Ford V10 Folks, advice needed

[itbgti]

First off, thanks to all those who answered some of questions on this site in the past in regards to my hunt for a tow vehicle...I finally have it.

2002 Ford E350 Ext 15 Pass. Triton V10

-What type of upgrades should be done for power?
-What type of gas mileage people getting (dont laugh)
-Any other "heads ups" I should be aware of?

On order: Airbag rear suspension-cab adjustable and a weight distributing hitch

Benspeed...I talked with you once about your V10, any tips you can give would be great.

Thanks,
Alan

[x-ring]

Sorry I can't help you on most of your questions, my F350 is a Powerstroke, but I did tow my rig with a friend's F250 Triton V-10 once. We got around eight to ten miles/gal on mostly flat ground.

My trailer is a Wells Cargo, so it's heavy, 3200 empty and probably 6500 or more loaded.

Ty

[BMW RACER]

Alan. Congratulations and welome to the world of Ford tow vehicles!! I myself have a F250 6.0 Powerstroke. I used to have an E250 Van 7.2 Powerstroke. I'd like to help but I (we) need to know what your towing. Trailer type and total weight.
John

[itbgti]

Open Deck 16ft Trailer ~1500 lbs max

ITB Golf GTI ~2200 lbs

Maybe another ~1200 lbs of "stuff"

~120 lb ball and chain

I HAVE A 03 F350 CREWCAB V10

8 TO 10 MPG LOADED OR NOT

UNHOOKED IT DRIVES LIKE A SPORTSCAR

KN AIR FILTER FOR SLIGHT BETTER MILAGE

YANKS 4000# AROUND LIKE ITS NOT THERE

[whenry]

my V-10 Excursion has been chipped(I dont recall the brand) with K&N and cold air intake. I get 12.5-13 mpg in normal driving and about 11 towing(20 ft Wells with Miata/Escort GT; my guesstimate on weight is 6500#). Depending on the yr of manuf, there are various options for chips. Mine feels like a stock PS. I have looked into exhaust mods but just havent wanted to spend the $$ on non-racing parts.
The best add that I did was the F-350 rear sway bar; you can drive the thing thru corners now rather than having to wait to see the track-out to apply throttle.

[Bill Miller]

Originally posted by itbgti:


~120 lb ball and chain

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MARRS #25 ITB Rabbit GTI (sold) | MARRS #25 HProd Rabbit
SCCA 279608

[B Schley]

I have a 2002 Excursion with the V-10. So far all I have done is the K&N filter. It tows my 16ft. steel trailer and my Crx like there is nothing behind it. I get about 12-13mpg when loaded. I also use the weight distribution hitch, which is one of the best purchases I have ever made. In the future I may chip it and do some exhaust mods, but as the vehicle is right now, it is more than capable of doing the job. I absolutely love it, and could justify it to my wife because it is an SUV that "the kids can grow up in." Hope this helps.
-- Bill

[itbgti]

Whenry,

You mention a rear sway bar you added...what was your source? Since I have an Econoline, the application will be different, but a manufacturer name would be great. Also, I heard of putting one in the front (a lot of RV guys do this, and they say it improves handling immensely)..i think there is some all in one kit that includes front and rear bars and some bushings???

B Schley,

Thanks for your post, seems like you have the closest so far in weight to what I will be towing, and hearing that it is not a problem for the V10, I am very excited for my first tow with it.

[JohnRW]

Unless you're really going to fill the van up and run insane tongue weights, you probably don't need anything trick in the rear suspension. I had extra leaves added to my E-350 SuperCargo (the looooooong one), but only due to the tongue ### on my enclosed pig.

21 mpg @ 72mph no trailer
16 mpg @ 72mph w/ 5000 lb. gross open trailer
12 mpg @ 72mph w/ 8500-9K gross 24' enclosed

Gas is what you get after a bad meal.

Diesels rule, baby. E-350 7.3 Powerstroke w/3.5 rears & aftermarket Auburn limited slip.

[This message has been edited by JohnRW (edited January 15, 2004).]

[benspeed]

Hi Alan,

Hope the trailer is behaving for you. I've been really pleased with the '03 F350 FX4 V10. It has a great suspension and handles well. I haul a 24'' enclosed that is a Haulbrick 3000 pounds with about 1000 pounds of stuff and a 2700 car. Get about 10 mpg unhooked, 8 mpg going up to NH and 10 mpg coming home. I haven't done anything to it, but a K&N and chip might be in the works. I just set the thing on cruise, but it does like to shift up the hills and a deisel would probably just hammer along. Save about $4500 buying the V10, no noise or stinky exhaust.

If you're going to put mucho miles on it - go deisel. All I do is take it to the races so saving the $$ was right for me.

cheers,

benspeed

[eh_tony!!!]

I can concurr about the rear sway bar.
HUUUUGGGGEEE difference. As Whenry eludes to, you now drive the thing rather than piloting it.
mine is a hellwig, $130 or so from Whitney.
BTW, I'm not impressed with the way the stock hellwig mounts the upper links. I mod'ed mine (had to use that new MIG for something), but the factory one may be a better option.

Bilstien's help as well. (about 60-70% of the sway bar difference.)

[whenry]

My rear sway was the stock F-350 package and purchased thru a Ford dealer. The holes already exist in the frame for attachment. I made no change to the front.
The rear sway may help under towing with stability but you notice it more just in normal driving. I would assume that the rear sway would fit and help a van too since the drivetrain and frames are essentially the same.
I know that the PS is better drivetrain for mileage but when you consider the price difference, I would have to drive it many miles to make it pay. I still get about the same mileage as my previous Expeditions and better than any big block 'Burb that I've owned. YMMV

quote "Diesels rule, baby. E-350 7.3 Powerstroke w/3.5 rears & aftermarket Auburn limited slip."


yuk, they smell, they sound like they got a loose rod cap and youll use 4 gallons of deisel trying to find a station that carrys it out on the road.

[JohnRW]

Originally posted by 7'sRracing:
yuk, they smell, they sound like they got a loose rod cap and youll use 4 gallons of deisel trying to find a station that carrys it out on the road.

Ahhh...the 'green-eyed monster of envy'.

[Greg Amy]

Nah, the wide-eyed innocent monster of ignorance...

GregA, 10-yr-old E-350 diesel, 13 mpg all the way to Atlanta and back at 75-80 mph...ugly, but paid for.

[lateapex911]

Originally posted by grega:
Nah, the wide-eyed innocent monster of ignorance...
...ugly, but paid for.

Not to mention all those odd but sturdy spare forklift parts that keep popping out of the cracks!



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Jake Gulick
CarriageHouse Motorsports
ITA 57 RX-7
New England Region
[email protected]

Laguna Seca has a hill going into the track thats pert near staight up, last august I flew by one of them coal burners that was toting and open trailer with a miata on it, I was draggin a 24 travel trailer loaded to the gills with tool boxes, spare parts, 40 gallons of fuel, and a pit motorcycle. I say you cant beat a 10, under your hood or in the right seat.

[HOOSER 99]

Alan--Grassroots motorsports did an article in dec about pepping up a V10 they had in their motorhome with Banks powerpack.

jerry monaghan

"ball and chain??" sounds like the honeymoon is over

[eh_tony!!!]

Hang on here... a V10 beat a PSD?? Not in this century..

for $400 extra in mods, I now have 620 lf/ft to the wheels, over 350hp (wheel) get 20+mpg, block heater (heat works immediately in the winter) and have WAY better resale.

Look on ebay, the PSD's hold in my case at least 90% of the engine adder. (sometimes more than 100%)