in my family, we have both. I have gone through multiple suburban 2500's and we have an excursion with the v10. the D measuring contest is off the charts when it comes to which is better. I think that both are very good....but i take the suburban for daily driving around town. the two biggest differences for me are the height of the hood on the excursion (hard to see when parking) and the independent front suspension of the suburban (more comfortable to drive). off-road, the excursion leaves the suburban in the dust. we tested all of this. but in all honesty, you can't go wrong with either one and if you are shorter than 6 feet, you can sleep behind the second row on either one of them or put an entire sectional in the back. perfect hybrid vehicles :)
@@Back_door_bandit_98 lol wat? The 7.3 is one of the most loved diesel's in history. The biggest downfall to the v-10 is it spits plugs occasionally. Takes 30 mins to fix usually. I've also see them in the 2-300k frequently.
@@Back_door_bandit_98 😆 🤣 😂 the 7.3 and the v10 are easy 500k mile engines I'd say the v8 gassers have the same issues 300k. He'll I get 19 mpg in my wife's 7.3 4x4 13mpg towing a 8k camper loaded seats and dogs in the back...
Bring back the EXCURSION!!! 7.3L V8 and 10-speeds of goodness. The EXPEDITION has been turned into a pavement princess. Bring back that solid axle family hauler!
Yea but the Expedition has never really been a hardcore off road vehicle. It's been a big SUV. It's always been tend for families with like 4 or 5 kids.
@@aimxdy8680 yea I know. Minivans used to be in high demand back in like 1980s to early 2010s, and my parents used to own a 2005 Nissan Quest and it was very practical. I miss that minivan soo much it was my childhood. And now crossovers and SUVs are soo tremendously popular, and there’s just too many of them nowadays, and I’m not usually a fan of them, (except for sporty SUVs and off roaders which are also in high demand now).
Side by side comparison the excursion is a few inches bigger everywhere!! How do I know? I'm the guy who created the occupant package and did the initial cad packaging in the masco-tech design studio's when we created the 99+ super duty and f650 and f750 medium trucks. The clay models were frozen and approved by upper management, jacuzzi jack, in late March of 1993. The clay fights were insanely fun and sometimes they hurt getting hit with 1 inches clay chunk will leave welts! Lol. About 75 of us made it happen!
Loved my 2000 V8. Drove it until 2022 with 262k miles before unloading it for a trade in on an F150 with the v6 ecoboost. THAT truck has been nothing but trouble. Unloading the EX was a serious regret 2 years ago.
I wish Ford would bring the Excursion back. It's basically a Super duty SUV. The best work truck I ever had. The size of a van on inside but built like. Tank and with 4WD. You could haul 1000sq ft of hardwood flooring one day, and take family of 8 on vacation the next.
Was a chevy fan boii all my life. Dad bought a 97 silverado 1500 back in 04 and when he passed away it sat under a tree for 10 years. Took it out got it running fairly easily and the 5.7 still purrs like a kitten. That being said I love my new to me 7.3l excursion. Picked it up for 7.5k last October with 330k on it. Couple things didn't work like a few door locks but it's so easy to work on. It gets the same or better mpg than my wife's f150 and the kids prefer it over her truck. It's 4 inch lift with 35s give it a very commanding presence and is still enjoyable to drive even for long periods of time.
my 99 tahoe still has the original factory tissues inside the rear seat flipdown lol im the second owner bought it 10 years ago from a 90 year old man that didnt use it very hard and took good care of it.
I have a 2000 excursion with the 7.3 and just love it! Just finished a 3,300 mile round trip from Wisconsin to Texas and averaged 17mpg running 75mph. Truck has 293,000 miles and used 1qt of oil. Hoping to get another 100,000 out of her!
I finally found a 2000 EXC with the 7.3 just over a year ago and getting ready to start that project. I have an ‘02 550 crewcab with a 10’ flatbed and LOVE IT. Found my Tahoe WAY too small for the fun travels I like and figured the Excursion would be the best fit. Can’t wait till she’s done!
Well, I’ve got 6 kids, live in a snowy climate and have a 11000lb travel trailer. I looked long and hard and the suburbans got crossed off my list fairly quick. Found a 2002 7.3 power stroke limited excursion with low miles before they went insane in value and the wife has been loving it as a daily driver ever since. There is absolutely NOTHING money can buy new today what this excursion can do. Haul 9 people, 4x4 and 11500 tow rating. And I think from a reliability stand point, although the ride is a bit more harsh, it’s a 1 ton and tough as nails.
I have a f350 with the 7.3 L desil and I am having a hard time trying to find a smaller truck that is half as good no car or truck in today's world can compare
Lovin my 2005 Ford Excursion XLT 4X4 V10... Handles just fine... It's been my daily driver since 2018... No major issues thus far...just routine maintenance... I feel very safe in this beast... My 2 daughters love how spacious and comfortable it is inside... I removed the 3rd row bench so I can securely haul a whole bunch of stuff at any time...rain or shine! 👌
My mom still has the 2002 GMC YukonXL 2500 my parents bought when we were kids. It was a beast. We could all pile in to go on a family vacation while towing a trailer. The 6.0 gasser struggled a little bit while fully loaded, but it has almost 300K miles now and keeps chugging along. If GM saw how much the diesel Excursions are in demand now, I bet they would’ve offered a Duramax option in the GMT800 Suburbans/YukonXLs.
My Grandma has an Eddie Bauer one of these. Two tone leather fully loaded model 7.3 diesel. Such a cool SUV and at that trim level I feel the interior is much nicer. Especially the stereo and HVAC system.
@@captaininsano2777 I think when most people say no mechanical issues ever, they mean nothing major. Hell I know a guy who got 340000 miles out of his Ford Ranger with no major mechanical issues.
@@deejayimm That doesn't count. Ranger engines and transmissions aren't really Ford. They come from the Cologne, Germany plant and they are designed and engineered by Mazda.
I got myself a ‘94 K2500 Suburban a couple years ago, solely because I knew it could handle anything I might throw at it. The TBI 7.4 is even worse on power than the Vortec version with only 230 horsepower, but the bonus of that is that it can’t possibly hurt itself with the stock tune and running gear. Only 150k on the odometer now, and I plan to take good care of that land yacht as long as I can, for better or worse. Barn doors for life!
I also have a 94 k2500 with the 7.4. It’s not a show car or a hot rod, but it’s been very reliable. Even pulled a couple skid steers with it. May be using it to tow a 30 foot camper before long. Won’t knock the excursion if you have one without the 5.4, but I am a gym guy at heart.
I had the 1990 454SS which is basically the same TBI 7.4 powertrain and same front suspension as your suburban. You should put a tune on it. It wakes it up and it will still be reliable. I miss that truck, but I sure do not miss the 10MPG haha.
the seat bottoms of the second row have two small holes, because the headrests come out. pull the second row headrests out, and place them in the holes. then, fold the seatback down. saves the headrests from damaging and/or being damaged.
Lots of those v10’s in huge class A motor homes. The 2 valves were very very reliable. Of course you cannot beat an excursion with the 7.3. Best suv ever made period. And the 6.0’s can be great too if bullet proofed.
Disagree 8.1 suburbans basically run for ever have 320k on mine and it's been towing trailers over 10k lb daily since new never let me down once still purrs and much better to drive than an excursions way more nibble and quicker
I'm a Ford man generally, but I have to say I've driven a huge box truck with an 8.1 and a single cab 4wd ford f350 dump truck with a 6.8, and in my opinion the 8.1 has significantly more low end grunt and power. That said, I also had a 2008 F350 dually crew cab long bed with the 6.4 diesel, and I don't think GM has ever made a truck that could tow as well as that did.
Can I just say I’m so glad this type of content is still being made. Us regular Joe’s appreciate both of these trucks are able to quibble about minor differences and details but both were great examples of strong capable American vehicles. Love the content. 🇺🇸
I owned a 98 K2500 that was loaded with all the options and a 350 motor. Absolutely loved it. My wife was pregnant with child #3 and I was about to deploy so I just couldn’t see her swinging that big second row seat out of the way to get to another car seat in the third row. Traded the Burban for a Honda Odyssey. I still miss that truck, great on an off road. That 42 gallon gas tank could make you wince during fill-ups.
the stupid U-joints for the 4WD are a pain in the ass, as is the wheel bearings and auto hub seals. It's more rugged but at the same time service sucks.
@@nickd.4512 this generation leather seat is really comfortable. A lot softer than the fords. My dad has a tahoe with these seats and are great for long trips.
I had a 1999 suburban 2500 with the 6.5 diesel that I ordered from the factory new and had 4:10 axles (4x4). I ordered it specifically for towing a camper at the time and kept it until 2019 when I sold it. Been kicking myself ever since as it was the best vehicle I have ever had.
