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josephc's avatar
josephc
Explorer
Jun 12, 2018

Extended vs standard wheelbase on full-size van

My family is considering (at some point in the future) moving from towing our travel trailer using a half-ton truck (F150) to using a one-ton van like the Chevy Express 3500, to buy us some extra seating while also increasing our payload capacity.

The move from the F150 to the Express 3500 allows us to have a lot more tongue weight due increased payload capacity, but reduces our wheelbase from 145" to 135". There's also the option of going with the extended wheelbase on the Express which would give us a wheelbase of 155", but with decreased payload and max trailer weight (GVWR and GCWR remain the same, but the van itself is heavier).

So, my question is, how important are the rules about wheelbase length vs trailer length when compared with the weight ratings? I'd hate to upgrade to a one-ton vehicle only to be able to tow LESS trailer than with our half-ton truck. On the other hand, I'd also hate to get the extended wheelbase van and have a lower trailer weight capacity if the extra wheelbase doesn't actually help towing that much

Anyone have any insight on this? Anyone tow with a standard wheelbase van (and how big of a trailer)?

Thanks!

9 Replies

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  • apr67's avatar
    apr67
    Explorer
    Jul 20, 2018
    I tow a 32foot 2016 Jayco Whitehawk 32dbsh (8750 GVWR Max) with a 1 ton Express. Mine is the 4 row length (12 passenger) and not the longer van. The longer van loses a little weight capacity, but it is longer (unlike fords, which tacked the length on behind the axles, not a better idea BTW).

    Tows well with a properly setup WD hitch in flatlands of Florida and the east coast. However probably going to upgrade to a ProPride P3 before we do a 1 month trip from Florida through Yellowstone, Utah and the Grand Canyon.

    Ask whatever you want.

    20160520_082854 by Alan Russell, on Flickr
  • 73guna's avatar
    73guna
    Explorer
    Jul 18, 2018
    Let's see a pic of that beast.
    I love 3/4 ton suburbans!
  • APT's avatar
    APT
    Explorer
    Jul 18, 2018
    Congrats on the GM 3/4 ton! You should be good up to around 7500 pounds dry. Wheelbase is not a problem as many people have been towing 35' TTs with 3/4 ton SUVs for 15 years. Receiver rating at 1000 pounds is the limit, but many people exceed that.

    I recommend flushing all the fluids, a WDH with integrated sway control and Bilstein shocks to help the under-damped suspension.
  • LarryJM's avatar
    LarryJM
    Explorer II
    Jul 18, 2018
    donn0128 wrote:
    In the past there has been a lot of injuries and deaths in roll over accidents involving the long wheel base vans. I would go with the shorter wheel base and keep your trailer length within reason. If you cannot find a suitable trailer, then you might consider a 2500 crew cab short bed truck.


    I think you're mixing up the "extended" Vans especially the 14 passenger Ford Vans with the same wheelbase as the 12 passenger with the actual "longer wheel base" Chevy Vans. And, those I believe were mainly due to carrying max passengers only which "raised" the center of gravity beyond what one would see if the loading was more typical "cargo" type loading.

    Also, driver inexperience plays a part here since one has to realize a fully loaded 14 passenger type Van can't take corners like your Porsche 911!.

    Larry
  • SoundGuy's avatar
    SoundGuy
    Explorer
    Jul 18, 2018
    josephc wrote:
    The main downside is a somewhat shorter wheelbase (130in) than a van, but probably not enough to make a big difference.


    I'm not sure that's a downside, at least for towing a trailer of reasonable length, say up to ~ 30'. My 2006 Silverado had a wheelbase of 143.5" and towed our 24' K-Z Spree (27' coupler to bumper) just fine. At lease end I switched to an Avalanche with a 130" wheelbase and didn't notice any difference in towing at all. In fact, the Av was actually better once in the campground as it's tighter turning radius made it just that much easier to negotiate the trailer on to the campsite while avoiding awkwardly placed trees, rocks, campsite posts, etc. :W Now I'm back to the longer wheelbase with our '12 Silverado and once again have to put a bit more effort into the process when backing on to a campsite - out on the road there's no difference at all between the two wheelbases.
  • josephc's avatar
    josephc
    Explorer
    Jul 18, 2018
    Well, we ended up getting a 2013 Yukon XL 2500. It got us what we wanted in terms of additional seating as well as additional towing capacity and payload. The main downside is a somewhat shorter wheelbase (130in) than a van, but probably not enough to make a big difference. The 16000 GCWR and 8600 GVWR (with a curb weight of 6414) gives us some wiggle room to find the right trailer while still having room for the kids and dogs. To be honest I'd prefer a little more wiggle room than that, but even with 1 ton vans (e.g. the Nissan NV3500 which we really liked) the GCWR seems to max out at 16000, which is where we're likely to run into our limit, so there's not much more we can do. (I've heard you can concert a semi truck sleeper cab into a seating for a big family but that's a little extreme for us.)
  • WA4HTZ's avatar
    WA4HTZ
    Explorer
    Jun 12, 2018
    josephc, I am also interested in the replies you might get because I am considering replacing the POS truck in my signature with a van. I am interested in the Ford Transit and you might want to put that on your list also. Ford has created a nice vehicle in the Transit and, if the weights fall in line with your needs, would also make a good tow vehicle. Don't get me wrong, the Express/Savanna is a proven van and would also make a good TV. If you don't mind spending around $50 or so, go to some U-Haul dealers and see if they have Tranists for rent. Eliminates the pesky, rabid car salesmen and lets you drive the roads you want to. I did and it was the best "test drive" I've ever had. You might find an Express at Enterprise car rental places but those will probably be passenger vans. You didn't say what type you were looking for.

    Good luck and I hope you get many responses to this thread.

    Ken
  • falconbrother's avatar
    falconbrother
    Explorer II
    Jun 12, 2018
    We had a 2000 Dodge 3500, 5.9 V8 van for a few years. It was a fantastic van. I kinda wish we would have kept it. Nevertheless, the tow weight rating was something like 7600lbs. That's less than you might think for that type of a chassis. Heck, my old Suburban is 7200lbs. The vans are good for what you want to do though. The GVWR is still well over 8000 (8700-ish) pounds for the Dodges. So, you can safely carry your stuff and tow a trailer.

    As a side note about the Dodges of that era. Our church had two identical 2500 vans. We sold them when they had over 400,000 miles on them and they were still running and driving great. The only reason we sold them was that the insurance company had an issue with hauling kids in them and said that mini buses were safer (rollover issues). So, we sold the vans and bought short buses. I don't know how far that chassis will go with good maintenance but I suspect it's a very long way.
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    Jun 12, 2018
    In the past there has been a lot of injuries and deaths in roll over accidents involving the long wheel base vans. I would go with the shorter wheel base and keep your trailer length within reason. If you cannot find a suitable trailer, then you might consider a 2500 crew cab short bed truck.

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