excursion 6.0 towing capacity

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2000-2005 Ford Excursion Towing Capacity (With Charts)

The Ford Excursion was only made for a total of five years, but it was a powerhouse when it came to towing capacity and some of the ratings I found are mind-boggling.

These came with different engine configurations and different axle ratios, which made the specs a bit different. Let’s dive in!

There were a few differences when it came to the capacity numbers, based on the different model years. The overall capacity was increased on almost every model of the Excursion in 2003 and later models.

Overview of the Data For the Ford Excursions:

Engine Choices: There were 4 different motors that came standard with these SUVs and these were the 5.4L (V8), 6.8L (V10), the 7.3L (diesel) and the 6.0L diesel engines. The 5.4L and 6.8L were used every year the Excursion was made, from 2000-2005. The 7.3L (diesel) was used from 2000-2002 and was later replaced in 2003-2005 by the 6.0L (diesel) but had similar specs as the 7.3L motor.

If you want a great breakdown of what engine options were available for what trim levels, the brochures are a great resource that lays all of that information out nicely. I recommend that you take a look at them if you are curious.

I wanted to list the different engine options that were available for these massive SUVs in order to break up the data a bit, but to also compare how the different engines from the different model years stacked up.

• 2005, 2004 and 2003 Excursions with the 5.4L (V8) engine had a towing capacity of 6,100-7,600 lbs. and 2002, 2001 and 2000 models had a 6,200-7,200 lb. range.
• 2005, 2004, 2003 and 2002 Excursions with the 6.8L (V10) engine had a towing capacity of 9,600-11,000 lbs. and 2001 and 2002 models had a 9,600-10,000 lb. range.
• 2005, 2004 and 2003 Excursions that had the 6.0L (diesel) engine had a towing capacity of 11,000 lbs.
• 2003 Excursions with the 7.3L (diesel) engine had a towing capacity of 11,000 lbs., while the 2002 models had a 10,500-11,000 lb. range.
• 2001 and 2000 Excursions with the 7.3L (diesel) engine had a towing capacity of 10,000 lbs.

4WD VS 2WD Models: If you study the charts, you will see a difference in the numbers for 2WD VS 4WD models and in some cases, there was a 400-500 pound difference between the two, 2WD models having the advantage over 4WD models.

This was only true for models that had the 5.4l engine equipped and the 6.8l engine though. I even found that for some model years equipped with the 6.8l motor had the same tow ratings for both 2WD and 4WD models, so it was true only in certain circumstances.

Trim Levels: Here is a breakdown of the different trim levels that were offered for the 2005-2000 model years. Most trim levels (except Eddie Bauer models) had the option of having all of the available engine options for that specific year, which shows in the overview data that I have listed below.

• 2005 and 2004 XLS trim levels (5.4, 6.8, 6.0) with 2WD had a tow capacity of 6,100-11,000 lbs. and the 4WD models ranged from 7,200-11,000 lbs.
• 2005 and 2004 XLT trim levels (5.4, 6.8, 6.0) with 2WD had a tow capacity of  6,100-11,000 lbs. and the 4WD models ranged from 7,200-11,000 lbs.
• 2001 and 2000 XLT trim levels (5.4, 6.8, 7.3) with 2WD had a tow capacity 6,200-10,000 lbs. of and the 4WD models ranged from 7,200-10,000 lbs.
• 2003 and 2002 XLT Value/Premium trim levels (5.4, 6.8, 7.3) with 2WD had a tow capacity of  6,100-11,000 lbs. and the 4WD models ranged from 7,200-11,000 lbs.
• 2005, 2004 and 2003 Eddie Bauer trim levels (6.8, 6.0, 7.3) with 2WD had a tow capacity of 10,000-11,000 lbs. and the 4WD models ranged from 9,600-11,000 lbs.
• 2005, 2004 and 2003 Limited trim levels (5.4, 6.8, 6.0, 7.3) with 2WD had a tow capacity of  6,100-11,000 lbs. and the 4WD models ranged from 7,200-11,000 lbs.
• 2002, 2001 and 2000 Limited trim levels (5.4, 6.8, 7.3) with 2WD had a tow capacity of  6,200-10,500 lbs. and the 4WD models ranged from 7,200-11,000 lbs.
• 2002 Limited Ultimate trim levels (6.8, 7.3) with 2WD had a tow capacity of 10,100-10,500 lbs. and the 4WD models ranged from 9,600-11,000 lbs.

Overall Capacity: The capacity ratings did not differ throughout the short lifespan of the SUV and in fact, there was only a difference of between 100-1,000 pounds for all model years and engines.

The towing capacity for the 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001 and 2000 Ford Excursion ranged from 6,100-11,000 pounds overall and was mainly dependent on the engine that you had equipped.

2005 & 2004 Models:

The 2005 and 2004 models had the exact same specs when you compare the charts, along with the same three engine choices, axle ratios and GCWR specs.