I originally wanted a 7.3 Excursion, but ended up with a 6.5 K2500. Biggest deciding factors were the fact that the 6.5 is stupid cheap to work on and maintain compared to the Powerstroke, and that the Suburban had almost double the payload capacity. 310k and the engine and it's 4L80E trans are still doing great!
you should have purchased the Excursion! You could have sold it for more than you paid for it today IF you had taken good care of it. Suburbans - NO THANKS ON ANYTHING FROM GM>
@@rockandroll4689 My Suburban is worth more than I paid for it, and I get people wanting to buy it all the time. They're both desired and rare and shooting up in value.
The price of excursions has doubled in the last couple of years. Back in 2019, I remember seeing tons of these in $2500-3000 range. 6.0’s were around $6k . The v10 is fairly reliable, there’s plenty of them with 300k miles around.
Really? Because I sell hundreds of trucks a year and the only Excursion I see with any value is the 7.3. The 6.0 and 5.4 are almost unsellable and the V10 sells as a curiosity.
I love my v10 excursion. It is getting a little tired at almost 200K but it’ll get a motor one of these days. I mainly use it as a hunting and camping vehicle so it suits my needs well. I never have to worry about starting issues when the temps at elk camp are down around 0 like I did in my 7.3 pickup. With chains in all 4’s I’ve been in snow up to the bumper and plowed right through. Absolutely awesome vehicle.
The ford excursion is the coolest SUV ever made in my opinion. It was in a class of its own really. I really wish they would make it again today with drivetrain to back it up
@@TecDLogic it's in the right direction but not quite. The grand wagoneer L had 6 lug axles and a heavy duty truck had 8 lug axles. With the capability of heavy duty trucks today I want an suv on a 1 ton frame and chassis that seats 9 comfortably and tows 15k. That's my complaint about most large suvs if you fill the seats with passengers your payload is done and you cant hardly tow anything
I had a 2001 6.8 liter v10 limited excursion. I never had any issues with any of the drive train. I pulled trees over, upright, drug friends out of mud holes on 40's and bigger tires. Only negative thing i could say about the excursion was it was thirsty as hell for fuel.
I would love to let you guys review my excursion, having the diesel makes a world of difference and really displays exactly what the truck was built for. Which as you said was to be a tried and true, rugged machine. I love the interior on my ex its simple and easy to clean, Its exactly what I was hoping for and more.
They should have only come with the 7.3. Great vehicle! Mine has 285k miles on original engine/transmission. Only had to change a couple of o-rings and high pressure oil sensor on engine. Starters, batteries and alts have been replaced a few times as on ALL vehicles with almost 300K miles on them. Still pulls 13K lbs like a champ!
I know a guy with a 2500 suburban with the diesel engine. he's got over 500k on it and it still starts up like brand new. everything on it is cheap to replace and the parts availability is amazing. I don't know anyone with an excursion and can't say much about it, but the suburban is a hell of a machine nonetheless.
I've had my 2000 Excursion Limited since 2009, it will be restored and passed on to my son. You just can't replace this truck with anything else, it does it all.
My fam rig is a 04 6.0 bullet proofed engine. A few xtras here & there. Love it & gets lots of compliments still. 6.0 sound like a jet ✈️ plane, pulls like a freight train! 🚂
I've had a few of both. EXCURSION is better for work, cargo and towing. SUBURBAN better for transportation, reliability and fuel economy. If I had to choose one, it would be Suburban, 2500 with 350ci/5.7L.
I love both of my Excursions! 7.3 is my tow vehicle and 5.4 is my DD. The intention was to sell my 5.4 4x4 after I picked up my 7.3.....That was 6 years ago....still can't bring myself to part with it.....
On the Excursion,they are cool unique vehicles,but the reality is they aren’t that great as a people mover, and they aren’t a great tow vehicle they are a lot less capable and less stable than a 3/4 ton crew cab pickup .They ride like crap, they feel bigger than they are and in a 4x4, they wander on the road ,they don’t even have enough payload to fill the seats let alone tow anything most are 9000 gvwr and the 4x4 diesel weighs around 8200 lbs ,my Toyota Corolla has more payload at 990 lbs. The wheelbase is relatively short for its height Andy what it’s supposed to be able to pull. This leads to sway and proposing . The suburban is a lot better choice way more civilized and comfortable , much better visibility and more payload and similar towing capabilities.The frame on the 2500 suburban seems too be the same as a 1500s, very small especially in the rear section . I wish they built it on the HD platform in the 2001-06 they didn’t.
@@JohnDiMartino Tf are you talking about? The towing capacity for the last year of 7.3 excursion (2003) is 10,500-11,000 thats more than gm trucks from that year💀
@@JohnDiMartino the excursion has a payload of 1500-2000 pounds. I can seat 8 and everyone's luggage comfortably. While towing 10k lbs easily. I haven't had a 2500 suburban but I've had A 1500 and wouldn't go back to one from my excursion if I had too. Are there better trucks at towing? Absolutely. Do they seat 8 while doing it? Na
@@screwstontxrippimpcripdjsc3630 494ci vs 415 ci...the 8.1 SHOULD have more power than the 6.8. If I were a Chevy guy, I'd be concerned if the V10 came anywhere close to the 8.1.
Suburban with the 8.1 liter will out tow all three. The 7.3,6.5 and the V10. I have a 94 c2500 suburban diesel currently.the power is less than the 7.3 by far. But I get 22 mpg in the diesel suburban. I've owned 2 excursions. 1, 7.3 and 1, 6.0 diesel. The 6.0 would run circles around the 7.3 PSD .like 100 more HP. I can't afford to buy a 7.3 excursion. There like gold right now. The biggest suv ever made!
Of the era, stock for stock, gimme the 8.1 every time. (Although my experience is limited to pickups....) Mo' powah and I really prefer the 8.1's torque curve. The V10 is capable, but I really got tired of listening to it spool up for hill climbs. Even if it doesn't have to, I could listen to that 8.1L rev up and pull all week. The V10/Triton spark plug thing was pretty inconvenient too. Also, for on-road towing or a daily driver... the GMT800 is an amazingly comfy truck that rides and handles with far better manners than the Super Duty. Those solid axles come with a price.
I’ve owned both, v10 first and currently own an 8.1, the 8.1 is a much better motor in my opinion, way more power, and in the trucks you get the 5 speed Allison, that extra gear makes a world of difference, lastly it actually sounds like a big block and not like a Honda Civic like the v10 does,
When you're pulling it's all about the stroke. More cylinders with a shorter stroke equals higher rpm. Good for race engines terrible for pulling. Ford has had some terrible engineers over the years. They are all guilty of this but ford takes the cake.
In 2017 I bought a 1998 Chevy Suburban K2500 because it could tow 10,000 pounds and seat eight. At the time it was the best deal for that kind of towing capacity with that number of seats. I still have it today although I am not driving it a whole lot right now due to the price of fuel.
Everytime I look at a Suburban, I've always come away thinking, how can something this big still be too small? Forasmuch as people make fun of it, I still think the Excursion is really about the right size for a large SUV.
@sneakypete187 oh for sure, quality and GM interiors are words that dont go together. I own a 2002 F150 and that interior is much better than a 2002 silverado interior.
@@samholdsworth420 I like boobs and butts that are round, I see nothing wrong with bubbles. My other truck is a 2012 Raptor, chevy only wishes to make a truck as capable and cool as that.
The v10 was a good engine other than the spark plug issues but once you realize the v10 issue fixed, they last. Its not meant for the power but mainly for torque. I like the v10s but they get a lot of hate.
They're one of the 400,000 mile gas engines. With routine maintenance, and not a whole lot else, these engines will run forever. Just torque the spark plugs periodically.
LMFAO you can’t call it a good engine if you have to worry about the spark plugs flying out of the hood and to the guy that said 400k with routine maintenance what do you call tightening the spark plugs every 10k miles? That’s not routine maintenance theirs a reason the 6.8 v10 wasn’t used for very long. A 6.0 vortec or 8.1 vortec will blow the doors off any triton engine in reliability and overall power.
@@Back_door_bandit_98 ignorance is abundant with the V10 spark plug issue. The spark plugs, if torqued properly to 25 ftlbs.....Will not come out. 285k on my V10, off roading, towing a 31' trailer, Im not easy on it and never had a spark plug issue.
@@Back_door_bandit_98 talk about misinformed. Hahaha. My dad has a 2002 V10 F350 that pulls his boat and camper around (not flat straight roads either) with over 300,000 miles on it. No spark plug issues. Doesn’t have to retorque them. Nothing but regular maintenance. It’s been so little trouble and so reliable that he refuses to get rid of it for a diesel, even though he wants a diesel. The V10’s only had one actual problem for people that perform proper maintenance. That’s that they get like 10mpg absolutely no matter what you do. Set your cruise on the highway with the wind helping you? Still 10-11 mpg.
