Bought a 2011 E350 extended passenger van(15) 5.4 V8 a few years ago because I liked the towing capacity (which I was told was 7300-10000# with the factory tow package at the dealership) I didn’t need seating for 15 people, and removed the rear most seats(4 seater bench and 3 seater bench) I love my cargo space and the ability to take 8 people wherever/whenever comfortably, especially long road trips.

Got a hell of a deal on a used 30’ travel trailer (35’ tongue to rear bumper) and the dry weight is 6300#. I figured I would just fill up water/dump at my destinations and keep our trailer loads to bedding and food. I knew the 5.4 V8 would struggle on hills, but our camping trips are 50-150 miles away on mostly flat roads.

And then I realized that the 2011 E350 Super Duty Extended passenger van has a towing capacity of a meager 6300# total. Actually it has the LOWEST towing capacity of any of the van variations that year!

Door sticker reads 6300# max!

After scrambling for the manual, I found that the Extended Cargo van has a towing capacity of 7200#

Now here’s my theory… the ext cargo van has a higher towing capacity because it is in fact LIGHTER and doesn’t have all those rows of seats…. But is there any other reason these towing capacities would be different? What’s another difference between the 2 models except for trim styles? I believe I have a 1 ton suspension as this is indeed a 350 Super duty. Both Models have V8 5.4… what else is the difference in these models!? Why is the towing capacity so different? 900lbs to be exact…Do I need different leaf springs? Am I 7200# capable because of the factory tow package already? I removed seats and stripped out most the back so my van doesn’t weigh what the curb weight was, which I’d assume was with all the extended passenger seating. If I get the Van lighter does my towing capacity go up? Is there anything I can do?!?!? Or do I need to add a Pickup to my fleet of vehicles(which I would rather not at this point in time) dry tongue weight of trailer is 750#… am I screwed here?

P.S. have a buddy who towed 33’ trailer 8800# with a 5.4 V8 E350 12 passenger consistently for YEARS and said he didn’t have a problem.

Please help!

 

Towing capacity are always a range of numbers because the loaded tow vehicle weight impacts towing capicity... less weight in the tow vehicle means more weight can be towed, and vise versa. All you really have to focus on is not exceeding the combined truck/trailer weight limit(GCWR) or any of the individual axle weight limits and you're good.

 

Diff ratio and brakes.

Looks like you have a 3.73 diff which might be on the light side for pulling full vehicle and trailer weight.

Sixto
07 E350 5.4 192K miles

 

You need a 7.3 and 4.10s to pull a 30' trailer IMO