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Old 12-03-2006, 08:38 PM   #41
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2000 34' Limited S/O
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Excursion yes, Expedtion No!

I have a Linclon Navigator(same as Expedition just with more upgrades) 1/2 ton whereas Excursion is 3/4 ton.
I had been told that the Navigator would be fine as a TV but it was totally inadequate for my 87 34'. We just purchased a Dodge Cummins 3500, 1 ton and keep the Navigator as a second car because it is a nice vechicle used properly.
It would depend on the trailer, but I am not comfortable with a 1/2 ton for towing.
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Old 12-03-2006, 09:29 PM   #42
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eXcursion

Alan,

Welcome to the world of the Excursion - bigger than our first house. I would concur with John McG about tire pressure. I normally run about 50 psi, but when towing on our most recent trip pumped the rears up to 80 psi.

In my opinion, the best tow vehicle ever invented.
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Old 12-03-2006, 09:35 PM   #43
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Pinehurst

I have had two Excursions,2000 &2003. Both towed my 29 A/S coast to coast twice and averaged 11.4 mpg and we never had a problem with either. If your want a job done get something strong enough to handle to load. Stock, the Excursion tows 10,000 pounds and has the brakes and transmission to handle the load. No where in the mountians of the east or west have I had a problem.My maintance cost are very reasonable and the gas mileage solo is always better than what the auto mag. writers complain about. If you are going to tow full time and many miles, a diesel is better, but for the average camper the V-10 will definately get the job done. My forty years in the car and truck business and seeing the mistakes people make buying vechicles to light to handle the job and have to come back later and buy the right vechicle is experience enough for me to see the right path to happiness. Think twice and buy once.
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Old 12-05-2006, 06:15 AM   #44
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I am excited, I picked it up yesterday and drove home feeling so pampered. after having the 250 HD which was so different.
The Ford Forums I have been reading seem to indicate a bigger discussion about the spark plu issue than the real problem, which hits about 3% of the production. I talked to a dealer that assured me they take all the right steps to make the plug change work.
This particular one seems very well cared for, and i intend to do the same.
Thanks for the advice on tire pressure too.
How many of you are using helwig sway bars? I hear they make a great difference in the ride and handling. If so did you self install?
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Old 12-05-2006, 07:03 AM   #45
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All I would tell you is keep your plugs torqued. I'd check it every time I changed the oil.

If you do blow one, Ford will charge you $3000 to fix it. Forget that, buy the Timesert kit and fix it right. If I were keeping the vehicle, I'd go ahead and change all ten of them. The inserts only cost $7 each, and it's not hard to install them once you figure out the system. They are hardened steel, and so will not get soft with heat like threads in the aluminum will. And they way they install, it's impossible for the new threads on the outside of the insert to ever come out. It's how they should have come from the factory.

Other than that, I really liked my Excursion. Mine was a V-10, limited, 4x4, with the V-10. Three rows of leather, dual a/c outputs, headphone jacks, in dash cd changer, man it was nice. I'd get about 16mpg with it on the highway cruising empty. I got 9mpg towing a 26' Terry which was double insulated and had a slide out, so it weighed about 9000lbs. The X pulled it with ease.

As it turned out for me, my extended warranty that the dealership led me to believe was through Ford was not. It was a third party thing. And, they had some adjuster guy come down to look at it. He told he'd seen over thirty of them do the plug spit, and they wouldn't cover it. So, it is a big deal, but if it does happen, you can fix it yourself for about $400.

But I think if you keep them torqued, you'll be fine. The 5.4's seem to always do it on the rear most passenger side plug, the 6.8's do it on that one or the one just forward of that. Mine blew the 4th one back on the passenger side. I think that corner runs the hottest and it softens the aluminum a bit. My theory anyway...

Best of luck with it.
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Old 12-05-2006, 07:34 AM   #46
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ALANSD
How many of you are using helwig sway bars? I hear they make a great difference in the ride and handling. If so did you self install?
After you get a few miles with the Ex, and you get familiar with it, you'll begin to notice a "vagueness" in steering that you just can't quite put your finger on. Something's not quite right... but it's not really obvious. It'll become more obvious over rough roads, railroad tracks at speed, and towing. It's the rear of the truck wiggling over the top of the axle. The Helwig bar will help with that. It's supposed to be a DIY install, but I have a local shop who does quality work so cheap that it doesn't pay for me to crawl under the cars anymore.

I installed the radius rods before the sway bar, so I don't know how much the sway bar does alone, but I can tell you that it's a different truck with both.