Man, they really hate Ford. One of many examples, The bronco independent front axle “ terrible”. The Jeep solid front axle “ fantastic”. Now The excursion solid front axle “ terrible” but the suburban 2500 independent front axle “ fantastic”🤦🏻♂️
solid axles are always going to be better than ifs, less parts that wear down, easier to work on and, they are way more reliable and durable in every aspect, especially when you have a 3/4 ton , you should really have a solid axle, and if all your doing is driving your family around, whats the point of having a 3/4 ton
Well done vid. I agree about the 7.3 Excursion. It's the one everybody wants. That said, i own a 2001 Excursion 6.8L V10 Limited, and, WE LOVE IT! I got it with 250k miles on it. But the original owner babied it. The engine is super-clean, and its been a California car since it came off the lot, so no rust. Best of all, it runs like a "Georgia-Peach". Smooth and quiet as can be on the road. And, that thing LOVES road trips. I'm gonna continue to rescue and restore it.
I will penta vouch for amazing. So far 100% amazing, 5 for 5. Who cares if 7.5-11mpg? Worth it. And a sleeper. Looks very close to its 1500 little brother.
I've owned both. My 454 suburban was more reliable and parts cheaper when needed. My Excursion was nice but the Trans went at 135K miles and cost almost $6K to have replaced. Wheel bearings were another issue. Spark plugs were already done so didn't have to worry about that. In my experience I had alot better service with my suburban.
@@AB-coyote My uncle bought it new and had records. He took it to the dealer he bought it from and followed their recommended maintenance schedule. He never towed anything heavier than his bass boat. I bought it with 120K miles. Transmission was acting up at 130K and failed at 135K. Shop I always dealt with said they do alot of them. Rarely did they see one last more than 175K miles. Other than that it was a solid rig.
I just parted ways with my 2001 7.3 Excursion with 319,000 miles. Sadly, living in New England, the salted winters did a number on the body and under carriage. However, the 7.3 and transmission were simple amazing. The truck was thr best vehicle I ever owned. Amazing truck.
The Ex is hard to justify??? It’s like an f250 and a van in one. Mine gets 16-20 mpg on the highway. I can use mine to move people, move livestock, tow boats and campers, I can carry 500 lbs of gear on the roof, I can take it camping and sleep in the back (also great on road trips), and it has a million mile engine… Pretty freaking easy to justify. Only thing better is the e350 with a 7.3!
The GM trucks run an independent front suspension. Much much smoother ride, however, more moving parts, more wear and break downs. Ford ran a solid front axel, and leaf springs. Rougher ride, but will last the life of the truck.
With fuel prices today I would say your really optimistic on the values stated. The 7.3 excursion will bring good money but the gas trucks not so much.
Several times in this video, both Tommy and the owner of the GM said the Ford should have more power considering the size of it’s engine compared to the GM. The Ford has 2 more cylinders, but it’s a smaller engine, in a bigger/heavier vehicle.
@@TFLclassics perhaps the difference lays on the power/torque curves and not on the final numbers? maybe the suburban has more low end torque because of the bigger engine, and when it comes to acceleration, power to weight ratio is essential. anyway, great video, i'd rather have a suburban, looks comfortable and that nineties look feels simple yet timeless to me
GM switched to IFS and TBI on the pickups for '88. The Suburbans got the new engines but retained the old square body and solid axle until the '92 model year.
The 1987 model year was GM's first year for TBI on its truck line up. 88-91 GM still made square body Burbans, K5 Blazer, and 1 ton 4dr crew cab, and cab chassis models. I have a 90 K5 blazer, and love the manual (reliable) 4wd system, and TBI 350.
I work at a museum where I pull a 8000 lb circus trailer with a 2000 Excursion. It has the V 10 and is a dog. The steering is very vague without the trailer and has play of almost 5 inches before it reacts, with the trailer, it's white knuckles all the way. The tailgate leaks air and you can see through the gaps. The steering was like that from new and many have complained about it. The suburban is so more refined.
I hope to own an Excursion in the near future. Having used many Ford F series trucks in field work for years the one thing I commonly notice is even with high mileage (250K+) The interiors are pretty much free of sqeeks and rattles. The Fords frames and bodies seem to hold up to off road use better than other makes. I have been a GM truck and car owner for a long time. Their engines and transmission are superior. Maybe the best combo would be a Ford with a GM engine and trans. The best of both worlds.
My father had a 99 1500 I had a 98 1500 and my uncle had a 98 1500 as well. All of them had the 5.7 vortec engine. And all made it over 400,000 miles without a major issue. Neither the expedition or excursion rarely made it over 250,000 MI without a problem engine or transmission.
But we did need an Excursion. We had tow handicapped children plus 2 nurses and 2 wheelchairs. The kiddie wheel chairs could fit right in the back and we had plenty of room for their medical equipment and go bags!! But the kids grew and we had to trade the Excursion for an E350 XLT extended ford van. Later we bought a used 2004 Blackout Excursion and rebuilt the Diesel. Made it bulletproof. We pull an 37ft TT with it. No problem.
I have 01 Limited Excursion v10 181000 miles, I love my v10! I chose the v10 due to maintenance costs and it tows about the same as the 7.3 & 6.0. I currently do have anything to tow yet but it in the works.
It was also weird that for all the years of Ford supercabs starting in 73' that were sold Chevy never made one until 1988... As a little kid I used to wonder about that...
Check this out. This may be hard to believe but I used to have a 2003 Grand caravan and I put approximately 540,000 on it with the same trans. I said approximately because the odometer stopped at around 520,000. This is no BS.
I really like both. I was into excursions for a while but at the end of the day I think I’d go with the tried and true suburban in general. The ford is awesome but I think it’s just a bit extra. If the gas excursion engines where as good as the comparable gm motors, then I’d pick the excursion though. And yes, the diesel excursion is a whole different beast. But knowing what they are going for, and looking at a practical standpoint, I’m not even gonna consider that in my opinion. Because it would obviously win.
Suburban had independent front suspension; excursion had solid axles on leaf springs, good technology from the Coolidge administration. Rode and handled terribly. Also increased the ride height. The excursion was much bigger on the outside but barely bigger on the inside.
The excursion was an absolute menace to drive. Felt extremely huge on the road, with floaty steering lmao. Like steering the titanic, not an enjoyable drive.
Personally my 2005 6.0 powerstroke excursion actually had pretty responsive steering, and ironically rode extremely well. Could be the wide wheels with a significant amount of negative offset that helped, could be the weight difference from the tritons to the 6.0 powerstroke. But stock originally springs, and a good set of bilstein shocks. But it rode as well as my mothers 07 suburban, and was WAY more comfortable to ride an drive then my OBS Silverado or Yukon. Never had a problem with parking or sight from over the front end, but I am also 6'3 and owned nothing but 3/4 ton an larger trucks up until about a year ago.
My father still has his 2001 excursion xlt with the v10. Currently has less than 70k miles. Im 31 and he got that boat when i was in the 3rd grade. The seats were so comfy like a lay-z-boy. Love that thing.
Another difference, the excursion is as close as one can get to a 3/4 ton truck while the suburban dopesnt share most parts of the chevy 2500. Pretty much the excursion is built much stronger than the sub and can do much more as well, not to mention most of the 7.3s are still working today and the engine is also used in medium duty vehicles like wreckers that weight over 12k empty. The 7.3 can go 100s of thousands miles longer than any gas engine and can be rebuilt and do the same thing again. I have a 2000 excursion with the 7.3 and its still going strong with 284k miles and only thing changed is the injectors and pump, stock parts in axle, trans, etc. It all depends on maintenance and care. If someeone treated a 7.3 excursion the same as a sub 2500 with proper maintenance then the ex would lasr far longer, the parts are just heavier built for one and I could name plenty other reasons too but i will stop here
@@turbolq4 Im talking about the 7.3, the chevy suburban couldnt have the duramax and the trans to go with it. The excursion was and is the ONLY suv to have a diesel option and still gets close to the MPG of brand new suburbans while weighing over 7000lbs empty. Name a SUV that is over 2 decades old, can still tow 5 tons and haul half a ton of people/cargo w/o problem and can get 18+ MPG highway going 75mph. (that isnt towing a trailer though) mine gets that with 284k miles, 33"s and a 2.5" lift with a 400lb winch/bumper and a 60HP tune along with other mods. If i were to remove the extra weight and go to stock tire size i could easily get a couple MPGS more. Thats not possible with any gas engine even now. The suburbans now are only 1/2 ton and have a GVW of less than a ex curb weight and still doesnt match the torque and the MPG isnt much better. Also mine is 4WD. My point is the ex in the diesel variant does not have a competitor because one doesnt exist. Diesels arent that expensive to have IF you give it proper maintenance. That goes with everything. My trans, axles and engine are still working great (not overhauled) and the biggest mainintance item ive done is the fuel system and i did that at 250k not because i had to but because i figured i would do it before something breaks, preventive maintenance.
My dad has a 2000 excursion with the 6.8 V10 that he stubbornly refuses to let go of. It hasn't been driven in 5 years since he finally got a grand cherokee and a ram 2500 to replace it. People see it in the drive way and leave notes on the windshield offering to buy it, but he simply won't part with it.
