Buying E-350 PSD, Question?

[RDS]

Dual alternators - Can one alternator be setup to charge an independent bank (house battery) and the other one dedicated for the starting batteries? I would like to have a separate bank for my conversion. I understand these are controlled by the PCM, could I simply disconnect one and install my own regulator and battery to it. Will the PCM figure you just don’t have the dual alternator option, or, must it be reprogrammed?

I have heard of 1 E-350, owner (98’) where the transmission went out after 27K. Are the vans experiencing similar problems as the trucks, or is this an unsubstantiated issue? If it was a issue are the new 2000 units any better?

Has anybody ever ordered the 18B interior upgrade package for the commercial van (E34)? It’s unclear if the interior cargo area is insulated and covered. Also, is the headliner smooth or does it contain the features for the high capacity AC option?

Is the high capacity AC overkill for a totally insulated van with only rear and side cargo windows installed – two people inside? Can’t decide on this one, will be traveling in hot weather.

I will be towing 6500 LBS with a tongue weight of 720 LBS. Is the E-350 PSD capable of supporting this without a distributing hitch and is the supplied receiver with option 536 rated for it? The dealer seems to think it would be rated for the maximum towing capacity or 10000 LBS weight carrying. This doesn’t seem likely. What’s the consensus, carry the weight (assuming the receiver is rated for it) or use the weight-distributing hitch?

Thanks for any input on these questions.

Rob

[Towmaster]

Rob,... I have to 99E350 I don't know anything about the 2ks as for as interior options. Also I don't have dual alternators. As far as the A/C goes, the system does the job but just does it. WIth R34 the newer systems do not seem as robust as the older systmes with R12. I have the dual F/R A/C on my Chateau van. I think you would regret skimping on the A/C of your new van. I have had no problems with the auto trans. I have seen few if any posts on this group that refer to problems with the auto trans in the Vans. Mine now has almost 13k on it. I tow a 7500 rig using an after market reciever from Hidden Hitch. It is class 5. With a weight distributing hitch it is rated at 10K lbs. WIthout the weight distributing hitch it's only rated at 5K. I would guess the factory receiver is rated at 10K only if you use it with a weight distibuting hitch. The suspension is very stiff so you can hang huge tongue weight on the back without any sag but again I seriously doubt the receiver is up to more than 5k unless you use the weight distributing hitch. I use one because I feel the towing/handling is greatly improved. My 99 has the 3.56 L/S rear which is rated to pull 9500. To pull the full 10K my 99 needed to use the 4.10 rear.. good luck..t.m.

[HeyBob]

Buy the biggest, baddest ,best insulation package and air cond system you can buy!!

Don't think twice about it either!

July 4th weekend I left Rehoboth Beach Delaware, it had to be 105 degrees and very humid, got stuck on RT 404 forever in a huge
traffic jam, my van never got below 82 degrees, even after the traffic cleared and we started rolling it was hot with both systems running. R134a systems do not like the heat.

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cogito ergo zoom

98 E-350 Cargo van PSD
99 E-350 Clubwagon XLT PSD
Emerald Green, Factory aluminum
wheels, I found em at a garage sale
for $400.00
Three screaming kids in back seat, noise from engine drowns them out!
Don't ya just love it?

[Rich]

RDS, I have an E350 Club wagon extended van with both front/rear AC it is the best. My brothers friend who has an E350 with Front AC only does not cool his van enough at all.

I have a Reese Class V hitch that says you can have 1000lb Tonge and 10,000lb tow with out weight distribution. When i put my TT on it dry (6800LB, 700lb Tongue) The van sits very low and to much weight is off the front tires causing stearing to be vey hard. During my test drive with out the distribution bars I pulled over and put them on. It felt like my front end wasn't touching the ground. Use them. I am assuming you have a TT not a work trailer with a pintal hook.
Rich

[FastDEW]

RDS,

Get the front and rear AC!!!!!! You will miss it if you don't.

On the Cargo Van the Rear AC is ducted just up from the cooling unit and does not connect to the roof as does the van. You may ask you dealer if there is an RV prep. package that would have the roof ducts. I am not aware of it though.

