Hey all.

I have a 1993 E350 Super Club Wagon, with a 351 and 4.10 limited slip rear end. I'm looking at getting a camping trailer, and I want to know how big a trailer I can legally pull.

With 4 kids, I need a pretty big trailer, most of the ones that I have looked at are 8-9000 pounds dry. They all have brakes on both axles, of course, and I plan to use a weight distributing hitch.

I pulled my van on the scale recently and it weighs 6600 pounds. According to the 1985 owners manual, which is the newest one I have, the GCWR is 10,000 pounds.

Can I really only pull a 3400 pound trailer?

I have read that were I to get in an accident, and am over my GCWR that I could be liable, regardless of what actually happened, because I was over weight. Any truth to that?

I am confident that my van could pull a pretty big trailer. I pulled a car on a trailer, and stopped at the scale, and found the there was 4500 pounds on the trailer axles, and it was pulling that just fine.

It's a camping trailer, so I'm not going to be in any hurry while towing it, I'm just worried about any liabilities arising from being over the GCWR.

And no, I'm not going to be dumb, and try towing with 20 people crammed in the van, and 2000 pounds of luggage on the roof.

 

Just so we have terms right...

Open the drivers door and look for a sticker on the door or door jamb.

On that sticker there 'should' be a couple of weights.

GVWR
GAWR-RR
GAWR-FR

I think you may be confusing GVWR and GCWR...at least I think you are.

I'm not sure about a 1993 model...but the 1 ton vans of today have LOADS of payload...and your 10,000# is more in line with your GVWR than your GCWR...just a hunch...but I certainly could be totally wrong...

joe.

 

GVWR 9100
GAWR Front 3550
GAWR Rear 6084

1985 F series owners guide lists my engine/tranny/rear end combo as having a GCWR of 11,000 pounds with a 2V 351 or 12,500 with a 4V H.O. 351 which still only leaves 5900 pounds for the trailer at most.

Anybody got a 1993 owners manual they can check in?

Thanks again!

 

Red,

I'm not sure comparing a 1985 F series is applicable for figuring GCWR of your E series.

I'd suspect your vehicle to have a GCWR in the 14,000-16,000# range...but that is just a hunch...but we really need someone with a data sheet to chime in.

Even uni-body constructed vehicles today have tow ratings of 2000-3500#'s...so your 1 TON van should easily have a 5000# tow rating...but I have no proof of that.

Remember your GVWR is the MOST your van can weigh AFTER you add the tongue weight and all the passengers and their gear...but you've still got 2500#'s to go before hitting 9100#'s...

I hope someone else with factual data chimes in on the 1993 van...

Sorry I cannot be of more assistance...but I will add that a 8000-9000# DRY TT will more than likely be way over your 5.8L's towing capability...do you happen to know what gear you have in the rear?...

I base that last statement on the fact I pull a 9000# LOADED TT behind my 4.30 geared V10 but I also venture to areas like the Rockies...so depending on where you plan on towing...that 5.8L with much less HP and TRQ than I have will be in way over it's head on a 10,000# +++ LOADED TT...sorry.

Good luck,
joe.

 

I have a 1994 Ford Towing Guide. 93 should be about the same. With a 5.8 and 4.1 gears the GCVR is 13,000lbs with Super Club Wagon towing capacity at 6,600lbs.

 

That sounds pretty reasonable to me... older one tons did not have the capacity even the new half ton trucks do. 6600lbs is a reasonable trailer, but not a very large one.