I would posit that for the majority of the acceleration discrepancy that the Sub likely has a 4.10 diff which was more common than the 3.73 on GM heavy duty vehicles. On Fords, the 3.73 is much more common than the 4.10.
I own a 2005 Chev Suburban 8.1 (4.10 rear end) and I love it! I use it exclusively for towing by 10,000 boat. I only have 60,000 miles because we have never used it for a daily driver. When I ordered my Ford super duty the dealer offered me $3500 for trade in!!!!
I got a 98 chevy suburban k2500 5.7l vortec and I am not going too ever get rid of it. As long as the frame is good engines and transmissions can be replaced
I own two Excursions a 7.3 Diesel and a V-10 and prefer them over the Suburban for towing a large TT. The Suburban 2500 with the 8.1 litter is a good tow rig as well. Don't care for the small block Burbs but will say the ride quality is better in the Burbs. I know I will never let go of my 7.3 Diesel Excursions, the 6.5 Diesel isn't as desirable in the Burb.
You are comparing a truck to a GM product, get out! Look at how the Excursion is built an compare it to a burb, it's literally a joke. GM is not built like a Ford or Dodge, but you like the dash,......snowflake!
only good 6.5t are the ones built by IH,,seeing gm cant build engines, of any type.. the 6.5t is based on a 50,s buik gas engine. thats why they look like a gas engine.. small..
John I currently own 2 Excursions and 7 Ford trucks. My company truck was ( retired now)8.1 GMC 2500 and I have drove plenty of 2500 Burbs as well and my comments are based on experience not brand loyalty. I usually don't respond or respect people who resort to name calling, it usually indicates a limited ability to communicate.
Actually sometimes you DO need an Excursion:) Have had my 05 6.0 diesel version for 16 years. Loaded it up many times with 8 people, all our stuff, pulling a travel trailer through the mountains in the heat of summer. Perfect vehicle for this type of work. Don't get me started on the expense of getting the 6.0 reliable - but once it's done then it's done. Love my truck even with imperfections.
here in aus, we got very few 6.0/6.4. i nearly bought a 6.4 engine,loom. thank .... i didnt.. if,, ford had a brain.. instead of relying on inter. they should of marketed the 4.2tdi. a lot of people would of bought them. there built in brazil under licence from germany, fitted to s/duty & siverado,s. heaps in arfica, some in canada,u.k. mine, cab chassis/tray. with little mod like bigger turbo. has 230 hp. 550 ft lb. 13 lt 100.. with 35,s. they dont have a computer or glow plugs. reliable as a rock..4.2tdi mwm sprint.
I've got a 2003 Excursion (Limited, 4x4, V10) that I'll never sell. There is nothing else like it. I've shoved 10' and 12' kayaks inside and closed the rear doors. I can load 4x8 sheets of plywood inside with ease. Besides the 10mpg it's the best vehicle for me.
Love my 01 7.3 excursion. Best vehicle I've ever owned. The truck has 375k miles on it and purrs like a walrus. I was lucky and got it for $7k a few yrs ago.
in my family, we have both. I have gone through multiple suburban 2500's and we have an excursion with the v10. the D measuring contest is off the charts when it comes to which is better. I think that both are very good....but i take the suburban for daily driving around town. the two biggest differences for me are the height of the hood on the excursion (hard to see when parking) and the independent front suspension of the suburban (more comfortable to drive). off-road, the excursion leaves the suburban in the dust. we tested all of this. but in all honesty, you can't go wrong with either one and if you are shorter than 6 feet, you can sleep behind the second row on either one of them or put an entire sectional in the back. perfect hybrid vehicles :)
Spot on. Great review
Only issue is the excursion was never offered with a reliable engine like the 2500 suburban was.
@@Back_door_bandit_98 lol wat? The 7.3 is one of the most loved diesel's in history. The biggest downfall to the v-10 is it spits plugs occasionally. Takes 30 mins to fix usually. I've also see them in the 2-300k frequently.
@@mr.kcfromthe8138 spits plugs? my V10 has 289k and never spit a plug....torque them to proper torque and they don't come out.
@@Back_door_bandit_98 😆 🤣 😂 the 7.3 and the v10 are easy 500k mile engines I'd say the v8 gassers have the same issues 300k. He'll I get 19 mpg in my wife's 7.3 4x4 13mpg towing a 8k camper loaded seats and dogs in the back...
Ford should bring back the excursion and give it the 7.3 gas v8 and the 10 speed.
diesel 6.7l and the new 10 speed
Exactly,7.3 s 430 hp is quite a leap from the original 260 hp v10 .
6.7 with a 6r140
even a 6.2 v8 would be decent.
You can thank the epa for letting this not happen
Bring back the EXCURSION!!! 7.3L V8 and 10-speeds of goodness. The EXPEDITION has been turned into a pavement princess. Bring back that solid axle family hauler!
Yea but the Expedition has never really been a hardcore off road vehicle. It's been a big SUV. It's always been tend for families with like 4 or 5 kids.
Lol. The Expedition has always been a "pavement princess" since day one, same with the Explorer.
Bring back the 3/4 ton Suburban as well, except base it on the Silverado 2500 HD platform.
@@jonlosito2004 Honestly I don’t really see no point of expedition, minivans offer way better utility at a cheaper price than a expedition
@@aimxdy8680 yea I know. Minivans used to be in high demand back in like 1980s to early 2010s, and my parents used to own a 2005 Nissan Quest and it was very practical. I miss that minivan soo much it was my childhood. And now crossovers and SUVs are soo tremendously popular, and there’s just too many of them nowadays, and I’m not usually a fan of them, (except for sporty SUVs and off roaders which are also in high demand now).
Side by side comparison the excursion is a few inches bigger everywhere!! How do I know? I'm the guy who created the occupant package and did the initial cad packaging in the masco-tech design studio's when we created the 99+ super duty and f650 and f750 medium trucks. The clay models were frozen and approved by upper management, jacuzzi jack, in late March of 1993. The clay fights were insanely fun and sometimes they hurt getting hit with 1 inches clay chunk will leave welts! Lol. About 75 of us made it happen!
Loved my 2000 V8. Drove it until 2022 with 262k miles before unloading it for a trade in on an F150 with the v6 ecoboost. THAT truck has been nothing but trouble. Unloading the EX was a serious regret 2 years ago.
He's really focused on the number of cylinders, but fails to mention that the V10 is actually the smaller engine moving a heavier vehicle.
The V10 was more reliable than the V8 in most cases
More horsepower & torque with the V10 than the 7.4 though.
@@galevest4545 LOL A Triton v10 reliable that's a good joke.
@@dedalliance1 believe me I know know how much garbage the Triton is.
Probably not a good idea to tell a Ford guy that a Triton is junk unless you're ready to pull your dildo out js
The excursion still looks nice today, the design aged well. It will be a true classic years to come. I'm holding on to my 2005 V10 version.
also anyone with an excursion do your self a favor and install a hellwig rear sway bar it made a world of difference in handling and drive comfort
Yeah I keep my 2001 Ford excursion XLT V10. Easy to fix and dam near fun to drive.
I wish Ford would bring the Excursion back. It's basically a Super duty SUV. The best work truck I ever had. The size of a van on inside but built like. Tank and with 4WD. You could haul 1000sq ft of hardwood flooring one day, and take family of 8 on vacation the next.
And General Motors can have a heavy duty Suburban and Yukon XL.
@@abutts02 heavy duty but not a Ford! That Excursion is built Ford tough, period. No comparison between the two.
7.3, nothing else.2000 on. keep up services, last million miles..they say.. im in aus. they sell 2003 s/duty,7.3, here for 80k. new ones are 160k..
Ford licensed the name recently with the tbird so yeah don’t be too surprised when they get a power stroke excursion going.
@@harrywalker5836 new ones like the gas 7.3 or low mile diesel
Was a chevy fan boii all my life. Dad bought a 97 silverado 1500 back in 04 and when he passed away it sat under a tree for 10 years. Took it out got it running fairly easily and the 5.7 still purrs like a kitten. That being said I love my new to me 7.3l excursion. Picked it up for 7.5k last October with 330k on it. Couple things didn't work like a few door locks but it's so easy to work on. It gets the same or better mpg than my wife's f150 and the kids prefer it over her truck. It's 4 inch lift with 35s give it a very commanding presence and is still enjoyable to drive even for long periods of time.
I saw a all black lifted excursion. That was a beast of a machine. That thing made my 2001 F150 look like a 1980 Toyota pick up truck.
My dad has a 2002 Ford excursion with about 35,000 miles on it. Even though it’s only the 5.4, still love that thing.
my 99 tahoe still has the original factory tissues inside the rear seat flipdown lol im the second owner bought it 10 years ago from a 90 year old man that didnt use it very hard and took good care of it.
We have an 01 Ford Excursion LTD 4wd V10. We've had it for 16 years, great quality, and reliable .
