Towing with an E350

paradisePWoffrd

paradisePWoffrd

Recovering Project Junkie
Joined
Nov 5, 2005
Location
Newton, NC
I have run across a E350 Quigley conversion. It is a 96 Ford. The owner said it has a 351 that was rebuilt ~20k ago, with an auto tranny. Its got around ~200k on the body...

I was wondering how it might tow? I would think the engine would leave some to be desired, but looking for experience from those who have towed with them...

Also, how much you think something like that would be worth?
 
E40d on the tranny. Ya gotta keep it cool like any other tranny. I would say under $2k unless it is a 4x4 conversion. If so i have an entire front end for spare parts.
 
It's going to be slow, it's going to want to spin, but it will tow all right if you're not in a hurry and don't mind taking your time on grades.
 
Got pics?
 
Here's what I think:
-You will have enough mass to pull a rig, no problem. You will also have plenty of beef and brakes.
-You can carry EVERYTHING in it.
-You can sleep in it.
-It will be cool to all the guys.

-Girls will not be impressed.
-It will be slow.
-It will not be fuel efficient.
-Parents with small children will be afraid of you.
-If you paint it pink I will give you a dollar.
 
I think it depends on what you will be towing with it. Yes, it is very cool, but I would think limited with the tow rating due to the conversion and 351 engine. For off minor road excursions and limited towing, I would say OK. For a dedicated tow rig, no way. As for the price....what is it worth to you. To me , not very much as far as a tow rig is concerned.
 
Put a 7.3 in it:Rockon:. We had a 03E-350 work van with the 5.4 in it....we drove it loaded with tools all the time. It sucked on gas. No way in hell I would want to tow a heavy rig with one. All we did was interstate driving and we had the tranny replaced and then about 5k later the motor threw a rod. The van had about 90k on it.
 
We towed a 25' enclosed trailer with something similar, probably early 2000s model E350 and it was scary on a good day and in rain and night and it was aweful. This was for schools baja sae team. Not sure what we had it loaded to as we never weighed it but probably no where near capacity (on the trailer). With a WD hitch it might have done ok. It was 2WD. Not sure on engine but we hammered on it hard to pull that trailer. We got a new F350 after the Minnesota State (i believe) tragedy.

I think I pulled the trailer once with that van and said never again. Now with an open trailer and small rig, it'd probably do it ok. Still won't be fun though.
 
I've been very please with my 2004 chevy g3500, its got the 6.0L auto. While not a E350 its not a diesel truck and you can definitely scare yourself in the corners if your going to fast. But i get 11mpg towing at 65-70 and with 4wheel disks it breaks very well. I find it to be a very comfortable rig to tow with. That said I can't say that an older model would be as nice to tow with. Many of the things I like came on the later models. Have fun..
 
I would pass on it.
 
yager said:
I've been very please with my 2004 chevy g3500 ... it breaks very well.
Click to expand...

Is that really the nicest thing you can say about it? I had no idea they were that unreliable. :flipoff2:
 
with a 4x4 van...why would you need to tow anything! lol, all you need now is ARB's and some 38's.
 
I towed with a E-250, but it had a 460, wish I still had it. I know one guy who tows a zuki with a E-250 2wd, and a 351, does good. Title it as an RV and no need for weighted tags. She will be slow if you have much weight behind it, esp on the hills.
 
My motorhome is a class C and uses the E350 platform. It has the 460 in it. It's slow going but tow's fine and dandy. I have added a large cooler to the trans to keep it cool.
 
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