I am looking at a 2004 E350 Super Duty. How do I know if it has a tow package? What about keyless entry? The dealer has no FOB, how can I tell if that is all I need? If I need more what do I need and what does it cost. Are there any issues with the 2004s? What kind of mpg with the 5.4? Anything else that comes to mind. VIN decoder?

Thanks
Chris

 

I have an 04 E350 with 5.4. I'm only getting 11.5 mpg in town and 14 on highway. I have read they should get 14 town and 17 highway. If that's the case I don't know how. I don't drive with a heavy foot and highway is what I'm really concerned about. I don't know anything about remote keyless but most don't have it. For the towing packageIf you don't already have a hitch, you don't have it. But, I have a four pin connector on the left rear frame rail just behind th rear axle. That is for a four pin trailer harness to plug into. My dealer wants $80 for the cable. I'm making my own for <$10 Some vans also have a three pin connector next to the four pin that lets you hook up a seven pin trailer with a $130 harness. My van has all relays and fuses installed to run a seven pin trailer but doesn't have the three pin connector so I'm wiring everythng up from scratch for seven pin. There is also a connector under the dash on the drivers side near your keft foot to hook up a trailer brake controller. Don't know why Ford makes it so hard if you don't order the tow package from factory. These vans are made to tow, Ford should be more helpful. Also, I took it to a BIG RV place and they had no clue how to wire it without charging me several hours of shop time for them to figure it out.

 

if it does not have remote entry, you may be able to add it, this thread may shed some light.

http://www.fordtrucks.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=313594

 

It looks like there are no mechanical mods to make it a towing package? Besides the receiver.....

 

My 2002 E-350 Superduty gets barely 10-12 mpg, mostly city driving with some highway, the factory mpg ratings are highly over rated! No tow-hitch, no tow package. You can get a nice class 3 or 4+ aftermarket hitch and bolt it on, got my class 3 at U-haul. Wiring harness is expensive so it might be a worthwhile option, the class 4 factory hitch is solid. I highly reccomend the power package, it comes with keyless entry remotes but I have an Alpine alarm which does the trick. I've been extremely satisfied with my van, not a single problem from day one and runs strong and cool on the hottest days. If it's worth your while and mileage and towing capability is a must, take a look at the 6.0L turbo diesel with torq-shift tranny, it'll be on my next van for sure. When in doubt, go to Fordwebsite

 

One sign of a towing package is the transmission cooler which can be seen through the grill on the driver's side in front of the radiator on older models. It may have been relocated on the newer ones, but it will be there somewhere.

Mine is a '94 and came with the factory step bumper which is an option that the customer or dealer may have chosen instead of the reciever. The bumper is rated as a class three hitch.

If you want to look a little deeper, get the owner's manual and look in the power center which is a black plastic box under the master cylinder. See if the fuses for the towing options are there. There are several that are added for this option.
Also check for the trailer wiring plug at the rear. Mine had the seven pin connector under the driver's side of the bumper.

They also will have a 130 amp alternator and the larger "super cooling" radiator.

Gene

 

There are no factory MPG ratings for the E350.

 

2003 V-10 E350 4x4 15 pass We get 14.9 hwy at a steady 65 -70 between San Francisco and Los Angeles around town / mixed driving is 11 to 12. What I like best is the 46 gal tank which allows 600 miles plus per tank. From what I have read is there is not a significant difference between V8 and V10 mpg. v10 has plenty of power.

If you are towing or hauling heavy loads A LOT diesel is way to go. Worse thing you can do to a diesel is to run it with no or light load.

Class IV hitch on ours has the round 7 pin electrical connector to the left of the hitch

 

It really bugs me that you are getting the same mileage with your 4x4 V10 as I am getting with a 4X2 V8. There has to be something wrong with mine but Ford won't do anything unless it breaks. The old saying "your mileage may vary" applies when i talk to the dealer about mileage. The van only has 17k on it and runs great I just wish I could raise my mileage a bit.

 

Where did you get a 46 gallon tank from? In most 4x4 conversions the midship tank is reduced to 29 gallons to allow for the transfer case. I would love to get a 46 gallon tank! There would be nothing better than pulling into a service station and dropping a cool $100 on a fill up!

 

Adventure! You are sick!!! LOL! $100 for a fill-up is fun?? What is more fun is seeing who has to pull in first, the van for fuel or me to bathroom break!

Transfer Flow makes the 46 gal unit. Ground clearance is the same as stock if I remeber correctly. Fits with 4x4 transfer case. Search Transfer Flow on net, go to Ford tanks then E Series Midship.

 

It costs almost a $1,000! Well I won't be replacing mine any time soon, but if I have to that would make for an awful nice long distance drive. Thanks for the information.

I drive our van for Youth Ministry events and there is always another smaller car or mini-van that somebody else drives. I am forever filling up before we leave, once we get there, and somewhere in the middle. It sure would be nice to have a big tank like that one.

 

Tow packages will have the hitch on it from the factory. You can get remote keyless, but it you're talking about the key pad on the doors to punch in a number then you can't.

 

Hey, think about this: Do you REALLY want to drive all those kids non-stop with no break?

OTOH, though pit stops mean you get a bit of a break, then you have to pay for it by having to round them all up and get them back on the road!


On the subject of tow packages, a visit to the Ford site tells me the towing option on the 350 gives you:

Trailer Towing Package (Class II/III/IV) $285.00

• Electric Brake Controller Tap-In Capability
• Trailer Wiring Harness (Blade-Style Female Connector) with Bumper Bracket
• Relay System for Backup/B+/Running Lights
• Frame Mounted Hitch Receiver

But I know I've seen the radiator & trans cooler option in the past.

 

well, I bought it. Should like it. Anyone want to buy a 2000 Expy? Now I went to Ford Fleet and found three options to add Keyless entry. I need a tech to tell be the best way!

Thanks in advance
Chris