I have a 2000 excursion with the 7.3 and just love it! Just finished a 3,300 mile round trip from Wisconsin to Texas and averaged 17mpg running 75mph. Truck has 293,000 miles and used 1qt of oil. Hoping to get another 100,000 out of her!
The transmission will go out before the engine will. Just take good care of her and you might see 500K.
Mine has 435k. Still running strong. Will never part with it.
Proper maintenance can put a 7.3 beyond 1m miles.
@@tskraj3190 IF you regularly check the transmission fluid level, rather than waiting for it to slip, it can last a long time.
I finally found a 2000 EXC with the 7.3 just over a year ago and getting ready to start that project. I have an ‘02 550 crewcab with a 10’ flatbed and LOVE IT. Found my Tahoe WAY too small for the fun travels I like and figured the Excursion would be the best fit. Can’t wait till she’s done!
Well, I’ve got 6 kids, live in a snowy climate and have a 11000lb travel trailer. I looked long and hard and the suburbans got crossed off my list fairly quick. Found a 2002 7.3 power stroke limited excursion with low miles before they went insane in value and the wife has been loving it as a daily driver ever since. There is absolutely NOTHING money can buy new today what this excursion can do. Haul 9 people, 4x4 and 11500 tow rating. And I think from a reliability stand point, although the ride is a bit more harsh, it’s a 1 ton and tough as nails.
Ford......says it all
I have a f350 with the 7.3 L desil and I am having a hard time trying to find a smaller truck that is half as good no car or truck in today's world can compare
Lovin my 2005 Ford Excursion XLT 4X4 V10...
Handles just fine...
It's been my daily driver since 2018...
No major issues thus far...just routine maintenance...
I feel very safe in this beast...
My 2 daughters love how spacious and comfortable it is inside...
I removed the 3rd row bench so I can securely haul a whole bunch of stuff at any time...rain or shine! 👌
My mom still has the 2002 GMC YukonXL 2500 my parents bought when we were kids. It was a beast. We could all pile in to go on a family vacation while towing a trailer. The 6.0 gasser struggled a little bit while fully loaded, but it has almost 300K miles now and keeps chugging along. If GM saw how much the diesel Excursions are in demand now, I bet they would’ve offered a Duramax option in the GMT800 Suburbans/YukonXLs.
My Grandma has an Eddie Bauer one of these. Two tone leather fully loaded model 7.3 diesel. Such a cool SUV and at that trim level I feel the interior is much nicer. Especially the stereo and HVAC system.
go do a video on that bad girl!!! id love to have one in 7.3l
@@nowaysam6349 LOL not a bad idea! I'll have to borrow it from her.
A great "Little Old Lady" car!.
Love this Ford!!! I drove one for almost 300000 miles with no mechanical issues ever it was one of the best vehicles I’ve ever owned
That's surprising.
@@captaininsano2777 I think when most people say no mechanical issues ever, they mean nothing major.
Hell I know a guy who got 340000 miles out of his Ford Ranger with no major mechanical issues.
@@deejayimm That doesn't count. Ranger engines and transmissions aren't really Ford. They come from the Cologne, Germany plant and they are designed and engineered by Mazda.
@@tskraj3190 the 3.0 vulcan?
@@deejayimm Yes. The Vulcan is not really a Ford motor nor is the 2.6, 2.8, 2.9 or 4.0L.
I got myself a ‘94 K2500 Suburban a couple years ago, solely because I knew it could handle anything I might throw at it. The TBI 7.4 is even worse on power than the Vortec version with only 230 horsepower, but the bonus of that is that it can’t possibly hurt itself with the stock tune and running gear. Only 150k on the odometer now, and I plan to take good care of that land yacht as long as I can, for better or worse.
Barn doors for life!
I also have a 94 k2500 with the 7.4. It’s not a show car or a hot rod, but it’s been very reliable. Even pulled a couple skid steers with it. May be using it to tow a 30 foot camper before long. Won’t knock the excursion if you have one without the 5.4, but I am a gym guy at heart.
Had one myself. Got 300K trouble free miles out of it.
I had the 1990 454SS which is basically the same TBI 7.4 powertrain and same front suspension as your suburban.
You should put a tune on it. It wakes it up and it will still be reliable.
I miss that truck, but I sure do not miss the 10MPG haha.
That's because in a work truck, TORQUE is more important than horsepower.
Love my 1998 454 2500 burb, barn doors for life is right!
the seat bottoms of the second row have two small holes, because the headrests come out. pull the second row headrests out, and place them in the holes. then, fold the seatback down. saves the headrests from damaging and/or being damaged.
Lots of those v10’s in huge class A motor homes. The 2 valves were very very reliable. Of course you cannot beat an excursion with the 7.3. Best suv ever made period. And the 6.0’s can be great too if bullet proofed.
Disagree 8.1 suburbans basically run for ever have 320k on mine and it's been towing trailers over 10k lb daily since new never let me down once still purrs and much better to drive than an excursions way more nibble and quicker
And they are built Ford tough, not like a whimpy GM product
I'm a Ford man generally, but I have to say I've driven a huge box truck with an 8.1 and a single cab 4wd ford f350 dump truck with a 6.8, and in my opinion the 8.1 has significantly more low end grunt and power. That said, I also had a 2008 F350 dually crew cab long bed with the 6.4 diesel, and I don't think GM has ever made a truck that could tow as well as that did.
Can I just say I’m so glad this type of content is still being made. Us regular Joe’s appreciate both of these trucks are able to quibble about minor differences and details but both were great examples of strong capable American vehicles. Love the content. 🇺🇸
That Excursion is begging for a Godzilla swap. Just did one on my f250 that had the V10, it makes all the difference.
Any difference in fuel economy between the 6.8 & Godzilla?
I had a 1990 C350 Centurion 4x4 7.3 IDI. It was the Excursion before the Excursion. What a beast, had to sell it to pay bills. Killed me.
I owned a 98 K2500 that was loaded with all the options and a 350 motor. Absolutely loved it. My wife was pregnant with child #3 and I was about to deploy so I just couldn’t see her swinging that big second row seat out of the way to get to another car seat in the third row. Traded the Burban for a Honda Odyssey. I still miss that truck, great on an off road. That 42 gallon gas tank could make you wince during fill-ups.
What a shame my wife swings my dually around and fits our 3 kids just fine in it.
It would be hard to trade down much further than that.
The solid front axle in the Excursion takes the win for me.
I feel it really depends on what your going for. I like both for different reasons
the stupid U-joints for the 4WD are a pain in the ass, as is the wheel bearings and auto hub seals. It's more rugged but at the same time service sucks.
My neighbor plowed driveways for 13 years with a excursion. It rusted out but was still running and had original running gear.
Funny how you dog on the interior but every single thing in there is still in good shape and that's all that matters.
That’s because he’s biased
I agree!! And even funnier that those Chevy dashed are Notorious for cracking, I’ve never once in my life seen a Superduty dash cracked
And chevy still to this day hasent made a seat as comfortable as fords.
Have to agree, like the Super- Duty Excursion interiors better the Chevy dash does seem to deteriorate.
@@nickd.4512 this generation leather seat is really comfortable. A lot softer than the fords. My dad has a tahoe with these seats and are great for long trips.
I had a 1999 suburban 2500 with the 6.5 diesel that I ordered from the factory new and had 4:10 axles (4x4). I ordered it specifically for towing a camper at the time and kept it until 2019 when I sold it. Been kicking myself ever since as it was the best vehicle I have ever had.
Never mind the these are a great family hauler, it's more like the neighborhood hauler. Good video guys
I originally wanted a 7.3 Excursion, but ended up with a 6.5 K2500. Biggest deciding factors were the fact that the 6.5 is stupid cheap to work on and maintain compared to the Powerstroke, and that the Suburban had almost double the payload capacity. 310k and the engine and it's 4L80E trans are still doing great!
After my fourth injection pump I got rid of my 6.5
you should have purchased the Excursion! You could have sold it for more than you paid for it today IF you had taken good care of it. Suburbans - NO THANKS ON ANYTHING FROM GM>
What are you throwing in the back of a suburban that is going to max out the payload?
@@markst.germain9286 Lift pump bad? Fuel sock clogged? Seems odd to go through that many without an underlying issue.
@@rockandroll4689 My Suburban is worth more than I paid for it, and I get people wanting to buy it all the time. They're both desired and rare and shooting up in value.
The price of excursions has doubled in the last couple of years. Back in 2019, I remember seeing tons of these in $2500-3000 range. 6.0’s were around $6k . The v10 is fairly reliable, there’s plenty of them with 300k miles around.
Really? Because I sell hundreds of trucks a year and the only Excursion I see with any value is the 7.3. The 6.0 and 5.4 are almost unsellable and the V10 sells as a curiosity.
I love the V10, 235,000 miles and still going strong, quiet and reliable, had to replace coils every now and then,whereas the GMs hardly ever go bad.
