We love the Excursion. It was great when the kids were younger (we have 5, but all but 1 are over 18 now) and having a travel trailer. Had a 21 Coachmen TT. Mine is all stock, except an EGR Delete, and get on the interstate, set the cruise at the speed limit, crank the A/C and enjoy the camping trip. I towed the same TT with a 2000 5.9 V-8 Durango. Even with the weight distribution hitch and sway control, even a camping trip in-state or just over the state line (I live near Indianapolis) so Cincinatti, or to my parents house just over the line in Illinois was exhausting. You were always "driving" anticipation hills, drift toward the center line, that way when a semi passes it doesn't blow off onto the shoulder. The TT was where I stored it when I bought the Excursion. I toed it home the 5ish miles "dead ball" (had the WD/SC hitch head, but didn't do anything but hook it to the ball so I could set everything up at home for the hitch)and plugged in the lights/brake controller. The Excursion pull it better dead ball, than the Durango fully hitched up.
No real issues. I've done the EGR Delete, and now at 175000ish miles and pushing 20 years it needs an injector. It still fires up and I can drive it, but I won't do much more than move it from the driveway to mow, just in case I just haven't had time to swap the injector out. That being said, everything on the engine is factory except, Alternator, had toe have the FICM repaired because of voltage issues from the alternator), water pump, batteries, and belt. The turbo, head gaskets and head bolts are the ones they put in it over on Brookville Road (the IH Plant that made the IDI's 7.3, 6.0 and 6.4's is about 15 miles from me in Indy). Maintenance, and no tuner is what has gotten me here. Good oil every 5000 miles, only Motorcraft/IH/Racor fuel and oil filters. They have plenty of power in stock form, in my opinion.
It doesn't get driven as much anymore, we have the two newer trucks. It's not leaving, I plan on keeping it (had it almost 13 years now) and still use it. One of my oldests friends jokes, when he seei it out, that the hot rod is actually out of the garage. Once I replace the injector, I would have no issued driving to any destination. Lots of room for passengers, with the bucket, bench, bench setup I have, you can seat belt 7 in there. You can fit up to 9 depending on the size of the person.... there's just not enough seat belts. Great road trip vehicle. Even with all 3 seats in the truck, you have the equivalent of cargo room to what's in a 5.5ft bed pickup, even more room if you fold up, or remove the 3rd seat. Plus on a road trip once I saw right at 20 mpg for the trip average. That was just the truck, a few passengers, and some luggage. That is in the same ballpark as the 2 V-6 F-150's get.