2003 ford exscursion-tow vehicle

tfenny · Sep-25-2008, 01:37 PM

I'm looking for feedback on this monster. I know about the poor gas mileage for this V10, 6.8 lit. engine, it's also a 4x4. 140,000 miles. My boat and trailer weigh in at 6000 lbs. I know it can tow 12000 lbs. He wants $6200.00 for it which is a good price. Any feedback would be appreciated and thanks in advance for that! Tim

stangclassic66 · Sep-25-2008, 01:53 PM

That biatch guzzles. 6000lb. is nothing for that rig but tongue weight is key.

I am in the sf bay area and i've got a 10,000# farallon boat/trailer and my Excursion is a 7.3 diesel 2002. The rear suspension of the excursion is far from the F250/F350 brothers. So I had to add airbags since my tongue weight is close to 1000lb. I would say if you're at 500lb. or less I wouldn't worry. I would also add a transmission cooler if you tow any grades at all.

I am modding up my excursion so I can tow my Farallon up and down the grapvine pass w/ no worries. We'll see.

mongo75 · Sep-25-2008, 02:16 PM

It's a great tow vehicle, but you'll probably get about 10mpg empty, and 7-8mpg towing. If that's what you're sold on (as compared to a diesel) then go for it. HOWEVER, if you just want a tow vehicle, then even a F-150 w/ 5.4 V8 can tow 6000#. If you do get get the Ex, I'd look into swapping the tranny cooler from a 6.0 diesel into it, I did that for my 1999 F-350 7.3, and it made a world of difference in the tranny temp reduction.

furniture 4 me · Sep-25-2008, 02:25 PM

I am looking at an Exscursion, but Diesal. the V10 Blows for towing, have had a few friends with them, sucks the fuel and can hardly get out of its own way towing. my thoughts are NO, and thats high milage for a gas rig. good luck

marlyn · Sep-25-2008, 02:46 PM

ive owned several of these that towed concrete pumps daily,had a couple with 180,000 miles on them ALL TOWING 6000 PLUS POUNDS.danny is right about the tranny cooler and i also went with a banks trans command(about 300.00)they have been known to suck a spark plug here or there but i did not have this problem on mine,10 mpg with a k/n and exhaust.trannies are a weak spot and we redid ours about every 80,000 it seemed.GO DIESEL IF YOU CAN!but do not get the 6.0 keep looking for a 7.3,you will NOT regret it.

out of reach · Sep-25-2008, 02:55 PM

Don't know about the ford v10 but I got a Dodge v10 that tows 10k easy. Gets about 8 miles a gallon. My brother is selling a 2005 Excursion Diesel, 4x4, Eddie Bauer, Tvs, leather, lifted, etc.....if interested.

Pau Hana · Sep-25-2008, 04:41 PM

2002 Excursion Limited 4x4 here.

7.3 is the only way to go. I get 21 highway non-towing, and 14/16 towing (5600# Trophy + trailer, gear, fuel, ice= about 8000# towed).

150k and going strong........

Beware the early 6.0 diesels.....

marlyn · Sep-25-2008, 04:58 PM

beware ALL 6.0 DIESELS!7.3 is the only way to go for sure.pete im sure your getting your mileage figures off of your dash and not by figuring at every fill up as i have several 7.3s with different gear ratios and NONE of them come close to the figures you say your getting!11/13 towing and 14/16 non towing is the BEST i can do,and i have to baby them to get that!i have seen a few cummins that would get that kind of mileage empty not towing.if i had to buy a new diesel today it would definitely be cummins powered(ouch that hurts for a ford guy to say)as fords new engine and chevys duramax are DEFINITELY not the way to go(at least not for commercial use)besides the cummins h.o. comes stock with an exhaust brake(huge plus)and can be beefed up super easy with an air cleaner and cat back exhaust to add over 100 pounds of torque for under 800.00!

furniture 4 me · Sep-25-2008, 08:17 PM

my mileage in a duramax. not towing edge chip set to 4 cruise set at 85 to Havasu from riverside 22 to 23 mpg. towing about 10 on grade 14 on flat drops big time. bigger boat or the big trailers 8 to 12.
the ford 7.3 is an animal change the exhaust and the intake. Cummins are just good old fashion tractor motors, got to love them.

Pau Hana · Sep-25-2008, 08:45 PM

Pretty simple math, Mark; Gig Harbor to my brother's house in Elk Grove, CA- 750 miles. 65 mph for the trip. 42 gallon tank in the rig; when I got there, the tank took 39 gallons.

The truck is bone stock, except for a free flow intake.

Slater · Sep-25-2008, 10:04 PM

The v10 is solid! I say do it! I never have to work on them other than very minor basics that can happen to any vehicle...

YANK N CRANK #2 · Sep-25-2008, 10:11 PM

The V-10 sucks... I've driven two with just under 100K that had serious piston slap and valve train noise... They had no more power yet burned more fuel that the trucks with the 460's and the chevys with the 454's... I hated driving them loaded or unloaded... Diesel is the only way to go... Forget the ford 6.0, its a ticking time bomb.... If you want a ford, the 7.3 is the only way to go... The duramax/allison is the best combo..... Sadly gm still has there head up there ass and has not produced a suburban with a duramax... Supposedly in 09, in the suburbans and 1500 series trucks, there will be a 4.5 liter duramax with a 6L90 trans (Six speed automatic overdrive transmission), that will put out 300 horse and 520 ft/lbs....