E-350 Towing Capacity

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Mar 6, 2005 | 11:18 AM

gbraley

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Joined: Feb 2005

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E-350 Towing Capacity

Hi all from a new user! Great site!

I just picked up a '95 E-350 w/460, E4OD, 3.55 LS, 62K miles. I have a Terry 29S travel trailer (30', 7,500 # GVW). The van was not set up from the factory for heavy towing, so I am looking at installing an aluminum tranny pan, large cooler and external tranny filter.

Question #1 - I expect I have plenty of load capacity in the rear, but it does not have a rear anti-sway bar. Should I add one?

Question #2 - Am I going to be able to live with the 3.55 axle ratio? I probably will put more miles on this vehicle without the trailer than with, but I would like for it to perform reasonably well.

Thanks!

Mar 6, 2005 | 06:46 PM

rclarke

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Joined: May 2003

Posts: 1,525

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I have an 89 E350 cargo van with over 200k miles, 460, C6, 3.55 gears. I have towed various trailers from 5,000 to 8,000 lbs. The power is enough and I never did change the gears. A lower ratio would be better especially with over drive. My only problems were while towing a wide body trailer (8.5 ft wide) into strong head winds. I had some trouble maintaining 50+mph in headwinds. Also mileage went down to 5mpg. A 4.10 rear end would have let me run much lighter throttle and probably would have gotten more fuel mileage.