5.4L....SD's come with a 6.2L now. An they dont even make the excursion anymore.