Need comments about E350 Cutaway -

[Patrick@hmsga]

For many reasons I find myself in need of another work truck.

Haven't owned anything but a Ford F-series or Explorer since 1995, and have had 5 different ones of those. NEVER have had a serious problem with ANY of them (except for this one overheating when a radiator split, but now see ZERO residual effect from that). I am sold on Ford, and usually don't even like most of the others, US OR Japanese (WHO wants a timing belt in a TRUCK???).

My current work truck, a 1997 F-150XL 4.6 is well over 230,000 miles, still runs GREAT, but had already decided to replace it as a tow vehicle, just haven't done it yet. Also getting tired of towing, backing, loading, unloading, watching and worrying about theft or trailer or stuff in bed or trailer, and hooking and unhooking a trailer, sometimes in the dark.

We stay in our share of hotel rooms when we travel in our work, get tired of always wondering how my stuff is doing out there, and if it is even still mine...lol, but that is not really funny.

I am SERIOUSLY considering an '04 or '05 E350 box/cube/Cutaway, or whatever you want to call it.

A 12' - 15' box will carry (and lock up) everything I need, and I can stand up inside and walk around.

I know these have the same 5.4 and tranny that come in the F-150, and that the interior in cab is similiar. For what I do, a 5.4 with a 4:10 should do anything I need for it to. Probably wouldn't ever drive more than 70mph.

Is there anything I need to know (either good or bad) about the E-Series year model '04's and '05's?

Current plans are to get one, try it out and get used to it, then maybe upgrade to a brand new one with a box specifically built like I want it, then this one would go to someone else.

I am just about to decide this way unless I learn anything I don't yet know that would change my mind...

THANKS for any information, either positive OR negative that you might have to share about this.

Patrick

UPDATE, done 03/05/07, at 11:50PM ~

It might be rude to just delete this post. No one has responded to it, not so many have even read it, but I will leave it anyway.

After doing some more research since posting this I decided to go with either F350SD or F450SD (cab and chassis only with bed delete option) as the capacity in the box will be manageable for me, and the comfort level in the cab and footroom will be much more comfortable considering how much we travel with our business.

[cavinandpavin]

all i realy know about vans and such is that they are realy hard to work on (or they can be)i guess you are geting the gas motor?? i hear the fleet techs at work raisin haell when they hafta work on the deisel van setups..i guess its a real trick to get the heads off(aperently on those the heads come off for many reasons.)

[Davy Crockett]

I have a 2000 F250 SD w/beefed up rear springs and a dynamite Reading utility bed.The 5.4 gas just ain't got enough go for a loaded work truck. i don't care for the diesel noise and smell but if I could do it over I think I would go with the Powerstroke 7.3 and just tolerate the negative. When the tools are scattered on the jobsite things are different.When in doubt bigger must be better.(that's got to be a man-law)

[fourdtech]

Originally Posted by Davy Crockett

I have a 2000 F250 SD w/beefed up rear springs and a dynamite Reading utility bed.The 5.4 gas just ain't got enough go for a loaded work truck. i don't care for the diesel noise and smell but if I could do it over I think I would go with the Powerstroke 7.3 and just tolerate the negative. When the tools are scattered on the jobsite things are different.When in doubt bigger must be better.(that's got to be a man-law)

have you seen the new ones?can actually have a conversation standing next to it.Ford says they have learned from the 6.0.the new one is fabulous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!