The average towing capacity for the 2005 and 2004 Excursion's ranged from 6,100-11,000 pounds, for all models.

As you can see below, both charts are identical in every way, except for their appearances and the specs are shown for the 5.4l, 6.8l and the 6.0l engines. The 5.4l had the lowest numbers on the charts, ranging from 6,100-7,600 pounds, while the 6.8l and 6.0l engines boasted the best figures, ranging from 9,600-11,000 pounds.

2003 Models:

For the 2003 model year, we see that there were four different engine choices: the 5.4l, the 6.8l, the 7.3l and the 6.0l engines.

The towing capacity range for the 2003 Excursions ranged from 6,100-11,000 pounds, depending on the engine that was equipped.

Again, the 5.4l engine came up short compared to all of the other engines, ranging from 6,100-7,600 pounds and the other three engine choices offered 2,000 pounds or more overall capacity, ranging from 9,600-11,000 pounds. The 7.3l and 6.0l engines had the same tow specs for the 2003 models and the 6.0l engine replaced the 7.3l engine after 2003.

2002 Models:

For 2002 Ford models, there were only three engine choices: the 5.4l engine, the 6.8l engine and the 7.3l diesel engine.

We can see from the chart below that the average towing capacity for the 2002 Excursions ranged from 6,200-11,000 pounds, which was slightly different from the '03-'05 models.

The two powerhouse engines for the 2002 models were the 6.8l and the 7.3l engines, having a capacity range of between 9,600-11,000 pounds, compared to models that had the 5.4l engine equipped that had a significantly lower capacity range of 6,200-7,200 pounds.

2001 & 2000 Models:

For the 2001 and 2000 model Excursions, the overall towing capacity ranged from 6,200-10,000 pounds overall and the same three engine choices that we did for the 2002 models.

The same pattern of higher capacities for the 2001 and 2000 models were seen with the larger 6.8l and 7.3l engines, but the range was not that drastic (9,600-10,000 lbs.) compared to later model year Excursions. The 5.4l models were right on par though, having a much lower rating of between 6,200-7,200 pounds.

Axle Ratios Make A Difference…

On some of the Ford Excursions, having a different gear ratio can make a huge difference in how much it can tow when the same engine is equipped.

A great example of this is with the 2003-2005 models equipped with the 5.4L engine (2wd) which has a 1,500 lb. difference between the 3.73 and 4.10 axle ratios.

There is a big difference in maximum capacity for these SUVs that were equipped with the 6.8L engines when looking at the 3.73 and 4.30 axle ratios.

The 2002-2005 (4wd) models had a difference of 1,400 lbs. when looking at the different axle ratios! The 2003-2005 models (2wd) had a difference of 1,000 lbs., still pretty significant!

How Do I Find My Axle Ratio?

There is usually a sticker on the inside of the driver’s side door jamb of most Ford vehicles and towards the bottom of that sticker, you will see the word “AXLE” and below it there will be a code. That code will signify which axle you have on your Excursion.

Example of axle code (Excursion axle code not used in image)

Note: Sometimes your “AXLE” code on your sticker will be blank, which is what is reported by a lot of Excursion owners, but you can also find the code on the differential as well, along with what type of fluid the differential is filled with.

What Tow Package Did The Ford Excursions Come With?

Even though these SUVs were powerhouses, when it came to towing, they had a pretty basic tow package that came standard on nearly all models from 200-2005. These standard items were:

• 7 wire harness and pin connector
• A hitch receiver (usually a class IV)
• Trailer brake wiring (feed kit)

These were the standard three things that came with these vehicles and nothing else was available from the dealer in the form of an upgraded kit, as far as I could find. The only upgrades that I could find were ones that people had done themselves or had a shop perform for them.

Trailer Brakes

There weren't a lot of details in any of the manuals when it came to trailer brakes and the majority of the information I found can be summed up easily. Ford stated that the trailer brakes must conform to local and federal laws and must be installed correctly and that was about it. There was no weight rating that was specified, like there are with newer model year vehicles.

You will need to check to see what your state requires when it comes to trailer weight and trailer brakes to make sure that you comply with their requirements. On a side note, you will also need a brake controller and a 7 pin connector (included) if you are planning on using electric trailer brakes.

Resources I Used...

As always, I like to post where I found my information and for the Ford Excursions, I used Ford's Towing Guides because the information was laid out in an easy to read format and was fairly simple, as you can see from the images of the charts above.

• 2005 Ford Guide
• 2004 Ford Guide
• 2003 Ford Guide
• 2002 Ford Guide
• 2001 Ford Guide
• 2000 Ford Guide
• A resource that has all of the model year's brochures is  auto-brochures.com .

Last updated on June 1st, 2022 at 09:05 am

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2000 - 2005 Excursion 6.0L

• Torque Specs

2004 Ford Excursion Specifications

Other makes, top 10 fords ever.

