Hey guys, I posted a while back I was looking at a 1994 E350 Type III ambulance powered by a NA 7.3 IDI. I decided to go ahead and buy it. I hope I didnt get shafted, it has the E4OD but has a SRW axle. It only has 112,000 and change on it for $1200.

I am going to try to tow my mud truck with it which with trailer and mud truck together probably weighs less than 10,000. Do you guys think this will be a problem for the ambulance(or whaambulance as my buddies are calling it). I havent been able to bring it home yet because we're waiting on the peperwork to clear the state DMV to retitle it as a cutaway van, not an ambulance. It drives very well and seems to have plenty of power empty. I have not had the chance to check the rear axle ratio yet but I figure I'd be better off changing the rear to a DRW anyway. It already has some nice 10ply tires on the rear already.

The suspension in these are setup for a somewhat soft ride for patients and passengers so I have to decide between air bag helpers, leafspring helpers, or would it be better to just put heavier springs in the rear? I will not exceed the rating of the vehicle. I cant imagine less than 10,000lb truck/trailer combo being too much for the E350. After I get the hitch installed I will be weighing everything at a buddies work place, they have scales to weigh semis and flatbeds.

Anyones thoughts and opinions are welcome, Dave.

 

You'll be able to tow it, s..l..o..w..l..y.. You will probably be able to tow @ Hwy. speeds on flat ground but accelleration and up-hill will be sluggish.
A turbo would help a TON.
I had Firestone air bags on my Dodge for carrying a camper and it was a great set-up.
I also had 19.5" wheels and that helped a lot but you would probably be better off with duals.
I don't know if you can put a DRW axle in your "van" chassis if it was a SRW origionally but I'll bet they are different than the trucks anyway.
Somebody on here will surely know.

 

Hey Dave, don't forget that ambulances carry loads of equipment.
So what you think is soft springs may not really be that soft.


I did do some looking at dually van axles a while back, and there was a difference from F series axles.
Right now I can't remember what the difference was though.

 

The springs in the van are not soft at all they are part of the ambulance prep package and were rated for 3,800 pounds a piece. They should also have the double over load. The DRW vans came with only the narrow straight frame. A DRW won't fit a SRW because the frame is too wide

 

Thanks for the input guys, sorry it took me so long to get back to ya. I refuse to pay for dial-up at home when I can use highspeed at work for free.

I will probably look into a turbo kit over the winter months, but in the meantime, I'll take Daves advice i saw in another thread about NA diesels, I'll leave earlier and enjoy the scenery. But my main concern is having a reliable tow rig for now.

I would like to have duals just for the added stability on some of the roads we have around here as well as extra traction gettin in and out of some of these places, esp. if its windy or storming. I have read several posts you guys have on here about the load range of tires and keeping them properly inflated, that'll help a bunch.

I was thinking the air bags would be a nice setup so I could have a softer ride on trips where I might only be towing a small trailer with a couple 4wheelers on it.

I guess theres nothing really I can do until I get the hitch put on and see what it does. If it wont fit my needs then I could always sell it to someone needing to tow something lighter like a dirt track racer.

Oh yeah, while im thinking about it, anyone recomend a pyro gauge or let me know where to find a good deal? Thanks, Dave.