khantyranitar!

Yeah! I have to put bags with sand to Ranger's tonneu to have good rear axe handling.

 

If you're most interested in a small van, and it must be rear wheel drive, I would choose the Dodge over the Ford. The only reason being because the Dodge was available in a VERY short wheelbase version as well as regular and long lengths, and the Ford only in two lengths, regular and long. If space is a concern, the Dodge will be wide and tall but short, easier to park, but it may not fit down narrow streets.

Here's the specifications for the size of each, in inches...

Length - Model - Wheelbase - Length - Width - Height

Short Aerostar - 118.9 - 174.9 - 71.7 - 72.2
Long Aerostar - 118.9 - 190.3 - 72.0 - 72.3

Short Ram Van - 109.6 - 187.2 - 79.8 - 79.5
Regular Ram Van - 127.6 - 205.2 - 79.8 - 79.9
Long Ram Van - 127.6 - 231.2 - 79.8 - 79.9

Regular Econoline - 138.0 - 211.9 - 79.3 - 81.2
Long Econoline - 138.0 - 232.6 - 79.3 - 84.6

Results from various MSN and Consumer Guide web pages.

The Econoline is taller than the Dodge, slightly narrower, but has a much longer wheelbase. You can see how the shortest Dodge van is kind of in between the short and long Aerostars in lengths, but is 7-8 inches wider and taller than either one.

I don't know what kind of engines the Ram and Econoline would have in Europe, but here in the US, they had 3 to 5 engines each. The Ram Van could have a 3.9 liter V6, a 5.2 liter V8 (the old 318), and a 5.9 liter V8 (the old 360). The Econoline had all newer style engines, a 4.2 liter V6, a 4.6 liter V8, a 5.4 liter V8, a 6.8 liter V-10, and the Powerstroke diesel engine (7.3 and later 6.0).

2003 was the very last year for the big Dodge Ram van. You might have more trouble getting parts for it. The Econoline may suit you better in this aspect, since they are sold there new. What engines are offered in the Ford van in your country?

 

Past time to edit...did a quickie search for 2003 Dodge Rams online, and I found a whole bunch of them nationwide, 40 of them in fact. Two of them have over 200K miles, one has 180K, one with 170K, one with 160K, and that's just the ones under $5,000 asking price! The rest are anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 and ranging in mileage from 142K down to 28K.

Lots of options for you there. Now as for the Ford vans from 2003-up, under $10,000 price, the miles go from 295K on down to 16,000 miles with the cheapest around $3000 and 250K.

 

Well.... This spring I gonna do something... My aeri has over then 600 K, my father used ti drive it to Germany, to Moscow..... I used to howl over then 1600 kg in it. It is amazing, how can she be alive..... She was in serious accident, and aero is build tought (but looks small). It was about 1000 kg in it and at 60 MPH it was enought to destray all the engine compartment, engine, tanny and front suspention of Skoda Octavia. But unfortunatly I can see no alternative van with so well balanced characteristics. And I cant import aero, becouse it is too old for our customs. But there is a way - to import good aero and end of life vehicle and to install ALL the parts of it to mo body (Powertraine, suspention, interrior, wiering, fenders, doors), repaint it and drive againe....

Fortunatly I work on Mercedes/Volvo Truck dealer enterprise and I have all the neccesary equipment. Well, I can Import ruther new E150, but there is no reason for me to have so big van, not so easy to park in urban area.... If I need something bigger, then aero, I can use Gaselle Van ore Big MB truck easily from our company...

 

Aerostar with 4WD was an excellent car for snowy winters and for trailering. Could pull easily 3.5 tons with the 4 Litre engine . Repairs where not expensive.
The Windstar with 3.0+3.8 litre and the Freestar with 3.9 and 4.2 engine cannot compare when used for trailering. And the automatic transmission of Aerostars are way longer lasting as Windstar or Freestar.
Look at the trouble withe the rear axle of the Windstar. Mine cracked after only 6 years.
And lots of bad corrosion all over