• Limited 6.0L 4x2

Limited 6.0L 4x2 2004 Ford Excursion Review

2004 excursion new car test drive, the big rig of suvs., introduction.

In terms of size, the Ford Excursion is the king of big sport-utilities. Supremely stable at speed, it feels safe and secure on the open highway. Whether you have a lot of cargo to carry, a bunch of people to transport, a big trailer to pull, or all of the above, the Excursion is ready for whatever you throw its way.  The Excursion seats eight or nine passengers, depending on how it is configured. It can tow up to 11,000 pounds. Options include a powerful gasoline-fueled V10, and a state-of-the-art turbo-diesel V8. While the Excursion is too large for serious off-road driving, its optional four-wheel-drive and all-terrain tires enable it to handle hilly shale roads, snowy highways, and slippery boat ramps, those places that are accessible in a heavy-duty Ford pickup.  The Excursion is a beast, however, taking up more garage space, parking space, and street space than anything else this side of a dually. It's no minivan. The Excursion best suited for families who tow boats, horses or other heavy trailers. Properly equipped, Excursion is rated to tow up to 11,000 pounds. 

For 2004, the Ford Excursion comes primarily in four trim levels: XLS, XLT, Eddie Bauer, and Limited. Each is available with rear-wheel drive (2WD) or four-wheel drive (4WD).  XLS 2WD ($36,585) and XLS 4WD ($39,840) come with a moderate level of standard equipment, including four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes (ABS), tilt steering wheel, cruise control, a 40/20/40 split front bench seat, a 60/40 split-folding second-row seat, a folding/removable third-row seat, power/heated mirrors, power windows and door locks, remote keyless entry, AM/FM/cassette/CD stereo, and an overhead console. XLS is visually identified by body-color side moldings, black running boards, and 16-inch chromed steel wheels.  XLT 2WD ($37,575) and XLT 4WD ($40,830) add power adjustable front bucket seats with a floor console, automatic headlamps, and rear-seat audio controls. Recognize an XLT by its platinum-finish body-side cladding and 16-inch aluminum wheels.  Eddie Bauer 2WD ($40,660) and 4WD ($43,760) add power rear quarter windows, Reverse Sensing System, automatic climate control, trip computer, power-adjustable pedals, auto-dimming rearview mirror, two-tone leather seating surfaces and cherry woodgrain interior accents. Arizona Beige front and rear bumpers, grille, body cladding and wheel lips provide exterior identity, along with illuminated running boards.  Limited 2WD ($41,985) and 4WD ($45,085) add a premium stereo with an in-dash six-disc CD changer, heated front seats, memory seats and pedals, climate and audio controls on the steering wheel, premium leather seating surfaces and a HomeLink transmitter. Body cladding and wheel lips revert to body color, but with a chrome insert. Grille and bumpers are body-color, too, for a monochromatic effect.  Three engines are available: a 5.4-liter V8, a 6.8-liter V10, and a 6.0-liter turbocharged diesel V8. The 5.4-liter V8 is standard in XLS, XLT, and 2WD versions of the Eddie Bauer and Limited. The V10 is standard in 4WD Eddie Bauer and Limited models, optional ($585) on other models. The diesel ($4,755-$5,345) is available for all models. All Excursions come with an automatic transmission: a four-speed automatic with the gasoline engines, a five-speed automatic with the diesel.  Many of the deluxe-model luxuries are available as options on even the basic XLS, including the adjustable pedals ($120), and six-disc CD changer ($255). The DVD entertainment system ($1500) is available on all models except the XLS; wireless headphones have been added to the system for 2004.All Excursions come with a seven-wire trailer harness. An optional 4WD Trailer Tow Group ($275) includes manually telescoping trailer mirrors with heated glass, integrated turn signals and clearance lights; plus a rear anti-roll bar. The mirrors are also available by themselves ($220). 

The Ford Excursion is big. Based on Ford's Super Duty F-Series pickup trucks, it's more than 7 inches longer than the Chevrolet Suburban.  Excursion's rear cargo doors are split three ways. You can swing the glass hatch up for quick access to gear. Below the hatch is a pair of half-height doors, like Dutch doors. So they can be opened when you've got a trailer attached, and can be swung nearly 180 degrees for easier access. This arrangement also offers much better visibility rearward while driving than the Suburban's full-height split doors yet offers the benefits of split doors.  Ford designed the Class IV receiver hitch, which comes standard, to prevent smaller cars from going underneath the rear bumper, while a specially designed BlockerBeam is designed to accomplish the same goal up front. 

