Hey everyone, it's been a few years since I've visited but now I'm back hoping to garner the knowledge of the group here. I have a 1998 E350 7.3 with 107k miles on it. I was towing my two horses recently and on the freeway suddenly the control panel went flat, the engine kept running so I kept going. I was about 25 miles from the ranch, it was hot and my horses had both just taken lessons. Not knowing the alternator was going out and not knowing the engine would continue to run until both batteries were completely drained, I made it to the freeway offramp and even up a steep curvy grade to the only place I could pull over at a campground. Once I exited the road the engine quit and came to a stop. Then folks there helped get the horses out, handwalk them up to the ranch, drop the trailer so the van could be towed. My questions are: should I keep the van, this incident truly scared me once I understood the danger I put myself and my horses in, or should I purchase a new truck? Can an F150 tow a two horse trailer like the 7.3 van can? Should I consider a Super Duty like an F250? Then I see the pricing! A new truck can be anywhere between 50-75k! I just want to be safe, that and have the absolute best tow vehicle out there. It's interesting depending who you speak to, some say as much can go wrong with new as with old. Thanks in advance for any input. Leisha

 

Put an alternator in it and drive it.

 

There is an entire industry that employs people who make a good living repairing vehicles that broke down and stranded owners while under warranty...and in my opinion, the only thing worse than my old trusty rig breaking down is a brand new rig breaking down. Fix the van and keep rolling!

 

To answer your question yes a new F-150 could easily tow a two horse trailer with the right configuration, but 107k is really nothing on a 7.3 diesel engine. The rest of the vehicle might be a concern being 22 years old but that depends on what kind of life it has had. Just putting a new alternator (and probably a couple new batteries now) will get you back on the road for $500-600. I personally would not go anywhere near most newer diesels with maybe one exception but that's neither here nor there. In a new F-250 I'd get the new 7.3 gas V8. That's a good one.

 

I'd recommend the same; install a new alternator and 2 new batteries and you're golden.

Well I will add; take a look at the battery and alternator cables for damage or corrosion. That could be the underlying cause of the alternator failure.

 

good old trucks or vans just like some of us old farts need to be worked on!

Check out your cables , put a new alternator in it, new batteries in and drive it like you stole it! Without the horses of course !

 

Adding a ground cable from the frame of the alternator directly to the negative terminal of the driver side battery can also improve alternator performance and reliablity.