With the 5th boy on the way I'm growing out of my expadition. I need A 4x4, how do you guys with Quigly vans like them? Whats the milage like, How do they hold up, How do they handle on road at 70mph? What gears do people have? I'm thinking E250 with v10, limited slip 4:10, and 285x75x16. Wish! Wish! Any help would be great. thanks

 

I have a '96 150, they don't do 150s any more due to GVW. As far as the quality of the conversion goes... it's great! Customer Service is good also, even though I am not the original owner and the truck has over 200,000 miles they are always there when I need them. Need parts? No Problem! They are willing to supply part #s for common items like ball jounts, bearings, etc. so you can buy them at a local parts house. I'm sure the newer conversions are a lot nicer and more refined so they must really be nice. I would buy another without hesitation when the budget allows.

Fuel mileage I can't really comment on because mine spends all of its time loaded down with tools and supplies. The engine in mine is a 4.9 I6 and runs like a top and uses no oil.

 

Hi Windy,

Quigley is a great 4x4 conversion. There are others as well

I researched conversion companies and it came down to Qugley and QuadVan. I had a number of conversations with the people at Quigley and if I lived in PA I would have gone there. Since I was on West Coast the Quigley people recommended Sportsmobile in Fresno, CA (they were considering doing a Quigley approved conversion) or Quadvan in Portland OR. I chose QV, even though it was just a little more expensive, because of the Independent Front Suspension and retention of stock ride height = better ride and better fuel economy. Negative is stock look vs the more aggressive look of solid front axle and 2 inch lift. QV offers a lift kit forn their set up as well.

Our van is a 2003 V10 E350 15 pas. stock 245/75/16 wheels. 3.73 LSD. Dual Bilsteins each front corner, single Bilsteins rear, plus a bilstein steering dampner and 1 .25" IPS rear sway bar which I highly recommend for any van!!

We chose to have a transfer flow 46 gal tank installed so we would not have to worry about range with a 29 gal tank which is what you normally get with the 4x4 conversions. Best fuel economy has been 15 mpg at 67 mph avg. Worst is around 10.5 mpg lots of city and hills. With the 46 gal tank and 14+ mpg, road trips are wonderful.

I have been very happy with the van and it drives like a dream on the fwy as well as the mountains.

Good luck

 

off just a bit, 3.5" of lift
Ford Quigley conversion

 

Thanks Crash. BTW I have no affliation with the QuadVan company even though my handle is QV. Just own one and Just for the record....

 

I love mine, but don't have much to compare it to. A friend has an old Quadravan, but that's an apples to oranges thing. Well built, well executed.

 

The E-250 only comes in a cargo model. The quigley vans are great though. My dad is ordering one to replace the express. I had a stock E-350 XLT 15 passenger before I got the truck, and the ride was nice exept it felt like it would roll in sharp turns. I don't know how a 12 passenger short body van would handle because I have never driven a short body van. PLEASE stay away from GM vans. The express and savana have a problem with piston slap in the 5.7L vortec V8, among other things.

 

If you're anywhere near the Northern Virginia/Washington DC area, Jerry's Ford in Annandale has a brand new one in stock you could go try out. It's a Quigley.

 

5.7 = 350? I think you have it confused with the smaller 4.8

 

Hey belated thanks for the replyes all! I got so busy I haven't been on here in weeks. Is that 46 gal. fuel tank from the conversion co. or from some where elts?
I will go with a quigly because there only about an hour from here. I'll have to go check out the factory, my dad whent down there a few years back and said its really slick operation! I was thinking of going to my local dealer, and haggling for the best price on a regular van, (around 27K?), and then getting the conversion done. I think its about another 8K. How did you guys buy yours? It seems like they really hold there value, used ones are scarce and expesive.

 

46 gal fuel tank is available from Transfer Flow (search WEB). Quigley I believe will do the install for you or they can order for you as well. You will definitely want to do something as the 4x4 conversion REDUCES the stock fuel capapcity to something like 26 gal.

Quigley MAY also do a conversion on a year old van that is CLEAN with low mileage like 10 to 15K. Check with them first before buying. You can save a bundle buying a used van, although can take some time if looking for something special. Ford just announced it is giving everyone the friends and family discount so a new one may be reasonable.

Lastly, Quigley has a part of there website that has the vans that are in que (in the green bar all the way at the top, select "I know what I want" , you then get to see the stock each dealer has and configuration ( engine gears Cargo/ Pax/ reg or ext) . They also have a listing of used Quigley's for sale. Only one looked interesting, a 2003 V10.

Hope that helps ! Good Luck!

 

BTW We bought ours on EBAY and then had the conversion done. No problems , happy campers There is a place in Texas that seems to be the ckearing center for all the lease bring backs. If you are not a person who will be putting alot of miles on the van, then this works well as you can get a one year van with 20 to 30 K miles, still under warranty and in a year or so you will have a normal mileage van. Just an idea.

 

Thanks Quadvan, That's good to know that they will convert a used van. I'll have a much easyer time finding a leftover 2 wheel van thats close to what I want If I go that route. I was just on quiglys site, what fun! I'm trying transfer flow next.

 

I found the transfer flow sight, thaks a lot! that 46 gal tank looks great, with Gas prices what they are, I want the most range possable. I appreciate all the help!

 

Windy,

I get close to 550 to 600 mile usable range on the freeway with the 4x4, v10 and 3.73 gearing keeping around 65 - 70 mph, light to medium load, stock tires. 15.1 mpg is best I have achieved, always regular gas. Air pressure in the tires is key, running hot around 70 psi front 80 psi rear.

If I push constant 75 to 80 mph, drops to around 13.5

I just put 285/75 -16 Geolander AT tires on it and have yet to check the mileage with the larger tires. I have more rolling resistance but an effective gearing now of 3.46, so I will be interested to see if the two washout. The V10 has so much torque that it is easy to cruise at 65 with the higher gearing.

For anyone thinking about larger tires, 285/75 -16 would be max size without getting radical on wheel well mods. You will need to have at least a 2" lift in front, which actually levels out the van. With Quigley you get 4" lift. The 4x4 set up I have keeps stock ride height at rear and raises front 2" to match the rear. I only needed to slightly roll the rear bottom part of the fender and trim the plastic valance under the front bumper. Rear clearance was no problem. (Of course there is no running snow chains on the front with these size tires as they would definitely hit. On the other hand I would put the stock tires back on for any serious snow driving needing 4WD AND Chains).