The 2004 Excursion comes with a nicely designed interior. The dash is attractive and well designed and all of the controls are easy to find and operate.  The seats are comfortable. It doesn't matter whether you're sitting in the front seats, second row or third row, all of the seats offer generous legroom, headroom and elbow room. Six adults can ride in comfort with 48 cubic feet of cargo space left behind them. For shorter trips, like going to a restaurant, the Excursion can seat eight people, or nine if you opt for the XLS with its front bench seat.  Remove the third-row seat, and the Excursion can easily carry five people and more than 100 cubic feet of gear. Removing the third-row seat is easy: Flip the seatback forward, yank a bar at the foot of the seat and pull the seat toward the rear of the vehicle; it glides along on rollers. The seat weighs 75 pounds, but in short order I pulled it out and threw it into the back of another SUV on a cold Montana morning before driving to a trout stream.  Set up as a two-seater, the Excursion can carry an outlandish amount of cargo. A sheet of plywood slides in easily and lays flat on the floor. Two people could sleep in comfort on the huge, flat cargo area. Believe it or not, we managed to fill an Excursion. We'd just finished a three-day float on Oregon's Deschutes. As planned, the river guide in charge of setting up camp had arrived at our vehicles ahead of us. He quickly stuffed all of the supplies from base camp and enough fishing equipment for eight people inside. When he was done stuffing, only seating for two remained and the rear-view mirror was rendered useless. Granted, he could have packed more efficiently, but he was grateful for such a large storage container. No question, the Excursion can hold a lot of gear.  After reorganizing the equipment and putting some of it into another vehicle, six of us piled into the Excursion and made the long trip back to town. Cruising along steadily with this load, the Excursion demonstrated its virtues of size, stability and power. 

Driving Impression

Cruising along in a 2004 Ford Excursion gives you a secure feeling. The optional V10 ($585) is a delightful engine. It produces 310 horsepower and generates a very impressive 425 pounds-feet of torque at 3250 rpm. It can propel the Excursion along the Interstate at high rates of speed. Tell someone you have a V10 and they think you're driving a rocket. But an Excursion 4x4 weighs about 7,200 pounds, so even with the V10, its acceleration at high altitudes seems no better than in an Explorer or Expedition.  Still, our Excursion had no trouble passing other vehicles on two-lane roads. The Excursion is rock solid at 97 mph where a governor keeps you from going any faster. The EPA doesn't even rate trucks this big for fuel economy, but you should expect something in the 12-mpg range. We saw 14 mpg on the highway, but 10 mpg is more likely around town.  Despite its high initial price, about 60 percent of excursion buyers opt for the 6.0-liter Power Stroke diesel. This is a state-of-the-art unit, with hydraulic rail direct pilot injection and four valves per cylinder. Ford claims it offers best-in-class power, with 325 horsepower and 560 pounds-feet of torque, the latter at just 2000 rpm. That much torque should certainly be sufficient for pulling stumps out of your yard or pulling heavy trailers up steep ramps. Introduced in mid-2003, this new-generation diesel was designed for less noise, cleaner emissions, and better efficiency than the larger, but less powerful, diesel that it replaced. The diesel gets about 18 mpg, yielding a range of more than 700 miles from its 44-gallon fuel tank.  The five-speed automatic transmission that comes exclusively with the diesel offers a Tow-Haul mode which, when activated, automatically minimizes shifts and maximizes available torque. According to Ford, this can help increase a driver's feeling of control when towing large loads up and down steep grades.  We didn't try the standard 5.4-liter V8, but we suspect it would struggle if you loaded six passengers and luggage and headed for the mountains. With 255 horsepower at 4500 rpm, and 350 pounds-feet of torque at 2500 rpm, the V8 is best suited for the flatlands.  While 2WD Excursions come with Ford's signature Twin I-Beam independent front suspension and coil springs, the 4WD version rides on a solid front axle and leaf springs. But differences in ride and handling between the two are surprisingly subtle. Our test vehicle had the 4WD Trailer Tow Group ($275), which includes a rear anti-roll bar, and it seemed to compensate for some of the weight up front from a handling standpoint. The 4x4 handles well for a big rig, tackling corners with confidence and offering good grip on dirt roads.  At high speeds, the Excursion is stable. Strong crosswinds and an 18-wheeler going in the opposite direction had little effect. However, Excursion does not offer the ride sophistication of the Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon XL 1500 models. The all-terrain tires that are now standard on all 4WD Excursions are good for muddy trails, but the all-season tires that come with 2WD models are smoother and quieter for towing long distances.  Its long wheelbase means the Excursion is not a serious off-road vehicle. But the part-time four-wheel-drive system and 8.1-inch ground clearance should get you up some pretty gnarly dirt roads in nasty weather. Ford's clever vacuum-controlled hub-locking system quickly engages four-wheel drive on the fly by pressing a button. A low-range set of gears is ready whenever you need to tackle steep, slippery terrain. If you do drive off the pavement or on snow-covered roads, you'll want to opt for the limited-slip differential ($250) and the transfer-case skid plate ($100).  Towing, more than anything, is what the Excursion is designed to do. Properly equipped, it can tow trailers up to 11,000 pounds. That's more than enough to pull a hefty boat. All Excursions come ready to tow, with a C. 

