2006 6.0 Diesel - Looks nice - Your opinion please

[gbail]

Jage, that is a good suggestion.

Can you give us any rough budget for the UJOR 4x4 convo?

From other posts, I am guessing $10-12k?

[ponystar]

Thanks a bunch for weighing-in on the options, guys!
Decision made.... Drum roll please....

I'm going with a 2011 e350 (36k miles / 18k dollars) 5.4 passenger van and will build it out slowly as I research and figure out exactly what I want. I'm going to start researching shops around me (central coast California, San Luis Obispo) that can install the Ujoint 4x4 kit. I'll build-out the interior starting with a bed and customized storage for the standard gear. Will keep in mind options for hot water and a furnace as to not build myself into a corner.

Will definitely be replacing the factory captain's seats with something with greater/different support and adjustment capabilities. Can do without the swivel but need tilt, lumbar, height and maybe even heating.

Took the 2011 for a test drive on Saturday and will close the deal this weekend.
Very excited!!!

[BogusBlake]

Originally Posted by ponystar

I'm going to start researching shops around me (central coast California, San Luis Obispo) that can install the Ujoint 4x4 kit.

Poly Performance over off Industrial (by The Graduate) should be able to knock that out. I don't know how many vans they've seen, but they're very good 4x4 fabricators.

[Carl]

I love my 6.0 and would not hesitate in getting one, in particular later years.
Great power and 15+ mpg

[ridintall]

My 2004 RB50 6liter got 13mpg on a good day if I took it easy. Summertime cruising w AC was closer to 12mpg. Add some 4 wheeling or driving around town and it was more like 11.5. I have a 2013 EB50 V10 now w Voyager top and aluminess roof rack, Quadvan 4x4. I can't seem to get better than 9.5mpg. This past weekend towing my SMB trailer lightly loaded, and 4wheeling on the beach w the trailer I averaged 7.5 which included a 3 hour highway road trip to the beach and about 30 miles on sand on that fill up. I'm not complaining, I knew mileage would suck going into this new build.

[1der]

rdintall - Is that adjusted for tire height / odometer error? Seems lower than it should be with the V10, unless huge lift, big tires, lots of aero issues?

We are 12.7 to 13.5 mpg on the fwy. 63,000 mi, 3.73 gearing, close to stock ride height as we went with the IFS QuadVan conversion in early 2004, 3 Thule roof bars, Fiamma Awning, 265/75-16 Geolander tires, 46 gal Transfer Flow.

We did notice a 10% plus drop from 14.6 mpg we were getting on the fwy with the original Michelin OEM's when we went to the larger tires (and that was the only difference). Tried a 285 tire first for a bit, had slight tire rubbing issues and also a tire failure (delaminationcracking on all tires). When getting replacement tires we went with the 265 thinking mpg would go back up into the 14's. It did not.

The Michellins 255 (or 245?) were running at 80 psi, the Geolanders run at 65 psi so maybe that is enough to make a 10% difference, not much difference in ride heights.

fwiw, Ray

[mikracer]

Another SLOcal! Now that I have an SMB, I feel like I see more and more in SLO. Good luck with your build!

[E350]

Go here to read about the 6.0L Diesel:

http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forum107/

I don't own one, but it is my understanding that although it has known weaknesses, it can be made bullet proof with the known modifications.

[ridintall]

I have the standard 4" Quadvan lift with 285/70/17 Goodyear Duratrac tires and 4.30 gears as recommended by Quadvan. I run 65 psi all around. I'm seeing about 2k rpms at 60mph.

[cowboy4x4]

I have the V10 in my quigley and the best I can get is 9 mpg... roof rack, 33's, 410 gearing.