Towing with a Ford E250 Van (4.6 liter, V8) in the mountains

[roadtraveller]

My 2009 Ford E250 has a maximum tow weight of 6100 pounds. I will be towing a Jayco X17Z travel trailer with a Gross Vehicle Weight of 3,500 pounds. The spec’s on my van are 4.6 liters /v-8/ 225 HP/ 4,800 HP RPM/torque 286 lb per foot. The axle weights, tongue weight , gross vehicle weight, etc are within the allowable guidelines.

I have been towing the trailer just fine in Minnesota but I would like to take a trip to Wyoming, Montana and perhaps Washington and Oregon. Since I have never towed in mountainous states, I am wondering if my E250 van will be able to pull the trailer without problems. The van has 75,000 miles on it and is in good shape.

[kaz442]

I tow with a 2000 E150 conversion van with a 4.6 with 3.55 gears. I'm towing 5000#. No problem. Just keep over drive off and let that small block sing. Handels the mountains of NJ and PA no problem. I do have rear air bags and a blue ox equalizer hitch. You shouldn't need the air bags do to yours being a 250 but they can't hurt.

JKaz

[carringb]

2nd gear 4,000 RPM is probably close to 60 MPH, which is pretty good, and also a likely possibility. I think you'll be fine. A larger trans cooler is probably not needed since that motor shares the same trans as the more powerful 5.4L.

[time2roll]

Just don't be disappointed if you climb some of the hills in low/2nd gear at 4000 rpm and 25/40 mph and you will be fine. Allow extra time and enjoy the ride.

[lbrjet]

You didn't mention your gross combined weight rating. If you are under that then you will be fine in the mountains. Don't be afraid of 4K RPM up and down the grades. Let your tranny do the work and stay off the brakes.

[Golden_HVAC]

Hi,

My motorhome has a 96 F-53 chassis with a 460" engine - 7.5L and factory rated at 225 HP at 3,600 RPM. Due to the nearly 1 liter per cylinder, the engine will not rev up as high as the smaller displacement 4.6L V8 with less than .6 liters per cylinder. So running at 4,000 RPM all day long is fine with your engine. Up a small mountain, it is fine too. . .

I think you will be fine on the mountains, just take it easy. I drove from Ill to Yellowstone in my motorhome, towing a car twice.. It went well both times. Up the hills are only 45 MPH in second gear, and then going down the hills, I always lock out overdrive at the top of the hill, before picking up much speed. Then if I felt uncomfortable, and the RV is picking up to much speed, I could slow to 45 MPH, then shift to 2 gear (of 4 speeds).

Fred.

[Bamaman11]

I had a E150 conversion van with a 351 engine. It weighed 6600 lbs. without the interior package--a lead weight vehicle. Your truck is taxing a 4.6 engine without any people, stuff and the RV.

If you're only towing 3500 lbs, you may be okay. I would strongly suggest you spend $150 on a TruCool auxiliary transmission cooler as the best insurance you can get for dependability.

[ib516]

It isn't going to be a great performer in the hills, but it'll get the job done.

[dodge_guy]

With that kind of weight you will be fine. let it rev on the hills, probably around 4500rpm is where it makes it`s power. I routinely rev mine to 4500 rpm at 60mph going up some mountains.

[valhalla360]

If the drivetrain is in good condition, it should be fine.

You might have to wind up the RPM's in a lower gear to get up steeper hills but shouldn't be a problem. Nor should it hurt the engine.

If you come up on a big downgrade, make sure to start out slow and in a lower gear so engine braking can help keep you slower.