New to page - Ya'll are scaring me to death! Ordered - should I get? - Diesel Forum

caldwell3110 · 05-30-2003, 08:42 PM

Ok,
I read about the brakes, back door, injector sensors etc...
Just ordered a 2003 limited - sticker $50,162 - paying $41,500. Want to buy a 30ft Fleetwood TT. Is this the vehicle to get or am I going to get to know my ford dealer and salesman really, really well?
I know these posts are too common but any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Diesel_Danny · 05-30-2003, 08:59 PM

Caldwell3110,

Welcome to The Diesel Stop.

I was all set to get the Excursion until I did the math on GVWR, trailer tongue weight, etc.

I discovered that I would have very little weight left over for stuffing that big X full of gear without exceeding the GVWR. So I will be getting a SuperDuty F-350 ... it has the capacity for my needs.

Your needs and weights may be different. Do the math and make sure.

caldwell3110 · 05-30-2003, 09:54 PM

So you don't have any worries about getting the new diesel - It is all about the weight? I am new to diesels but even newer to trailers. I have just decided that I want to go RVing with my new son and have been looking at trailers as well. I thought this beast could tow 10,000 lbs. Do I need to look at something other than that? I know this isn't an RV site but I am guessing that several people here are doing some serious towing.
Thanks again for the info.

crumm · 05-30-2003, 10:06 PM

Welcome to the site. You are paying $41,500 for a X with a sticker of $50,162 cool. Up here they mark them up $5,000 not down $9,000. As far as problems I have only had a few and will buy another used one when I wear out the one I have now. As far as "overloading" it I wouldn't worry about it. People get too critical about the GVWR sticker. An X would yank a 30ft trailer around the world several times with a load of passengers and cargo.

caldwell3110 · 05-30-2003, 10:16 PM

Thanks,
You always think you are being screwed on sticker but I shopped this vehicle to 7 different dealerships (thank goodness for the internet) and got my best price from the farthest one away but walked in with a faxed quote on the price and my local dealer matched it. Just didn't have one on the lot because I wanted to dual quad chairs. So they ordered it for me. It is a limited with the DVD, limited slip and of course the diesel. I saw Invoice - 44,625 - then subtract my military 750 rebate, 2,000 ford rebate and refusing to pay the $65 bucks for the first tank of fuel - Yes $65 on the invoice from Ford - they charge the dealer. And that comes pretty close - the rest was just hagling over a few bucks. Don't know if it is a stellar deal but I don't think they are screwing me..... Of course I haven't found out if they are blue oval certified - but I will first thing monday.
Thanks

jogiba · 05-30-2003, 10:49 PM

The only time our Excursion was at the dealer after we purchased it was when the fuel gelled up in the winter when my wife was driving it. I picked up a gallon jug of anti-gel and never had a problem since.
You should not have any problems towing a 30' TT since I tow a 41' TT without any problems.

crumm · 05-30-2003, 10:55 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I tow a 41' TT without any problems.

[/ QUOTE ]

And you have never caught any flack around here about pulling a 41' TT with an X have you [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img].

Diesel_Danny · 05-30-2003, 11:47 PM

[ QUOTE ]
So you don't have any worries about getting the new diesel - It is all about the weight?

[/ QUOTE ]

Bingo!

According to the 2003 Ford SourceBook the Base Curb Weight (standard equipment, oil, lubricants and a full tank of fuel) and Options Weight (Limited Package, etc.) is 7,562 pounds.

The Gross Vehicle Weight rating is 9,200 pounds for the 4x4.

That leaves a Maximum Payload of 1,638 pounds. Sounds good.

Weight! ... I mean wait! If you are towing a trailer ... you will need to get your tongue weight ... and subtract that from your Maximum Payload.

The only reasonable way to get some type of semi-accurate figure (and it will vary) is to take 10 to 12 percent of the GVWR of your trailer.

In my case ... the GVWR of the Airstream I will be purchasing is 9,800 pounds. So, if I take 11% of the GVWR ... I have to subtract 1,078 pounds from the Maximum Payload .. which gives me ...

560 pounds. That's right, 560 pounds for me, Petunia .. and all of the gear we won't carry in the trailer. Not enough for me.

The only true way to determine what you are dealing with is to take the Excursion and the trailer to a scale and have everything weighed.

Hard to do if you are like me, and still in the planning stages .... no trailer .. no tow vehicle. So we have to rely on the weights from Ford. Which could be a bit optimistic.

After doing a thread search on Excursion weights ... I have discovered most folks are running around 7,800 to 8,100 pounds for various reasons.

So, that's why I am going with the F-350. Some folks will tell you you will be fine with the Excursion .. and you may be OK ... depending upon your trailer tongue weight and how you load your X. Like I said .. do the math.

