Heavy duty '95 E-150 ?
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Heavy duty '95 E-150 ?
I just got a great deal on what I am told is the heavy duty version of the '95 E-150. I'm new to Fords; can anyone enlighten me as to what some of the differences are between this and the regular model ? I know I need XL rated 235 or better tires; with the Stafford swap meet coming up next month, I thought I'd keep an eye out for a decent set of the very slightly larger LT30 x 9.50 x 15. The van will be used for carpentry and carry a fair amount of weight in tools and sometimes materials. From what I've searched, it sounds like I should also look for a set of 7" alloy rims to better handle any pressures over 41 psi ? I have the 6" steel rims now. I'd apreciate any input, I'm also wondering what any differences may be between the regular and heavy duty models for this year. Sorry for the long post, and thanks in advance !
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2004
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From: Maryville
Likely has 3/4 ton springs in the front and heavier leaves in the back, I found this when at the parts store getting coils for a friends van, when I installed them, it seemed higher than stock.
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Saint Augustine, FL
I don't see any reference to "heavy duty" anything in ford's documentation on my '95. You can always check the front springs by mic'ing the wire diameter and counting the number of coils. Thicker wire and/or fewer coils mean stiffer springs. As for the leafs, more leafs and/or thicker, longer leafs under the primary make for a stiffer spring.
I would stick with the 235/75-15 XL (load range C) as they are designed as a high load tire and are most likely rated highter than the 9.50x15s. I use the BFG Commercial T/As (Sam's Club) and love them. I use my Clubwagon to tow with and haul a lot of equipment in it when I do. They handle the load without fuss.
Steve
'95 Clubwagon XLT
I would stick with the 235/75-15 XL (load range C) as they are designed as a high load tire and are most likely rated highter than the 9.50x15s. I use the BFG Commercial T/As (Sam's Club) and love them. I use my Clubwagon to tow with and haul a lot of equipment in it when I do. They handle the load without fuss.
Steve
'95 Clubwagon XLT
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I never heard of a HD E 150, but I reckon you could order any kind of option when bought new, it may have been upgraded with heavier springs but the wheel bearings and axels will still be on the small side, I do know that the 250 3/4 ton has the 8 lug and the 350 has a full floating dana 8 lug. they make lots of different springs for the vans as I just redid mine last nite, I upgraded and thought she would sit higher but it was the same , the last poster was right in just measure the spring diameter and length.
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Thanks for your input. The 30x9.50x15 are true truck tires; the ones I plow with on my other truck have a simlar rating, so no problem there. LT tires seem to have a thicker tread than XL, and the size is very similar. The van has the normal 5 lug pattern for a E-150. I'll check out the B F Goodrich commercial tires; I love the TA/KO's on my other truck. The springs are fine; the van has a nice stance for its years and miles. I wouldn't know what to compare the numbers to, if I measure though. I just bolted in a cargo barrier and a full set (heavy) of metal tool storage shelving from my local salvage yard, and it hasn't squatted at all. No plans to exceed the registered weight, it will be primarily used to haul my tools around. The previous owner, and a mechanic friend who has worked on this van for him both warned that they found some parts for a regular E-150 wouldn't work on this van, they claimed because it is a "heavy duty" model ? It's rated for a little over 6000 lbs, I wonder what it might weigh empty ?
Last edited by 95van; Mar 25, 2007 at 08:33 AM. Reason: redundant sentence fragment
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the only problem you may have is in the lenth of your shocks if you do run 3/4 ton springs , if you go to the Advanced Auto Parts web site look up coil springs they are very detailed description about the coils , length, coil diameter, weight, load height ect. I just installed part #cc820, I wanted a bit more weight carrying but was afraid that to much would affect alignment, seems that the I Beams are pre made for certain specs and the only adjustment is toe -in via radius arms , so your van may well be special and have I Beams from a E 250......dont let that van get away from you , sounds like a nice find
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In a '94 FORD ECONOLINE brochure they listed E-150 capacities as:
Payloads: GVWR:
1370 6050
1980 6700
2030 7000
The lightest spec is on 225/75X15SL tires!
Your E-150 probably weighs about 5000.
Payloads: GVWR:
1370 6050
1980 6700
2030 7000
Originally Posted by 95van
parts for a regular E-150 wouldn't work on this van, they claimed because it is a "heavy duty" model ? It's rated for a little over 6000 lbs, I wonder what it might weigh empty ?
Your E-150 probably weighs about 5000.
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I believe 235/75r /15 were the biggest tire you could run on the E 150, most likley a passager van , on my 88 e 150 I was able to put some 255/70 /15 sigma tires from Tire Kingdom , they are the biggest you can on my van and they do rub a little on radius arm if you turn the wheels as far as they go left or right its not hurting the tirs just a little rub, I could weld a tab on the spindle but not much of one 1/8 inch or maybe 1/4
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Thanks for all the info ! I'm hoping to keep it going for some time - someone's already put quite a bit of work into it - all new brake and fuel lines, floor has heavy gussets welded in where it attaches to the frame, and most of what is bolted to the front of the motor is fresh.
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From: Jasper, MO
With truck tires, it isn't so much the SIZE of the tire to handle the loads: It's PLY and Load rating. an 8 or 10-ply tire will handle just about anything you can dish out. Plus truck tires have thicker shoulders. Great for loads, sacrifices comfort a smidge.
Your wheels should match the tire. Trying to put 9.5's on a 6 or 7 inch rim will pull the sidewalls in at an angle, instead of allowing proper vertical integrity. And good steel rims can handle any pressure that aluminum can: Big trucks run steel rims at 105 psi.
If this is a passenger van, you may want to get a rear sway bar. If it was ordered as an HD, it may already have one, plus a thicker front sway. Also, does the rear hub come out flush with the wheel center, or does it protrude a few inches? Do you have 5 lugs or 8?
Your wheels should match the tire. Trying to put 9.5's on a 6 or 7 inch rim will pull the sidewalls in at an angle, instead of allowing proper vertical integrity. And good steel rims can handle any pressure that aluminum can: Big trucks run steel rims at 105 psi.
If this is a passenger van, you may want to get a rear sway bar. If it was ordered as an HD, it may already have one, plus a thicker front sway. Also, does the rear hub come out flush with the wheel center, or does it protrude a few inches? Do you have 5 lugs or 8?
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Hmmm, I wonder what's up with the warning I saw on another thread on this site that said the steel wheels shouldn't be inflated higher than 41 lbs then? I'd never heard of that restriction on a steel wheel either; but I'm aware anything 50 lbs or more needs something more substantial for a valve stem than the rubber type. This is a 5 lug cargo van, without a substantially protruding hub. There's really no problem putting a 9.50x30-15 on a 7" rim though - that's what I run on my plow truck in the winter, and the sidewalls don't look pinched at all. That is a "nominal" size - the actual tread width of my 9.50x30 tires is only 7 1/2" - we're not talking about 9 1/2" of tread here. This size is only very slightly bigger than a 235/75/15 XL; and a true truck tire.
Last edited by 95van; Mar 26, 2007 at 11:35 AM. Reason: typo correction
Posting Guru
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From: Jasper, MO
We use steel stems on the truck tires... and, yes, you can get away with the 9.5s on the 7" rims, but I guess it was 95van who mentioned the 6 inchers...
and as I mentioned, you just want the tires to look more like |_| than /_\, lol
and as I mentioned, you just want the tires to look more like |_| than /_\, lol
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