Towing with Express 3500 15 pass
Hi everyone. We have been looking for a new tow vehicle. With 4 young kids we were looking at a suburban 2500 but recently drove a 15 passenger express 3500 and it wasn't as bad as I thought it was ...
Forum Discussion
We have a 2010 Express 15 with the 6.0L & 6-speed. We have eight kids (ages - 3, 7, 8, 9, 12, 14, 17 & 22) so we really needed the space. We got a killer deal on a unit coming out of a government lease two years ago. Bought it in 2013 with 108,000 miles on it for $13,500 which looking around now is a smoking deal. I changed plugs/wires, coolant, tires, front window and tranny service so there went another $1200.
It tows like a beast but I'm limited by the total combined gross weight of 14,000 lbs. To be honest it feels like it could tow much more. The van is 6760 lbs. with me in it and a full tank of gas. With the family... add another 800 lbs and we have only 6500 lbs available for towing.
I bought a skinny travel trailer (ultra-lite) with bunkhouses and we all fit.... barely. The van gets about 12-13 mpg in town when used just to run around. On the highway it does spectacular. I get about 20-21 mpg on the highway doing the speed limit (60-70 mph). I get pretty close to that going up over Stevens Pass with a loaded van. By my calculations it is more efficient per person (highway) when loaded than a Prius.
It tows like a beast but I'm limited by the total combined gross weight of 14,000 lbs. To be honest it feels like it could tow much more. The van is 6760 lbs. with me in it and a full tank of gas. With the family... add another 800 lbs and we have only 6500 lbs available for towing.
I bought a skinny travel trailer (ultra-lite) with bunkhouses and we all fit.... barely. The van gets about 12-13 mpg in town when used just to run around. On the highway it does spectacular. I get about 20-21 mpg on the highway doing the speed limit (60-70 mph). I get pretty close to that going up over Stevens Pass with a loaded van. By my calculations it is more efficient per person (highway) when loaded than a Prius.
