Ok, I want an E-350 really bad. Never owned anything badder than a half-ton anything. What are the 350's selling points as compared to the 250?

Keep in mind that I probably wont tow anything or carry anything more than a few hundred lbs. but if I'm gonna get a 250, why NOT step up to a 1 ton right?

If there's no real difference except for weight rating and/or spring rate and the hardware like rearend etc is the same, it'll open up some more vans to choose from.

Honestly, just knowing I have a 1 ton as opposed to a 3/4 ton is all the justification I can give but sometimes that's enough ya know?

 

bigger is better.

 

Sorry. If you ain't hauling, I can't think of a single reason "why". Especially if you want a new E350.

But if you want a used E350 & "NEED" to save money, there's been an uptick in the number of heavy haulers being unloaded for cheap!!!!

In particular, many extended E350's w/big motors, that languish like an albatross hanging from owner's neck & can often be had at bargain prices.

 

I drive a '95 supercab F-150 4x4 now with a 5.0 and the mileage is pretty awful. Not too worried about mileage.

Call me crazy but I think I'll like the height and impact safety due to sheer mass. My 3 kids will like it too. The car seats behind me make it look as though there's no room to grow even though they're only 9, 5 and 1 year(s) old at the moment.

I've alway told my 9 year old that I'll take him camping but as yet we never have. This'll give me a reason to (but I suppose an E-150 would do as well in that respect).

And maybe I'm a bit jealous of all the F-250's and F-350's around here with them towering over my F-150.

I need the room of a four-door, the commanding view of a one-ton but with the lockable space of a van. It snows but I hardly ever use 4x4 up here, sounds like an E-350 fits the bill!

 

Just read this... I'm sure there are plenty of these and plenty of bad outcomes for vans but... I like the sound of "minor injuries".

cmcbreakingnews.com: UPDATE: Two Local Men Injured in Parkway Crash; One Critically

 

Have you compared the dimensions?

E-Series wagon right?

Ford '11 lists E150 as 82.1" high, E350 as 83.1" high, extended E350 as 82.3" high.

The tallest "commanding view" E-Series offered only adds 1 inch?

Ford has been making E150 more & more like E250, so there's not a great deal of difference in "sheer mass" between them, or E350.

Accident statistics tend to contradict the "safety due to sheer mass" theory.

 

I am not sure what is your budget, hence year you can get, but there are no more E250. Just 150 and 350.

When E250 was being sold along with 350, 250 had 1 less leaf, and about 600 lbs less payload. Everything else is the same.

Extended mostly are 350, although there are 250. If you get an extended 350, you might end up with the V10 or even diesel.

Yet, 350 driven empty -- if you have people riding in the rear, make sure they have health insurance, especially for back and neck surgeries. Empty, they are pretty cruel.

 

The "commanding view of a one-ton" I referred to earlier was in reference to the F-350's all over the place, not the E350 vs. E150-250 so much.

I understand why sheer mass isn't the only thing to consider when in an accident but I'm pretty sure I'd choose to be in a 2004 E250-E350 than an 04 Grand-Am or similar car in most accidents, I'm sure most would agree.

So maybe I shouldn't limit myself to the 350's and look into the 250's as well. My budget is $5-6,000 so I'll be buying a model year where the 250's still existed.

 

For the load you are carrying, even a E150 would be plenty, but you can't never have enough can you. Just know that 150 drives nicer, but holds less.

Damn right you wanna be in a van, not a Grand Am or Metro or Euro (except Volvo of course). Look at the pickup!!!

 

They last lpnger and handle better, Bigger brakes;better shocks;heavier suspension and steering.Are'nt overloaded with 2 adults and a bag of groceries.Dont sway in the wind or under hard cornering as much.I dont know about the new ones,but,the rear axle is a full floater,not axles riding right on the bearing lke a pass car.I've had both/would NEVER go back to a 1/2 or 3/4 ton.Currently own 3 of them. One,a 02 Quigley...the best one!

 

OMG this ^^ is true! In fact a lower mileage E250 cargo van with LT tires and empty is a bit harsh as well. I run about 7800# daily in my E250---with new front coils, Hellwig sway bars front & rear along with Bilstein shocks it holds the road but you can feel bumps and potholes very very well.

For my money in the $5-6K range I'd go no less than an E250 because its the best compromise IMO. Brakes are a bit more robust, you typically wouldn't have to be concerned with refitting interior refinements significantly reducing your cargo hauling limits or running too heavy as a daily driver.

Might go without say but talk of sheer mass being a benefit or advantage safety wise is very very misleading. The only real advantage to an F- or E-Series vehicle is the height the occupants enjoy over most passenger-type vehicles. Sadly the E-Series are a bit wimpy in any sort of crash. Apart from SRS for front end crashes they'd not fare very well with similar sized vehicles. They're NOT "unsafe" for the most part but they're not the strongest body either.

Test drive anything you're considering first in the same configuration or loaded as you might when you own it---if that's possible. Driving an E250 or E350 empty might seem harsh but when they're loaded everthing changes quite quickly.

Market-wise I'm searching for an E350 extended, hopefully with a V-10 gasser under $8k with a few things like cruise control and A/C. Since I'll be adding a fiberglass roof and extended height rear doors to the tune of another $2K by DIY the upper budget limit is a bit important. Looking through an eBay search the E250's and E350's are a bit plentiful but most are of the Club Wagon types----not to my liking or needs----no security when loaded and parked overnight.

Anyway keep us posted on what your decision is----lots of good advice here!

 

It seems like I'll be way more apt to find an E250 cargo and setting it up with two benches out of a 12 passenger and putting a bulkhead behind the rear-most seat.

I like the side doors with windows if I could find a set to swap. I think I'd like to do either high-traffic carpet and or rubber floor.

How about a PAIR of benches that fold out into a bed located close enough so that they fold open and just about touch each other? That'd make a nice-sized bed and would be suitable for the entire family to travel in.

And ideas? And thanks for all the replies guys!

 

So do the 350's ride hard because of the strong suspension?

 

Definately! The payload capacity makes it a given. It's designed to ride "normally" with a LOT of weight in the back or on the hitch or both.


Taken from Edmunds.com "Maximum payload: 4090 lbs.**". That's for an E350 with appropriate drivetrain to move it but it looks like the van is designed to handle 2 tons to get those leafs to flex a lot. Empty it must be like it's got the rearend welded to the frame!

 

My 1985 E350 Diesel van has 10 leaf springs per side in the back, and it's *** end is way up in the air

Love it, but wow it rides hard.