I'm am now towing with a F250 Crew Cab Diesel, my wife find it too big to drive around. I'm thinking to compromise with an E-Van.
I'm looking at mid 90's vans and most have the 351 (5.8) or 5.4 Triton.What year was the change made?
I know a E-250 with 460 or V10 would be nice if I find one. For towing should I look for the more simple 351 or the new technology of the 5.4
Thanks

 

The mod motors (4.6 and 5.4, called "Triton" in trucks) were introduced in both the vans and pickups in 1997, I believe. Same year they went to the oval in the plastic grille on the vans (and did the full redesign on the pickups).

The earliest 5.4 tritons did have some issues with head gasket leaks, and have had the spark plug spitting problem, but they are definitely good engines. I'm guessing that the 351 and 5.4 might be similar in terms of towing capability, with the 5.4 getting a bit better gas mileage.

Good luck,
George

 

How large a trailer are you going to tow with it? I would buy the newest van you can for the price range and stay away from a 460. Rather a 5.8 or 5.4 V8 or 6.8 V10.

 

Thanks.
The trailer I tow is 7000 lbs on the scale ready to camp.
I'm thinking of buying a mid-size SUV for daily use and the van would be for towing only,
about 6000 miles per years, but I still need something dependable.

 

With proper gearing, a 5.4 will do it, but a 6.8 will do it much better.

 

A 7.3 PSD van would do it the best... And get the best mpgs while towing or not.

 

7,000 pounds is not an issue for a 351W. I've pulled that size load many times with my 96 E250.

 

Sweetpea02

I had a 93 E150 with a 351 with a 3.56 limited slip rear rated to pull 7300lbs (as I recall).
I pulled about 7000lbs with it and on the flats it did O.K. but on hills of any size or long duration I usually had to drop into 2nd gear and chug along at 40 to 45 with the flashers on.
I then got a 99 E350 7.3 power stroke with a 3.56 limited slip rated to pull 9500lbs (10,000 with the 4.11) and pulled the same load. No comparison! bigger is better as they say. With the powerstroke I did not even know the trailer was back there.
For both rigs a weight distributing hitch was strongly recommended.

 

I towed 6500 lbs with a E150 with 5.4 for three years and it didn't hold up too well, it did it, but is too light a truck compared to the V10 E350 I have now, there is no comparison. You can buy a V10 for about the same money.
If I remember rightly the late model 460's had crankshaft seal problems and drink a lot of fuel. My V10 does 1mpg less than my 5.4 on the highway, and towing is about the same, accept I am now towing 9500lbs with the V10
Andrew.

 

You'll like an E series with a V10. Great for pulling a travel trailer, horse trailer, junk trailer.....you get the pic. Not to mention you have redneck sofas you can pull out and lounge on anytime you want to!