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Forum
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RE: Dodge Ram 1500 Van Towing
I believe those numbers are for the cargo van BTW. Passenger vans will be less (essentially minus seats and interior trim weight).
GVWR is easy to exceed in the passenger and conversion versions.
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carringb
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12/14/09 06:41pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: On Vehicle Wheel Balance?????
... find somebody that will balance your tire and wheel assembly using the holes in the rim where the studs go thru instead of the hole in the center of the rim. The hole in the center of the rim is not always accurate.
Using the center hole is the proper method on steel and Ford/Alcoa aluminum rims, as they are hub-centered. Yes, sometimes the steel ones have non-concentric hub bores. Those should be returned to the vendor. BTW - Ford had such a problem with this on the 8-handhole wheels they switched to another vendor which is why newer E-series only have 4 handholes. So if you are using the stock Ford 8-handhole wheels, this may be the cause.
Only aftermarket custom dually rims are lug-centered (and cannot be used on rear inner position, and require larger studs on the rear to maintain capacity. Arrowcraft adapters already have up-sized studs for this reason).
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carringb
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12/13/09 09:47pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: On Vehicle Wheel Balance?????
Ask you tire shop to "Road Force" balance you tires. It is a much more expensive machine, so some shops may not have one.
Also, watch the wheels while they are on a standard balancing machine, make sure there is no wobble or run-out (side to side or up and down).
Once you make the sure wheels and tires are okay... it's time a did a little deeper.
I had a vibration problem on my van too. There was some vibration since I bought it, but it was worse after doing the dually conversion. Finally decided to spin the rear wheels with the van off the ground. Only then could you see some up-and-down run out on the left side.
What it turned out to be was the center bore of the hub (full flaot Dana 70) was not machined quite concentric to the wheel studs. This is pure and simple machining error (probably chucked up in haste to get off work in time).
I went to a wrecking yard, and they had a hub already on the self. We put it on a brake lathe, and it ran true, so we swapped the hubs. This is not especially time consuming, but does require pulling the axle shaft. Turned out to be good timing, since my seals were just starting to leak (were the originals).
Another thing to check is the manufacturing accuracy of your wheel adapters.
Finally... did your van come with a full-float axle? If not, a DRW requires an axle swap. You should not use DRW wheel adapters on the semi-float axle.
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carringb
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12/13/09 06:18pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: WiIl I have lights?
You need to isolate the TT battery leads before you hook the TT to the tow vehicle battery system
It depends on the vehicles charge circuit. My van has a 40 amp trailer charge circuit, so a dead battery won't hurt anything.
But my weekend warrior had a 30 amp battery fuse, and that would blow, so I switched that to a self-seset circuit breaker.
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carringb
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12/13/09 06:07pm |
Travel Trailers
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RE: 35" tires on new F150 5.4 with 6 speed and 355 gears?
Yup. I still think no need as long as you don't mind staying out of 6th.
4th gear with 3.55s would be a pretty good place to stay while towing.
There likely is a fuel efficiency gain to be made with lower gears (to a point, like 4.10) because then 6th gear would be used more. But doubtful it would that gain pay for the gear swap.
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carringb
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12/11/09 05:52pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 35" tires on new F150 5.4 with 6 speed and 355 gears?
The first 2 gears are so low in the 6-speed that launch will still be acceptable.
You will not be able to tow in 6th anymore though. But you may not have been able to before the new tires.
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carringb
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12/10/09 03:16pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: OOPS - busted my RAWR
Tires are determined by the vehicle manufactures GAWR per the FMVSS 571.110/.120 which says ;
"tires fitted to an axle
shall be not less than the gross axle
weight rating (GAWR) of the axle system
as specified on the vehicle’s certification
label required by 49 CFR part
567. "
GAWRs are determind by the vehicle manufacture.
A question for LarryJM. Are all the F350 vans just a 6084 RAWR ? Wouldn't they have the higher rated 6700-6800 RAWR that the trucks use ??
You just verified what we were saying. Ford cannot set the GAWR than the tire ratings, which is 6084 pounds.
Doing a little digging....
Larry has the semi float rear axle, which is rated at 6350 pounds as an entire assembly.
His rear springs are rated 6195 pounds. (newer van have options up to 7800 pounds).
However, spec tire is L T245/75Rx16E on 16"x7.0" K Steel rims. Because the tires are rated at 6084 pounds, that is his RAWR.
Gross Axle Weight Rating is determined by the rated capacity of the minimum component of the axle system (axle, computer-selected springs, wheels and tires)
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carringb
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12/10/09 03:02pm |
Towing
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RE: OOPS - busted my RAWR
Logic is, if either axle can handle its weight rating at any given time, then why can't they both handle their weight ratings at the same time? Axle ratings add up to more than the GVWR to account for uneven loading, so if you load evenly, there is absolutely no reason why you can't load to the axle ratings.
It depends. GVWR has other parameters too, mainly stopping distances, but also obscure stuff like roof crush requirements.
Stopping distance is one that is hugely variable. The E350 has the same brakes through 12,500 GVWR so if not traction limited, would still meet FMVSS at those weights. This is not always the case. Chevy Express 3500 van barely passes at GVWR. Exceed that by 1000 pounds and braking is downright scary.
