Posted: 10/10/2006 10:41:19 AM EDT
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Is the Excursion built on the same platform (frame and axles) as the F-250 or F-350? Did you buy the Excursion instead of going the pickup route for any particular reason? I currently have a 1500 Suburban but would like something more powerfull with solid front axle. I like the idea of a crew cab 250 or 350 because I could put a reserve tank in the bed. I like the idea of an Excursion because there is more interior room. I plan on going diesel either way. |
I didn't, but my girlfriend's mom had one. My GF has a big family, and they wanted something bigger than the Aerostar they had. They then downgraded to an Expedition after a few years, and now she(GF's mom) drives a Chevy Cobalt, as they no longer need a huge SUV.
Do you really need a pickup?
Can't help you there, sorry. The Excursion that my GF's mom drove had the V8. BozemanMT, IIRC 05 was the last year for the Excursion. |
Yes, same chassis as a 250/350 Superduty. Buy the diesel if you need it. Either engine, 7.3 or 6.0 (especially the 6 liter) doesn't like boring jaunts to and from work. Beat the piss out of the diesels for the best results - they need to be worked hard to prevent the engine and it's emissions controls from sludging/clogging up. And as much as it may kill you, if you're thinking about buying chips and programmers and such for this thing (again, especially with the 6 liter), just say no if you value your powertrain. |
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OH yeah, you can only get an excursion with an automatic, where the trucks did come with a manual 5/6 speed (depending on year). If you tow a lot with a big family, the Excursion fits the bill, esp with a diesel. But if you don't have a big family or a lot of towing, something else may work better. Just a thought. You could also get the V10 which has plenty of power but awful gas mileage. |
Agreed. It was the biggest SUV you could buy short of buying a school bus 
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IMO, I think chips and programmers cause more harm than good on the 6.0 liter. It's not the head gaskets themselves that actually fail on those engines, it's typically the torque to yield bolts stretching from excessive boost pressure and actually lifting the head off the block. If you really must run a programmer of some type or another, I'd say find one with the lowest horsepower setting and leave it there. |
| I have a 2000 7.3 4x4 Excursion, I have chipped it (Super Chips Super Tuner middle setting). 4" exhaust from the turbo to the tail pipe, and a K&N FIPK? Not sure what the actual name of it is, but anyway I get 23MPG yes the computer tells that and I have actually figured it out by fuel used vs miles driven. I love it yes its big but its smaller than my SD Crew Cab. It will toe my X30 much better than the PU. Allot of that has to do with the extra rear end weight if I throw a coupla hundred pounds in the box their about the same. It is built on the SD frame but has a softer suspension, I changed out the front springs to 350 specs and added a leaf in the rear. That really firmed up the handling. I also added good gas shocks. While I dont have the 6 liter a fiend does and hes running a Big Gun system on it and he has had no issues at all and damn that thing moves. By adding the larger exhaust (diesels love breathing) and the K&N it did away with the restrictive exhaust and air box that made a HUGE difference. The chip just added to the performance. You could go with the max setting but my son uses it from time to time and I was worried he would burn it up towing the boat. They tell you not to tow anything over 6000# on the highest setting but after talking with Super Chips tech that is more for people who dont understand diesels. If you do go max a pyro would be needed to watch those temps. If you wait for the temp guage to show trouble the damage is done. All in all I dont use it as much as I used to but since its paid for its nice to have for trips and when you need the room. I dont plan on selling it as it it just to hard to beat for what it is used and designed for. A little work and you have a SUV that is impossible to beat, its built on a truck chassis basicly a truck with softer suspension. Where else can you tow like a MF and have 3 seats and still room for a bunch of baggage, plus if you need more you can get a roof rack. |
If you pull a lot of weight, get something with a manual trans. A friend has a diesel excursion and pulls around 10K pounds. He is on his second auto trans and is shopping for a third. He also uses a $3000 Hensley hitch: 
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I did get the Suburban back in March. Our car diead and we had to move on something quick. I'm pretty much set on a F-250 or F-350 pickup with crew cab. I need to get the wife into something first. :) |