Cargo van recommendations; best years

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Jul 8, 2007 | 01:34 AM

glasstruck

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Cargo van recommendations; best years

Hello everybody, wondering about the best years of Ford cargo vans to consider for another used one; I've got a '99 E-250 V-6, extended van, but it's way too overworked as we've got aluminum glass racks mounted on both sides of the van plus all our tools; last tank of gas netted me 10.5 mpg; slowly dropping as time goes on; wondering if the wear & tear on the rig is too much. Anyway, I want to find a good used E-350 maybe from 1999 to 2004, as that would probably fall in my price range. I'd like to find a low mileage 7.3 diesel, but would be okay to find a v-8 model. Are all the vans in this year range similar for transmissions, rear ends, etc? Are there any years to avoid? Also, does anyone have any mileage figures for a E-350 extended cargo van (mpg)? Same for the 5.4 gas?
I have a new '06 E350 6.0, but can't afford to shell out another 35k.
Thanks for any help,
Jim

Jul 9, 2007 | 11:29 PM

oldcars

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I worked for a leasing company and traveled around the county picking up lease cars and returning them. Many times on long trips 7-9 of us would go. We had A 01 and 02 E 350's with the 4.6 v8. The 01 we called "big red" was our favorite because it had highest miles. 264,ooo and never let us down except the heater hose going to the rear heater core busted in the parking lot. A screw driver and knife and 15 minutes later we headed to dallas from ohio. True work horses and we ran them hard. Fulley loaded with people and luggage we average around 16 miles to the gallon. Great vans, high milege does'nt seem to affect them even without the best of maintenence.

Jul 10, 2007 | 01:17 AM

Dannym

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From: Sweden

Vehicles generally don't lose mpg because they're "tired", if so it's a specific problem. It may have a bad sensor, dirty air filter, vac leak, intake manifold leak, plugged cat, any number of minor probs really.

Adding weight (cargo) or roof racks significantly reduces mpg. Maybe mpg is dropped slowly as you slowly load more and more crap onto and into it. Some tires get better mpg than others. The way you drive affects it a lot. Seasonal mixes of ethanol-blended fuel- which is all gas now AFAIK- affects it a bit. Headwind alone can kill my mpg on the highway.

If you have a mpg decrease you still can't explain, time to troubleshoot and fix 'er. Pull the codes for one. I mean your killer engine wear that isn't easily fixed would be like crankshaft bearings and you lose oil pressure, not mpg, or you get bad rings and start burning oil. These won't directly affect your mpg.

I guarantee you can fix your mpg problem and it may be frustrating or it may cost a lot to find somebody who can diagnose it properly, but I can say for damn sure it won't cost you $35K.

Last edited by Dannym; Jul 10, 2007 at 01:29 AM.

Jul 12, 2007 | 11:39 AM

HAB

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From: S Alabama on 200 Acres

92 E-350 Non-Powerstroke Diesel 300000 miles no major problems excepy Tranny has to be gone thru every 100k miles. Will still haul a heavy trailer and 8 bales of hay 1300lbs ea without complaint.