Spotlight | Ford Excursion: more car than you’ll ever need

There was a brief window during my Land Cruiser search when I went a little off the rails.

I kept circling this one thought: What if I didn’t get the safe, well-known option? What if I went huge instead?

That’s how I ended up deep in a Ford Excursion rabbit hole. And if you’ve ever found yourself down the same path, you’ll know why this absolute beast of an SUV still has a cult following today.

A Truck Built for the End of the World

The Ford Excursion launched in 2000 and was discontinued after 2005. It was, and still is, the biggest SUV ever sold in America. Based on the Super Duty truck platform, it came with real truck bones: solid axles, body-on-frame construction, and heavy-duty everything.

At the time, it was kind of ridiculous. In hindsight, it is still completely ridiculous, but that’s kinda the point.

You don’t buy an Excursion because you just need a little more space. You buy it because you want a vehicle that swallows everything you throw at it— gear, kids, trailers, dogs (cattle?), boats (ships?), you name it — and still has more to give.

Very few people need an Excursion, but it can be useful, has aged fairly well, and all these years later, is worth a closer look.

Why People Love the Excursion

Let’s start with the obvious: This thing is enormous. But the upside of all that size is function. With the third row in place, the Excursion still has usable cargo space (unlike most modern three-row SUVs). Fold it down, and it becomes an apartment on wheels. This is actually a big deal. Behind the 3rd row of many SUVs there’s not even room for a checked back or stroller. There’s serious value in this cargo space if you consistently need to haul large things, or a lot of people and their luggage.

And then there’s the drivetrain. While there are a number of options, the real unicorn is the 7.3L Power Stroke diesel (more on this soon). This engine, built by Navistar (International), earned a reputation for being nearly indesttructible. This engine is famously durable — we’re talking 300k+ miles with proper maintenance — and has become a sought-after option for enthusiasts, campers, towers, and anyone who appreciates bulletproof diesel torque. It’s not fast, but it pulls like a freight train and feels like it’ll never quit.

Even the gas versions (especially the V10) have their place — less desirable for towing or fuel economy, but still capable, simple, and relatively cheap to maintain.

What It's Like to Drive

I test drove one during my search. Not the 7.3. And to be honest… I didn’t love it.

It felt like driving a U-Haul truck, which, to be fair, isn’t far off. You’re piloting something that weighs nearly four tons and has the turning radius of a tugboat. Parking lots and driving on anything that’s not a 5 lane interstate highway will feel like a workout. City streets feel tighter. It’s not what you’d call refined.

But at the same time, it’s kind of fun. The ride is smoother than you’d expect. The height gives you a commanding view of the road. And there’s something oddly liberating about knowing you could throw your whole life in the back and just disappear into the mountains (or whatever destination you fancy).

The Cult Following

Excursions are having a moment. Clean examples, especially diesels, are steadily appreciating. There’s a whole community around building them out as overlanding rigs, tow vehicles, or family haulers with serious presence. They’re rare enough to stand out, and still modern enough to live with — parts are available, mechanics know how to work on them, and there’s no shortage of knowledge online.

They're also surprisingly DIY-friendly. For folks dipping their toes into basic car maintenance, these trucks are often easier to work on than newer, tech-laden SUVs.

What to Watch Out For

Like any high-mileage vehicle, condition matters more than mileage alone. Look for maintenance records, rust (especially in the rear quarters and frame), and how the suspension has held up under all that weight. Early 6.0L diesels (which replaced the 7.3 in late 2003) can be hit or miss, so do your homework there. And don’t expect Prius-level fuel economy — even the diesel versions drink fuel, and the gas ones? You’ll know every gas station in town.

So... Should You Get One?

That’s completely. Again, very few people need this vehicle, but under the right circumstances it can be practical. I’m not going to try to say “everyone should buy an Excursion”, because that is absolutely not the case. But hey, if it catches your eye, maybe the idea isn’t as wild as it first seems, and you can back up that statement with facts.

The Excursion isn’t for everyone. But if you’re someone who likes the idea of driving something rare, useful, and unapologetically massive — and if you’ve ever imagined sleeping in your car under the stars with your kids, not because you had to, but because you could — then yeah, the Excursion deserves a look.

You can still find solid examples for $10K–$15K (though the 7.3s in decent condition can go for twice that price). But if you score the right one? It just might be the last vehicle you need for a quite some time.