towing heavy with a one-ton van - Diesel Forum

urbanboatbuilder · 09-13-2005, 12:12 AM

I want to buy a van to tow my boat and am confused as to whether any van can legally pull my boat. My boat is a 26' Tollycraft that weighs nearly 10,000# and has a ten foot beam. I would tow it on a top guality, well set up trailer with electric over hydrolic breaks on all axles. The tounge weight would be about #800. I'm pretty sure a E-350 van with a diesel will pull this load easily and safely but will it be legal? I know I can tow this with a SRW F-350, but a van would serve our family better. I know an E-350 with a v-10 or a diesel can pull this fine, but can it do so legally? I'm wondering about insurance and liability. Is the 10,000# tow limit on E-350's a firm limit or a reccomendation? The Tolly on a good trailer is an easy tow compared to some kinds of equipment. I would have adequate hitches and load leveling hitch.

Thanks,

Jack

Super_Dave · 09-13-2005, 12:57 AM

I don't know about the legality part.

I would certainly use the weight distibution AND dynamic sway control. I feel that vans have a funny weight bias or something. We had issues with my previous van pulling an enclosed car hauler with only weight distribution. Was heavy with a GVWR of 10k.

Larry M · 09-13-2005, 07:03 AM

Jack,

First off WELCOME TO TDS. As far as I can tell the GCWR and tow ratings for both the 99+ 7.3L and the 6.0L at least for 2005 have the same limits and the V-10 has the same rating. For a 4.10 rear the GCWR is 20,000 and the towing rating is 10,000 with a 1,000 lb tongue wt with a WD setup. These are limits based on the hitch ratings available with the factory tow packages and the last time I checked the only hitch for a Van rated higher than 1K/10K was the 2K/20K pullrite hitch. So IMO you are go to go and perfectly legal as long as you keep the towed wt at 10,000 or under and the tongue wt less than 1,000. You'll also have to watch the GVWR of the actual tow vehicle if you load it up like a Quigley or Sportsman Conversion or get a 15 passenger Van or maybe even a 12 passenger and load it to the gills with people/cargo.

Larry

ddog · 09-13-2005, 08:34 AM

[ QUOTE ]
and has a ten foot beam.

[/ QUOTE ]
It varies from state to state, but in Florida 108" is max width for trailers without needing oversize permit.Towing and Hauling Forum may have more input on that aspect of it. If you do this with a van be sure it has a 4.10 rear.With the van full of family, coolers and gear you will likely be at or over the GCVWR(Gross combined Vehicle Weight rating).Your Tow capacity is the lesser of the Max rating or GCVWR-GVWR for the Van loaded which usually ends up being a number less than the max tow rating.

[ QUOTE ]
Is the 10,000# tow limit on E-350's a firm limit or a reccomendation?

[/ QUOTE ]

This would depend on how good your lawyer is at explaining why you thought it would be safe to exceed the manufacturers recommendations.
Towing overweight is always a potential liability. You would need to determine your risk tolerance for that.

carringb · 09-16-2005, 01:06 AM

Not a problem.

To find the actual tow rating, you must look at the GCWR, which is 20,000 pounds (assuming you orer correct axle ratio). The advertised limit of 10k is due to the hitch.

Several class 5 hitches are available. Reese is one. I have Draw tight. And then , there is pullrite as mentioned but that is a good extra chunk of change.

Yes, you will be legal if you get an oversized vehicle permit due to the beam of the boat. Annual permits are available. You will have to be diligent about eh roads you drive on. Some highways will require amber strobes, and some may even require a pilot car.

Larry M · 09-16-2005, 06:37 AM

[ QUOTE ]

Several class 5 hitches are available. Reese is one. I have Draw tight. And then , there is pullrite as mentioned but that is a good extra chunk of change.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yep ... after I posted I went back and looked and now there are some class V hitches available for Vans. This wasn't the case several years ago.

When my money boat docks, I might consider upgrading since I run a high tongue wt. and after 25yrs I probably should update my WD system. I'm still using a friction type sway system and have actually worn one out [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

Larry

puttputtwannabe · 09-17-2005, 09:06 PM

I have pulled a 38'fifteen thousand pound camper trlr around the country
including Alaska loaded down with 12 kids and gear for four months.(with the van)

DarthSurplus · 09-18-2005, 08:13 AM

[ QUOTE ]
12 kids

[/ QUOTE ]

This is a dynamic load, not a static load, and therefore modifies the equation . . . [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Larry M · 09-18-2005, 11:09 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I have pulled a 38'fifteen thousand pound camper trlr around the country
including Alaska loaded down with 12 kids and gear for four months.(with the van)

[/ QUOTE ]

[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img] ....

That's 38 feet divided by 12 kids = 1 kid every 38 inches not including any adults [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] ...

NOT ENOUGH ROOM PERIOD ... YOU CAN'T EVEN PHYSICALLY SEPARATE THEM [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

Larry

DarthSurplus · 09-18-2005, 04:26 PM

I'm sure that there are clearly demarcated demilitarized zones and neutral corners.