Just got back from 2400 mile round trip with my E-350 diesel powered van and trailer. About 14,500 pounds. Left S.E. PA. and went to Hudson, WI., near Minneapolis-St Paul, MN. Averaged 13.76 mpg. Went over the PA. mountains like they were flat. Averaged 72 mph in cruise. Had to slow down on some of those curves.

My old E-150 custom van pulled the same trailer and never got over 8 mpg.

Price of diesel fuel went up $.12 while I was gone. Now here in PA. cheapest $2.05.9 a gallon. Sickening!!!

Now up to 7240 miles and no problems. Love my diesel van!

Bruce S.

 

Man that thing must ride like a freighttrain! I think if I had to make long drives often with a few people, it'd be in a Powerstroked Econoline.

 

My New 2004 E-350 van is powerstroked. You must have read it wrong.

We pulled the trailer with a gross of 14,700. I traded in the E-150 on it in April. This one rides like a town car when loaded down. Saturday I hauled a 1400 pound steam locomotive in the van to NJ and back. Smoothe sailing. The 6.0 is awesome. When I reloaded it in the van in NJ the onlookers were amazed that it hardly went down. I said " Of course its a Ford". Got a few heckles from a couple Chevy owners!!

Bruce S.

 

Bruce, What do you get on hwy unloaded? Can you only get the psd in a 250 or F-350? I have '04 F-250 but thinking of replacing an old van. Thanks

 

Rick,

If you go to the Ford website you will find that they make vans and wagons. The wagons are the vans with windows. They only make E-150 and E-350. ??!! You can only get the 6.0 diesel in the E-350.

Yes, it does ride a bit rougher. BUT I had 3 E-150 custon vans since 1982. 1982, 1990, 1997. I put 125,000 to 150,000 on each and pulled trailers. They took a beating but only the 1990 gave me trouble with the EOD tranny. It also blew a head gasket. All under warrantee.

There is a difference with the E-350. Its a little higher and stiffer. Handles much better on the hwy. Hardly any sway pulling a 24 ft 10,000 pound trailer at 70-75 mph with big rigs passing me. I am very comfortable with it at any speed, on any hwy.

I had to order this van in order to get the diesel. There wasn't one diesel van on any lot east of the Mississippi. I ordered the top of the line. Chateau interior, leather. The body is the same since 1992. Interior not much change. Dash a little nicer, 6 cd in dash player. Duel air, extending mirrors etc. List was $40,740.00. I saved for 7 years to pay cash and traded in the 1997 along with $29,000. At 66 years of age I didn't want payments.

I have not gone on trips without the trailer so can't give that hwy mileage. Last time I checked local running I got 15.8 . I got 35-40% more mpg than with the 1997 5.4 ltr. gasser. Hwy or local. Fuel just went up here to $208.9 a gallon.

Hope this helps you. Good luck,

Bruce

 

Bruce, Thanks for all the good info. I'm not surprised the psd is only available in the most expensive van. I suppose if someone was looking to buy a cheaper model they probably wouldn't want to pay that much more for the psd & tranny.

Maybe I'll look for an '05 at the end of the model year. Thanks again, Rick

 

What I meant was that it's a big, fast, heavy van. That it must be like a freight train going down the road (speed and momentum wise) not that it RODE like one.

 

And THAT is how you buy a new vehicle!

 

Fordtruckin, OK, I gotcha

You know the old saying. "don't send a boy to do a mans errand".

I drove big rig for 20 years. This van is like a (SNIP) cat compaired to them.

Bruce
Edited for language....... if you wouldn't want your 8 year old daughter saying it or you wouldn't say it in a job interview, it doesn't belong on FTE

 

hey everyone, i have a 2006 E350 6.0 and love it, i live in georgia, i requested a 4x4 van when i was looking for one and the dealer just laughed, i ended up getting a good deal on this one but im getting 17 city and 20 hwy and i have no cruise control, i love this van just wish it was 4x4 all i have done to it was the egr valve which was a B**** to do but definitely doable.