Some folks will also tell you it's OK to exceed the GVWR of the X. I am not going to argue or disagree with their choice. That is not the purpose of this post.

I feel that the GVWR is there for a reason, and have decided that I will feel much better with a vehicle that will haul more weight and stay within the GVWR. Others may agree or disagree .... and that's OK. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

Do the math .. and choose the vehicle that you feel is right for you.

Snug · 05-31-2003, 01:48 AM

I love my X. I wouldn't worry about the weight. I like the heaviness of the X. I towed the trailer in my sig. with a 98 1500 4x4 Suburban. It was the tail wagging the dog. The xtra weight you get with the X really helps keep the trailer under control. I weighed almost 18k X and TT, I towed it over 3k miles without any problems at all.
Get the X, you won't be disappointed.

Doug

Diesel_Danny · 05-31-2003, 10:47 AM

Doug,

Does your X sag in the back when you are hitched up?

Some members have complained about sagging and have added air bags to level the load. I have seen two like this but others look OK when towing.

Has this affected you?

Also, what type of hitch are you using>

caldwell3110 · 05-31-2003, 11:37 AM

Jogiba (sp?)
What year is your ZX-11 - I owned a 96 model for four years - finally moved on to the Yamaha FJR1300 and love it!

Thanks for the towing info - I too am waiting for the X to go get my TT. There is a RV show in Atlanta in Sep - Is this the place to get good deals or just go to an RV lot?
Nothing good in my area for dealerships.
30FT Airstream - That is serious cash isn't it?
Thanks again - I am sticking with the purchase - I have a good friend with a 430 mercedes Benz and that thing had the trans fall out, the motor mounts snap and the brakes go bad all in the first year - everything made is still made by humans - stuff breaks.
Overall seems to be just what I am looking for.

jogiba · 05-31-2003, 11:51 AM

[ QUOTE ]
And you have never caught any flack around here about pulling a 41' TT with an X have you

[/ QUOTE ]
The Excursion pulls that like a 379X Peterbilt with zero sway in rain and crosswinds with the 18 wheelers along side at 70mph. My Excursion weighs about the same as the 41 ft TT so it handles much better than a combo were the TT weighs more than the tow vehicle.

I think some pickup/5th wheel owners get their rocks off by saying you can't pull a 41 ft TT with an Excursion. My 34' Coachmen motorhome has sway in conditions that has no effect on the Excursion/41 ft/Hensley setup.And I noticed a SRW F250/F350 pickup towing a 5th wheel TT on I-95 in NC last month that had some sway as I passed him doing 70 mph in a 70 mph zone.

jogiba · 05-31-2003, 12:06 PM

[ QUOTE ]
So, that's why I am going with the F-350. Some folks will tell you you will be fine with the Excursion .. and you may be OK ... depending upon your trailer tongue weight and how you load your X. Like I said .. do the ma

[/ QUOTE ]
The Excursion 4x4 has a 9,200 lb GVWR sticker with a soft rear spring and D rated tires. With E rated tires and Air Bags it is the best tow vehicle for a TT because it has a much larger fuel tank and a 7,000 lb capacity rear axle compared to the srw F350's 6,830 lb rear axle. If you want a pickup then get a pickup but I tow a 41 ft TT with my Excursion with no problems and some tow as much as 17,000 lbs with an Excursion so I know I am not even close to being overloaded.
http://forums.thedieselstop.com/ubbt...o=&fpart=2

dmftoy1 · 05-31-2003, 12:34 PM

I love mine, and we tow all over with a 8500-9000k TT. Works like a top. Just take the time to make sure your WD hitch is setup correctly before you do any real towing.

As far as reliability, we haven't had any real problems, more annoyances than anything. I've gone through 2 sets of adjustable pedals, and had an OD light flashing on the tranny. All have been taken care of by the dealer under warranty. I will never go "non-diesel" again for a tow vehicle. Make sure you do your research though, as the diesels do run differently than a gasser when towing. (you don't want to lug a diesel).

In terms of weight ratings, I wouldn't get too stressed over GVWR . . I tend to get more stressed over GCVWR and I'm way under on that one. (last ticket was 17k)

Have a good one,
Dave

PSDExcursion · 05-31-2003, 10:53 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Ok,
Want to buy a 30ft Fleetwood TT. Is this the vehicle to get or am I going to get to know my ford dealer and salesman really, really well?

[/ QUOTE ]

You shouldn't have any problem. I tow a 32' and it has around 750# of tongue weight. You WILL need a weight distributing (W/D) hitch, there is no doubt to that. Personally I feel if you are towing any sort of TT with the X, you should have a W/D hitch on it.

I'd get the trailer and not worry. I'd make sure I'd know my tongue weights before I get it. I heard a story of a TT with a front slide...it had 1,200# tongue weight! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] I'll tell you that 750# is no problem.

Michael