Ford's gargantuan sport-utility is a stable platform for towing heavy trailers and can at the same time carry a truckload of fishermen. It rides fairly well for a heavy-duty truck and it's luxurious and comfortable. For those who want to tow trailers up to 11,000 pounds, the Excursion is a good alternative to a pickup with a cap. Ford says it will continue to produce the Excursion through the 2005 model year.  The Ford Excursion should not, however, be considered an alternative to a minivan. It's far too thirsty, and its size, weight and design make for poor maneuverability and handling when compared with minivans and light-duty SUVs. 

Model Lineup

Ford Excursion XLS 2WD ($36,585); XLS 4WD ($39,840); XLT 2WD ($37,575); XLT 4WD ($40,830); Eddie Bauer 2WD ($40,660); Eddie Bauer 4WD ($43,760); Limited 2WD ($41,985); Limited 4WD ($45,085). 

Assembled In

Louisville, Kentucky. 

Options As Tested

V10 engine ($585); 4WD Trailer Tow Group ($275) includes rear anti-roll bar, manually telescopic mirrors with heated glass, turn signals, and clearance lights. 

More Excursion Information

• All Model Years
• Excursion News
• Book Values
• Ford Dealers

2004 Ford Excursion trims (22)

(XLS 5.4L) 4x2

(XLS 6.8L) 4x2

(XLT 5.4L) 4x2

(XLT 6.8L) 4x2

(XLS 6.8L) 4x4

(XLS 5.4L) 4x4

(Eddie Bauer 5.4L) 4x2

(XLT 6.8L) 4x4

(XLT 5.4L) 4x4

(Eddie Bauer 6.8L) 4x2

(XLS 6.0L) 4x2

(Limited 5.4L) 4x2

(Limited 6.8L) 4x2

(XLT 6.0L) 4x2

(Eddie Bauer 6.8L) 4x4

(XLS 6.0L) 4x4

(Limited 6.8L) 4x4

(XLT 6.0L) 4x4

(Eddie Bauer 6.0L) 4x2

(Limited 6.0L) 4x2

(Eddie Bauer 6.0L) 4x4

(Limited 6.0L) 4x4

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2000-2005 Ford Excursion: Costs, Facts, And Figures

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Ford pickup trucks have been around for 75 years across 14 generations, and they continue to be one of the most successful vehicles sold in North America. The Super Duty line of heavy-duty trucks, which Ford recently redesigned, came along in 1999, and their primary purpose was to accomplish feats that the regular F-150 simply couldn't. The Super Duty family made its debut in 1999, and it's been going strong ever since.

With the introduction of the Super Duty line, Ford decided to experiment. They gave a Super Duty some extra seats and put a hardtop on the bed, to create one of the most capable full-size SUVs in all of history: the Excursion.

2000-2005 Ford Excursion

• 11,000 lbs towing capacity
• Up to 146 cubic feet of cargo space
• Model: Excursion
• Starting Price (MSRP): $37,650 (base)
• Engine/Motor: 5.4-liter V8 / 6.8-liter V10 / 7.3-liter turbodiesel V8 / 6.0-liter turbodiesel V8
• Horsepower: 255-325 hp
• Torque: 350-560 lb/ft
• Drivetrain: Longitudinal front-engine, RWD / 4x4
• Transmission: 4-speed automatic / 5-speed automatic
• Immensely capable
• Capacious interior
• Presence and cool factor
• Some reliability concerns
• Interior isn't the most luxurious
• Difficult to find examples in nice condition

2000-2005 Excursion Overview

The Ford Excursion came along in 1999 as a 2000 model year vehicle, and it coincided with the launch of the Super Duty line of pickup trucks from the Blue Oval. As you might expect, the Excursion used the same platform as the Super Duty trucks, but it featured a cover over the truck bed, which in itself was a cargo area and a space where Ford mounted an additional row of seats. The thing that set apart the Excursion from other family SUVs with three-row seating was its enormity. There hasn't been an SUV since the Excursion that offers this much excess in terms of sizing and capability.

RELATED: We Would Love Ford To Produce This Awesome Excursion Raptor

The Excursion looked fairly similar to the Super Duty pickup trucks of the time. Obviously, you couldn't get it with dually rear wheels, but the family resemblance was definitely there. The front end was pretty much the same, and so was the hood line. The side profile featured a set of running boards as standard, and the Excursion's length allowed Ford to install full-size rear doors. The rear, meanwhile, featured Dutch doors instead of a tailgate, as well as an opening rear window.

Ford offered a few different trim levels on the Excursion, including the requisite XLT, Limited, and the high-end Eddie Bauer. The Excursion's closest competitor was the Cadillac Escalade ESV, which is still around today, which came along in 2002, but the Excursion really was in a category of its own. Even if you compare it to other similar SUVs, like the Lincoln Navigator and Mercury Mountaineer, or the badass Hummer H1, the Excursion was bigger and more capable than just about all of them.

