| Ford Excursion | |
|---|---|
 2001 Ford Excursion Limited | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Model code | UW137[1] |
| Production | 1999 – September 30, 2005 |
| Model years | 2000–2005 2000–2006 (Mexico) |
| Assembly | Louisville, Kentucky (Kentucky Truck Assembly) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Full-size SUV |
| Body style | 4-doorSUV[2] |
| Layout | Front engine, rear-wheel drive /four-wheel drive |
| Related | Ford Super Duty |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 5.4 LTritonV8 6.8 LTritonV10 7.3 LPower Stroke V8turbodiesel 6.0 LPower Stroke V8 turbodiesel |
| Transmission | Ford4R100 4-speed automatic Ford5R110W 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 | 4WD: 80.2 in (2,037 mm) 2WD: 77.2 in (1,961 mm) |
| Curb weight | 7,700 lb (3,500 kg) (Turbodiesel) 7,200 lb (3,300 kg) (Gasoline) |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Ford Expedition EL/MAX (indirect) |
TheFord Excursion is a heavy-duty (Class 2) full-size SUV marketed byFord Motor Company from 2000 through 2005. At its introduction, the Excursion was the longest and heaviest SUV ever to enter mass production. The third Ford SUV was derived from the F-Series pickup trucks (after theFord Bronco and theFord Expedition), and the model line used a heavier-duty chassis and frame than the Expedition; both vehicles competed against theChevrolet Suburban.
Developed as a competitor for the 2500-series (3⁄4-ton)Chevrolet Suburban/GMC Yukon XL,[3][4] the Ford Excursion was derived from the3⁄4-tonF-250 Super Duty pickup truck (sharing its chassis with the regular cab, long-bed chassis). The model line was produced for a single generation; a shortened 2006 model year was offered exclusively for Mexico. Targeting the North American market, only a few were produced for export. The Excursion remains the second largest mass-produced SUV (matched in length by the 2023 introduction of the lighterJeep Grand Wagoneer L, and beaten by the 2021Cadillac Escalade ESV); currently, only theGMC Hummer EV SUV is heavier.
The Excursion was assembled at itsKentucky Truck Plant (Louisville, Kentucky) alongside theFord Super Duty line. The last example was produced on September 30, 2005. For 2007, Ford introduced the extended-lengthFord Expedition EL/MAX (today, Expedition MAX), competing more closely against the 1500-series Suburban in capability.
For the 1973 model year, General Motors redesigned its Suburban utility wagon (sold by Chevrolet and GMC dealers) as part of itsRounded-Line C/K trucks. A fourth passenger door was added, allowing the model line to compete directly against the similar-sizeInternational Harvester Travelall wagon for the first time. Following the 1975 discontinuation of the Travelall, the Suburban became the only wagon-style full-size SUV (a distinction it would hold until the 1997 introduction of the Expedition), competing primarily against the smallerJeep Wagoneer.
For 1978, Ford released the second generation of theFord Bronco. To repackage the model line as a full-size SUV, the Bronco was brought closer in design to chief competitorsChevrolet K5 Blazer/GMC Jimmy andDodge Ramcharger. Along with sharing its chassis with theFord F-100 pickup truck, the Bronco was offered as a three-door half-cab wagon with a removable hardtop. In contrast to General Motors, Ford did not develop a five-door wagon body for the Bronco (in line with the Suburban). During the 1980s and early 1990s, Ford marketed five-door Bronco wagons on a special-order basis as license-built vehicles from second-party manufacturers. To assemble the design, the rear body of the Bronco was mated to crew-cab F-Series bodywork.[5][6] Examples used the 1-ton F-350 chassis (a first since the IHC Travelall) as a basis, contrasting with the½-ton or¾-ton payload series offered by the Suburban.[5][6]
For 1997, Ford replaced the Bronco with theFord Expedition full-size SUV. Again derived from the Ford F-150, the Expedition was designed with a five-door wagon body; the model line was typically fitted with three rows of seating. Sized between theChevrolet Tahoe (introduced as a 5-door wagon during 1995) and the Suburban (offering three-row seating like the Expedition), the change followed a decline in demand for three-door SUVs of all sizes.
For 1999, Ford expanded the F-Series model range, adding the Super Duty F-250 and F-350 pickups (and all larger Ford trucks) with a heavier-duty chassis, suspension, and distinct body design. To create its first3⁄4-ton SUV (competing against the3⁄4-ton 2500-series Suburban), Ford created an SUV derived from the F-250 Super Duty pickup truck. Outside of the pickup truck range, the Excursion was the largest Ford passenger vehicle, outranked by theFord E-350 Super Wagon 12-15 passenger van (in both body and wheelbase length and height).