FMVSS establishes requirements for vehicles at the point of sale. Post-sale, it's up to your state. In Oregon, I can establish any GVWR I choose, but I cannot sell a vehicle with an uprated GVWR without establishing compliance to FMVSS at the higher GVWR.
Would I recommend that any person just go out and exceed GVWR? No way. But there are some people who know how to use OEM publications to understand their vehicles limitations and address them accordingly.
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carringb
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12/10/09 12:26pm |
Towing
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RE: OOPS - busted my RAWR
I would be more concerned by this figure.
TV GVW 9940 (TV GVWR 9,500)
I wouldn't be. Frame and brakes are the same up through 11,500 GVWR. Axle rating are well above GVWR to allow for uneven loading. I have looked into all the design specs for the E350. If Larry has the full float D70 rear, then the only difference between his van and a 11,500 GVWR is hub off-set, rear spring rate, and and number of wheels and tires.
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carringb
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12/09/09 10:24pm |
Towing
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RE: A poll - What CAI do you have?
Any newer truck already has cold air intake from the factory.
Many "CAI" kits are not sealed from the engine compartment, and allow engine compartment air in, so intake temps will be higher than with a stock air cleaner box.
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carringb
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12/09/09 11:07am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Shuttle Bus tow rating
As far as noise goes...
There are widely available insulation options. The E350 wagons from Ford get more doghouse insulation than the commercial vans and cutaways. And there's stuff from JC whitney and others. Critchfield sells dynamat.
The newest E-series 6.0 diesels are actually louder than the 6.0s from a couple years ago. I think Ford turned off the pilot injection. They are now pretty comparable with the old 7.3l
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carringb
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12/09/09 02:02am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Is this alot of miles for this 2002 Itasca Sunstar.
For how hard that motor must work to move that load, yes, I'd say that's a lot.
PS - it's actually front wheel drive not RWD like the listing says.
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carringb
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12/09/09 01:57am |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Tow vehicle- how would you factory spec it ?
Easy. Here's my wish list:
E350 V10
4.30 gears
QuadVan 4x4
Front and Rear ARB air lockers
Integrated trailer brake control
upfitter switches
PTO
Dual 46 gallon tanks
Buckstop bumpers
Warn 16k winch
In-dash computer with Sirrius travel link and Sprint Broaband.
Heated steering wheel
No, i would not go MDT.
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carringb
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12/08/09 11:58am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Shuttle Bus tow rating
BTW - The 460 engine has a GCWR of 18,500 not 20,000 like the Powersroke and V10.
The is an E-series forum on thedieselstop.com with lots of info on power mods. An intercooler is not one of them however (not easily anyways). But bigger exhaust, a chip, and some methanol/water injection (in lieu of intercooler) is one option.
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carringb
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12/08/09 01:09am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Shuttle Bus tow rating
Is there something I can visually inspect to tell if it is compliant with Ford's spec?
How do they ride? Does the body shudder over bumps like the old metal school buses I rode as a child or is the fiberglass (or whatever its made of) less noise?
They do have all the HD components in the drivetrain/brakes/steering correct?
Yes. print out QVM Q18 from the link I put above. Then compare the methods, drawings, and pictures with the frame extension on the bus you are shopping.
Alternatively, if you find a Mor-Ryde certification label on the bus, then it is compliant. Mor-Ryde does a lot of frame extensions. You could also just call the bus manufacture, and ask if it was built to QVM Q18.
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carringb
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12/07/09 07:52pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Shuttle Bus tow rating
PS - I'd recommend also looking for V10. Super reliable (much more so than the 460) and smoother and quieter than the 7.3L.
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carringb
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12/07/09 06:31pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Shuttle Bus tow rating
The towing capacity will be 20,000 pounds minus the loaded weight of the bus. You could make it simple and go by GVWR, so 20,000-14,050 = 5,950 pounds and that will be your minimum.
There could be an additional limitation if the frame was not extended right, so you should inspect the rear frame section and make sure it was done in accordance to Ford QVM Q-18. Most shuttle busses will comply. But when compliant with Q18 then the 20,000 pound GCWR stands.
For a hitch receiver, most E350 van hitch receivers will fit. I know my Hidden Hitch came with the proper shims to fit the flat frame rails of the cutaways (the vans have a slight indent for the crush zone).
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carringb
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12/07/09 06:28pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: $11,000 gets me a duramax ally in my 01 suburban !!
According to their you tube video, SUV and truck have the exact same floorpan so the tranny will fit as it does fit on the pick ups...
Truck has taller frame rails, so the floorpan is effectively higher in the pickups.
The floor issue is the reason GM did not put the Ally in themselves. And raising the 'burb would have made it less appealing to its core buyers (socccer moms).
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carringb
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12/07/09 01:31pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: $11,000 gets me a duramax ally in my 01 suburban !!
How will the transmission fit without lifting the body? Will he cut the floor to make a larger tunnel?
Without upgrading the front end, it will be overloaded.
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carringb
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12/06/09 09:30pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: New Ford or New Chevy
Your current truck will get better fuel economy than any of the new emissions -compliant diesels.
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carringb
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12/04/09 07:32pm |
Tow Vehicles
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