We are thinking about purchasing a travel trailer for family vacations (5 of us) and was wondering what length/weight I could look at. The tow vehicle is as follows:
E250 NA 7.3 IDI Diesel
c6/3.54 gears
Aftermarket Trans cooler added inline with stock one
trailer brake set up

I would be using a weight dist hitch and an anti sway kit. The previous owner said he towed his 7000lbs dry trailer with no issues. If this is the case I could be looking at anything up to about 30ft depending on the design/weight. I wanted to get some thought from people with experience with this. Thanks

 

30'er should be no problem... I hauled a 30' 5th wheel with my '92 NA 7.3 F250 no sweat....esp after I put the Banks turbo in 'er...... Just hope you don't live in hilly country. If so, you're gonna go slow up the hills.

 

Most of the newer TT's out there are fairly light so I think you will find alot of options in the wt range you are after.

Be sure to look at the data plates on the trailers you are interested. Figure 10% of gross trailer wt for what will go on the hitch.

What is your reciever rated for?

Also what kind of tires are on the van right now? You want e-rated tires.

 

Length is mostly a handling and manuvering issue. I agree with Bud regarding the tow ability of your truck. If you can, try to avoid ultra-light models. They are "decontented" so severely structural integrity suffers. I worked on one two days ago and unless I dropped the stabilizer jacks to support the rear end, the frame sagged so much it distorted the box and I could not open the rear door.

Steve

 

You go back a ways with a normally aspirated diesel that produces about 195 hp and a little over 300 #'s of torque. Not bad though for light towing but surely not Powerstroke turbo's we are used to discussing.
To senix's point, tires, class iv or preferred class v hitch with stabilizing and maybe something around 7-8k max.
I did pull a 10k 24' Ragen toy hauler with my old 99 Expy with the 5.4l motor and the tow pkg (including rear air bags that were a must) but it really wasn't well suited for that weight. One could not be in a hurry.
Better to be safe and not overdue it.
It wasn't any fun pulling something too big for my tow vehicle.

 

Thanks for the input. I appriciate the insight of those with experience.

Yeah, I am not looking to set any land speed records with the van, especially not when towing. I have not problem cruising in the 55-65 mph range with a trailer in tow. More worried about saftey and vehicle durability than speed. I will have to do a little research on the type of reviever it has. I know that is bolted and welded to the frame. I will double check the tires. They were brand new when I purchased the van.....I remember checking their rating at that time and they were rated as heavy duty truck tires.

I always have the option to add a cam and turbo down the road if the power bothers me.

 

If you have a extended van (15 passenger) it will sway considerably even with sway bars with a 7000lb 30' trailer

 

I read where the sway could be an issue with the extra length hanging out over the rear axle. Luckly mine is not the extended van.

 

[quote=jayro88;12604186]Thanks for the input. I appriciate the insight of those with experience.

I remember checking their rating at that time and they were rated as heavy duty truck tires.

quote]


They should start with "LT" as a light truck tire and preferrable that E- rating (10 ply) as suggested above.

 

LT215/85r16
Load Rating E (1245kg/2680lbs)

 

tires are correct. now for the reciever. Any markings on it?

 

Nothing that I could see easily. I will crawl under with a flashlight, but the van has been undercoated and they covered the majority of the hitch as well.

It definitly is not thin wall or small diameter square tubing.

 

Pictures can help.

 

Here are the pics of the hitch.

 

I would be confortable with the planned trailer with that reciever, Class IV is would figure.

Your wiring is a mess and needs to be a 7 pin plug though.