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TGK · 11-14-2006, 02:44 PM

I have a '99 F250 Super Duty LB 4X4 5.4 V8 with a manual trans and 4:10 rear end. I originally bought it too haul a very light weight camper down rough back roads. I sold the camper and bought a '71 Safari that is around 3,800#'s dry and has a GVW of 5,200 lbs. My rig tows this unit fine, without any problems. 70 - 80 MPH on the freeway is no problem. Only time I notice it is going up over a steep mountain pass. MPG is 10-11 with the trailer and 13 -14 without. I have not had any problems with the truck or the engine.
Having said this, if your towing something heavier, I would reccomend going to a more powerful engine.

Silvertwinkie · 11-14-2006, 02:46 PM

GM defanged the 2007 Suburban...it can now only tow a max of 9700 (2wd) or 9400 (4wd).

2006 was the last model year for the 3/4 ton Burb with an 8.1L engine that could tow 12,000lbs w/ 4.10 gearing.

I smell a diesel in it's future, though if I go by the 3/4 ton commercial van lines, it appears that it has the second gen duramax and an upgraded 4L80e behind it.....can't be far off now.

Condoluminum · 11-14-2006, 02:56 PM

We upgraded last year from 94 Suburban K1500 (200hp @ 5.7L) to a 2002 Excursion with 4.10 rear gears and 5.4L Triton V8. It pulls the 25 just fine, and we enjoy added benefit of airbags, etc... Tow rating only marginally better than Suburban (with 50 hp more...), but chassis beefier and we can occasionally use O/D on flat roads to improve towing mileage from 9 to 11... The 5.4L V8 averages 15 mpg when not towing anything. Wouldn't try a new 28 or larger with the V8...

Saw special report on local news last night here that over 300 spark plug failures reported on Triton 5.4's from 1997 through 2002 models.. NTSA not interested, and Ford maintaining not a design problem (heads appear to be thin and have only 3 or 4 threads in casting to hold plug in place..). Apparently some owners working on January 2007 court hearing to certify class action to pursue Ford remedy.. Stay tuned...

John McG

Silvertwinkie · 11-14-2006, 04:43 PM

Man, folks at Ford just can't get a break. They drop to the #4 automaker, the stock has slid and just when I thought the worst was over, then there's this......

It's no secret that I'm a GM fan, even though they've had issues too, it's hard to fathom and watch Ford take such a beating. I've heard rumors, that I also can't see happening and that's GM and Ford merging. What the heck would we all have to rib each other about if there was no longer a Ford/GM thing? Maybe pulling a 34 footer with an Intrepid.

I hope Ford turns it around.

ALANSD · 11-15-2006, 01:00 PM

A load of Excursion V10 for sale,seems like good prices as well. I am still gathering info, and trying to decide if selling the f250 is a good idea. Might just hold off a few months and let my brain wrap around all this stuff.

davidz71 · 11-15-2006, 07:47 PM

Alan,
I noticed excessive diesel smoke from your truck while at Hiawassee. I have several friends with Duramax diesels in a 2500hd and a 3500. Neither had the noise and distinct smoke yours had. Find someone with a Duramax in 2500hd and talk them into letting you drive it OR go to a dealer and test drive a used model off the lot. Take your wife with you and I think you will see a difference between the trucks. I'd sure go that way before buying an Excursion. By the way, I have a friend who manages a tire shop/ Budget Rental place and he has had a number of his trucks with 5.4 spit out plugs. That is one problem I refuse to accept and why I would never buy a truck with that engine.

JimGolden · 11-15-2006, 08:04 PM

Alan,

I had a 2001 Excursion. I loved the truck. It towed great. Pulled a 29' SOB with it that grossed much more than my little Airstream does.

The passenger side next to rearmost plug blew out on mine at 36,348 miles. It was the original plug. I had purchased the extended powertrain warranty; 7 years and 100,000 miles. They wouldn't cover it. Ford wanted $3000 to fix it.

With the entire Triton line, they only tap the threads for the plugs about half the thickness of the roof of the head casting. So you've got about 7 threads holding the plug in. The plugs back out a little, combustion gases get in there and soften the aluminum a bit, and KAPOW! The plug blows out of the head, wiping out about five of the threads, and shoots through the coil pack. It's not pretty.

There's a company called Time-Sert that makes a repair kit for this, so that you can fix it in the truck. Their kit is far superior to heli-coil. Rather than a spring, Time-Sert is an actual "bolt" that is drilled and tapped on the inside. you ream the head out to a much larger diameter, retap, then using permanent loc-tite put the insert in and torque to 20 ft-lb, then run a special mandrel through it that expands it on the combustion chamber side, like a rivet. So its locked in. Fixes it for good, and is the way it should have been made from the factory. That kit is like $350 or so. I've got the kit, and would gladly help somebody out that experiences this problem.

