Exceeding tow capacity of 2000 Ford Excursion?

We have a 2000 Ford Excursion 4x4 with a brand new 5.4 V8 engine. We recently bought a camper that we would like to take from New Jersey to Nova Scotia. WE HAVE NO EXPERIENCE WITH TRAILERS, so obviously we're trying to learn all we can.
I believe the trailer is about 6400lbs with max at about 8800. We bought proportional brake controller and a weight distribution hitch rated for 10,000lbs.
We're thinking will we end up maxing out the weight at 8800 which would be about 1000 lbs over what I believe the capacity is for the Excursion.
Is there anything we can do to make this trip safely? We don't mind if it takes us a week! Slow is ok. But there are substantial hills to climb.

Added (1). PS I thought the max capacity for the Excursion was higher, when we bought the trailer. Now I'm concerned. We could possibly sell the trailer/camper, but we got a good deal and we would really love to keep it!

'helper' springs and a bigger transmission cooler…

A) If you stick to the interstate there are NO "substantial hills" to climb. You won't encounter anything substantial unless you are planning to wander off the I-95 corridor.

b) If you are going to tow above the Excursion's limit and you have an accident, your insurance company will probably refuse the claim.

c) You had better practice with the trailer on some short trips first at max weight. You're asking for trouble if you don't.

d) Lighten the load as much as possible. You need less stuff than you think.

e) A sway control kit would help and enhance safety. For people with zero trailer experience it would be a good insurance policy. Over-steering due to lack of experience can ruin your day if you get into a bad trailer sway situation.

f) People in New England are generlly not fond of Jerseyites. The motto is "spend your money and go home". I'm not putting you down, it's simply a fact.

The towing capacity of all 2000 Ford Excursions is 10,000 lbs, so you are well within the limit. The truck can handle the weight and the motor will move it. But the 5.4L V8 is the smallest and least powerful of the 3 engine options available on excursions, and you'll feel the weight. You'll be the slow truck in the right lane on hills, but it will get the job done.

Be sure to use a good weight distribution hitch and adjust it properly so you aren't overloading the rear axle. There are plenty of youtube videos about how to install and adjust the hitch, or for about $100 any RV repair shop will do all the set up for you. You should also have some form of sway control - most weight distribution hitches have sway control either built in or via an separate sway bar. Make sure you know whether or not you are required to disconnect the sway bar when backing up, some require it, some don't.

Make sure the brake controller is adjusted properly and the trailer brakes are in good order. Again Youtube is a great source of info about how to adjust the settings.

As for safety: slow and steady is the game. Keep it at the speed limit or below, allow plenty of extra space, be patient on hills. Make sure you swing wide on sharp turns and watch the clearance on the trailer so you don't clip a car or lamp post.

If the trailer sways don't panic, take your foot off the gas and gently tap the manual lever on your trailer brake controller which engages the trailer brakes but NOT the truck brakes. The trailer will slow down and pull back on the truck and straighten everything out. If you keep getting sway, then move some weight from the back of the trailer farther forward - sway is caused by trailer weight being too far back - you want the center of gravity slightly in front of the trailer axles.

YouTube is a great source of info about how to load, hitch and drive a large trailer safely.

Enjoy the trip, and take your time.

+1 Rick… Trans cooler. They're cheap, easy to install and work.

4x4 with that engine says 7200 capacity

1. Depending on axle ratio and drivetrain a 2000 Excursion with the 5.4L is rated to tow 6200-7200 pounds.

2. You need to find the "dry" and "wet" weights for the trailer, this is important information and not something you would want to gloss over. If the dry weight is indeed 6400 pounds or thereabouts you should be okay, as ideally you don't tow with the water tanks full. You'll still be over the "dry" weight because you'll have some luggage, food, supplies in the trailer, but it won't be 2000 pounds more than the dry weight.

3. If the trailer is closer to the 8800 pound figure, then you're going to have to rent or borrow a more capable towing rig. As you'll be grossly exceeding the rated towing capacity of the Excursion. Should you get into an accident, your insurance company likely won't cover anything, and you'll be sued and charged with willful/gross negligence. You don't want that.

Leave 1000lb at home.

Yes, you have "substantial hills to climb". And THAT is the main problem with your plan. Not only is your truck overloaded, it's nearly 20 years old, and it does not have anywhere near the capabilities it had when it was brand new. While you may have a new engine, the transmission, brakes and suspension are still 20 years old and putting that much strain on your old truck is just asking for trouble.

You will likely ruin your transmission by exceeding tow capacity on any vehicle.

I don't really pay any attention to GVW or towing capacity. But I'm not familiar with Fords. I run GM or RAM/Dodge. Obviously, with heavier loads, you will accelerate slower, have to anticipate stops, and user lower gears and go slower up hills. I had a 3/4 ton Chevy once and hit the scales a little over 20,000 lbs. 3600 lbs in the bed and pulling a 12,000 trailer.