Help find Tow Vehicle large family 9 with seating for 12 min

There is a company in Oklahoma that stretches Ford pickups. My SnL has one that has 6 doors, bench seats, and very well built, diesel and all the bells and whistles. Got to think that 8 doors would be no problem.
www.customautosbytim.com

buy a good used excursion Limo .

Doesn't anyone else in the family drive ???

It would be easier; and probably cheaper, in the long run to use to vehicles.

Closest available today is the Express 3500. Chevrolet trailering guide shows GCWR 16,000 pounds with 6.0 Vortec, 17,000 with the 6.6 Duramax.

3500 12-passenger van is about 6300 pounds empty, extended 15 passenger van 6,700. The 12-passenger will tow 10,000 empty.

Problem is, you are going to load the thing up with passengers and gear, and when you get it up to 9000-9500 pounds, you are going to have at most 8000 left for your tow, and that's with the diesel. You would need to find a 6000 pound trailer that fits your needs.

Next option up is having a transit-type vehicle built on a Class 4 or Class 5 cab-chassis, or finding one used. Ford is still selling the E-450 to up fitters, V-10 gives it GCWR of 22,000. If you can keep your loaded transit vehicle under 12,000 pounds you have 10,000 for towing. However, this sort of vehicle can be problematic (because of parking) as a daily driver, and the models with RV construction are a significant passenger safety compromise. If you want to check out what can be built, Thor, Winnebago, and Forest River all have divisions that make these in various styles ranging from plain bench seating to party platforms. There are also a number of smaller companies in this business.

Shorty school bus or used transit bus? That's trickier, those built on van cab chassis usually have a lower GCWR than RVs, because towing is not an expected use for the buyer. Typical builds are on the lower GCWR E-350, G-3500, Sprinter 3500, and more recently the T-350 which doesn't pull any more as a cab chassis than it will as a van. You need to find E-450 or G-4500 chassis, or something even larger like a Freightliner M or Business Class.

Look at nwbus.com, tescobus.com for an idea of what is on the market. Look at stock number F27419 at Tesco, a Family Coach built on E-450.

12 passenger Chevy 3500 van with the diesel and 3:54 rear will tow 10000 lbs..

Its $50000 bucks though..

Plus options like locking diff
rear heater
Tow package
trans cooler

All will raise the price..

http://www.chevrolet.com/express/passenger/specs/trims.html

Actually 9700 lbs towing.. The V8 gasser tows 100 lbs more @ 9800 lbs..

But the Combined rating for diesel is 17000 while the gasser is 16000...

I would want the diesel.. you get the extra 1000 lbs for passengers..

So if you max out the vans GVW @ 9000 or so lbs then you technically only can pull a 7000 lb trailer...

But I would not worry too much about the sticker ratings.. I would go by the axle ratings of the truck..

But who knows what the van weight fully loaded with passengers will be...

Sorry, you need a bus.

Two vehicles: Crew cab 3/4 ton pickup plus minivan/transit, whatever people mover.

There hasn't been an OEM vehicle offered with 7+ seats and 10k towing at the same time. GM Express 3500 is close.

Go to an auction and pick up a used "short bus". You'll probably have to invest in some motor and body work, but I think the Federals say school bus must be replaced every 10 years, so that's not too old a vehicle.

Have a shop weld a class 5 hitch onto the frame rails and you're set.

http://www.wesellschoolbuses.com/#4_to_8_row

Interesting need. It will be very hard to fill. What comes to mind are the smaller size transit buses. They are purchased as a chassis/cab and then the body is added by an upfitter. They would carry the number of people and come equipped with diesel engines. They are probably available on one ton or larger chassis.

These vehicles probably do not have a tow rating since they are not standard built but could still tow.