Roger
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Old 12-11-2006, 11:25 AM   #47
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new question on the V10...I have gotten quotes of 270-300 to replace the spark plugs. I figure since its once evry 100k, I might bite the bullet, rather than spend three hours bent over it myself.
Anyone have experience with doing this at a Ford store, or should I use my local mechanic?
One dealer not too close to here quoted 170, I'm checking because if that is still correct it might be worth a 40 minute drive.

By the way this truck runs really well. Very smooth & lots of power.
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Old 12-11-2006, 12:51 PM   #48
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I'd have it done, and probably by a Ford store. At least if it spits one later, you can go back to the Ford store and complain, and they won't be able to claim it's because you didn't torque 'em right. They have to be torqued "just so" apparently, and even that may not be adequate as they will occasionally spit OEM plugs before they've been changed. I'd say it's definately worth while to have it done. Mine's only go 68k on them, and I think I'm going to hold out until it's not firing on all cylinders anymore.

Roger
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Old 12-11-2006, 04:26 PM   #49
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Yeah I was thinking Ford would be a safer bet at this point. I bought a torque wrench, have to say the set up on the v10 looks a bit different than anything I have worked on, with the coils and all. I found some good directions on another Forum, so hopefully I can check the torque and keep it straight after the change.
Trans fluid looks very clean, everything else is well serviced according to the records.
Funny I did not know what the power vents were, an ended up opening them ( the rear windows) and looking around to figure out what was actually open. Another dummy in the drivers seat!!
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Old 12-11-2006, 07:13 PM   #50
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Alansd..... So funny you mention the power vents for the rear windows.... same thing with me.... had no idea what I was opening. My windows have a very "dark" tint and finally I saw a ray of light.... yep, the window was cracked open.... Again, thanks for bringing that up.... now I know there was at least two of us.... And I LOVE my Ex...
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Old 12-12-2006, 09:58 AM   #51
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 85MH325
After you get a few miles with the Ex, and you get familiar with it, you'll begin to notice a "vagueness" in steering that you just can't quite put your finger on. Something's not quite right... but it's not really obvious. It'll become more obvious over rough roads, railroad tracks at speed, and towing. It's the rear of the truck wiggling over the top of the axle. The Helwig bar will help with that. It's supposed to be a DIY install, but I have a local shop who does quality work so cheap that it doesn't pay for me to crawl under the cars anymore.

I installed the radius rods before the sway bar, so I don't know how much the sway bar does alone, but I can tell you that it's a different truck with both.

Roger
Vagueness is exactly how I would describe it. I replaced the OEM shocks with Rancho adjustable shocks and that has made a huge improvement in the ride. When you remove the stock shocks, you will see that they are really junk. I installed the Hellwig rear sway bar - it's like one of those bar games/puzzles; trying to get two twisted metal objects together/apart. Very frustrating but certainly doable. Access to a lift would greatly help. I've been looking at the radius rods, but I think I would leave that install to a professional. Towing is another story - still feel quite a bit of sway with the Reese DC setup. I think I need to look at lower rated bars; from 1000# down to 550 or 700.
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Old 12-12-2006, 10:09 AM   #52
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Peagreen, it's not the Reese, it's the rear spring stack. Trust me on this one, been there, done that! What's happening is that the entire trailer tongue is moving the rear of the truck over the top of the rear axle. The spring stack isn't strong enough to hold 7000 lbs of truck plus 900 lbs of tongue weight in place in the midline of the truck. Basically it's uncontrolled rear-axle steering. How's THAT for a scary thought?

</Testimonial on> Get the radius rods. They'll solve your problem. </Testimonial off>

Roger
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Old 12-13-2006, 04:04 AM   #53
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Quote:
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Peagreen, it's not the Reese, it's the rear spring stack. Trust me on this one, been there, done that! What's happening is that the entire trailer tongue is moving the rear of the truck over the top of the rear axle. The spring stack isn't strong enough to hold 7000 lbs of truck plus 900 lbs of tongue weight in place in the midline of the truck. Basically it's uncontrolled rear-axle steering. How's THAT for a scary thought?

</Testimonial on> Get the radius rods. They'll solve your problem. </Testimonial off>

Roger
Yikes! Did you install them yourself?
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Old 12-13-2006, 04:59 AM   #54
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No, although they're not difficult to install, I don't have a cutoff wheel. I have a mechanic here in town who works at a rate that makes it difficult for me to own tools. I have him do all of the work on my Ex. When the plugs need to be replaced, I believe I'll take it to Ford though.

Roger
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