Ford Excursion

Ford Excursion
Overview
Manufacturer	Ford Motor Company
Production	2000–2005 2004-present (Brazil)
Assembly	Louisville, Kentucky, United States Goiania, Brazil
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size sport utility vehicle
Body style	4-door SUV
Layout	Front engine, rear-wheel drive, four-wheel drive
Related	Ford Super Duty
Powertrain
Engine	7.3 L Powerstroke V8 Diesel 5.4 L Triton V8 6.8 L Triton V10 6.0 L PowerStroke V8 Diesel
Transmission	4-speed automatic 5-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	137.1 in (3,482 mm)
Length	226.7 in (5,758 mm)
Width	2000–01: 80.0 in (2,032 mm) 2002–05: 79.9 in (2,029 mm)
Height	2000–01 & 2005 4WD: 80.2 in (2,037 mm) 2WD: 77.2 in (1,961 mm) 2002–04 4WD: 80.4 in (2,042 mm)
Curb weight	7,190 lb (3,260 kg)
Chronology
Predecessor	Ford Bronco Centurion (United States)
Successor	Ford Expedition EL/Max (United States)

The Ford Excursion is a full-size sport utility vehicle that was produced by the Ford Motor Company between model years 2000 and 2005 (2006 in Mexico). Based on the Super Duty pickup truck platform, it served as Ford's largest SUV in its lineup during the tenure of its production and mainly competed against the smaller Chevrolet Suburban. The Excursion was designed to be classified as a heavy-duty vehicle, as for commercial or rural use, with a GVWR of over 8,500 lb (3,900 kg), which exempted the vehicle from Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) fuel economy regulations and quoting United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fuel economy estimates. Its position in the Ford SUV lineup was replaced in 2007 by an extended-length version of the Expedition. The last Excursion was produced on September 30, 2005, at Ford's Louisville plant, although the last Excursions were sold as 2006 models for the Mexican market. Production was canceled to focus on Super Duty trucks, however, a similar SUV to the Excursion is manufactured in Brazil using the chassis of the Super Duty, and is sold as the F-250 Tropivan in both standard and extended length versions.

Overview

Introduced in 1999 as a 2000 model year, the Excursion was immediately criticized for being too large to fit in most home garages and having poorer fuel economy (around 16-18 mpg highway and 14-16 mpg city) relative to the smaller Chevrolet Suburban 2500 and GMC Yukon XL 2500 SUVs, its chief competitors. Shortly before launch, the Sierra Club awarded the Excursion an "Exxon Valdez" award for its poor mileage. Sales were initially good, peaking in 2000 with over 50,000 sales. But as gasoline prices rose, the sales gradually fell. Industry insiders expected Ford to stop producing the Excursion, but sales continued through the 2005 model year, for which it received a minor facelift, and production of the Excursion ended in September 2005.

2005 Ford Excursion

Ford needed to free up capacity at the Louisville plant that produces the Super Duty pickup trucks. A more fuel efficient, extended-length Expedition half-ton, named the Expedition EL (Max in Canada and Mexico), has replaced the Excursion in the company's lineup for the 2007 model year.

Drivetrain

An Excursion in use as an emergency vehicle.

Engine options started out with the Triton 5.4 L V8 gasoline engine, the Triton 6.8 L V10 gasoline engine, and the International 7.3 L V8 diesel engine popular in the Ford Super Duty (Power Stroke). The 2003 models replaced the 7.3 L International diesel with a more powerful (and more troublesome) 6.0 L International diesel.

A 4-speed automatic transmission was the standard transmission at first, but it was replaced by a 5-speed automatic in 2003. The 5.4 L Triton V8 put out 255 hp (190 kW) & 350 lb⋅ft (475 N⋅m). The 6.8 L Triton V10 put out 310 hp (231 kW) & 425 lb⋅ft (576 N⋅m). The 6.0 L Powerstroke Diesel put out 325 hp (242 kW) & 560 lb⋅ft (759 N⋅m). The rear axle for all Excursions was a Sterling 10.5 axle. The four wheel drive models got a NV273 transfer case and Dana 50 front axle.

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The truck uses code U4 in the 5th and 6th positions of the VIN.

In 2003 the Excursion saw the availability of an upmarket Eddie Bauer trim line.

Engines included the following:

• 5.4 L V8, 255 hp (2000–2005)
• 6.8 L V10, 310 hp (2000–2005)
• 7.3 L Diesel V8, 250 hp (2000–2003)
• 6.0 L Diesel V8, 325 hp (2003–2005)

The Excursion included a unique feature called the "BlockerBeam", which was an under-bumper rollbar-like device that helped stop smaller vehicles from sliding under an Excursion during collisions. The BlockerBeam concept is now widely used in the industry.

Yearly American sales

Calendar Year	Total American sales
1999	18,315
2000	50,786
2001	34,710
2002	29,042
2003	26,259
2004	20,010
2005	16,283

External links

• Ford Excursion Owners Forum