Can't think of anything drive train related same 10.25 axle, 99% sure same rear springs (I know 100% the front are), early ones came with C or D tires IIRC while later ones came with E rated ones, same 16 wheels, brakes, same gearing 3.73, The trailer hitch mount may be a little different but I don't know for sure

IIRC the pickups also received a payload increase as well, I guess Ford decided to up it for whatever reason

 

I looked over information from some old ford.fleet PDF documents on a 2000 and 2002 and didn't notice any difference of anything that would make a difference in load. Looking at a separate towing document that contains the Excursion with all the pickups, the Expedition and Explorer, it shows the 2000 lbs difference in GCWR and 1000 lbs difference in towing between these year models.

I see the Excursions were rated up to 11,000 lbs towing and I'm looking to very occasionally tow 12,400 lbs and for very short back road low speed trips pulling a pintle hitch equipment trailer with mini excavator. I see that Superhitch makes a 20K lb hitch or 17K without using a load distribution system for the Excursion. I'm wondering if using that hitch and appropriate load rated tires if I could legally get by with that in NC. I think I could stay within the GVWR and the GRAW of the Excursion and from looking around on some vehicles I'm not seeing the GCWR or tow rating listed on the door jam sticker, just in the towing documents for the whole fleet of vehicles for the particular year model.

Can anyone see things I may be over looking with this idea of towing around 12.5K lbs with an Excursion? This will likely occur only a couple times a year, short distance and low speed driving on some back roads but the thing is I'm near some gas terminals where the weight man patrols the tanker trucks heavily so I'm sure I'll pass him at some point and get pulled for a check.

 

Doesn't matter what hitch receiver you have if you're over what the trucks rated to handle. There is a way to get a vehicle recertified to handle the extra weight but I don't know the exact process and it's probably not worth it could just play dumb and say I didn't know it was that heavy.

Same tranny for 00 and 02 (4R100). They started the Torqshift in 03. Same rears pretty much. I did notice different part numbers for SOME of the rear springs. Not sure if that contributes to such a difference in tow ability, but it may. And of course, different power plants if you're talking diesel. 02-mid production to present being the 6.0. Increase in torque by 50+ ft.lbs. Personally, 12.5K is too much for that truck, even with a weight distribution hitch. 12.5K is ALMOST too much for a newer F350.

Does the trailer weigh 12.5K or is that your total weight?

You can get an 03 with a 7.3 in it the switch to 6.0 was the 03.5 model year and 5r110 was started with the 03.5 6.0 introduction.

 

Same tranny for 00 and 02 (4R100). They started the Torqshift in 03. Same rears pretty much. I did notice different part numbers for SOME of the rear springs. Not sure if that contributes to such a difference in tow ability, but it may. And of course, different power plants if you're talking diesel. 02-mid production to present being the 6.0. Increase in torque by 50+ ft.lbs. Personally, 12.5K is too much for that truck, even with a weight distribution hitch. 12.5K is ALMOST too much for a newer F350.

Does the trailer weigh 12.5K or is that your total weight?

 

Does the trailer weigh 12.5K or is that your total weight?

12.5K lbs will be the total weight connected to the hitch. I used to pull this load with a 2005 F250 crew cab 4x4 6.0 and it handled it just fine. This load was and will only be towed under 55 mph, fairly flat ground, short distance with less than 100 total miles per year so I’m certain the Excursion can physically handle the task just fine. I’m just trying to determine how much issue I’ll have with the weight man. I think I can comply with the door jam sticker weights of the Excursion and I can install a Superhitch that would have a rating of 17K lbs so hoping the door jam sticker, the hitching equipment, trailer and tire ratings is all the weight man would refer to. Ford's claimed tow weight rating of 11K I’ll exceed and depending upon year model of Excursion I may or may not exceed the GCWR and both of these specs as far as I can tell aren't located on the vehicle itself but are found in Ford’s towing guide for the year model that covers all the Ford vehicles, I think this to be correct anyway. As for all the weight ratings that will be present on the vehicle I think I can comply with so wondering if I’d be OK when checked by the weight man?

I know none of you guys could say with certainty about that legal stuff but would like to hear of your experiences if getting weight checked with similar criteria as I explained. Anyone experienced a weight man go surfing the internet for weight specs that aren’t posted on the vehicle itself?