I need a Ford Truck to do the following:
-- Haul 7 labrador retrievers in cool comfort (we live in AZ)
-- Tow a 24 foot RV
-- Carry two 12 foot kayaks on the roof
-- Get better than 8--10 mpg
-- No longer than 215 inches (my garage size)

ANY SUGGESTIONS (I have thought about an E350 big van)

 

As far as pickup trucks go, looks like your garage is going to limit you to a regular cab short bed full size truck. Your dogs would certainly appreciate a long bed though... (you're probably just a couple inches short of being able to fit in a longbed)

I would put a camper shell on it for the dogs and let the truck A/C cool the shell through the slider rear window. If that's not enough, you could put an RV roof A/C on top of the shell. You can also tint the windows and insulate the shell with foil-backed hard foam sheet insulation available at Home Depot. A rubber bed mat or a spray-in bedliner (Rhino Liner) will keep the dogs feet from sliding around on the metal bed surface and is easily cleaned with a hose. Having the seperate truck bed for the dogs keeps the dogs from invading the driver and passenger compartment when on the road and the slider window allows them to still feel like part of the family. The kayaks can be carried on roof racks atop the shell.

For the 24' travel trailer, I recommend an F250 with a 5.4L gas engine and the optional low axle ratio and towing package. Of course I would rather have the diesel (more power, better mileage, longer lasting), but that adds about $5K to the stiker price...

An E250 cargo van with mesh cargo compartment seperator and standard rubber bed mat would also be a good choice for the dogs. A van with a roof rack can carry plenty of kayaks, canoes, and other camping stuff.

For towing purposes, I would not get the extended length van. The standard length van has a 10' cargo area and that's a descent size (we have an E150 cargo van) and the shorter rear overhang of the standard length van will experience less effect from trailer sway (the closer the hitch is to the rear axle, the less of a lever the trailer can exert on the towing vehicle) and be better able to handle the trailer tongue weight too. I really wish Ford and Dodge would take Chevy's lead and lengthen the wheelbase instead of the rear overhang on the big vans. A weight dist hitch with sway control will also help.

As far as the van fitting in the garage... If you have a roll-up door, you should be able to get it under the door, but if you have a regular swing-up door the van will likely be too tall. Our van did not fit in our garage with the old swing-up door. An extended length van will not fit in your garage, but a standard van *might* fit. Our van fits, and so did my reg cab longbed Chevy pickup (just barely), but our garage is also a little deeper than some.

Good luck with whatever kind of Ford vehicle you choose.

As far as cost and resale value go, you can get a new cargo van for alot cheaper than a new pickup but the downside is vans lose thier resale value quicker than pickups.

 

Your suggestions are great...thanks! I've already got a 2000 F250 V10 short bed that I use for 5th wheel hauling. So..I have to decide between putting a topper on that or trading off for an E350 cargo van. I'm concerned about cooling the rear cargo area if I keep the p/u. Sounds complicated to put an A/C back there??

 

Cargo vans (E-350) usually sit a lot taller then the F-250, are wider, and longer. So, if garage space is a problem I do not think a HD E-series is going to be for you. Most small garages do not have 7 feet clearance, plus, room for a rack.


From Ford's web site:
f-150 f250/f-350 f-350 ext. length

A. Wheelbase (in.) 138 138 138

B. Length (in.) 211.9 211.9 231.9

C. Height - empty (in.) 80.9 80.9 84.1

D. Width (in.) 79.3 79.3 79.3

They do make caps/rear sliders that allow you to run a rubber bonnet between the cab and cap to feed heat and a/c back through the sliding window. You can get roof mounted A/C units, though they usually cost well over $700.

 

How about an excursion? Plenty of towing power, fit in a standard garage, have dual A/C's and plenty of room if you take out the 3rd seat and drop the second row for the dogs

 

Consumer Reports really slams the Excursion. I looked into the "X" thread and got lots of info. I'll look for a used diesel model. Yes, I already measured my garage, and it will fit!!


thanks,

 

Consumer reports is far from being an authority on vehicles. The X is the best SUV on the market, and yes, get the diesel!

 

One word... "EXCURSION".

Nuff Said

Toyman