We have a f350 with a flat bed at work. That v10 is going strong at 470,000+ with no rebuilds, only thing ever done on it was plugs and egr valve.
My 2000 Excursion V10 is going strong at 247,000 miles and going. Leaks nothing and will rip 12k lbs down the road with ease....
I love my v10 excursion. It is getting a little tired at almost 200K but it’ll get a motor one of these days. I mainly use it as a hunting and camping vehicle so it suits my needs well. I never have to worry about starting issues when the temps at elk camp are down around 0 like I did in my 7.3 pickup. With chains in all 4’s I’ve been in snow up to the bumper and plowed right through. Absolutely awesome vehicle.
The ford excursion is the coolest SUV ever made in my opinion. It was in a class of its own really. I really wish they would make it again today with drivetrain to back it up
Hybrid with like 650 lbft of torque and their 10 sp would be sweet in an excursion
@@keil.urs3lf or the new ford 7.3 gasser with a 10 speed. And the 1000 ft/lb of torque 6.7 powerstroke would be a nice upgrade.
@@shaneolsen9394
The grand wagoneer L is probably the modern ford excursion
@@TecDLogic it's in the right direction but not quite. The grand wagoneer L had 6 lug axles and a heavy duty truck had 8 lug axles. With the capability of heavy duty trucks today I want an suv on a 1 ton frame and chassis that seats 9 comfortably and tows 15k. That's my complaint about most large suvs if you fill the seats with passengers your payload is done and you cant hardly tow anything
I had a 2001 6.8 liter v10 limited excursion.
I never had any issues with any of the drive train. I pulled trees over, upright, drug friends out of mud holes on 40's and bigger tires.
Only negative thing i could say about the excursion was it was thirsty as hell for fuel.
I would love to let you guys review my excursion, having the diesel makes a world of difference and really displays exactly what the truck was built for. Which as you said was to be a tried and true, rugged machine. I love the interior on my ex its simple and easy to clean, Its exactly what I was hoping for and more.
They should have only come with the 7.3. Great vehicle! Mine has 285k miles on original engine/transmission. Only had to change a couple of o-rings and high pressure oil sensor on engine. Starters, batteries and alts have been replaced a few times as on ALL vehicles with almost 300K miles on them. Still pulls 13K lbs like a champ!
i had a 94 suburban k2500 dually, what a beast i miss that truck
I know a guy with a 2500 suburban with the diesel engine. he's got over 500k on it and it still starts up like brand new. everything on it is cheap to replace and the parts availability is amazing. I don't know anyone with an excursion and can't say much about it, but the suburban is a hell of a machine nonetheless.
I've had my 2000 Excursion Limited since 2009, it will be restored and passed on to my son. You just can't replace this truck with anything else, it does it all.
My fam rig is a 04 6.0 bullet proofed engine. A few xtras here & there.
Love it & gets lots of compliments still.
6.0 sound like a jet ✈️ plane, pulls like a freight train! 🚂
I've had a few of both. EXCURSION is better for work, cargo and towing. SUBURBAN better for transportation, reliability and fuel economy. If I had to choose one, it would be Suburban, 2500 with 350ci/5.7L.
To be fair, they changer a lot on the Excursion in 2003, and the diesel was amazing. Much different animal than the 2001 V-10
I love both of my Excursions! 7.3 is my tow vehicle and 5.4 is my DD. The intention was to sell my 5.4 4x4 after I picked up my 7.3.....That was 6 years ago....still can't bring myself to part with it.....
I have a 2002 excursion XLT with 100,000 miles on it that my dad gave me a few yrs back, I only drive it to from time to time. 🔥🔥🔥🔥
"I think they might become collectables." A low mile 7.3 excursion sold for 100k not long ago.
Yep it had 16k miles and i agree with the guy who bought it if i had the money i would too its my dream truck
On the Excursion,they are cool unique vehicles,but the reality is they aren’t that great as a people mover, and they aren’t a great tow vehicle they are a lot less capable and less stable than a 3/4 ton crew cab pickup .They ride like crap, they feel bigger than they are and in a 4x4, they wander on the road ,they don’t even have enough payload to fill the seats let alone tow anything most are 9000 gvwr and the 4x4 diesel weighs around 8200 lbs ,my Toyota Corolla has more payload at 990 lbs. The wheelbase is relatively short for its height Andy what it’s supposed to be able to pull. This leads to sway and proposing . The suburban is a lot better choice way more civilized and comfortable , much better visibility and more payload and similar towing capabilities.The frame on the 2500 suburban seems too be the same as a 1500s, very small especially in the rear section . I wish they built it on the HD platform in the 2001-06 they didn’t.
@@JohnDiMartino Tf are you talking about? The towing capacity for the last year of 7.3 excursion (2003) is 10,500-11,000 thats more than gm trucks from that year💀
@@JohnDiMartino best towing vehicle to exist from 20 years ago my dad had one
@@JohnDiMartino the excursion has a payload of 1500-2000 pounds.
I can seat 8 and everyone's luggage comfortably. While towing 10k lbs easily.
I haven't had a 2500 suburban but I've had A 1500 and wouldn't go back to one from my excursion if I had too.
Are there better trucks at towing? Absolutely. Do they seat 8 while doing it? Na
I’d wager that if you tested these both near their max tow capabilities, you’ll see why people like the excursion, even the V10.
He should compare the 8.1 Vortec to the v10
@@screwstontxrippimpcripdjsc3630 494ci vs 415 ci...the 8.1 SHOULD have more power than the 6.8. If I were a Chevy guy, I'd be concerned if the V10 came anywhere close to the 8.1.
Suburban with the 8.1 liter will out tow all three.
The 7.3,6.5 and the V10.
I have a 94 c2500 suburban diesel currently.the power is less than the 7.3 by far.
But I get 22 mpg in the diesel suburban.
I've owned 2 excursions.
1, 7.3 and 1, 6.0 diesel.
The 6.0 would run circles around the 7.3 PSD .like 100 more HP.
I can't afford to buy a 7.3 excursion.
There like gold right now.
The biggest suv ever made!
I'm torn between the two. GMC yukon xl or Ford excrusion. Help me out please
@@marcusmcpherson5296 for me personally it's no competition. EXCURSION HANDS DOWN. 100%. I WOULDN'T EVEN HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT!
Apples to apples it would be interesting to see the V10 vs a 8.1 in a towing test.
Of the era, stock for stock, gimme the 8.1 every time. (Although my experience is limited to pickups....) Mo' powah and I really prefer the 8.1's torque curve. The V10 is capable, but I really got tired of listening to it spool up for hill climbs. Even if it doesn't have to, I could listen to that 8.1L rev up and pull all week. The V10/Triton spark plug thing was pretty inconvenient too. Also, for on-road towing or a daily driver... the GMT800 is an amazingly comfy truck that rides and handles with far better manners than the Super Duty. Those solid axles come with a price.
I’ve owned both, v10 first and currently own an 8.1, the 8.1 is a much better motor in my opinion, way more power, and in the trucks you get the 5 speed Allison, that extra gear makes a world of difference, lastly it actually sounds like a big block and not like a Honda Civic like the v10 does,
8.1 will eat a v10 all day long. It has a huge stroke and it's a true big block.
When you're pulling it's all about the stroke. More cylinders with a shorter stroke equals higher rpm. Good for race engines terrible for pulling. Ford has had some terrible engineers over the years. They are all guilty of this but ford takes the cake.
In 2017 I bought a 1998 Chevy Suburban K2500 because it could tow 10,000 pounds and seat eight. At the time it was the best deal for that kind of towing capacity with that number of seats. I still have it today although I am not driving it a whole lot right now due to the price of fuel.
Yeah... I had one as well, and it would be just over $500 to fill it here currently if I still had it....
I have one right now, but unfortunately the 7.4L just started knocking. 😢
Tommy: "The Ford Excursion has leaf springs" INCORRECT. The 4x2s don't, and the later models have coil springs.
Everytime I look at a Suburban, I've always come away thinking, how can something this big still be too small? Forasmuch as people make fun of it, I still think the Excursion is really about the right size for a large SUV.
What kinds of things are you doing with your SUV that a suburban is too small? Lmao
@joeyjo-joshabadu9636 lots of kids, a couple of dogs, and all their stuff. It's not hard to max one out.
@jesseslater728 I guess it's the second dog that makes all the difference lol
Weird that he despises that interior so much. I've actually always liked those interiors. 🤣
And he says the GM interiors are high quality lmao 😂 you have
@sneakypete187 oh for sure, quality and GM interiors are words that dont go together. I own a 2002 F150 and that interior is much better than a 2002 silverado interior.
@@jibrilthegreat35if you like bubbles. Fords the winner
@@samholdsworth420 I like boobs and butts that are round, I see nothing wrong with bubbles.
My other truck is a 2012 Raptor, chevy only wishes to make a truck as capable and cool as that.
