[A/S] Tow Vehicle Choices

["Harvey Barlow" <harveybarlow@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Eric,

This information will be worth exactly what you are paying for
it.......nothing, but you can add it to the mix.

First, let me put my own bias out on the table.  I tow a 34' A/S with a now
old and high mileage 7.4 liter (460 C.I.) fuel injected Ford.  In my
experience, a big engine towing a heavy trailer will return fuel mileage
equal to or exceeding a small engine towing a relatively lighter load
because the smaller engine has to work harder, it requires greater throttle
opening which results in increased fuel consumption.  The bigger engine will
tow at lower rpm, without constant downshifting, and will last longer in
continual RV service.  I learned an old line from hot rodders that is always
the bottom line for performance automobiles and especially for tow vehicles:
"There is no substitute for cubic inches."  The reason that statement is
true is increasing cubic inches of displacement produces greater torque.  It
is low rpm torque not high rpm horsepower that is used to tow a trailer up a
grade.   If you don't mind spinning a small engine at 4000 rpm in 2nd or low
gear for several miles, it will pull a trailer up a mountain grade, but my
old 460 with 143,000 miles on the odometer will climb the same grade at
lower rpm, in a higher gear, using about the same or maybe less fuel and
with less strain and wear.

In 1998 an old Navy buddy and I talked each other into making a pilgrimage
back to our old home, the submarine base in Connecticut.  I live in TX and
my friend lives in SW MO.  I towed my trailer and my friend towed his new
generation 25' A/S Safari with a new 5.4 liter Ford F150.  We pulled lots of
hills but no true mountain grades.  We traveled at or slightly above the
speed limit.  Neither of us had trouble keeping up with the other as we
rotated leaders.  My friend repeatedly stated that he was very pleased with
the performance of his 5.4 liter Ford.  He averaged a claimed 11 mpg as I
remember and I averaged about 9.5 mpg.  My trailer weighed about 8500 lbs.
and his probably weighed 5000 or less.

Ford literature and magazine test results on rear wheel dynamometers
indicate that the Ford 5.4 produces 90% of it's maximum torque from around
2500 rpm on up (that is from memory and may not be precisely accurate.)  It
is a good engine which will do a good job in moderate towing duty.

I don't have any experience with vans in towing duty but I'll offer these
thoughts.  A conversion van is considerably heavier than a factory equipped
van.  If a van is used to haul family members and additional equipment it
will be fairly heavily loaded before you hitch the trailer.  And 150 and 250
van suspensions are biased toward comfort rather than weight carrying
capacity.  A one ton van uses approximately the same rear spring capacity
and the same weight-rated rear axle assembly as a heavy duty 3/4 ton pickup
because the van distributes it's weight over the entire chassis while a
pickup carries most of its weight on the rear axle.

What all of this means is that if you are going to lay out a lot of money
for a new van, with the expectation of hauling family, personal gear, and
your trailer, and plan to tow the trailer a considerable part of the time
over varying terrain, I would suggest you consider the E350 (one ton) van
with the V10 engine.  The V10 engine is only a few hundred dollars more
expensive than the 5.4.  The one ton van is a fine tow vehicle, capable of
carrying a full load of passengers, all of your gear, and your trailer.  You
may have to order and wait for the E350, it will cost a little more, it will
ride a little firmer (but not as rough as my 250HD), but you will guarantee
yourself that the disappointing experience of towing with a 5.0 liter in a
Bronco will not be repeated.  In comparable towing and hauling situations
the E350-V10 will give more satisfaction and will last longer.

Selecting a vehicle that will primarily provide family transportation, carry
a load, and tow a trailer part time is always a compromise and ultimately
depends on the intended use, percentage of use that will include towing,
owner's expectations, and budget allocation so only the prospective buyer
knows what is best for him.

I have never heard a trailer enthusiast say, "I traded my old tow vehicle
for a lighter one because it had too much power."  We have all heard and
many of us have made the statement, "I traded my lighter duty tow vehicle
for this one because I got tired of climbing hills in lower gears with the
tach needle touching the redline."

In 1990 I had a small box trailer and was purchasing a new tow truck.  I
weighed all the options and decided on cheap.  I bought a new F150 Ford with
a 5.0.  It towed the trailer.  By 79,000 miles I was disgusted with it and
sold it.  By comparison, my '94 F250HD is almost 7 years old and has 143,000
miles of experience.  I'm still satisfied with it.

Good luck on your purchase.
Harvey