When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Probably resurrecting a dead thread. I just wanted to add to this thread. After do much reading on multiple forums I pulled the trigger on a van. The luck of a draw I ended up with an 2002 E350 explorer conversion van with a 7.3. The van had 190k on the clock. I added a Tru cool tranny cooler with gauge, AFE deep pan, Ambulance front steering stabilized, 4" diamond exhaust all the way back with high flow muffler, installed tow mirrors, Changed all the front pulleys and water pump out with OEM parts, pulled the rear bench seat out and added another row of captain seats found on craigslist. As far as insulating I used PYRO GEL inside the doghouse and under the floor, along with wrapping the exhaust all the way back. I also had to add a class 5 hitch and Reese anti sway weight distribution hitch. Once it was all said and done I was able too hook up to my 35ft KZ MXT 319 toy hauler and set sail from Texas to California. I set the Diablo sport tuner on tow mode. toy hauler loaded is rated at 10,125 lbs, I took the time to roll on a cat scale and weighed in at 18K lbs and some change fully loaded. we averaged about 600 miles per day towing between 58-65 mph. The van could go faster but the sway with the mountains and 18 wheelers wasn't to comfortable. After all said and done on our 2 week trip I am so happy with the van and hope to never sell it. I plan on adding some RV bilstein shocks with Moog Cc880s front springs and possibly air bags on the rear just to help with level.
Any pics of the interior? I'd like to see your seat configuration. Then again, I'm guessing you now have 3 rows of captain's chairs since it's a conversion van.
Probably not the best picture. I am using Reese class 5 hitch. With all the seats slid forward it gives everyone leg room to recline at a comfortable position if needed. There is actually room for 2 more captains chairs. It’s just really hard to find them in decent condition, close in color, and with built in seatbelts.
Definitelly overkill for my needs. If someone in the Houston are want to trade for a smaller hitch that could be installed upside down so the receiver is in the bumper I’ll love to do it.
I have this on my 2010 e350 EB. Class V hitch
Definitelly overkill for my needs. If someone in the Houston are want to trade for a smaller hitch that could be installed upside down so the receiver is in the bumper I’ll love to do it.
Thanks for the info. I've seen that one on Etrailer but they have it listed as a Class IV. I just went to the Drawtite website and they have it at class V. Looks like a winner to me
.... toy hauler loaded is rated at 10,125 lbs, I took the time to roll on a cat scale and weighed in at 18K lbs and some change fully loaded. we averaged about 600 miles per day towing between 58-65 mph. The van could go faster but the sway with the mountains and 18 wheelers wasn't to comfortable....
Get into that big of a trailer and handling is usually the limiting factor on speed rather than power. Don't over-drive it!
Originally Posted by rmartin517
.... I plan on adding some RV bilstein shocks with Moog Cc880s front springs and possibly air bags on the rear just to help with level.
I put air bags on an F-150 that carried a lightweight (but still heavy for an F-150) slide-in camper. Used them also when towing heavy (for the truck) trailers. I strongly endorse that approach. Make sure you plumb them separate from each other so they resist sway as well as helping with leveling. Stiffer shocks could help a little too, but I don't know that I'd bother with front springs (at least until I saw how the air bags and shocks did).
Get into that big of a trailer and handling is usually the limiting factor on speed rather than power. Don't over-drive it!
I put air bags on an F-150 that carried a lightweight (but still heavy for an F-150) slide-in camper. Used them also when towing heavy (for the truck) trailers. I strongly endorse that approach. Make sure you plumb them separate from each other so they resist sway as well as helping with leveling. Stiffer shocks could help a little too, but I don't know that I'd bother with front springs (at least until I saw how the air bags and shocks did).
Yup, exactly why we just cruised between 58 and 65 ish depending on the road stretch. It was also the first trip for the van and camper combination. I've pulled trailers my whole life. It defiantly was a learning curve for the first 8 hours. Power wasn't a factor as you said its just a big trailer and not over drive it. Some people run down the road 75-80 then we meet at the gas station. I will go for the air bag approach. I have done pretty much everything possible to make the van as safe and the best it can be. That's pretty much all I'm lacking.
Yup, exactly why we just cruised between 58 and 65 ish depending on the road stretch. It was also the first trip for the van and camper combination. I've pulled trailers my whole life. It defiantly was a learning curve for the first 8 hours. Power wasn't a factor as you said its just a big trailer and not over drive it. Some people run down the road 75-80 then we meet at the gas station. I will go for the air bag approach. I have done pretty much everything possible to make the van as safe and the best it can be. That's pretty much all I'm lacking.
Try loading the trailer differently. Too much weight on either end is bad for handling. You want just a tad more tongue weight than having it even on both ends. Air bags are a crutch. If your rear axle is overloaded to start with, air bags aren't going to fix that.
I tow a 10,000lb trailer with mine and a Hensley Hitch made all the difference, no movement of the trailer at all and no constant steering corrections. I put discs on the trailer on all 4 wheels, stops great now.
After a few more mods we went on our summer trip from Houston to silverton colorado. Added the air bags, bilstein rv shock and the heavy duty front moog coils with camber keys. I also added half water 50 gal to the front holding tank. What a difference this all made. It pulled the best it’s ever pulled. Very happy with van.
The OP CLEARLY said that he qould.NOT be carrying passengers while towing.
why do so many people look for the flaw instead of the solution?
To which I'd ask why do complete newbies to FTE drag a thread back to life after its been resolved or the OP hasn't updated his own thread and its mostly lain dormant for 9 months?
12-23-2018, 07:33 PM
