Cruisers Forum
Main Forum => General Discussion => Topic started by: Falcon forward on March 12, 2021, 08:25:21 pm
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I have a 1990 falcon 190 What is the towing capacity?
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Find the capacity sticker and subtract gvwr from gcwr. It’s probably located on the inside of a cabinet door. If you travel very light you may be well under the gvwr, so you could also go to a truck scale to get the actual loaded weight and subtract that from gcwr to calculate towing capacity. Don’t exceed the capacity of the hitch, assuming it’s a class II.
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You have a few different factors to consider.
1) The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating referred as GVWR, with consideration to the weight of the rig and your contents and people.
2) The Gross Combined Weight Rating referred to as GCWR, the weight of that plus the weight of what you are towing.
2) The rating of the hitch installed
3) The condition of the frame and hitch
A 31 year old conversion van often has degraded over the years from rust.
Personally, I would have the vehicle's frame inspected for degrading rust, then protected from further rust. If the frame is still strong, I would then install a new hitch at the maximum rating available. Then calculate as Cal recommends. There is no harm in having a hitch that is stronger than your needs are.
I did a quick search on a 1989 Ford E250 van and found THIS CLASS 3 TRAILER HITCH (https://www.etrailer.com/p-75703.html?hhyear=1989&hhmake=Ford&hhmodel=Van), and THIS CLASS 4 TRAILER HITCH (https://www.partsgeek.com/gbproducts/AC/5135-03641826.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=ff&utm_content=TS&utm_campaign=PartsGeek+Google+Base&utm_term=1975-1991+Ford+E250+Econoline+Club+Wagon+Trailer+Hitch+Draw-Tite+Rear+75-91+Ford+Trailer+Hitch+1983+1977&gclid=CjwKCAiA4rGCBhAQEiwAelVtizSAB8ZrhE5MlJOt9L9RROIGhTqFzvHiDmazHaSXHF2aM_fIW9i3oBoCwhQQAvD_BwE).