2000-2005 Excursion Powertrains

Throughout its life, Ford offered the Excursion with four different powertrains. The range kicked off with the 5.4-liter Triton gasoline V8, developing 255 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. Then, there was the rather absurd 6.8-liter Triton gasoline V10, developing 310 hp and 425 lb-ft of torque. The gasoline engines remained the same through the whole production run, and there were also two different diesels.

RELATED: 10 Most Reliable Diesel Pickup Trucks You Can Buy Used

From 2000 to 2003 or thereabout, Ford offered the tried and true 7.3-liter Powerstroke turbo diesel V8, which had 250 hp and a substantial 525 lb-ft of torque. From 2003 to 2005, Ford switched over to the less loved 6.0-liter Powerstroke turbo diesel V8, which sat at the top of the lineup as the most powerful and capable powertrain, with 325 hp and 560 lb-ft of torque.

The latter engine had an immense towing capacity of 11,000 lbs, but even the gasoline versions of the Excursion could tow 7,000 lbs or more. Power went to either the rear wheels, or all four wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission, with the only exception being the 6.0-liter Powerstroke, which switched over to a five-speed automatic.

2000-2005 Excursion Interior, Features, And Reliability

On the inside, the Super Duty family resemblance continued. Even though a sizable amount of interior components were the same as you'd find on an F-450 of the same vintage, Ford did their best to elevate the surroundings with nicer trimmings and better seat upholstery, and a fair amount of wood trim. Then again, the front of the Excursion's interior isn't especially important, as it's all about what happens in the rear.

The front did have climate control and an audio system, but so did the other two rows of seats. You could even spec a rear seat entertainment system for the second row, and each row also had its own climate controls. The most impressive thing about the Excursion, owing to its dimensions, is the capacity of everything. This may be an SUV, but it can seat nine passengers, and still offer 48 cubic feet of cargo space. If you fold down all the seats, you get a truly commodious 146 cubic feet of cargo space.

RELATED: How The 2023 Ford F-Series Super Duty Flexes Hard With 1,200 LB-FT

In terms of reliability, the Excursion is pretty bulletproof. That's not entirely surprising, as its powertrain lineup pretty much mirrors that of the Super Duty trucks, and as long as the previous owner has done the scheduled maintenance, and you continue to do it, you should be fine. However, it's best to avoid the 6.0-liter Powerstroke, as that's the powertrain with the most issues. Go for the 7.3 Powerstroke or the V10, especially if you plan to tow, as the 5.4-liter V8 isn't quite as capable.

2000-2005 Excursion Prices

The Ford Excursion is starting to gain a lot of traction in the world of used SUVs, simply because of its capability and its ability to do just about everything you could possibly want. Because nobody thought of preserving Excursions, pristine examples are worth a ton of money nowadays. Classic.com estimates the average value for the Excursion to be around $30,000. Some examples have sold for $100,000.

If you can find a solid example, which should set you back around $35,000, you can be rest assured that no other SUV in history is quite on the same level of capability. The Excursion's legacy lives on today, and so does the hope, as Ford revived the trademark not too long ago. Meanwhile, digital artists have put together their interpretations of a modern Excursion.

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Used 2004 Ford Excursion Limited - Specs & Features

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• General 6.0L Discussion

6.0 Towing Capacity?

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Any ideas what the maximum goose neck load would be for a 04 CC SWB 6.0? I'm thinking about buying a goose neck, but need to narrow down the max load of my truck. Thanks!  

Your truck should be rated for a gooseneck of just over 16,000 lbs.  

Is that all?!? Dang, I just went from a 20 footer to a 30 footer! Now I just have to find a place in Middle GA that sells used trailers so that I don't break the bank...  

a programer with a safe tow setting might get you were you want to be  

I pull around 22 000 daily without problems it's a 51' car carrier and soetimes i go around 25-26 000 lbs (short trips) what you should check isyour goose neck capacity  

You are also a dually! The 16K is what will be legal for the 250. I wouldn't say that you can't safely tow more than that because my SRW 350 is very comfortable with 16-17K in tow. The only problem is legal issues if you get stopped by a DOT cop.  

Mine handled 17,500 pretty well...but definitely need to be careful....  

What do you plan on putting on the flatbed?  

I'm looking for an enclosed cargo goose neck to move my household goods next year...if the USAF lets me leave Georgia. I figure I'll need a 25 footer to move the house. A good friend of mine just loaded up his house into a 35 footer and it totalled out at 14,000lbs including the trailer. I think he sat on the scales at 22,000 and is driving an 04 F-350 dually.  

I pull around a 44' tri-axe snowmobile trailer... 9 sleds and gear, tools, race gas etc.... and total weight is around 18-19000lbs... seems to do pretty well.... got 9.5 mpg and that was climbing mountains in wyo.... 1500 miles round trip  

I have basically the same truck. Mine is a 350. I just picked up a load of alfalfa at the scales we were at 19,600lbs. truck and trailer is at 12,400scales. The truck pulles it just fine. Takeoffs are a little slow but once it gets going no problems doing 75 on the freeway.  