The Ford Excursion was introduced for the 2000 model year on September 30, 1999.[7] In contrast to the Expedition (which replaced the Bronco), the Excursion had no direct predecessor in the Ford truck line.
The Ford Excursion shares many body and chassis assemblies with its F-250 pickup truck counterpart. The front suspension and most of the rear suspension were common components, but the Excursion was fitted with different leaf springs and front spring hanger brackets. The Excursion had a distinct frame which differed from the front sway bar mounts rearward, making the model taller and wider than its pickup truck counterpart.
The rear axle for all Excursions was aSterling 10.5 axle. Thefour-wheel-drive models had an NV273transfer case andDana 50 front axle. Rear axle ratios of 3.73:1 and 4.30:1 were offered.
During the development of the chassis, Ford learned that its initial design caused smaller vehicles (such as aFord Taurus) to become severely overridden in a head-on collision. In the test, the tire of the Excursion drove up to the windshield of the Taurus (reducing the chance of survival for its driver).[8] As a response, Ford modified the chassis to include an under-bumper "blocker beam"; a safety device the French transportation ministry initially tested in 1971.[8] A trailer hitch was standard equipment to help reduceunderriding in rear-end collisions by smaller vehicles.
During its entire production, the Excursion was offered with both gasoline and diesel engines. The standard gasoline engine was a 5.4 L Triton V8; a 6.8 L Triton V10 was offered as an option. At its launch, the optional diesel engine was the Navistar-produced 7.3 L Power Stroke V8; during 2003 production, a Navistar-produced 6.0 L diesel V8 was introduced, again using the Power Stroke name.
All four engines were paired with an automatic transmission. The 4-speed 4R100 automatic was fitted to the 5.4 L, 6.8 L, and 7.3 L engines, with a 5-speed 5R110W automatic fitted to the 6.0 L engine.
| Engine | Configuration | Fuel | Production | Power output | Torque output | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FordTriton V8 | 5.4 L (330 cu in) SOHC 2V V8 | Gasoline | 2000–2005 | 255 hp (190 kW; 259 PS) | 350 lb⋅ft (475 N⋅m) | 4-speed automatic Ford4R100 |
| FordTriton V10 | 6.8 L (413 cu in) SOHC 2V V10 | 310 hp (231 kW; 314 PS) | 425 lb⋅ft (576 N⋅m) | |||
| Ford/NavistarPower Stroke V8 | 7.3 L (444 cu in) OHV V8 turbo | Diesel | 2000–2003.5 | 250 hp (186 kW; 253 PS) | 525 lb⋅ft (712 N⋅m) | |
| Ford/NavistarPower Stroke V8 | 6.0 L (365 cu in) OHV 4V V8 turbo | 2003.5–2005 | 325 hp (242 kW; 330 PS) | 560 lb⋅ft (759 N⋅m) | 5-speed automatic Ford 5R110W TorqShift[9] |
Though using the3⁄4-ton chassis of the F-250, the two-wheel-drive Excursion was rated with aGVWR of 8,600 lb (3,900 kg) when equipped with gasoline engines and 8,900 lb (4,000 kg) when equipped with diesel engines (four-wheel-drive models have a 300 lb (140 kg) higher GVWR with either engine). As its GVWR was above 8,500 lb (3,900 kg), the Excursion was exempt from EPA fuel economy ratings; reviewers cited fuel economy in the range of 12-15 mpg with the V10 gasoline engine.[4] While its GVWR exempted it from emissions standards applied to light-duty vehicles, Ford designed the powertrains of the Excursion to meetlow-emissions vehicle (LEV) status.[7]
While the smaller Ford Expedition shared design elements with the popular Ford F-150, the Excursion adopted a high degree of commonality from its F-250 counterpart. Except for its egg-crate grille (styled similarly to the Expedition and the third-generation Explorer), the Excursion shares its front bodywork forward of the B-pillars with its pickup truck counterpart. From the B-pillar rearward, the Excursion is designed with model-distinct bodywork. Along with rear passenger doors specific to the model line (including forward-tilted C-pillars instead of the rectangular design from the pickup truck), the rear wagon body is styled similarly to the 1980-1996 Bronco (with flush-mounted glass). In place of a conventional liftgate, Ford designed the rear cargo door with a three-way layout (similar to the 1992–2005Chevrolet Astro), pairing a framed upper window (with rear wiper) with two lower "Dutch doors"; the Excursion sourced its taillamps directly from the E-Series van. For 2005, the egg-crate grille was replaced by the grille used by Super Duty pickup trucks.
