Community Forums

Seon · 02-10-2021, 07:18 PM

Sold my 2007 Yukon xl 4wd 5.3L TV and recently bought a 2010 Ford e350 5.4l with 4 speed 12 passenger van which is really the first real Ford I've ever bought. Currently empty other than the front seats but am somewhat disappointed in the very rough ride. Probably smooth out when I pack extra weight like a sofa bed and slider tray along with camping gear.
Being a Chevy man, thinking maybe best to replace the e350 with a Chevy Express 2500 passenger van 6.0 with 6 speed transmission for a smoother ride. Just kicking the thought around.

So am asking, has anyone have first hand experience between the two Vans ride wise? Pro's/Con's?

tuffr2 · 02-10-2021, 07:28 PM

No experience with vans but I test drove a truck with the 5.4 triton engine. My impression is this engine was a dog. It makes more noise than acceleration...right?

I am thinking the GM built 6.0 litre engine has to be better

Arch Hoagland · 02-10-2021, 07:39 PM

What pressure are your tires set at?

F4Gary · 02-10-2021, 08:07 PM

So you are saying your 1 ton van rides rough when empty?

DaveMinBako · 02-11-2021, 09:35 PM

I think your van is rated to carry 2550 lbs, with the seats installed, and they likely weigh 4-500 lbs. So with the van empty, you have a truck that is rated to carry near 3000 lbs. You can be sure the empty ride is not nice. I have a 2013 E350 with the seats removed, & approx. 400 lbs of camping gear installed. It rides like crap. I recently replaced the 245 75 AT tires with the regular style Michelin Agilis all season, LT225 75R16, & that helped some. I've carried a few hundred more lbs of rocks, & that helped as well. I have the factory shocks, & may switch to newer KYB Excel G, which the folks over at the ford-trucks dot com forum think may help -there's nothing wrong with my shocks, but they're likely spec'd to be optimum for the van's full load. I tried reducing tire pressure, but that didn't seem to do much - you can only go down 10 psi or so before the TPMS system lights up.

xc-mark · 02-14-2021, 07:04 AM

going from a 1 ton to a 2500 is going to get a better ride. Cargo vans are not know for ride quality if they are empty. having said that the GM should ride better then fords , the GM trucks have long leaf spring and a very thick overload spring that doesn't touch the main springs until they get about 1000 lbs. in the back.