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Anyone towing heavy with the 6.0L?

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I'm buying a 01 Suburban 2500 4x4 w/6.0L and wanted to know others experiences good or bad towing over 8K. I plan on using this to occassionally tow my 31' travel trailer that weighs about 8,700lbs. Also any suggestions on mods for hp/tq? Thanks  

Run it as-is. I'm going to be towing my 9100 pound camper with my stock Chevy 350/5.7 and 700R4 transmission. With the 6.0 and the 4L80E you have, you shouldn't even know the trailer's there.  

Crawdaddy said: Run it as-is. I'm going to be towing my 9100 pound camper with my stock Chevy 350/5.7 and 700R4 transmission. With the 6.0 and the 4L80E you have, you shouldn't even know the trailer's there. Click to expand...

My transmission does already have a shift kit in it, and I do have an auxillary cooler running as my only cooler at the moment, but I plan to start using the radiator cooler too again. The early 90s 3/4 ton trucks came with the 5.7/700R4 combo, so there's no reason I can't, or so I hope. A diesel would be a better way to go, but there should be no reason the 6.0 can't handle it.  

Have you towed it yet? I think it all depends on your personal requirements for performance/safety. My 98 Explorer 5.0 AWD was rated for 6600# and I towed my 25' boat/trailer for a few seasons until I scaled it at 8,000#'s and still tow it now with my 06 Explorer 4.6 4wd that is approaching 100K miles. When I bought my travel trailer I wasn't sure which vehicle to get so I towed it home from the dealer (40 miles) completely empty figuring it weighs just a little more than my boat and I made it but I realized then that I needed a truly heavy duty truck. The tongue weigh had the rear sagging severely and the wind drag had the electronically control (adaptive learning) trans shifting funny for a few days. The drag at expressway speeds is intense compared to the sleek boat. The last variable is the difference between flat lands and hills. I have pulled this trailer to FL and back a few times with an Excursion v-10 w/4.30 gearing through the mountains (scaled both at 17,300 lbs loaded) and also locally with E350 van V-10 3.73 geared and 99 Suburban 2500 7.4L and 96 GMC 3500 7.4L CC DRW, I can notice differences between the towing power with the gears.  

I honestly cannot say that I've ever hooked my camper up to the suburban. As of now, I'm just going off of specs to tell me what it can handle, and comparisons to similar vehicles that are rated to tow those kinds of weights. If it isn't capable of towing my camper.....I don't know what I'm going to do. But, I have total faith in that it's gonna drag the camper around with little issue. Stupid question, but were you using a weight distributing hitch when you bought the camper? That'll make a huge difference in how the truck's stance sits and how it handles on the road.  

Crawdaddy said: I honestly cannot say that I've ever hooked my camper up to the suburban. As of now, I'm just going off of specs to tell me what it can handle, and comparisons to similar vehicles that are rated to tow those kinds of weights. If it isn't capable of towing my camper.....I don't know what I'm going to do. But, I have total faith in that it's gonna drag the camper around with little issue. Stupid question, but were you using a weight distributing hitch when you bought the camper? That'll make a huge difference in how the truck's stance sits and how it handles on the road. Click to expand...

the diesel will outpull the 6.0 all day but the 6.0 wont be bad either. what gearing does the suburban have in it. 4.10's would probably be a good upgrade if it has the 3.73's. unfortunately I havent done a lot of heavy hauling in my 6.0 but it has done well when I have towed with it. after I lifted and put 35's on it struggles a bit on hills since I didnt jump to 4.56 gears but as you stated before just need some more patience on the hills.  

A 6 liter has plenty of power/tq. In WW2 those trucks you see hauling and towing large loads are just 6 cyl gas engined- probably made well under 120hp( they were no doubt big 6's-plenty of low RPM torque-but not as much as a 1998 5.7). A 5.7 makes 250 hp-plenty enough motor to tow. The motor/gearing determine how fast you can accelerate with a load. If you don't mind very slow acceleration the motor isn't the problem. Now all the rest of the running gear and BRAKES and weight/wheelbase of your vehicle have lots to do with towing safety, and reliability. A 3/4 ton drivetrain in a big long heavy wide vehicle like a Suburban should be up to handling 9000 lbs or so. Now some older Suburbans- my 1998 1/2 ton- have kinda whimpy brakes- I don't think I would care to tow more than 3500 lbs or so with these sissy brakes. I would get some sort of aftermarket brake kit-rotors calipers etc- if I towed much at all. The motor is rarely a limiting factor in towing- all the other stuff is-size/brakes/trans/gearing/weight/wheelbase/track etc.Light Little short wheelbase vehicles don't tow well. PS- Diesels are great tow vehicles, but they probably aren't overall cheaper to own. The FI systems are expensive to repair,and seem to regularly break. A SBC is cheaper to buy cheaper to own cheaper to repair- a BBC- probably cheaper also- but very thirsty even when not towing. Most folks don't run their vehicles past 200,000 miles, so how long a diesel can last isn't too important.Plenty of SBC last 175,000 plus miles. Diesels make better tow vehicles, but they aren't cheaper than a SBC or a BBC- even considering the HUGE thirst of a 7.4 or 8.1. The whole point of the bigger small blocks in 3/4 ton is to have an inexpensive to buy and own tow vehicle. The Duramax option adds $6000 or more to price with the expensive maintenance to boot Resale is pretty good on diesels, but they are so expensive to buy and own(new)  

