Hi!

I currently have a '92 E-150 Club Wagon XLT and am looking at possible replacements. Of course, I will stay with the Fords but will, most likely, get an extended 350.

What changes did they make in '97? I'm having trouble finding that info. What changes have they made since?

One of the vans I'm looking at is a V-10.... From your experience, how much of a hit am I going to take on mileage vs. the various V-8s? And, is the power substantially noticable between the powerplants in a practical application? (I'm carrying 2,000 lbs of dogs and crates etc to shows and occasionally towing a 3,200 lb trailer which is 4,500 lbs max wet)

Which vans do you all have? What do you like about your trucks and what would you change?

Thanks for your help!

All my hopes,

Vicky

 

Vicky,

The most important change since '92 is in engine choices.No more 302,351 and 460 V-8's. Which engine do you have? I recently sold my '89 E-150 and bought a '98 E-150. I'm not sure but the suspension "feels" alot more heavy duty on the'98.

I have the 4.6L V-8 and am very happy with it. However, the once or twice a year when I take it on trips through the mountains I noticed the 4.6 can not climb like my old 5.8L could.The 4.6 is rated at more horsepower than the 5.8 but I guess it's torque that counts when climbing a high mountain. If you're going to tow anything or drive in the mountains you had better get at least the 5.4L. It produces about as much torque as the old 5.8L (330 ft/lbs).

The 5.4L gets about the same MPG as the 4.6L according to the people on this site. I'm getting 16 MPG mixed city/hwy. With the 5.8L I was getting abut 12 MPG. I have no personal experience with the V-10 but you should use the "search" feature on this site. Type in V-10 and read the posts that come up. It seems to me most posters are not too happy with their V-10's. I've owned 4 vans in my life and I have to say Fords RULE

 

My '92 has a 302 engine. It's been a happy, zippy little van for the 10 years I've had it. No complaints over 175,000 miles except I'm asking more than it can give. The suspension gets squishy pretty fast when I start loading extras beyond my usual load and, now with a trailer.... Better tires helped, but I know I need a heavier duty van this time. The last time I drove in stiff crosswinds I didn't feel I was driving safe.

I've been getting 15 mpg with mixed use -- I live less than 15 mi. from work, but take it out on the road to dog shows most weekends. LOL, I didn't have quite so many dogs (not to mention friends with bigger dogs who enjoy being ferried to shows)when I bought it!

There's a "program" van available locally -- a sweet 2001 E-350 Club Wagon XLT extended with all the toys that seemed to be what I was looking for, then I found out it had the V-10. The V-10 forum here has been some help, but hard to ferret out the facts at times I think folks either love them or hate them. Besides, most of the posters have F-series or Sport Utes. I'm also interested in how the diesels fare in the E series.

Where I have the weight, I'm very mindful of having a decent powerplant. My van has done well with the load, except I do alot of apologizing to it on long grades with the trailer these days.
Before the van, I had an Isuzu Trooper for a few years -- wanna talk underpowered?! Never again! That's why I'd rather have real world experience (especially from some van owners).

I'm sure you'll agree, the FORD is the best van out there! You'd be amazed how many dog people have them. LOL! Ford should do an ad at a show site some time! My first van was a '79 E-100 cargo van I bought second hand just to go to shows with. All the people I used to caravan with (who ALL had ext Fords) called it "the stubby van." :+

Thanks for your help! It's given me some much needed perspective!

All my hopes,

Vicky