I am ready to buy a used van for my home improvement business. I am looking at the Econoline series by Ford. How much weight can the 150, 250 and 350 carry? Any anecdotal evidence is welcome. I am in the deck and porch business and carry a lot of my own lumber.
Handy Dan
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Those number designations indicate heavy duty half ton, 3/4 ton, and one ton ratings.
The sticker on the door post should indicate gross load capacity for an individual vehicle.
Any truck can haul more than what it is rated for, but at the cost of higher maintenance over time the more it is loaded . Brakes, tires, ball joints, transmissions, U-joints.
Couple days ago, I drove a one tome Chevy van belonging to one of my subs. He keeps it loaded with close to a ton of tools, and the brakes felt weak to me for that much load - something to keep in mind if you are in highway traffic where fast stops are called for occasionally.
Also,be sure you get a bulkhead to watch your back. All that tonnage jumping forward in an accident will make Handydan57 Jelly for someone to scrape up with a spatula.
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"I drove a one tome Chevy van"Was it a former Bookmobile???.
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"After the laws of Physics, everything else is opinion" -Neil deGrasse Tyson
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If Pasta and Antipasta meet is it the end of the Universe???
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according to statistical analysis, "for some time now, bears apparently have been going to the bathroom in the woods."
I had the E150 and now I have an E250. I'm much happier with the E250 because it handles a lot of extra weight effortlessly. I typically drive around with over 1,000 lbs of tools and misc. supplies (mostly over the rear axle) and I don't even notice it. On the occasion where I've had had well over 2,000 lbs loaded in it, it just feels a tad more sluggish on acceleration and I notice I need to step on the brake a little harder, but it doesn't feel like it's anywhere near capacity.
If you're carrying lumber longer than the cargo area, remember to consider the leverage effect of anything sticking out the back.
I put long lumber on the rack on top, or have it delivered.
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Same here. I've had 25' sticks of gutter on the roof , tied to a ladder or pumpjack pole. I never drive with the back doors open ( on purpose) the exhaust fumes and tools dripping out is too much of a distraction.
I did take a drive up a steep mauntain road in WNC in my old Ford once, the back doors weren't latched, I saw a drill, a bucket with paint brushes, and a few other goodies in the rearview mirror. couldn't pull over , it was a gorge road, and I tried slamming the brakes, but it was too steep to make the doors swing shut....hadda go another mile for a pull off. Never did that again.
I'm seriously considering adding a hitch to mine for trailering, but the van is so worn out, I'm afraid I'll kill it with a big load. So the trailer would have to be moderate.
My shop guys told me that my van would not tolerate a heavy trailer because of the way the frame/body is set up.
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what kind of van are you driving? i have a dodge 1 ton. the heavest i pull is a bobcat ,probably 8500 with trailer, and a dump trailer that sometimes gets into that 7-8k range. never a problem as long as we don't talk about stopping quickly.this is always with tools on board,i usally weigh around 6500 for just the van and tools.
heavest load was 3 cubes of bricks,i don't know what it weighed,but i sure was glad to get it off.
the old ford 75-95 i had a true frame under them,the checy and dodge have a intregal type frame that spot welds to the floor,probably not as strong,but have never heard of one that failed. don't know what the newer fords have.
the older i get ,
the more people tick me off
Edited 7/10/2009 8:19 am by alwaysoverbudget
'85 GMC 2500
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"and dodge have a intregal type frame that spot welds to the floor,probably not as strong,but have never heard of one that failed. "
I had one that I abused. I did everything including waterboarding to it. The rear spring poked through the floor because I overloaded it. I just jacked it up and put a piece of 3/4 t&g plywood over the hole and the thing was just held there by gravity for a few years. I then continued to waterboard it.
I could see the extended body ( church vans) having an issue. But I think my frame is the same as a PU truck. I'm looking for a step bumper ( work type, not pretty chrome) so when I am tying off loads at the back, I don't slip off and bust a jaw on the roof drip rail.
That bumper would be a hitch then, not a HD frame bolt job, so then I'd HAVE to keep the trailer small. Gonna mount a decent vise on that sucker too, I can't tell ya how often I wish I had a sturdy vise when fixing something at the van.