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2003 EXCURSION 6.0 Good or Bad?

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Please help! We just bought an 03 Ford X with a 6.0. This is our first Ford and first diesel. Now we are hearing that we possibly made a mistake. It has 80,000 miles and the history shows the main problem with this rig has been the egt valves. No other major problems. Should we return it? We have a 10 day trial exchange. Do any of you have one? Tell me the good and the bad, Please!  

I don’t have any personal experience with the 6.0 but my buddy had head gasket issues with his. Ford ended up replacing the head bolts with studs. However, it was my understanding that everything was covered under the warranty. If it were me I would at least research the extended 7 year 200,000 mile warranty that is being offered right now. This link will help you in your research about the warranty. http://forums.thedieselstop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1436211&fpart=1  

Rob- Although I have not owned a 2003 or later Excursion with the 6.0, I have several friends that have. All have gone back to the 7.3 equipped Excursions (2 of the 3 found early '03's with the 7.3). There were a lot of problems with the '03's with 6.0 especially, and some wound up being returned under lemon laws. I have a good friend that owns a succesful large late-model used truck-only dealership just a few miles from my home, and he always has an Ex or 2 on his lot, but never a 6.0. He looks for the best low mileage 7.3's only, and if a 6.0 is traded in, he sends it to auction rather than retailing it. I know there are a lot of folks including those on this forum that swear by them, but I am on my 2nd Excursion with the 7.3, and it has been as trouble-free as the first. If I were in your shoes, I would be VERY patient in a search for a low mileage 7.3 Limited Ultimate from either late '02 or '03 (southern states/Texas) and return the one you have. The 7.3 is well proven and reliable and I would have a hard time going to something that has had a questionable reputation at best. If you must have a newer one, at least get into a late '04 or '05 since most of the 6.0 bugs had been worked out by that time. Just my 2 cents, of course. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif Jim  

Yes, I have one and I love it. I have just under 118K miles on mine now and I have had no real significant problems. I was concerned based on some of what I had read here, but I had a friend at Ford pull an OASIS report that showed no problems in the first 65k miles (which is when I bought it). My wife and I use it for our 2500 mile round trips to Florida and back several times a year and I use if for pulling my enclosed car trailer (10,000+lbs loaded). When not pulling and if I am easy on the throttle, I can get 20+ MPG but normal is between 16 and 18. Pulling the big trailer I get 12 to 14. I have made no modifications to my engine, nor do I plan to, it works great for me the way it is. It seems alot of people like the 7.3 because of the number of ways it can be modified.  

I had an 03 6.0L and traded it in with 73,000 trouble free miles for my current 05 6.0L. There were a lot of injector issues with the early 03 engines due to the injectors being installed improperly. That issue is behind your X. If they were put in bad they would have acted up long ago. The EGR valve gets dirty on all engines with one. With ULSD it will be less of an issue. However, a repeated replacement of the EGR valve most likely is telling you the EGR cooler maybe leaking. All of this is covered by 100K warranty. If you are going to keep it a long time look at the 200K warranty. There is a thread on the main 6.0L power train page. RoyC  

I also have a 2003 6.0L Excursion, however with only about 60,000 miles on it. It has been a great truck with only the EGR and harness being replaced under warranty. Everyone has stories, but there are a lot of 6.0Ls out there without problems also. Truck is great for hauling family, baseball team, boat, etc. It has been a great truck. My only issue with it, is it sometimes too big as I use it as a daily driver also.  

I sold my 2003 6.0 Excursion a month ago and it was perfect the four years or so I had it. I also had a 2000 7.3 Excursion before it but the 6.0 would blow the doors off of it. The 7.3 with 4-speed AT was a slug compared to the 6.0 with 5-speed Torqshift.  

Thank you very much for your replies!! We are still taking everyone's opinions and will make our decision in a couple of days. So far we love the rig and it will be hard to give it back!! We welome any other comments you may have. Thanks! Rob  

Don't listen to the few with problems that fill up these forums with there complaining. Most of them put chips and over fuel these with flash devices. Very few have problems not related to modifications this late. These engines like to work so load it from time to time and you will be fine. Buy a used one that has not been modified. Stay away from the ads that say a tuner or chip is included or has been used. Good luck!  

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