full size van - which one?

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stockrex

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Greetings!

I want to get a full size van for mostly leisure travel. I am not inclined to any brand, best of breed is what I am seeking.
Here goes:

1. Ford or Chevy?
2. V8, v10?
3. 2500 or 3500?
4. Dually hard to insure?
5. I see chevy has the dmax option back, how about ford, any diesel option?
6. what are must have options?
 
If you go Ford. No DIESELS! Unless it is that new in house one. And ummm...make sure it don't backfire!

The one I'd buy is the one from a private seller. I'd talk to them and work out a deal. Find a low mileage one from a nice couple who enjoyed it and baby'd it. NO POWERSTROKES!

The V-10 by Ford is a gas guzzler but nice if you are gonna tow. I'd look for a sweet deal no matter the brand unless it is a powerstroke...
 
I'd go Ford. As far as equipment and engine choices, you'll have to match them to your wants and needs. IMO Ford trucks are the best you can buy.
27.gif
 
If you want a 15 passenger, I'd go with a Chevy/GMC. They actually extended the wheelbase for better stability on those, whereas Ford and Dodge just sort of tacked on the extra body length behind the rear axle and kept the same wheelbase. This extra weight behind the rear wheels makes handling much worse.

If you're not going for the 15 passenger version though, the Fords are good. A dually conversion would also help the stability issue dramatically.
 
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The only problem I see with full sized, RWD vans in the N.East is they rust out WAY sooner than they should. It's like they never advanced from ~1972 with regard to corrosion resistance. I've seen ~3yr/old Chevys and Dodge Sprinters with ridiculous amounts of surface rust on them. Fords seem to hold up the best from a drive-by perspective.

I'm with you in that I love the seating position and visibility of an old-school van, but unless you need the cargo hauling capacity and trailer pulling ability of these full-framed, gas gulping beasts, I'd stay away.

For people and cargo comfort, a minivan can't be beat. They are cheaper and easier to own/service and they don't turn to Swiss cheese in 4yrs.

Joel
 
He said "leisure travel" not 15 seaters!

Do you want a pot to pee in man? Or do you want a church van?

If I'm "leisure traveling" I want a place to sleep at rest stops.

I think he wants a custom van. The kind you can eat and sleep and pee in...
 
Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
Comeon guys this is the 21 century. Dodge Sprinter Diesel.


Nah, just wait two more years or so and get the real thing...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Transit

Just like here, over in Europe Ford OWNS the full size van market and has for years.

There is a reason they call a Van a Transit over in Europe, they are so common they have become synonomous with the word Van.

We'll be getting the new platform Transit here in the States sometime around 2013-2014.
 
Originally Posted By: Camu Mahubah
If you go Ford. No DIESELS! Unless it is that new in house one. And ummm...make sure it don't backfire!

The one I'd buy is the one from a private seller. I'd talk to them and work out a deal. Find a low mileage one from a nice couple who enjoyed it and baby'd it. NO POWERSTROKES!


I wouldn't get anywhere near a Ford diesel, new or otherwise.

That new engine isn't proven in the real world yet. The local Ford dealer is sitting on their Super Duty pickups with the new 6.7 engine. No takers yet.

After nearly 10 years of Ford diesel misery, people are being extra cautious. Both ambulance services locally are buying GMC or Chevy, and the local tow companies are buying GM and Dodge.
 
Custom vans depreciate ridiculously quickly and sell slowly. If you find one you like, lowball 'em.

15 passenger vans might be hard to get insurance for, due to rollovers. At least check first.
 
Originally Posted By: eljefino
Custom vans depreciate ridiculously quickly and sell slowly. If you find one you like, lowball 'em.

15 passenger vans might be hard to get insurance for, due to rollovers. At least check first.



+1


I've been considering one of these Vans myself...
 
I have a fleet of Ford and GM vans at work that are used as service vehicles. Both hold up great, especially with the abuse they receive from the drivers. The Fords have a tendency to start needing front end parts (tie rods, balljoints) around 60k.
 
Extended body with extended wheelbase will be my pick.
So Chevy is looking good.

Now, in the extended body, should I got 3500? or 2500? and then get the pass? or get the cargo and convert?
the rear a/c option is in the pass, what is this?

powerplant- dmax is way too expensive for my use, I would like it but at a $10k premium, ouch, I am guessing the 6.0 v8 is it.

Problem: the 15 pass van is a bear to insure from what I have read, how to I tag it as a RV?

Yes being able to pee in it is very important, when you have 2 little girls, arrrrrhhhh ;-)

Rust - I agree rust is factor but I will hardly ever use it in winter.

Sprinter - I am shying away from sprinters due to the high repair costs and "sensitive" parts.

Anyone have any experience with the Chevy AWD full size vans? how is the AWD system in these?

I checked inventory on GMC/Chevy website, I thought they would be clearing these out this time of the year, but I could not see any decent deals.


Anyone see any ads for Chevy van with deep discount. I am opting for a new one. I just can't find any deals on these??? :-(
 
In the 3500 chassis they tend to be quite rare. Production level is low and the value is high to those of us who use them to make money.

Dealers are unlikely to discount a 3500 series much as they sell no matter what.

Maybe you'll get lucky. But I feel certain that a thorough search would turn up a low mileage example from someone who is going out of business or something.

Remember the insurance will be tied to the VIN, so it won't matter what you say.
 
Varies from state to state but if you have a fridge, commode, heater, water tank, you can get RV plates. Insurance may ask how many seats does it have *now*, the best deal for your car may not be for the van.

Problem with insurance is these vans are driven occasionally by unfamiliar drivers, for colleges, church groups etc and the personal liability to other passengers is huge.

Also consider, wait for it, an old airport shuttle bus; they're popular RV conversions but of course beat to death. They have cool greenhouses in back though.
wink.gif
 
ford has the best engine but the front ends are by far the worse!
look in your mirror while driving at some of the ford vans you can see the front tires bowing out on most of them
 
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