Ford Econoline Van

Ive read that these have been discontinued as of I think 2014. My grandpa used to have a mid 90’s one and they were great for family road trips. Does anyone tow with one regularly? I know they are rear wheel drive and that presents its own issues but for towing a boat using flat ramps I don’t see much of an issue. Im thinking that with my already large and possibly growing family and with the ridiculous cost of crew cab trucks, that an older Econoline might be a possibility for camping/towing the boat.

I finally had to get a Ford F150, but I’ve had a conversion van since the mid 80’s. I had an 18 foot Ranger with a 150 Johnson and towed it all over the country. Loved it. I could sleep in it, the dog and my passengers could wander around it while driving, which saved on stops and there was plenty of room for storage and luggage.

My last van had only removeable captains chairs for the back four, so I could turn it into a cargo van, carry six with comfort or remove two and have room to sleep. Loved it. Gas milage was about 15 on the highway and about 11 towing.

I bought a pickup because I couldn’t find a decent conversion van. I only needed help getting out of a boat landing three times in all those years. You should do fine with a bit of care. Hope you find one.

Sounds like a good idea. In case times ever get tough, you could always live in a van down by the river.

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biggill wrote:

Sounds like a good idea. In case times ever get tough, you could always live in a van down by the river.

Good call. Already discussed with the wife moving the family into a fish house if we sell the house this year.

They still make the Chevy Express and GMC Savana Vans. Might be something to look at. I had a friend who just sold an 11 or 12 Express with the 6.0, he put almost 200,000 trouble free miles on it in about 2 years. I have joked with the FW that I would sell the truck and buy an express. If it came in true-4wd and had a little more ground clearance, it would make the perfect hunting/fishing rig with a vinyl floor. Then when the hunting season is over, put the seats back in and haul half the neighborhood to church.

biggill wrote:

Sounds like a good idea. In case times ever get tough, you could always live in a van down by the river.

Classic!
https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/motivational-speaker/n10432

Ford now has Transit Vans. They have up to a 5000 lb tow rating.

My father-in-law has driven econoline vans for as long as I have known him (~17yrs). They serve him well for work (woodworker with frequent deliveries) and we drive one out to Colorado every winter with 6 adults for a family ski trip. He also tows his old 18′ bayliner fiberglass speedboat (135hp merc) with it a couple times a year with no issue-EXCEPT at the boat landing. They have a cabin on a lake with a bad-steep public access ramp. Spins the tires and can’t get her up the ramp without some help. In fact he now enlists the neighbor with the 1980s diesel 4wd pickup to launch and trailer the boat every year. That not withstanding he is still bummed that they are going away from that style of van. HTH.

tg

Have seen late model pass vans converted to 4wd and lifted but not cheap. I’m surprised more people don’t go minivan with a hitch unless they have a truly heavy boat. Then again I have a wife driving a crew cab truck cause she doesn’t want a van. Check out a Dodge Grand Caravan rt or gt and slap a hitch on. The newer gmc conversion vans will cost you as much as a pickup