Remember the Ford Excursion? It only lived for one generation until the early 2000s, leaving the scene in 2005. It was named the largest and heaviest mass-produced SUV of all, and it permanent hold that title. The GMC Hummer EV might steal the crown when it finally comes to market, but that’s not important right now. You want to see the 5.5 tonne SUV go where it doesn’t deserve to be reached. And achieve it.
This rig is so cool, we have two videos attached for this article. Both come from Busted Knuckle Movie on YouTube, with the clip at the top showing the special equipment dealing with Hell’s Retaliation in Moab. That includes the famous ascent known as the Gates of Hell, which the Excursion takes in a rather dramatic fashion. At one point, the passenger’s front wheel was a few feet off the ground. But the steady hand of the driver and good direction from the spotters kept the SUV out of trouble.
This is of course the most dramatic video, but the second is arguably the most beautiful. It features another difficult trail in Moab called the Top of the World, which leads to a ledge with excellent views. everything. The trail starts off fairly easy, but soon turns very rocky. Through it all, the big Ford and its 7.3-liter turbocharged diesel don’t fall behind.
Obviously we are not dealing with Stock Excursion. Lots of videos on Busted Knuckle Movie build chronicle, which includes a coilover suspension conversion and powerful lift among many other items. It’s also equipped for overlanding with onboard water, coolers, roof awning, slide-out storage, and other items for the right off-road adventure.
Based on the Ford Super Duty truck chassis, the bone stock Excursion weighs over 7,500 pounds. Modifications to this particular build add a bit, with both videos stating it’s an 11,300 pound monster in its current trim. We shudder at the thought of fuel mileage, but the upgrades certainly give this heavyweight some surprising capabilities when the going gets tough.
