since this doesn't fit into a 61-67 area question i figured i'd post it here,i'm in need of a cheap tow rig and happened upon an 85 e-250 with the 460,would anyone happen to know the towing capacity of this???

 

Not sure about the E-250, but the F-250s with a 460 around that year will tow up to 9,000-10,000lbs with an automatic.

 

The E-250 won't support as much as the F-250 though, so my best estimate would be around 6,500lbs

 

is there any concrete way to find out???

 

They will tow a heck of a lot more then that. Couple guys were at 20k plus here.

The motor will do it but the brakes are the issue. I plan to test mine by weighing it stock, and adding a trailer weighing it, and then adding more weight until it finally won't haul it. Pull the weight off and drive home. This will be in the form of hay bales on a private rural dirt road my family owns.....

 

Wow! I can't imagine towing 20k with a gasser. My 94 460 will tow up to 10k, but ur right that is the limit of the truck not the engine

 

Not that I know of for sure but there is a few things you could try.

1) if you look up the VIN number online sometimes the towing rating will be listed for the vehicle
2) do a google search on an 85 e-250 and mayb you can find something there
3) you are looking to buy it right? the guy selling it might have a general idea, but who knows if you can trust that...heck the guy who sold me my F-250 didn't even know the size of the fuel tanks

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...ease-help.html

This thread many get you at least in the ballpark...but keep in mind it is talking about the 5.4 not a 460. hope this helps

 

sounds like it should handle a trailer and vehicle fine,i'll be using brakes on the trailer,so it sounds like it should handle it.

 

As long as the trailer isn't HUGE you should be fine

 

Those old vans tow great! Be sure to add a big tranny oil cooler to it if your gonna be towing heavy.

Maintain that C6, keep 'er cool and she'll go for ever!

 

Absolutly - just look in your owners manual, it will give you what Ford recommends with your paticular van (dependent upon engine, trans & rear axle ratio)

Example - A 1990 F250 with a 460/E4OD with 3.55's is rated at 15,000 lbs combined (GCWR)

The same truck with the same engine and trans, but with 4.10's is rated at 18,000 lbs combined (GCWR)

These numbers are right from the owners manual!

NOTE - this is a combined rating, NOT a trailer rating. Ford absolutly does not rate any truck with a absolute trailer rating. Instead it is a "properly equipped, it will tow up to" weight rating. IE if you have a standard cab truck, that is two wheel drive, it will tow more than a extended cab 4wd drive truck as the truck weighs less and you have more of that combined (GCWR) to apply to the trailer!

To reiterate, your combined (GCWR) does NOT increase because you have a heavier truck! You tow rating however does DECREASE!

This information is all in your owners manual. I f you do not have one, I would highly recommend that you buy one, it is invaluable to find exactly what Ford rates your paticular van at.

One more thing to remember, if you exceed what Ford has listed and you have a accident attibuted to a overloaded condition, you can, depending upon your states statues be charged criminaly. The GCWR is also a number that is signifigant as to your insurance coverage.

David

EDIT - Your owners manual will also give you trailer brake requirements from Ford. However, one thing to remember is that your states laws may actualy be higher, and you may need trailer brakes in your state where Ford says no. Follow your states laws if they are more stringent, follow Ford's if they are more stringent, that keeps you out of hot water per the DMV and legaly!

 

You are a smart FTE user! You have paid attention to the recommendations as to your Ford. I will add the following....

Well most trucks can tow, or should I say move a lot, kinda like using a Bobcat (skid steer) to move construction equipment around, or using a 7500 lb Bobcat to move around loaded railroad grain hopper cars. (260,000 lbs!)

BUT that is at relativly low speed, 1-3 mph and NOT at the speeds we drive our vehicles at on the road. Sure, guys want to break the law and tow 20k. And most of the time they get away with it, but sometimes, as has happened in my state, such overloaded, dangerous and certainly in no way road safe trucks kill people. Or should I say the operators use there trucks in a narcassitic way and use it as a tool to kill/hurt people.

There are DMV/DOT limits and Fords recommendations for a reason. They keep the wholesale destruction down from equipment failues (suspension, tires, steering, brakes, etc)

If I sound too strong, I for get real tired of paying thru increased insurance rates or get tired of hearing of another killed for absolutly no reason other than anothers desire to elevate themselves above the law. I mean, after all do we not all have to follow the same rules out there? I mean our families drive on the same roads, right?

As far I am concerend, if you want to haul, move or otherwise deal with meduim duty (F600 - F900) loads, then get the proper truck in the first place.

Semi rant over !

David

 

AMEN to that David!