Other than the plug spitting, the X is a great vehicle. Mine had the 3.73 and I got 9-10mpg average towing.

ALANSD · 11-16-2006, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidz71

Alan,
I noticed excessive diesel smoke from your truck while at Hiawassee. that .

It smokes on start up ,stops after a mile or so of driving. Figured most of the older 7.3s do that. At least the biodiesel smells better.
I am looking at 1500 and 2500 Suburbans also...saw a nice 2500 but it had the 454. I am quite familiar with that engine after my moho, and figure the mileage would be a killer.

ALANSD · 12-02-2006, 03:01 PM

well, I got hooked up today....Sold my big red Truck last week to a farmer from Fla, who loved it. He; semailed me back to thank me. Glad to see it go to someone who will enjoy it.
Meanwhile I have been out scouring for a vehicle all week and today I got a 2000 Excursion V10 2wd Limited. Beautiful shape with just over 100k on it.
Can't wait to tow in style and comfort.
Thanks for all the info on these, and having read further I expect it will be a great mate for the Sovereign.
Going to get the Ford dealer to replace the plugs so we will be ready to cruise!!

ALANSD · 12-02-2006, 03:07 PM

here is a shot of the "new to us" ride

85MH325 · 12-02-2006, 03:18 PM

Congrats, Alan! Great looking Ex! Welcome to the wonderful world of the V10! If yours doesn't already have a Helwig sway bar in the rear, it's a good addition. PM me if you're interested in installing Land Yot's radius rods. I'll tell you how to get ahold of him. The two make all the difference in the world for the Ex.

Make sure your wheel lug nuts are properly torqued to keep the rotors from warping. Unless you spit a plug, there really isn't anything else these things need! A K&N filter intake kit has made about a 2mpg difference in mileage on mine as well.

Is yours the 4.10 rear end, or the 3.73?

Roger

PizzaChop · 12-02-2006, 08:33 PM

Alan,

Sweet ride! Make sure they use anti-seize on the plugs!

Tom Randall · 12-02-2006, 09:05 PM

I am new to this forum and have been reading for a bit. I just purchased last week a 2001 Excursion XLT V10 with the 4.3. Has 70,000 miles on it, has the K & N filter, some other stuff... and I really love it...never had a truck or SUV before.... Now if I can just find the perfect Airsteam..... I just want to be a happy camper lol....

ALANSD · 12-03-2006, 07:46 AM

since you have the Exc the world of Airstreams is not limited to any specific size...you can pretty much look at the gamut up to the 34s. One member here lives in Fla and sells AS on this forum frequently, I got mine thru him after telling him what I was looking for. See the classifieds section.

Boondocker · 12-03-2006, 10:16 AM

Congrats on the new rig Alan, I look forward to hearing how you like it.

ALANSD · 12-03-2006, 03:35 PM

Thanks! We pick it up tommorow after work. Been reading on the Ford-truck forums about guys towing 9000lb trailers cross country with theirs. My 5000+ ought to be a breeze for it.

nvestysly · 12-03-2006, 04:20 PM

That thing looks brand new! I don't know much about diesels but some would say it's just getting broken-in at 100k.

When Danielle and I met you back in October at Hiawassee I know you were towing with a heavy duty truck. I'm sure you'll like Excursion - much more family friendly unless you have a true need for a pickup.

Anyway, the Ford looks great! Look forward to seeing you in Hiawassee in the spring.

Lucius

wayner1239 · 12-03-2006, 04:29 PM

I have a 98 Expedition with 5.4 engine that has performed very good in pulling my 21' Sovereign. It gets about 10 or 11 mpg towing. The only time it has been in the shop is for oil changes, tires, and a front end alignment. It is rated to tow 7300 lbs but I don't think I would want to pull a unit much larger than mine with it. I do use overdrive on fairly level terrain.
Wayne

Condoluminum · 12-03-2006, 05:33 PM

Alan-

Welcome to the Excursion Owner's Club!

More research on plug problem implies it is serious problem for Triton 5.4L V8, not really the V10... You should be fine, and have plenty of trailer pulling power..

Free tip for wife comfort: Excursion rides much better with less air pressure in tires when not towing, and tows better with tires pumped up.. If you have access to compressor or easy way to adjust, it will ride a lot better around town at less than 50 psi cold...

John McG

scottanlily · 12-03-2006, 07:13 PM

The v-10 does in fact have the same plug problems as the 5.4 ,done a few
myself ,there is a minimul amount of thread in the cylinder heads about 1/4 to maybe 3/8 of plug thread and thats the reason for the blowing out of the threads .Cannot worry about it though ,just keep driving on ,some had it happen some have not ,many more 5.4s around so youll hear more of them doing it .

Scott