Does anyone have a link to anything credible? I have seen the spy shots. I'm all aproved for funding for the modifications to get one modified so I can drive it from my wheelchair but there is no way I'm putting almost $100,000 into a van that looks like it was made in 1992. I still have to buy the van itself and can order it any way I can afford. I will be stuck with it for the next 20 years as they will not even think of helping you until there are no more bailing wire anchor points left to tie it back together one more time. My old one leaks every way there is, Most fuctions have ceased and the steering is so loose it's a hazard at anything over 25 mph.

Things i learned the hard way the first time around.
Avoid the diesel engine. Once the warranty is over no one can afford to maintain one.
Get exactly what you want when it's built because once it's in your driveway no one (with money) will help with anything else like interiors.
Run Mobil One in everything that moves.
Keep it parked inside. Mine new one will never spend a minute outside it's not in actual use. The garage is fully finished is heated to 55 year round and the humidity kept under 60 percent.
Get four wheel disc brakes. My adjusters have never worked right so I have only had rear brakes over maybe 10,000 in the last 300,000 miles.
I wish they still offerd the 460. That must be one of the best engines Ford ever made. Yes it drinks a little fuel but it has never failed me like the deisel did bi-monthly.
Install optima batteries. They will takes the vibration the vans seem to dish out.

Sorry about the rant but I can hardly wait to blow my old one up then push the remains into the landfill. I will be keeping that 460 and C-6 though.

 

buy the dodge sprinter

 

My race car trailer weighes near 10,000 pounds. I don't think the Sprinter will pull it proper in the hilly northwest. It's also a diesel. I can't afford to keep one up. Thanks for the reply.

 

i think u can get a gasser now but as far as towing its 7500?...get the v10, it is definately a reliable motor...the 08s are probably a few months away

r u getting a dually?

 

I would shoot for the V10 with a limited slip option. The E350 will automatically give you the dual battery option you will want (for your optimas) and you can even upgrade that to three batteries very simply with dealer parts. I use air bags on my rear suspension for towing, you may consider those as well since you will be towing. also helps with suspension fatigue from wheel chair lifts.

by the way the sprinter is garbage compared to the E350. especially when it comes to heavy duty applications and towing. I chose mine over the other brands because of its tow capacity, ground clearance, durability and availability of aftermarket parts. I am very happy with my 04, and I had a 1976 with the 460 as well!

 

My current E350 is a super. When i was spec'n out a 2007 the V-10 is not available in the regular length van. I will never try to tow anything heavy with a Super again. It's just way too far from the hitch ball to the rear axle. It has to much leverage and the trailer pushes me all over the road. I have air bags, 4.10's load equalizer bars and a friction swap control. I have Rancho 9000's on the front set on hard and giant commercial shocks on the rear. With this combo it is way better than stock but I have to get the toungue weight up to around 2000 pounds to be drivable at all at speed and I'm still a hazard on the road. The trailer pushed me around so bad I can wreck a set of brand new 235/85R16's in 2000 miles. The tread comes off in chunks and looks to be torn off sideways. I curently run 285/75R16's Load range E. These have always worked the best at handling the trailer.

I wish Ford would do a 155" wheelbase on the 15 passenger like Chevy does. That would be a trailer towing beast. The 138 is plenty as long as you keep the hitchball in close. The V-10 in the 12 passenger would be my first choice but I am willing to give up the power for safety. I know about gutless. My van came with a 7.3. That thing never passed anything that didn't pull over and stop for me to inch by. I never realized how unsafe my van was until i put the 460 in it and could actually go the speed limit. At 45-50 it didn't seem to bad. At 65+ it's a white knuckle death run.

 

sounds like a dually would make driving more relaxing

 

I had considered a dually. How would a guy get one on a new rig?

 

I'm not really sure a dually would help. I have a buddy with a Dodge Ram dually crew cab. He tows a 5500 pound North River Jet boat. He has a Camper that requires him to use a 4' extension on his hitch. He can tow the boat fine by it's self. He can haul the camper by it's self fine. He puts that stinger extension in and he's shredding rear tires and the boat is pushing him all over the road. Scares him to death. I just don't think it's a good idea to tow from a point more than 2 feet or so behind the rear axle.

Do any of you remember about 1970-1973 or so the trailer special F-250 that had the rear axle as far back as it would go? I'm sure that wasn't just done for looks.

 

They will also put a factory 1-ton dual wheel rear axle on an E-350 complete with the extra wide fenders. It's about a $9,000 option, I think. I do not think you have to have the 4x4 to get the dual wheel rear axle.

I will tell you the pictures I have seen of them look truly rugged. They'll help you spec. the basic van as well.

Let's see if this small pic comes through.

Try:

http://www.quigley4x4.com

Or:

http://www.factory4x4vans.com/

Just a question for you. What did you mean by something designed in 1992? Do you find fault with the classis lines of the present Econoline? Hey, it took me 10 years to decide it was at least as good as the previous body style.

Consider: there is only so much that can be done with a box. It is always going to look like a box and I think the Econoline looks less like a box than the Sprinter does!

 

The 1992 is light years ahead of the 1975 inspired van it replaced. Ford rode the 1975 until 1991. The 1992 is finally being updated with something more than a name change for 2008. The improvements are surely noticeable.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_E-Series
No engine or interior improvements were made. However, Ford says the 2008 E-Series line-up rides on an improved chassis. A series of upgrades to the braking, suspension and steering systems have resulted in improvements in ride and handling, braking performance and load carrying capability. The chassis and suspension improvements have also resulted in an increase in the maximum gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) from 14,050 pounds to a class-leading 14,500 pounds. Additionally, the maximum front gross axle weight rating (GAWR) is increased by about 10 percent, from 4,600 pounds to a class-leading 5,000 pounds.


These were all areas that I had complaints with in a big way with my 1975 (1988)model. You might not notice them as much coming from a 1992 inspired model. I have seven vertebrae fused in my back and have to live with a 600 pound wheelchair lift stuck in my side door. Add to that me and my power chair weigh 600 pounds. When you add the additional weight of the 3" body lift and the 9" lowered floor built with enough 10 gauge sheet metal to build a couple 800 pound gun safes out of you can begin to appreciate what the extra 450 pounds in gross vehicle weight means to me in ride quality. My E350 rear spring when the van is empty are down flat on the overload leaf. Sure I can get a little spring back with airbags but the front is near bottomed out when I roll into my drivers position with all the equipment and extra metal that has been all added forward of the rear axle.

My van with the diesel empty crossed the scales at 8300 pounds. The 460 dropped 500 pounds off that figure.

 

Mine's a super, too, and I tow 9100 lbs with it. It doesn't push me around at all. My truck's suspension is completely stock, and my tongue weight is just over 1,000 pounds.

The big difference between my setup and yours is that I have a Hensley Arrow hitch. It tows rock steady.

How much did you spend on all the mods to try and get it to tow right? I bought my hitch used for $1400. These hitches new are almost $3k, but they sure do work as advertised!

www.hensleymfg.com

 

those gvw #'s are for the e450

 

I believe you are right. I thought I did read somewhere there was a gvw increase in the e150 on up through the whole line somewhere.

 

those r definately e450 #s and if they r using the same tires (225/75R16) the increase only comes from the higher f gawr because the rear is at max tire pressure (80psi) were current e450 front tire pressure is 65...so there probably isnt REAL suspension upgrades but tire pressure increases for the e450

they show the 08 e350 on www.commtruck.ford.com

it could very well be the 07 model bc it lists the 6.0 diesel, unless they got the 6.0 to pass emissions (highly doubt that happened)