A friend has the diesel excursion 4wd..and it was a beast in the snow..it hauled butt in 2 fett.of snow
The v10 was a good engine other than the spark plug issues but once you realize the v10 issue fixed, they last. Its not meant for the power but mainly for torque. I like the v10s but they get a lot of hate.
They're one of the 400,000 mile gas engines. With routine maintenance, and not a whole lot else, these engines will run forever. Just torque the spark plugs periodically.
LMFAO you can’t call it a good engine if you have to worry about the spark plugs flying out of the hood and to the guy that said 400k with routine maintenance what do you call tightening the spark plugs every 10k miles? That’s not routine maintenance theirs a reason the 6.8 v10 wasn’t used for very long. A 6.0 vortec or 8.1 vortec will blow the doors off any triton engine in reliability and overall power.
@@Back_door_bandit_98 the vortec they’re own share of issues as well but I think they are all great engines. The V10 and the Vortec motors
@@Back_door_bandit_98 ignorance is abundant with the V10 spark plug issue. The spark plugs, if torqued properly to 25 ftlbs.....Will not come out. 285k on my V10, off roading, towing a 31' trailer, Im not easy on it and never had a spark plug issue.
@@Back_door_bandit_98 talk about misinformed. Hahaha. My dad has a 2002 V10 F350 that pulls his boat and camper around (not flat straight roads either) with over 300,000 miles on it. No spark plug issues. Doesn’t have to retorque them. Nothing but regular maintenance. It’s been so little trouble and so reliable that he refuses to get rid of it for a diesel, even though he wants a diesel. The V10’s only had one actual problem for people that perform proper maintenance. That’s that they get like 10mpg absolutely no matter what you do. Set your cruise on the highway with the wind helping you? Still 10-11 mpg.
My 05 Excursion 6.0 Powerstroke has 365k and the original headbolts and gaskets
Man, they really hate Ford. One of many examples, The bronco independent front axle “ terrible”. The Jeep solid front axle “ fantastic”. Now The excursion solid front axle “ terrible” but the suburban 2500 independent front axle “ fantastic”🤦🏻♂️
two totally different design criteria. in an off-roader im all about Solid axles, in a family hauler? Give me IFS
ford sucks ass always has..
Apples and oranges. Compare targeted off road vehicles to family haulers.
solid axles are always going to be better than ifs, less parts that wear down, easier to work on and, they are way more reliable and durable in every aspect, especially when you have a 3/4 ton , you should really have a solid axle, and if all your doing is driving your family around, whats the point of having a 3/4 ton
Solid front axle will always be my preference.
Well done vid. I agree about the 7.3 Excursion. It's the one everybody wants. That said, i own a 2001 Excursion 6.8L V10 Limited, and, WE LOVE IT! I got it with 250k miles on it. But the original owner babied it. The engine is super-clean, and its been a California car since it came off the lot, so no rust. Best of all, it runs like a "Georgia-Peach". Smooth and quiet as can be on the road. And, that thing LOVES road trips. I'm gonna continue to rescue and restore it.
I will say that the Chevy Avalanche 2500 with the 8 litre 496ci motor is a amazing secret nugget of amazing.
Is it amazing?
@@88tcoupe yes it is.
@@88tcoupe amazingly amazing
Agreed!
I will penta vouch for amazing. So far 100% amazing, 5 for 5. Who cares if 7.5-11mpg? Worth it. And a sleeper. Looks very close to its 1500 little brother.
I've owned both. My 454 suburban was more reliable and parts cheaper when needed. My Excursion was nice but the Trans went at 135K miles and cost almost $6K to have replaced. Wheel bearings were another issue. Spark plugs were already done so didn't have to worry about that. In my experience I had alot better service with my suburban.
Were you picking up young chicks in your suburban?
@@jibrilthegreat35
I have no comment 😈
Did you buy the excursion new? Also how often did you change the trans fluid?
@@AB-coyote
My uncle bought it new and had records. He took it to the dealer he bought it from and followed their recommended maintenance schedule. He never towed anything heavier than his bass boat. I bought it with 120K miles. Transmission was acting up at 130K and failed at 135K. Shop I always dealt with said they do alot of them. Rarely did they see one last more than 175K miles. Other than that it was a solid rig.
$6,000.00 for a trans??? Glad my old truck is a stick. I know how to rebuild a manual transmission myself.
I just parted ways with my 2001 7.3 Excursion with 319,000 miles. Sadly, living in New England, the salted winters did a number on the body and under carriage. However, the 7.3 and transmission were simple amazing. The truck was thr best vehicle I ever owned. Amazing truck.
The rhino spray on bedliner could be used on the under carriage too help protect your frame
The Ex is hard to justify??? It’s like an f250 and a van in one. Mine gets 16-20 mpg on the highway. I can use mine to move people, move livestock, tow boats and campers, I can carry 500 lbs of gear on the roof, I can take it camping and sleep in the back (also great on road trips), and it has a million mile engine… Pretty freaking easy to justify. Only thing better is the e350 with a 7.3!
Original owner of an 03 diesel excursion with 185.000 miles. Wouldn’t have it any other way.
6.0 or 7.3?
The GM trucks run an independent front suspension. Much much smoother ride, however, more moving parts, more wear and break downs. Ford ran a solid front axel, and leaf springs. Rougher ride, but will last the life of the truck.
With fuel prices today I would say your really optimistic on the values stated. The 7.3 excursion will bring good money but the gas trucks not so much.
Depends on your location, west coast gas or diesel prices are high right now.
I miss my 3/4 ton Suburbans :-(
Several times in this video, both Tommy and the owner of the GM said the Ford should have more power considering the size of it’s engine compared to the GM. The Ford has 2 more cylinders, but it’s a smaller engine, in a bigger/heavier vehicle.
The ford has more HP and Torque
@@TFLclassics perhaps the difference lays on the power/torque curves and not on the final numbers? maybe the suburban has more low end torque because of the bigger engine, and when it comes to acceleration, power to weight ratio is essential. anyway, great video, i'd rather have a suburban, looks comfortable and that nineties look feels simple yet timeless to me
I love the simicity in our ford we owened a 07 1500 sub wiring was junk interior plastic junk rear-end junk
GM switched to IFS and TBI on the pickups for '88. The Suburbans got the new engines but retained the old square body and solid axle until the '92 model year.
GM has always lead the truck market for innovating cheapness! I can only laugh at bowtie boys that are in denial of this fact
The 1987 model year was GM's first year for TBI on its truck line up. 88-91 GM still made square body Burbans, K5 Blazer, and 1 ton 4dr crew cab, and cab chassis models. I have a 90 K5 blazer, and love the manual (reliable) 4wd system, and TBI 350.
I work at a museum where I pull a 8000 lb circus trailer with a 2000 Excursion. It has the V 10 and is a dog. The steering is very vague without the trailer and has play of almost 5 inches before it reacts, with the trailer, it's white knuckles all the way. The tailgate leaks air and you can see through the gaps. The steering was like that from new and many have complained about it. The suburban is so more refined.
I hope to own an Excursion in the near future. Having used many Ford F series trucks in field work for years the one thing I commonly notice is even with high mileage (250K+) The interiors are pretty much free of sqeeks and rattles. The Fords frames and bodies seem to hold up to off road use better than other makes. I have been a GM truck and car owner for a long time. Their engines and transmission are superior. Maybe the best combo would be a Ford with a GM engine and trans. The best of both worlds.
My father had a 99 1500 I had a 98 1500 and my uncle had a 98 1500 as well. All of them had the 5.7 vortec engine. And all made it over 400,000 miles without a major issue. Neither the expedition or excursion rarely made it over 250,000 MI without a problem engine or transmission.
Imagine bringing back these excursions with the raptor design having a diesel on it!! Wow.
But we did need an Excursion. We had tow handicapped children plus 2 nurses and 2 wheelchairs. The kiddie wheel chairs could fit right in the back and we had plenty of room for their medical equipment and go bags!!
But the kids grew and we had to trade the Excursion for an E350 XLT extended ford van. Later we bought a used 2004 Blackout Excursion and rebuilt the Diesel. Made it bulletproof. We pull an 37ft TT with it. No problem.
that's easy - the Excursion IS SO MUCH BETTER! I miss ours SO MUCH! (my husband traded it on an F350 with Fords diesel) --it is gorgeous and quiet!
I have 01 Limited Excursion v10 181000 miles, I love my v10! I chose the v10 due to maintenance costs and it tows about the same as the 7.3 & 6.0. I currently do have anything to tow yet but it in the works.
It was also weird that for all the years of Ford supercabs starting in 73' that were sold Chevy never made one until 1988...
As a little kid I used to wonder about that...
GM never made a "Supercab". Explains why you never saw one.
@@stankymcgee6742 You know what I meant..
What about the chevy 3x3. Those were 4 doors in the 70s and 80s
Check this out. This may be hard to believe but I used to have a 2003 Grand caravan and I put approximately 540,000 on it with the same trans. I said approximately because the odometer stopped at around 520,000. This is no BS.
