Is the tow rating on a e-350 club wagon (or anything else) based on the van fully loaded. And how much has anyone towed with their E-350's. My trailer weight is 8175 fully loaded. I don't carry anywhere near the full load in my van. two adults 4 kids. I removed the 3rd row seats but I think the rating is 7900lbs. My trailer is not too much over the max towing of the van but I would like some info before I try anything. My truck is what I normally use to tow the tailer but the kids want to bring there friends so I though about the van.

 

An E350 with V10 is an ideal tow vehicle. I have been towing with my 2003 E350 for several years. Even with a 3.73 rear end I have no problem at all. I grossed 15.2k lbs when I left home for Arizona for this winter. I have pulled my trailer 15 or 20k miles in the last 3 years.

 

I know the V10 is good but I have the 5.4. My Truck's V 10 has 300 hp and a fair amount of torque. The 5.4 has about 250 hp and ok torque. It would be nice to be able to tow our trailer with it, though I know I wouldn't want to go up any long grades at higher elevations. We would be sticking to the beach areas, fairly flat.

 

the 5.4 will carry it just fine
make sure you have a good trans cooler
and service the trans regularly
keep your tire pressures at the max or near there
M

 

The gross combined weight rating for the van with the 5.4 is not going to be very high, that is the number you will have to watch.
My van has the V10 and with 3.73 gears it is rated to have an all up weight of everything loaded of 15,500 lbs. The same set up with 4.10 rear end is 18,500 lbs. the gearing makes a big difference.
The 5.4 will probably be around 13,000 somewhere and you will find it is very gutless when you are towing the trailer you mentioned.
My V10 does fine but even the 3.73 with my trailer at 9,000lbs and the all up at 17,000 it is working in the mountains. I would not like to do this with a 5.4
I did do it with my 1/2 ton 5.4 van with the 5.4 and it was horrible and tore up the rear end three times. My all up then was 13,000 (500 lbs over loaded)different trailer. horrible gas mileage.
If you live in a very flat enviroment you might get away with it, but the first hill you come to will have it working hard.
Andrew.

 

I know there just won't be enough horsepower or torque to be able to climb hills. I live in So Cal, and use the van to take the kids and there friends to the beach and around. There aren't too many steep hills, mostly freeway. I wouldn't think of going to the mountians towing without more hp. I'm trying to figure out how much HP I can get without loosing any relalability. The van is a 12 passenger with the same trans and rearend as my superduty F250, so the dealer says. I'm not too conserned about axle / trans. Just not having enough ponies to get out of it's own way.

 

You need to compare the tow rating to the gross combined rating. That will tell you how much total weight you can have.

I was suprized that you listed your max tow rating at 7900. I seem to remember E350 ratings at something like 11,000, but maybe that's just the V10.

My E150 Clubwagon listed a max tow rating of 7700 lbs.

Steve
'95 Clubwagon XLT

 

FORD advertised the '06 E-350 SUPER DUTY EXTENDED "WAGON" w/5.4 & 3.73 as providing a "6700" lb "Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight".

No, its not based on "the van fully loaded". The asterisk says "Maximum capabilities shown are for properly equipped vehicles with required equipment and a 150-lb. driver. Weight of additional options, equipment, passengers, and cargo must be deducted from this weight."

Whether or not the excess 1475 lbs is "too much over the max towing" recommendation can't be determined until you "deduct" the weight of everything else, except a "150-lb driver" in your not "anywhere near the full load" situation.

Rest assured that countless trips have been made hauling enormous weights that tend to mock FORD's conservative numbers.

 

Correction, the tow capacity of my van is 6500 lbs.

Steve
'95 Clubwagon XLT

 

I don't want to be like one of my friends who tows the same model trailer I have. I use the truck (heavy duty F-250 w/V10) He is using his 1/2 ton Suburban. Granted he had a heavy duty rear axel installed, but he is running the stock springs and tires. I've told him everytime we go out that the needs to make some changes ( 8-10 ply tires and airbags).
I know the suspension / brakes, tires, trans are good enough on a E-350. I just I don't know why the rating is what it is, compared to a pickup.

 

The tow ratings are often set by two things, how fast the truck can tow a load up a specified grade, and can it keep the powertrain cool while doing it. E series does not cool as well as the F series because it can't flow enough air due to the tight engine compartment.

 

Surfdaddy seemed to be inquiring about '06 E350 Extended Club Wagon, which normally pares down the options. Unless somekind of Special Order, that "WAGON" only came w/5.4 & 6700 lb max trailer weight.

The advertised higher max trailer weights, up to a high of 10,000 lb, were found only in a "VAN" which offered the full range of drivetrains. This highest 10,000 lb capacity was NOT for "just the V10" either & was also listed for the 6.0 Diesel, both w/4.10 rears.

 

And the V10 will only tow 10,000 lbs with 4.10 rear gearing in a E350 application
Andrew.

 

When I looked up the rating on the Ford site I must have not have been looking in the right place. Still, I wonder why the panel van and the club wagon are different if the driveline is the same. Based on what I'm hearing, I don't think I'll be taking the trailer around. I don't know how much power I can get out of the 5.4 but it probably not a good idea to tow a 8200lb trailer, regardless of the trans and suspension. I guess I'll still use the truck to tow the trailer. The kids friends will have to get there own ride to where we are going.

 

Well, I really don't think you would have that much trouble. Install an additional transmission cooler and give it a try to see how it performs. The worst case is you confirm you need to use the truck.

I have towed over 6000 lbs with my E150, 5 liter, Clubwagon and while it wasn't the easiest of jobs, the van did OK.

The reason the Clubwagon has a lower tow rating is the Clubwagon is heavier than the panel truck. All of that interior carpet trim and seats adds up.

Steve
'95 Clubwagon XLT