Does anyone have experience with an excursion as a tow vehicle?
We have a '99 with the v10. The owner wants to lift it with 33-36 in. tires and lift kit. It is planned to tow a 1 car enclosed trailer.I think that is a bad idea. can someone give me some insight to the reasons why this could be bad.

 

Well, Ford says that the V-10 (310 hp @4250, 425 fp @3250) can tow 9,600 lb with a 3.73 rear end or 11,000 lb with a 4.30. They suggest the limited slip diff for towing. They also sell optional 265/75/16 tires that should run about 32" in diameter (strangely enough, they don't list the standard tire size). Of course larger tires equate to less torque to the road. If the truck was jacked up too much, there might be issues concerning how to drop the hitch to get a level trailer. Maybe Draw-Tite or some other hitch company could help you out.

 

I would advise against it. If it's lifted, it's probably on softer springs, so he may be looking at sky when the trailer is attached. If it's 1 car enclosed, I'll assume about 600 lbs of tongue weight. You can get a hitch which drops, that's not really a problem, but I don't know if the Excursion is stable enough when lifted, especially with a closed trailer and a full load in the back.

Actually, you should make sure he checks his rear axle loading. You'd be surprised how high it is with a tag-along closed trailer.

Warren

 

I have a 00' V10 Excursion with the 10,000lb tow package (4.11 gears, LSD, increased cooling, etc.) as well as a 4" lift with 33" tires. I have been towing my 2400lb trailer, 2300lb car and 10 spares, tools, etc. for over 6 months with no problems. At the time of the lift and tire combo installation, I did install a Gibson exhaust and drop in K&N, which was a noticable difference.

 

<-- jealous of those who have a nice tow vehicle....
actually, jealous of those who own ANY tow vehicle.

-JG, who owns four cars, and not one meant to tow.

 

So, it seems it can be done. If not we can use the '01 escallade w/sc vortec v8 or the denali on 22's or the escallade ext on 23's what ever. fug it maybe we'll gat an 18 wheeler

 

I think you've gotta tow with whatever's rollin' on the biggest / shiniest duuubz, to maintain the true pimptastic image. So, the EXT on 23's, I guess:



Bling-bling,

Jon
PS- Zach, please tell your webmaster that on the CARRSS Gallery page, that is a Ducati 748S, not a 748c.

 

wow..

ceas..

 

That 4-wheeler on wires just sold the other day for .....$10,000 cash. to those out there who may think i'm a sell out. Remember the old adage "don't bite the hand that feed's you" That sale pays for some of the 600hp ls/vtec hybrid turbo motor that we are building.
Jon- I will tell them dude! chill out I know its a 748 S

 

d00d dAs phAt y0!!!!!!!!!

 

I might be driving this beast. so is there any specific questions I should ask the trailer place and maybe some upgrades to the truck so it can handle the load.

 

If I could sell 4-wheelers on dubs for $10k a pop... I'd do it too.

Question- I'm not an expert but... are the tire load ratings high enough on those low-profile tires that will go on the EXT high enough to support both the weight of the vehicle and the high tongue weight of the trailer it would be pulling? Or are you not considering pulling with that?

Andrew, with the lift and big tires did you notice any decrease in crosswind stability while the truck is weighted down at the rear?


[Modified by WRXRacer111, 6:54 PM 1/7/2002]

 

Chris, I was just joking I won't pull with those. I just dropped a car off to James Bowler he'll have it for about month. Next time you are in the area drop by and take a look. its a beast.

 

WRXRacer,

Decrease in crosswind stability with the lift, no. When I installed the lift and tires, I was towing a 17' open trailer, and there was no noticable difference in stability. Once I bought the 20' enclosed trailer, thats when I started getting pushed around in high cross winds.

 

Which I assume would happen with or without the lift kit and tires. Since you're pulling a big sail behind you now.

--Karl, who hasn't bought a trailer yet

 

Here at Rosen Autosport, we tow with a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado. It does rather well. It can two 9000lbs all day long. Unfortunately, it only has 16 inch wheels with measly 265/75/16 Firestones, not 305/40/23s or whatever. When we bring our other roading racing vehicles to the track, we used to use a gorgeous 86 F150 with a 4.9 straight six, which did not need to be supercharged! It was a lovely baby blue to boot. That is now sold. It will be replaced with an even better 84 Ponitac Parisienne Wagon with wood siding and a tow package! Comes with 15" wire wheel covers. Definitely not as cool as the 20" wire wheels on the 4wheeler! And if these two fail, we have, our favorite, the colt 45 van!. Function, definitely before form, here at Rosen Autosport! Image means nothing, obey your thirst!!!

Eric Rosen
Joe Henderson
'90 Type R powered wagon with 11" , 4piston brakes front and rear, and true-choice stage 4 suspension coming soon....



[Modified by PS4SE-R, 4:37 PM 1/8/2002]


[Modified by PS4SE-R, 4:39 PM 1/8/2002]

 

DAYAM. Dat vans got MAD skillz.


[Modified by the-sKiLLS-MasTA, 4:44 PM 1/8/2002]

 

That was indeed a great truck, much nicer than my '72 Ford F100. This guy is lucky to have it, and I'm first on the list if he ever decides to sell it.

Jon
who is all about some cheap / bling-free tow vehicles

 

Woah!!! I want to borrow that van for a couple days!!! Do you have rental program for it?!?

ceas..

 

Damn... I wanna git me one of those COLT 45 Vans!

 

Eric, this is AJ Crump posting under SoloSol. We understand that you guy's are a performance/race shop and won't buy 22" ,23", 24" wheels. So don't hate on us for taking another approach. Just think about that before you respond. We might not build road race cars. But you can learn one thing from us. To know when someone is making a joke. When we go to the races, it will be in style and comfort. If your budget allows you too then why not? I'm not trying to start anything here. But seriously, dont' take it personal. I haven't....yet

 

Um, Eric/Joe? About that Pontiac Parisienne Wagon... In all seriousness now, you might want to reconsider on that choice as a tow-vehicle. My family had a mid 80s Chevy Caprice wagon which I think is basically the same thing, and we dropped 2 transmissions out of it, once while towing a 2500ish pound boat and the other while driving the mountain road to Wintergreen ski resort with a carfull of people. Just thought I'd let ya know.

 

Hi AJ,
I guess the same could be said to you about learning something about me. I am sure Zach could tell you that I am quite possibly one of the more laid back people you could ever met. If you thought I was serious, you obviously don't know anything about who I am. I was simply trying to make light of the whole situation. So please don't say that I am "hating" on you, because that clearly was neither the case nor my intention to do so. I don't even know you or anyone who works at your place of employment. To know us AJ, we go to the races in rickety pieces of junk half the time. If our budget did allow, we would still probably do the same thing. What it boils down to, is that it is very difficult to differentiate the language on a message board. I thought about my post before I wrote it. If you have taken this personally, which I assume you haven't.....yet, feel free to call me anytime and we can discuss it further if you would like.

Eric Rosen
(804)421-9222

 

Actually, too late. Joe picked it up today. It is actually a good deal for the price he paid. New motor and 4speed auto trans. Thanks for the heads up though! We will give it a test soon I am sure.

Eric Rosen

 

Big transmission cooler and a set of gauges. Plus, if it busts at the track, I'll help you turn wrenches on it.

Karl, who s woody paneled station wagons