Excursion hands down!!
That’s why I have one!!
i think most people would rather have the 5.7 on a 2500 platform
I really like both. I was into excursions for a while but at the end of the day I think I’d go with the tried and true suburban in general. The ford is awesome but I think it’s just a bit extra. If the gas excursion engines where as good as the comparable gm motors, then I’d pick the excursion though. And yes, the diesel excursion is a whole different beast. But knowing what they are going for, and looking at a practical standpoint, I’m not even gonna consider that in my opinion. Because it would obviously win.
Thanks For The Great Video... I Loved This Car... The American Vehicles From The 90s and 2000s Era Really Wonderful 😊😊😊
My k2500 7.4 rules I bought her new in 96 has 250 k now and still runs and drives like new.
I have an 2003 F250 7.3L Lariat and Tommys review of the dash and controls is spot on. It was all about the motors in these early 2000's Ford trucks.
One purchases a Ford for durability not the dash........GM sells for the dash...it's for snowflakes
Suburban had independent front suspension; excursion had solid axles on leaf springs, good technology from the Coolidge administration. Rode and handled terribly. Also increased the ride height. The excursion was much bigger on the outside but barely bigger on the inside.
And Ford offered the 7.3 diesel
The excursion was an absolute menace to drive. Felt extremely huge on the road, with floaty steering lmao. Like steering the titanic, not an enjoyable drive.
Suburban kept blowing trannys because it's under engineered
Personally my 2005 6.0 powerstroke excursion actually had pretty responsive steering, and ironically rode extremely well. Could be the wide wheels with a significant amount of negative offset that helped, could be the weight difference from the tritons to the 6.0 powerstroke. But stock originally springs, and a good set of bilstein shocks. But it rode as well as my mothers 07 suburban, and was WAY more comfortable to ride an drive then my OBS Silverado or Yukon. Never had a problem with parking or sight from over the front end, but I am also 6'3 and owned nothing but 3/4 ton an larger trucks up until about a year ago.
Excursion is built Ford tough, not for girls!
My father still has his 2001 excursion xlt with the v10. Currently has less than 70k miles. Im 31 and he got that boat when i was in the 3rd grade. The seats were so comfy like a lay-z-boy. Love that thing.
Suburban had straight axles and were still the square body design till the redesign in 1992
Another difference, the excursion is as close as one can get to a 3/4 ton truck while the suburban dopesnt share most parts of the chevy 2500. Pretty much the excursion is built much stronger than the sub and can do much more as well, not to mention most of the 7.3s are still working today and the engine is also used in medium duty vehicles like wreckers that weight over 12k empty. The 7.3 can go 100s of thousands miles longer than any gas engine and can be rebuilt and do the same thing again.
I have a 2000 excursion with the 7.3 and its still going strong with 284k miles and only thing changed is the injectors and pump, stock parts in axle, trans, etc. It all depends on maintenance and care. If someeone treated a 7.3 excursion the same as a sub 2500 with proper maintenance then the ex would lasr far longer, the parts are just heavier built for one and I could name plenty other reasons too but i will stop here
The 2500 suburban has the same powertrain that the 3/4 ton trucks had.
@@turbolq4 Im talking about the 7.3, the chevy suburban couldnt have the duramax and the trans to go with it.
The excursion was and is the ONLY suv to have a diesel option and still gets close to the MPG of brand new suburbans while weighing over 7000lbs empty.
Name a SUV that is over 2 decades old, can still tow 5 tons and haul half a ton of people/cargo w/o problem and can get 18+ MPG highway going 75mph.
(that isnt towing a trailer though) mine gets that with 284k miles, 33"s and a 2.5" lift with a 400lb winch/bumper and a 60HP tune along with other mods.
If i were to remove the extra weight and go to stock tire size i could easily get a couple MPGS more. Thats not possible with any gas engine even now. The suburbans now are only 1/2 ton and have a GVW of less than a ex curb weight and still doesnt match the torque and the MPG isnt much better. Also mine is 4WD.
My point is the ex in the diesel variant does not have a competitor because one doesnt exist.
Diesels arent that expensive to have IF you give it proper maintenance. That goes with everything. My trans, axles and engine are still working great
(not overhauled) and the biggest mainintance item ive done is the fuel system and i did that at 250k not because i had to but because i figured i would do it before something breaks, preventive maintenance.
My dad has a 2000 excursion with the 6.8 V10 that he stubbornly refuses to let go of. It hasn't been driven in 5 years since he finally got a grand cherokee and a ram 2500 to replace it. People see it in the drive way and leave notes on the windshield offering to buy it, but he simply won't part with it.
I bought a diesel 2500 GMC Suburban SLT new in 95. I absolutely loved that thing.
Easy. Buy the 7.3. Don't buy the 5.4 or 6.0. Buy the V10 if the 7.3 is out of your price range.
The 2wd Excursion has independent front suspension and coil springs, and a nice ride.
I would posit that for the majority of the acceleration discrepancy that the Sub likely has a 4.10 diff which was more common than the 3.73 on GM heavy duty vehicles. On Fords, the 3.73 is much more common than the 4.10.
3.73 is what was behind my v10, diesels all had 4.10 gears
I think the diesel Ex's also had 4.30 as an option no?
@@brianadams429No, my 2001 7.3 4x4 Excursion has 3.73's in it!
I own a 2005 Chev Suburban 8.1 (4.10 rear end) and I love it! I use it exclusively for towing by 10,000 boat. I only have 60,000 miles because we have never used it for a daily driver. When I ordered my Ford super duty the dealer offered me $3500 for trade in!!!!
Don't take less that $20k for that
In the gas models the suburban wind all day every day. If you go to the diesel models. It's the ford every time.
I agree
I got a 98 chevy suburban k2500 5.7l vortec and I am not going too ever get rid of it. As long as the frame is good engines and transmissions can be replaced
I own two Excursions a 7.3 Diesel and a V-10 and prefer them over the Suburban for towing a large TT. The Suburban 2500 with the 8.1 litter is a good tow rig as well. Don't care for the small block Burbs but will say the ride quality is better in the Burbs. I know I will never let go of my 7.3 Diesel Excursions, the 6.5 Diesel isn't as desirable in the Burb.
You are comparing a truck to a GM product, get out! Look at how the Excursion is built an compare it to a burb, it's literally a joke. GM is not built like a Ford or Dodge, but you like the dash,......snowflake!
only good 6.5t are the ones built by IH,,seeing gm cant build engines, of any type.. the 6.5t is based on a 50,s buik gas engine. thats why they look like a gas engine.. small..
John I currently own 2 Excursions and 7 Ford trucks. My company truck was ( retired now)8.1 GMC 2500 and I have drove plenty of 2500 Burbs as well and my comments are based on experience not brand loyalty. I usually don't respond or respect people who resort to name calling, it usually indicates a limited ability to communicate.
Best selling truck for 45 years, the Ford Excursion has no competition.
Actually sometimes you DO need an Excursion:) Have had my 05 6.0 diesel version for 16 years. Loaded it up many times with 8 people, all our stuff, pulling a travel trailer through the mountains in the heat of summer. Perfect vehicle for this type of work. Don't get me started on the expense of getting the 6.0 reliable - but once it's done then it's done. Love my truck even with imperfections.
here in aus, we got very few 6.0/6.4. i nearly bought a 6.4 engine,loom. thank .... i didnt.. if,, ford had a brain.. instead of relying on inter. they should of marketed the 4.2tdi. a lot of people would of bought them. there built in brazil under licence from germany, fitted to s/duty & siverado,s. heaps in arfica, some in canada,u.k. mine, cab chassis/tray. with little mod like bigger turbo. has 230 hp. 550 ft lb. 13 lt 100.. with 35,s. they dont have a computer or glow plugs. reliable as a rock..4.2tdi mwm sprint.
I've got a 2003 Excursion (Limited, 4x4, V10) that I'll never sell. There is nothing else like it. I've shoved 10' and 12' kayaks inside and closed the rear doors. I can load 4x8 sheets of plywood inside with ease. Besides the 10mpg it's the best vehicle for me.
Love my 454 burb. Actually has enough torque to get out of its own way unlike the many 350s I've owned. I like the excursion too but never owned one.
A 350 in a suburban is useless. I never understood why people would buy one.
@@12yearssober odd you say that, my 2500 with 350 has done all I have asked it to do.
@@johnsmith-ko8ud
Get one with the 454 and you will notice the difference.
@@12yearssober 350 is more reliable and doesn't suck the same amount of gas idling as it does towing lol
@@12yearssober Performance wise they're almost the same. They pack good torque
Love my 01 7.3 excursion. Best vehicle I've ever owned. The truck has 375k miles on it and purrs like a walrus. I was lucky and got it for $7k a few yrs ago.
Those old-school Suburbans are still Top Dog
Bring back the suv based on 3/4 ton and 1 ton trucks!