Above 100,000 miles: Ford/Chevy/Dodge vans?

Our 03 Chevy 3500 (Class B Roadtrek) had about 110k on it when we traded last year. Tranny was rock-solid. No major engine issues, either. Was going to need alternator/battery, but in the scheme of things that's pretty minor. And no paint peeling issue! ST

If you aren't towing, I wouldn't worry about an engine/transmission combo in any of them, assuming they check out when you are purchasing

You don't say your budget or age. If you can find a class B for a similar price/condition, I would grab that in a heartbeat over doing your own conversion.

If you can get one of the newer small diesels, they are great for fuel economy. We rented a fiat in Germany a few years back (Chrysler is selling them now under their badge). It wasn't a powerhouse but had enough and got 30mpg.

I had a Glaval HalfBack which would be ideal for this use. mine was on a Ford chassis. rear third was walled off, bench seat in the middle laid down as a bed.
bumpy

Watching paint peel from Express vans was one of the reasons I chose to buy an E-350. On the Chevy vans prior to the Express, seemed like the paint just faded, as it does on most everything else from that era after 20-30 years in southern plains sunlight.

Ford and Chevrolet use the model numbers differently for vans than for trucks. Particularly in 2000 and earlier, when 3500 or 350 meant a dually truck, a van with the higher numbers was usually the same as a 2500 or 250 with the smaller V8 as a standard engine. This gave buyers needing 3/4 ton carrying capacity (GVWR 8000-9600 pounds) an option for economical smaller engine for urban use in 2500, larger engine in 3500 for towing and highway use, and optional big block (or V-10 for later Ford) for heavy towing.

Frame and suspension of an E-series (since 1975) was pretty much the same as on pickups of equivalent year, F-150 to E-150, F-250 to E250/350. Since the 1990s, the pickup has evolved, the van has retained 1990s twin I-beam with its own improvements.

Frame of Dodge and Chevy pickups has not been shared with the van. Dodge van never had a frame, was unibody from first to last versions. Chevy van (to 1996) was also unibody. The Express (introduced 1996) got body-on-frame construction, its own frame, but some chassis components similar to pickup parts, 1500 to 1500, 2500 to 2500/3500.

Engines and transmissions? It all depends on model year. In 1992 Ford switched from Windsor small blocks and 385-series big blocks (in a light truck, almost always the 460) with C-series transmissions in early days, later E4OD to "modular" Triton OHC engines and the 4R and 5R series electronic transmissions. Chevrolet made the switch from their classic small-block V8s (302, 350, 400) to the modern LT series (4.8, 5.3, 6.0) in 1996, and eventually dropped the big block.

If you don't plan to tow heavy, you would probably be fine with small v-8 in a 2500 or E-250, and if not building a heavy conversion, a 1500 or E-150, although those are rarely found in the roomier "extended" versions. Even a V-6 might work.

I would not bother with Dodge vans at this date. Though Dodge made a very good van, and it was quite popular for RV conversions, parts are getting harder to find the longer it has been out of production.

Early 2000s puts you in the final generation of Ford's E-series (from 1992) or GM's Express/Savannah vans (from 1996). You might find more Ford vans on the market, since they had a huge advantage on fleet sales market share when new. This had a lot more to do with factory and dealer options packages to meet commercial needs, and how Ford handles fleet sales, than it did with basic quality of the truck.

I have had Chevy/GMC vans since 1976. Chevy transmissions are great if you service them regularly. Since we tow alot,I have mine serviced every year. I have had no problems with paint. I only had one with over 100,000K and that one,the engine did fail at 108,000 miles.But we did alot of towing with it.We put in a new motor and traded it in at 128,000 and the transmission was still going strong and we had no other problems.

Don't know the range of years with the paint problem. But if say pre 2005 and paint is not peeling then it probably will not. Unless it has been repainted.

Thanks for the heads up, BB TX!

I would be looking at early 2000s. Do you know if they have the same paint problem? I will look carefully.

I have had excellent service from the Fords that I have owned. Get their heavy duty Trans.

We have four Chevy Express vans for our small business, one 2009, two 2010's, and one 2013. None of these have very high mileage and are not used hard. Have only had one major issue, and that was a transmission replacement on the 2009 at about 50,000 miles. And a less serious issue of a rear main oil seal leak.

BUT. Paint is another issue. At least factory white paint. The 2009 and both 2010's started peeling badly after about 3 years. And if you watch, you can probably drive for an hour on a busy street/highway and see several white Chevy Express vans with peeling paint on the hood, and sides just under the rain gutter, and maybe the back door. And GM is no help in doing anything about it. I am somewhat surprised there has not been a class action suit filed against GM about it.