Also, for the towing. It depends on the trailer as much as the tow vehicle as to how it will handle. I tow a 28' enclosed race trailer. Fully loaded it is about 9800 lbs or so and it is running around 950 lbs tounge. I am using a Class IV hitch with a 10,000 lb rating and a 1,000 lb tounge rating. The van always tows great with no load leveling and it sits realy nice. I have towed in cross winds and hardly needed to adjust the stearing. Tows great. One thing to note is that due to the extra length from the axle to hitch ball on the extended van it will tend to sway more and be affected more by tounge weight than the shorter regular van like mine. Also, like I said earlier, the trailer makes a difference as well. Over the years I have pulled many trailers and some just pull better than others.

As for the Dual Alt. I don't know a lot about the option, but I did think that it is only available on Ambulance Prep Package vehicles. I am not sure though.

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99 PSD E350 VAN 3.55LS Club Wagon Chateau with Factory Rear Seat/Bed and Aluminum Wheels.
"Drive it like you stole it!"




[This message has been edited by FastDEW (edited 08-30-1999).]

[George N]

Yes - to front and rear A/C
I've got factory front with an extension to the rear, C-12.
At high temps it cools well - but I dread the change to C34A

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88 E350 7.3L, C6, MaxiVan tall conversion, 86K, ~15MPG, sleeps 4 while I drive.

[MikeD]

Yes, get the front and rear air. I've had 3 vans (94, 95, and 97) and only the one with both the front and rear air would cool the entire van well enough not to complain about. With only the front air even the front wasn't cool enough in very hot weather.

Mike D.

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2000 E350 Super Duty PSD, White Chateau, Idle Control, Everything Except Power Seat. Ordered 8/12/99

[RDS]

Thanks for all the input (Buying E-350 PSD, Questions?). Looks like I will be ordering the rear AC. My porta-potti will have to find another location.

I am buying the E-350 PSD cargo van with all options to be used for a RV conversion. I will be adding a refrigerator/freezer, porta-potti, & sofa bed. I thought long & hard about the reefer and decided using electric over gas. Using a 8D AGM battery and that second alternator I can have an independent system that will operate the reefer up to 4 days between charging. Later, I can then add an inverter to operate a microwave & coffee maker.

With year 2000 the trailer tow package (536) now includes a frame-mounted receiver. I am still trying to find out what the spec’s are from the dealer. I have yet to decide about a weight-distributing hitch, but I do want a minimum 10K –1K weight-carrying receiver for towing the boat.

Right now I am trying to find some good ceiling vents. Most of the RV vents are cheap plastic units that look like crap. I am leaning towards some kind of solar powered vent that will mount between the ceiling gutters. Anybody have a recommendation?

Hope to get it ordered this week.

Rob

[FastDEW]

RDS,

The Factory Ford hitch will be a 500lb tounge and 5000lb load capacity. It will be 10,000 with weight dist. They call it a class IV but it is a class III. Plan on replacing the hitch if you want additional capacity without weight dist.

Is the dual alt. option available for all vans now?

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99 PSD E350 VAN 3.55LS Club Wagon Chateau with Factory Rear Seat/Bed and Aluminum Wheels.
"Drive it like you stole it!"

[RDS]

I just talked to the dealer & confirmed the hitch is 10K-1K weight carrying, but I still don't believe them. Yep, the dual alternators are available for 2000.

Rob

[FastDEW]

RDS,

The dealer is not correct. The hitch will not be 10K and 1K. Bet on it for sure! Even the 2002 Econolines we are working on have the 5K / 500lb rating.

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99 PSD E350 VAN 3.55LS Club Wagon Chateau with Factory Rear Seat/Bed and Aluminum Wheels.
"Drive it like you stole it!"

[MarkO-Indy]

I have a 99 E-350, Cargo Van with the 7.3PSD. Ordered it 10-2-98 and it came in 1-30-99. I have EVERY OPTION available at the time. If you order the tool bins and shelving, which it sounds as though you aren't, the rear air isn't or wasn't available. I ordered the ceiling liner, but the wall liners were not available. I went through this summer in Indiana, high 90's and high humidity totally comfortable, but then I have a partition between me and the rear of the van. I ordered the highest towing package, but it came without a hitch platform. The wiring is there though. Hitches are few with the rear step bumper!! I pull a 26' flat bed trailer occasionally, it does a fine job, 3.55 Limited Slip, rated at 10,000 lbs. capacity.
I have gotten 19.2 as the best mileage, the first tank was only 15.9 or so though.
Good luck on your new van. I love mine!! Thought about a Chevy until I drove one and my company bought 3 of them. Nice vans but the Ford is more solid and the power is great!