Many thanks for the input. I am looking for the E250 now. I hope to find a clean one with under 60k miles on it.Handy Dan
If you are who I think you are, your van is a '95 GM. I'm not real familiar with it, but it looks almost just like my 85.it's been a while since I looked, but as I recall, the frame on a PU truck comes right on back. The van frame seems to stop short by a foot or 18", and the bumper is on a sort of extend flange. The hitch on it is connected to both frame and bumper at the outer docking points. Not a heavy hitch anyways.but this was originally a passenger van and sits low to the ground so I didn't want to weld up a full receiver hitchI can pull my 14' tool trailer with it on island, but was recommended by my mechanic not to go far afield with it. Being a wise man, I take well meant advice from those who know more than me on things.
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'96 3500. They never changed the front end style on the 3500's from the 80's.
Yeah, its me. They let me back.
I got the same deal as you describe, not for heavy hauling without a factory hitch, a buddy has the same van as I and hauls his race car trailer all over the state. That hitch was factory installed.
I'm more worried about cooking the trans., towing than harming the chassis or drive ability. Those trannies are the weakest link in GMC's truck line.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"If Brains was lard, you couldn't grease much of a pan"Jed Clampitt
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Yes, I've cooked more GM trannies than engines in my short lifeWasn't trying to out you, but was curious. been thinking a couple weeks now that it might be you, but no need to alarm the godmods and draw lightening.
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I'm gonna stay on Robyn's good boy list from here on in. (G)
She don't need the headaches from wisenhiemers.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
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"If Brains was lard, you couldn't grease much of a pan"Jed Clampitt
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Welcome back!:)
Are you the same Zorro who split Catherine Zeta Jones' dress right down the front with your sword?If so, nice work!
Edit: never mind round one, I read further.
Whur-u-at? Fill in your profile pour favor.
Bob in WNC
For those who have fought for it Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.
Edited 7/10/2009 10:18 pm ET by rasconc
Bob, you ain't far enough west LOL.
I was living in Macon, Jackson and Swain counties mostly.
Dripped tools that day from Franklin to Highlands, going up the gorge. Anyone living in Franklin had to go "uphill" to find work, thats where the $$$ was.
107 from Sylva to Cashiers is the other main route, also straight up.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
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"If Brains was lard, you couldn't grease much of a pan"Jed Clampitt
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coque au van
Hey, you know, they never ask about your order in those nicer resturaunts, "Excellent choice, sir - would you like to super-size that coque au van?"
Forrest - just wondering
A guy in Ga. took his wife to one of them fancy type places, the waiter said " I will recomend the Filet Mgnon, it's our chef's specialty"
The guy says .."Ok, I'll have that"
When the waiter broght it out the guy says
" hey, just hold on a minute, I orderd the FISH"
I have a 1998 E250 with class E rims/tires (75 psi each). I had it scaled once with the equipment I normally haul and was at 7468 lbs. but I don't know what it weighs empty.
As far as trailer capacity, I have pulled a double axle trailer loaded with a Case 1845 skid loader, the bucket, an auger attachment with two large diam augers, a set of forks, and 40 .60 PT 2x10x12's.......whatever that all weighs.
I also pulled a tri-axle trailer loaded with a Vermeer M-455 trencher (longer than the trailer)....don't know what that weighs either.
I have a weatherguard ladder rack on top that I have loaded with 18 .60 PT 2x10x12's
The worst part about using the rack for lumber is getting it up and down. Most of the time, I use a small 6x10 landscaper trailer to get lumber. I like it because when it's empty I can move it around by hand and it will haul quite a bit (about 2 yds of sand if you put some blocks on the axles).
If I did just deck work, I would invest in a 16-20' trailer.
DC
BTW: the van has been good for the most part but has twice had the habit of spitting spark plugs out of the block at the cost of $600 per incident. Other than that, no problems.
don't know what your looking to spend ,but heres the route i went.
the goverment has some 99-01 dodge vans, lowest mileage i found was 9k. quite a few around the 20- 38k mark. i picked up a 23k mile,3/4 ton cargo,318,power windows ,locks air,for 3500.00 3 months ago.
my 99 hasn't puked yet,i just bought this one for when it does.
the older i get ,
the more people tick me off
If I were going to do what you do, and sought to have a van for the biz, I would seriously consider one of the Sprinter tall vans from Dodge.
Having a bench all along one side, at which you can work on specialty things, would be quite useful. I think you can stand up in one of these.
http://www.dodge.com/en/2008/sprinter/
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"A stripe is just as real as a dadgummed flower."
Gene Davis 1920-1985
I've had a 95 Ford 250....since 95 : )
It's the extended van which is the only way to go to fit 8' boards of ply or rock with still plenty of room for tools on those occasions.
When I bought it I had extra leaf springs installed for some added protection.
