Hi guys,

The only information I can find on a max tongue weight is a blanket rating for all E series, which is 500 LBS (or 1,000 LBS [IIRC] with stabilizer, which I'm not sure how that plays into a hitch carrier).

I'll have: 550 LB motorcycle, 150 LB hitch and carrier, & 100-150 LBS of stuff inside the van, in the rear. Total of around 900 LBS over rear axle.

I will likely never tow anything with the van. I wonder if I would be better served to go with the 250? Does the 250 actually have a higher max tongue weight rating?

The 250 limits my options in the conversion van world, as most in my price range (around $5K) are 150's (or similar).


Any help will be greatly appreciated, so thank you very much in advance.


Edit: Also, I have heard that being hitch carriers push the weight out from the vehicle, this actually increases the actual weight felt by the vehicle?

 

Are you searching for a new van or already have one and asking this info here?

 

I'm trying to decide weather going with an E250 conversion (vs E150) van will be worth it for my intended purposes.

 

I assume you're looking at the pre-2008 E150's, as 2008 and later are basically 8-lug 250's already. I would say that your load is well within the payload of an E150 although the placement is going to load the rear more than a centered load. So anything you carry inside the van should go as far forward as possible. Trailer tongue weight is far more dynamic than your motorcycle will be--trailers rock back and forth, exert side loads, etc, whereas your motorcycle will be more or less stationary so I think it will be fine. You might also want to move the spare tire and any other moveable objects forward in the van to compensate, but my '02 E150 has a 1600 lb payload from what I recall, so I don't think you will be overloading a 150 and you'll benefit from a better ride.

If the van does feel twitchy, you might do well to add a rear sway bar and/or some light duty helper springs or air bags, and maybe consider some LT rated tires instead of the P235XL's that come stock on the E150.

Good luck,
George

 

Good point YoGeorge---the year of the intended E150 changes what advice to dole out.

For me and my general needs/wants I'll never own anything badged as an E150 regardless its year. So far I've owned or driven one rather pathetic '88 E150 which isn't a good comparison to the four E250's (all post '97) I've owned or driven.

A friend who rides KTM dirt bikes installed a transferrable Moto Jack on both his Toyota 4Runner and '99 E250. Loaded each vehicle experienced oversteer or fishtailing due the location of the slight sprung weight addition. While the dirt bike didn't even approach the load limit of the chassis its location so far aft of the rear axle did affect handling characteristics significantly.

He never resolved this past replacing more than a few rear suspension parts of the 4Runner and eventually hauling the bike inside his E250. Naturally he didn't own a conversion van so this wasn't an issue.

 

And a good point by you, JWA, on the polar inertia of a weight hanging off the rear end like that.

Your input about your friend's experience would make me more likely to suggest planning to beef up the rear suspension of an earlier 5-lug E150, or really to search for a 250 although as the OP said, these are gonna be pretty rare as conversions and will be especially problematic to find around 5 grand. (My '02 E150 conversion would be around 5 grand if I put it up for sale....)

The 2008+ E150's should be completely acceptable to you, as I think their GVW is as much as earlier light duty 250's. As a longtime car-tire, light duty van owner (although my '73 Ford flatnose and '86 GMC Turtle Top conversions were an E200 and a G2500 respectively), I have no need for a 250, and the new 150 is a bit of overkill unless I pick up a part time job as a freight expeditor or something. My wife just retired and our household income is reduced, and although we're very much in love, I may find that I want a bit of time out of the house

Take care,
George