Cgvwr?
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Elder User
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Hoquiam, WA
Cgvwr?
I know what it is, but I'm having a hard time locating any info on it for my van.
86 E150 Van-Tique Conversion, AOD, 5.0, GVWR is 6k, Class III and tranny cooler.
The van is also setup with a wheelchair lift and we haul a 300lb electric chair in the van almost always.
My concern is with towing my boat.
The boat weighs (dry): 2k, the trailer is 1,320. Now add two 100hp Merc towers, 80 gals of fuel, 20 gals of H2O, two batts, safety gear, food and fishing supplies, etc.
Don't know exact boat total because it's in pieces for a restoration.
I'm guessing that I'm going to be right around 5k for boat and trailer(+/- 300lbs).
Is this kinda pushing it?
I'm going to be towing the boat over mountain passes to the eastern side of WA state.
Patrick
86 E150 Van-Tique Conversion, AOD, 5.0, GVWR is 6k, Class III and tranny cooler.
The van is also setup with a wheelchair lift and we haul a 300lb electric chair in the van almost always.
My concern is with towing my boat.
The boat weighs (dry): 2k, the trailer is 1,320. Now add two 100hp Merc towers, 80 gals of fuel, 20 gals of H2O, two batts, safety gear, food and fishing supplies, etc.
Don't know exact boat total because it's in pieces for a restoration.
I'm guessing that I'm going to be right around 5k for boat and trailer(+/- 300lbs).
Is this kinda pushing it?
I'm going to be towing the boat over mountain passes to the eastern side of WA state.
Patrick
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Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Miami, FL.
When I first got my '86 E-250, I bought a Haynes manual from the local auto parts store. The information provided in the front really did not help me decipher any sticker information so I called the 1800 number in the book to ask about it. Eventually I was transferred to someone who mailed me an additional 20 or so pages of information regarding the codes on the door stickers. Hope that helps some.
I eventually sent for the Helms reprint of the Ford shop manual for that vehicle, which includes about every motor, tranny, and fuel system set-up for F150-F350, and, E150-E350 (around $160.00, don't remember if it included shipping). Excellent investment!!!
Munrow
I eventually sent for the Helms reprint of the Ford shop manual for that vehicle, which includes about every motor, tranny, and fuel system set-up for F150-F350, and, E150-E350 (around $160.00, don't remember if it included shipping). Excellent investment!!!
Munrow
Last edited by munrow; Feb 8, 2005 at 03:52 AM.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: NJ where fun comes to die
I would find out for sure. I had a 79 E150, 5.0 with a c6. I think it would have struggled up hill. Better to be safe than sorry. Try the towing forum, those guys seem to know this stuff.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 638
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From: Birmingham, AL
What you are looking for should be in the owners manual. You first take the door jam information regarding engine type and axle ratio and refer to a chart in the manual for the GCVWR.
As for the weights, the best thing to do is after you have the boat in a towable condition, take it to a public scale. The CAT scales that are found at many truck stops and the newer travel plazas are excellent. They have three segments to them so that you can place your vans front axle on the first, the rear axle on the second and the trailer axles on the third. Your total tow length may not allow you to do this (too short) all at one time, but if you can, you can get the whole story in one shot. Be sure to load each vehicl as you will tow it or compensate for the missing items, ie, Mom, the kids, the dog, fuel for both and anything else you will normally take.
My 1994 E 150 with 351, E4OD, 3:55 and towing package weighs about 5500# empty with a half tank of fuel. It has a GCVWR of 12000#. With my travel trailer and normal loads in it and the van, the actual weight is 11,980# If I gain any weight, I can't go camping anymore.
Gene
As for the weights, the best thing to do is after you have the boat in a towable condition, take it to a public scale. The CAT scales that are found at many truck stops and the newer travel plazas are excellent. They have three segments to them so that you can place your vans front axle on the first, the rear axle on the second and the trailer axles on the third. Your total tow length may not allow you to do this (too short) all at one time, but if you can, you can get the whole story in one shot. Be sure to load each vehicl as you will tow it or compensate for the missing items, ie, Mom, the kids, the dog, fuel for both and anything else you will normally take.
My 1994 E 150 with 351, E4OD, 3:55 and towing package weighs about 5500# empty with a half tank of fuel. It has a GCVWR of 12000#. With my travel trailer and normal loads in it and the van, the actual weight is 11,980# If I gain any weight, I can't go camping anymore.
Gene
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Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Alaska
I'd say your gonna be pushing it. I have an 86, same set up. We used to pull our 28ft travel trailer a couple of times, about 5500lb loaded. It did alright on the flats, but did take some time to get up to speed. Hills weren't very fun. I could do 60-65 up the long mild ones, but I would be in 2nd gear just screaming along. Tranny would run hot quite often. Some times you could smell it pretty good. Never tried the bigger Alaskan passes because I didn't think we would make them.
You'll probably do fine in the flats since you'll have less frontal area with the boat, but I think those WA passes might get you.
My van had an MSD ignition, K&N, free flow exaust, and a few other goodies. I even ran low profile tires (26" overall) which help in the final gearing dept.
You'll probably do fine in the flats since you'll have less frontal area with the boat, but I think those WA passes might get you.
My van had an MSD ignition, K&N, free flow exaust, and a few other goodies. I even ran low profile tires (26" overall) which help in the final gearing dept.
