Hello,
I was looking for some help to solve my problem and I came across this awesome forum. you really have some good info, so I signed up. Well, here's my question I have a 97 ford van, chateau, 8 passenger, with 265/75r16 tires, with a V10. I'm pulling a trailer that's about 7000lbs dry.
I dont what my axle ratio is or my Tranny size. I understand a V10 can pull anything but I'm having a stressful time going up the slightest hills. I lose all the power and crawl up. but I do pretty good on the flat roads. I have a hissing sound now, maybe from the Tranny? My "service engine soon" light just came on,Do I need to change the rear gears ? the tire size? the Tranny? The engine ? Or the whole Vehicle? My goal is to be able to keep my V10 and still pull 10k straight up a cliff. Is there Hope?

 

Chuck:
We need your Axle code off the vehicle build sticker on the door. Someone here will know what you have. We also need to know what transmission you have. I'm assuming the E4OD. Also what chassis do you have? Is this an E250 or E350? I don't think that the V10 was available in the E150. Are you still in OD when the van slows down? OD doesn't deliver much power on a hill. You may need to press the OD switch on the shifter to force the trans into 3rd and let the V10 rev higher.

 

Sportdeck262,
Thanks for the response. OK let me try to answer some of these q's. I dont know what my tranny is or even how to find out. the door sticker states that my axle is a C2 (4.10) It's an E250 Super Duty. And I dont drive in OD while towing. You may have guessed I dont have a whole lot of mech. knowledge but all responses here and in the V10 section have been great. It's good to know that people are out there with helpful info.

 

Does your van have a tachometer? the best way is to keep RPM's up about 2500, don't use Overdrive! and that will keep the tranny from work'n hard and you won't find them hills so hard to climb

 

Chuck:
As long as you have an automatic trans, your E250 should be rated to tow 10K lbs with the tow package. Where are you towing? Have you weighed your whole rig?

Last week I towed our 9k travel trailer over Monteagle Pass on I24 in TN, it's about a 4.4% grade for 6 miles. I maintained 60mph in 3rd gear @ 2700 rpm towing with the Excursion. I've got a 3.73 rearend. You should be able to do this on a similar grade with less effort at about 3000 rpm.

If you can't do that, then you have a problem.

 

I may not like fords, but it sounds like you have a serious problem, anything with the power the ford v-10 has and a 4.10 rearend should be able to pull 7000 pounds up a hill on square tires. I think the problem is probably in the engine or tranny. If the tranny isn't shifting down like it should than it would take a lot of power to tow up a hill, but you should notice a problem withe this at any time. I would think it would be more likely that the problem is in the engine maybe you have a few cylinders that are missing or something. I would take it to a dealer and have it checked out if the check engine light came on. they will be more help than we can be.
P.S. how many miles are on the van?