Just recently I had my tile dealer fork lift in a 2200 pound skid of tile along with all my tools. I have to admit as the van sank low I was kinda nervous but I got where I was going.
I've never had a days trouble with the thing and I'm wondering if it'll be the last van I ever own. Still runs like new.
Hope I didn't jinx myself. http://picasaweb.google.com/andybuildz/TrickedMyTruckOut?feat=directlink
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Andy-I was lookin' at those Picasa pics of your van. Y'know, the round windows and cabinets. If ya put in a bunch of shag carpet and a mattress you could make it into what Dan Akroyd would have called a 'plush chamber'.The Woodshed Tavern Backroom
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Ken...those were all scraps from when I restored and added onto my house.
In the early 70's I actually did use shag carpet on the ceiling of a van I had (my tookie mobile :) and it was purty funny after a day...asll the shag threads hanging straight down.
If I added a wall of beads to separate the front seats from the back it'd REALLY looking like a gypsy mobile...or the van Cheech and Chong used...lolView Image
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If you stay with Ford, go with the 350. Make sure you have LT tires (truck) and not P (passenger) tires. The designation is before the size numbers. Probably not a concern with OE tires on a 350, but you won't find LT tires on a 150 series or even a 250 series unless you paid extra when it was ordered... and lots of people cheap out on tires at replacement time.
Bigger brakes, heavier suspension and floating axles. Trans coolers.... bigger transmissions and bigger radiators. Those things will help your van live a longer life.
Interior shelving (whether you make it or buy it) plus a light load of tools 'n fasteners will easily eclipse 1000 pounds. The 150 series underpinnings are not really made for this duty. Yeah, people do it, but stuff wears out much faster.
Heavier duty van = higher GVW rating which may mean different requirements for license plates. You could run a 150 and load it to the max to avoid that... but now you are dealing with broken stuff on the van more often. If you run over the GVW and get stopped... could be in for some expen$ive fines.
Ford offers a "heavy" 250, depending on which options boxes were checked.... better choice than a 150. GM also offers a "heavy" 2500. Not quite a 350/3500, but still offers a lot.
There are literally 100's of possible van configurations. You would be better off if you familiarize yourself with some of the options codes so you know what you are buying. Lots of plain white, light duty vans out there.
If you really want to take it all with, then look at a Sprinter. Buy the long one, and it will still turn circles around a Ford or GM product.
Edited 7/11/2009 7:50 am ET by danski0224
The market REALLY needs more 4wd vans, my Safari AWD was awesome, but just too small.
I forget sometimes my 3500 isn't AWD and I can get it in places where I can't easily get back out..just happened the other day. I got great tires for hiway ( they were on it when I got it from Dustin) but the next will be more aggressive, even if I have to deal with less MPG and more road hum.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
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"If Brains was lard, you couldn't grease much of a pan"Jed Clampitt
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Well, if you have the money, you can get a Quigley conversion on a Ford.
There is an outfit that does 4wd conversions on 02 to 06 Sprinters using OE parts. That is more money than Quigley... almost 2x more.
The OE tires on my Sprinter suck in the snow... so I need to decide if I want to get snows or just get some Michelin LTX AT's. The 4wd conversion would be nice, but I don't have the $10k plus laying around this week.
My Sprinter tires are still plenty good, so it is hard to get new tires.
Last time I bought LTX AT's they were almost $200 a pop.... but they went 70k miles plus, and I didn't get stuck in my 2wd F250.
Keep an eye on Costco for deals on Michelins.
I saw a van the other day that had tool boxes on the outside, it was pretty neat
Will do.
I've got a 3500 extended chevy van 2001. I bought it one year old and its been a great vehicle. I do mostly kitchen and bathrooms and when we gut a room, it goes in the van to the dump.
I've squated the back end a few times, the only problem I had was a series of bad axle seals but I think that had a bit to do with the place that was working on the truck.
BTW my truck is pushing 180k miles and the only DT problem is an occasional slip off the line. I think the first gear plates are getting a bit worn
Family.....They're always there when they need you.
I have a GMC cargo van, 3/4 ton, with the doors on both sides as well as the back. I really like the accessibility.
I refuse to accept that there are limitations to what we can accomplish. Pete Draganic
Take life as a test and shoot for a better score each day. Matt Garcia
http://i-trend.blogspot.com/2009/06/new-concept-cargo-van-nissan-nv200.html
Or check out the doors on this one:
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/nissan-nv2500-concept-3/1202669/
Edited 7/12/2009 7:49 am ET by basswood
That is way cool