Sharing its dashboard entirely from the F-250 (though adding an "Excursion" nameplate badge), the interior was offered in either 8 or 9-passenger seating (with either a front bench seat or front bucket seats). As with the Bronco, Ford mounted the spare tire vertically in the cargo area (behind the third-row seat). For 2002, the instrument panel underwent minor revisions (receiving a digital odometer and a transmission temperature gauge); seating materials underwent revisions.
Coinciding with its design commonality with the Ford Super Duty crew cab, the Excursion was a mass-produced SUV with four full-length passenger doors. Along with the Chevrolet Suburban (and its GMC/Cadillac counterparts) and theInternational Travelall, the only mass-produced model lines with the design feature are the Ford Expedition Max/Lincoln Navigator L and the Jeep (Grand) Wagoneer L.[10]
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The Excursion adopted the trim nomenclature of the Ford light trucks marketed in North America. The base trim was XL (marketed nearly exclusively for fleet sales), XLT (standard trim in retail markets), and Limited (highest trim line). Following its use across many Ford light trucks, an Eddie Bauer trim package was introduced for the Excursion for 2003 (differing from the Limited primarily in appearance).
XLT: Included three rows of seating, leather-wrapped steering wheel with speed control, a security system, keyless entry, 16 in (41 cm) chrome steel rims or optional alloy rims, trailer towing package, an AM/FM radio with cassette and single-disc CD player with six premium speakers, and air conditioning.
Limited: Included same features as XLT, but adds a power driver's seat, rear audio controls, illuminated running boards, 16 in (41 cm) alloy rims, front-speed sensitive windshield wipers, five power points, ten cupholders, leather seats (with heated first row), and an optional rear entertainment system with DVD player.
Being launched on September 30, 1999, the 2000 Ford Excursion was described byPopular Science as the "biggest sport utility on the planet."[11][3] This would be the most successful model year for the Excursion, with nearly 69,000 examples sold. After essentially meeting sales projections at its launch,[11] demand dropped in part because of theenergy crisis of the 2000s. Annual production capacity was 70,000,[11] but sales from 2001 barely reach half that number and the model become the lowest-selling SUV marketed by Ford or Lincoln-Mercury.
The large size of the Excursion led to it being dubbed theFord Valdez by theSierra Club in 1999 (in reference to theExxon Valdez supertanker).[12] In 2007,Time selected it as one of the "Fifty Worst Cars of All Time."[13]
From 1998 to 2012, an aftermarket SUV conversion of the Ford F-250 was sold in Brazil.[14] Similar in design and layout to the Excursion, the F-250 Tropivan differed primarily by its assembly as a second-party conversion (similar to the Centurion Classic). In contrast to the Excursion, two different wheelbases of the Tropivan were produced.
As with all Super Duty trucks in Brazil, the Tropivan had a different engine selection throughout its production run, including a 4.2 L Essex gasoline V6 and two types of diesels: a 3.9 L Cummins B-series and the 4.2 L MWM Sprint 6.07TCA straight-6.
During and since its production, the Excursion has become a basis for several types of aftermarket vehicles. As a result of its body commonality with the Super Duty model range, the bodywork of the Excursion led to aftermarket conversions of Ford medium-duty truck chassis (Ford F-650 and F-750) to SUVs; to accommodate the longer wheelbase, the body was typically modified with an extra set of doors.[citation needed]
At the other end of the size scale, theHennessey VelociRaptor SUV was created by mating the rear bodywork of the Excursion with the bodywork of the first-generationFord Raptor (a practice similar to the creation of the 1990s Centurion Classic C350).
Because the Excursion shares significant design commonality with the 1999 through 2016 Ford F-250, the SUV has been customized by replacing the 2000-2005 front bodywork with the bodywork of 2008–2016 Super Duty pickup trucks.[citation needed]
The Excursion also has served as a basis forstretch limousines. Though Ford imposed a 120-inch length limit on body extensions (on full-frame cars such as theLincoln Town Car), some Excursions have undergone longer extensions. One such stretched 2001 Excursion was involved in the 2018Schoharie limousine crash, which killed 20.[15]
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| Calendar Year | Total American sales |
|---|---|
| 1999[16] | 18,315 |
| 2000 | 50,786 |
| 2001[17] | 34,710 |
| 2002[18] | 29,042 |
| 2003 | 26,259 |
| 2004[19] | 20,010 |
| 2005 | 16,283 |
Media related toFord Excursion at Wikimedia Commons
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