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Elder User
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From: Hoquiam, WA
Gene- If I had an owners manual, I would have looked there first instead of posting my question here. 
The axle code says "16".
The local dump site has a full length scale that I'll be using to get my total weight.
I have been considering going to a 351 when it gets to be time to redo the motor.
I guess if I really have to, I can always use my pickup to tow over the pass with. Love them 390's.
Patrick
The axle code says "16".
The local dump site has a full length scale that I'll be using to get my total weight.
I have been considering going to a 351 when it gets to be time to redo the motor.
I guess if I really have to, I can always use my pickup to tow over the pass with. Love them 390's.
Patrick
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From: Birmingham, AL
AcesN8S,
To be honest, I think you are close to maxed out without the boat. The conversion adds weight, plus the chair lift and then a heavy chair as well.
The axle code 16 no longer appears in my '94 owner's manual. A code 12 is a 2.73 and a code 17 is a 3.31. You are probably somewhere in between. Not good territory for towing.
These combinations are as close as I can get to yours in my manual, a 4.9 with a 3.08 has a GCVWR of 9000 and a max trailer weight of 3900.
A 5.0 with a 3.31 has CCVWR of 11,500 and a max trailer weight of 6400.
In the absence of an owner's manual with the actual ratings, I would suggest weighing the van front and rear axles separately while loaded. Then determine the tongue weight of the boat and trailer. This can be done with a bathroom scale or at the public scale. Do the math to see if that tongue weight can be added to the van without exceeding the GVWR or the Rear GAWR. If you come out close and have extra capacity left in your front axle, you could use a weight distributing hitch to shift some of that weight forward. I don't believe that this type of hitch is compatible with the surge brakes that the boat trailer may have.
Gene
To be honest, I think you are close to maxed out without the boat. The conversion adds weight, plus the chair lift and then a heavy chair as well.
The axle code 16 no longer appears in my '94 owner's manual. A code 12 is a 2.73 and a code 17 is a 3.31. You are probably somewhere in between. Not good territory for towing.
These combinations are as close as I can get to yours in my manual, a 4.9 with a 3.08 has a GCVWR of 9000 and a max trailer weight of 3900.
A 5.0 with a 3.31 has CCVWR of 11,500 and a max trailer weight of 6400.
In the absence of an owner's manual with the actual ratings, I would suggest weighing the van front and rear axles separately while loaded. Then determine the tongue weight of the boat and trailer. This can be done with a bathroom scale or at the public scale. Do the math to see if that tongue weight can be added to the van without exceeding the GVWR or the Rear GAWR. If you come out close and have extra capacity left in your front axle, you could use a weight distributing hitch to shift some of that weight forward. I don't believe that this type of hitch is compatible with the surge brakes that the boat trailer may have.
Gene
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Elder User
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Hoquiam, WA
Gene thanks for the help.
I went down to the Ford dealer today, and they only had a 87 owners guide available. I took it because they gave it to me. It doesn't have an axle code 16 in it either. It has 18=3.08, 19=3.55 and H9=3.55 listed for the 9".
My F series manual has an 85 pickup listed as a 16=3.50.
So, I'm still at a loss. The guy at the dealership who does the microfiche wasn't there, so I wasn't able to get any farther today.
Patrick
I went down to the Ford dealer today, and they only had a 87 owners guide available. I took it because they gave it to me. It doesn't have an axle code 16 in it either. It has 18=3.08, 19=3.55 and H9=3.55 listed for the 9".
My F series manual has an 85 pickup listed as a 16=3.50.
So, I'm still at a loss. The guy at the dealership who does the microfiche wasn't there, so I wasn't able to get any farther today.
Patrick
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 638
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From: Birmingham, AL
ACESN8S,
I think you can find what you need in this post.
http://www.fordtrucks.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=297637
Gene
I think you can find what you need in this post.
http://www.fordtrucks.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=297637
Gene
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 638
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From: Birmingham, AL
That's the way I read it. I have a 351 with 3.55 gears pulling a 6500# trailer and I would like a lower gear. I will probably change to a 3.73 or 4.10 one of these days or maybe go to a heavier vehicle that already has a lower gear and a bigger motor. The 6500# trailer has me within 20# of being maxed out on GCVWR. I would prefer to be at about 80% of it. My van is at about 5500# with my usual traveling load so I would guess yours might be as much as 1000# more.
What does the '87 owners manual say the GCVWR would be for a E150 with the 5.0 and a rear end close to what you have?
Gene
What does the '87 owners manual say the GCVWR would be for a E150 with the 5.0 and a rear end close to what you have?
Gene
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Elder User
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Hoquiam, WA
The 87 says with a 5.0 and 3.55 gears 11,500. With up to 7,700 for tow. That isn't going to happen.
I'll just figure on the van being at max (6k) and go from there. It's looking like I'll be just about maxed out. I guess I could always wait till close to, or at destination before fueling up the boat all the way.
I'll just have figure on a way to get the weight down closer to 4500.
Patrick
I'll just figure on the van being at max (6k) and go from there. It's looking like I'll be just about maxed out. I guess I could always wait till close to, or at destination before fueling up the boat all the way.
I'll just have figure on a way to get the weight down closer to 4500.
Patrick
Last edited by ACESN8S; Feb 12, 2005 at 06:29 PM.