I also replace the oil and filter on our Ford E450. As others have said, there is enough room so you don't have to raise the front end. I use a filter wrench..guess I'm just weak ;-). There is quite a bit of oil that drains when you loosen the filter....just let finish draining before to finish removing the filter and is much less messy.
While I am under there I also lube the front end. Just a couple of shots of grease to each of the zerk fittings and we are good to go.
For us this is normally an annual process in the late Fall before Winterizing. We use Mobile one and drive 5K miles and occasionally more before changing.