By the early 2000s, Ford had an array of SUVs. The Escape served as the entry-level model. The Explorer transitioned into its third generation. Its larger sibling, the Expedition, offered more passenger space and cargo capacity. But Ford went even bigger with the 2000 Excursion, a massive three-row SUV based on the F-250 Super Duty’s underpinnings and available with V-8 and V-10 gas, and Power Stroke turbodiesel V-8 power. The same year, at the Chicago Auto Show, Ford displayed the Desert Excursion, which turned the big beast back into a truck “customized to take on the most extreme weather conditions and terrain.”

When it debuted for the 2000 model year, the Ford Excursion was literally a big deal. With a wheelbase of 137.1 inches and a total length of 226.7 inches, it’s longer than its modern quasi-successor (the F-150-based Expedition MAX) by 5.6 inches and 5 inches, respectively. Ford designed it to carry up to nine passengers and, with the available Power Stroke V-8, tow up to 10,000 pounds. The Desert Excursion kept its base vehicle’s commercial capabilities in mind, but it combined them with focused off-road hardware to make what Ford called “the ultimate go-any where, do-anything truck.”

Up front, the Desert Excursion features a beige grille that matches the body, and a steel bumper with integrated PIAA Ion Crystal fog lamps and a winch. It’s impossible to see in the photos, but Ford beefed up the grille, front fascia, and headlights by making them out of stronger, more durable materials.

To make the Desert Excursion more capable in the rough, Ford equipped it with beadlock wheels with chunky tires. At the back, there’s a short bed with a removable cooler. If the bed isn’t long enough, the tailgate can be extended to free up a little more space. Engineers even made sure the back window and rear seats could be folded down to make loading long cargo easier.

Textured assist steps provide better footing for getting in and out of the four-door cabin in slippery conditions. Like the regular Excursion, the Desert concept has a column-mounted shifter, but everything around that is different, including the steering wheel, HVAC vents, navigation system, and pedals. According to Ford, the interior is weatherproof (although the seats are covered in leather), right down to its rubber flooring and floor mats, which can be hosed off after a day of romping through the mud. Clearly, the designers knew that some passengers can get a little anxious going over rough terrain, so they added aluminum tubes with leather grips for those Nervous Nellies to grab as they mutter prayers (or expletives).

The Power Stroke 7.3-liter turbodiesel Ford offered in the Excursion is now legendary for its relative simplicity and durability. But for the Desert Excursion, Ford opted for its 6.8-liter Triton V-10, which cranked out 310 horses and 425 lb-ft of torque. That sounds like plenty of grunt to go dune bashing.

What do you think of the Ford Desert Excursion concept? Would you have bought one if Ford built it? Tell us in the Comments section below.