The 2500 is no more?!?

Yep, I know you can get things tarted up quite a bit, but I was countering the statement that the vans are speced the same at similar price points. They aren't. The SUV market wants all the interior fancy stuff and that is what sells and many owners have no clue about the mechanicals of their vehicle. Van buyers tend to took at the tool first and the options as secondary - just look at the sales figures. Not doubting the 350 vans are very capable of doing the work.
BTW, those may be stock pics, but one of those 60K vans lists "Front headrest" as an option!!! Didn't think it was even legal to not have headrest for the driver anymore.
Dual airbags too. Can curtains (which are standard on any SUV) be ordered as an option? I know last I looked, the crash test data on vans were also well behind the SUV set. With a wife who friends nick-named THe Safety Officer you can see where I am going.

Volkov wrote:


Nope, sorry. Just look what 60K gets in the above link. Second row benches which are nowhere near as comfortable as the Burb bench, nevermind the captain chair option with heat Burb offers. Cloth seats at 60k and you don't even get headrests beyond the first row!!! No chance my wife lets ours kids ride in that on a regular basis. The SUVs have basic trim levels the vans don't touch.

I think those photos are just stock pictures from the Fo.rd website. Higher level trim packages are available for just a little bit more. Our 2005 came with the Chateau package which is leather 4-4-bench seating, power doors/windows, rear heat/AC, GPS/XM, etc. Our older Quigley has a complete custom conversion with raised roof, tv and all that,

All the gingerbread is inexpensive compared to the hardware Quigley installs underneath ...

I don't understand the resistance to 4x4 conversions

You get factory parts, a factory warranty, and more 4x4 options. Yes, a conversion cost more than a 4x4 option on a truck or SUV, but the final price of a 1-ton 4x4 van is pretty comparable to similar-trim 1/2-ton SUV.


Nope, sorry. Just look what 60K gets in the above link. Second row benches which are nowhere near as comfortable as the Burb bench, nevermind the captain chair option with heat Burb offers. Cloth seats at 60k and you don't even get headrests beyond the first row!!! No chance my wife lets ours kids ride in that on a regular basis. The SUVs have basic trim levels the vans don't touch.

BurbMan wrote:
No resistance here, in fact I am looking hard at one as my next vehicle when the burb finally needs replacement. I was only pointing out that you just can't drive a 350/3500 van off the lot and get everything that the HD burb was. Cool pics too!

Around here you can! Check out my closest dealer: http://www.newbergford.com -->"New Inventory" and filter Vehicle Type to "4x4 Vans". Sorry I'd link the results if I could. I think most of the dealers around here stock 4x4 vans, even though QuadVan also sells factory direct from their shop in downtown Portland.

I agree. I have towed the same trailer with both a van and a burb and I felt that the burb handled the trailer better, had better visibility all around and riders were more comfortable. Vehicles had similar drive trains and tow ratings.

No resistance here, in fact I am looking hard at one as my next vehicle when the burb finally needs replacement. I was only pointing out that you just can't drive a 350/3500 van off the lot and get everything that the HD burb was. Cool pics too!

I don't understand the resistance to 4x4 conversions:?

You get factory parts, a factory warranty, and more 4x4 options. Yes, a conversion cost more than a 4x4 option on a truck or SUV, but the final price of a 1-ton 4x4 van is pretty comparable to similar-trim 1/2-ton SUV.

These are the two main 4x4 converters who are OEM certified:
www.quadvan.com
www.Quigley4x4.com

And for a little less mild, however not factory certified, there's:
www.ujointoffroad.com
www.sportsmobile.com

There a few others too, however they are more comparable to Quigley's capabilites, but without the OEM certification.

Here's some samples (2 QuadVan, and SMB, and a Quigley)

Beside 4WD, the most equipment on a passenger van is close to a base Suburban. Nothing even close to the equipment on a Denali for example. If that's acceptable, they are relatively cheap!

Nomadac wrote:
You could buy a 2014 Chevrolet Express Passenger Van 3500 LS Extended Wheelbase that has a towing capacity of 10,000 lbs. that would give you the seating capacity and inside storage space.

You could, but you wouldn't get 4WD capabilities.

Mickeyfan0805 wrote:
Apparently I've been living under a rock. I'm just coming across the information that the 2500 Suburban has been discontinued. This puts us in a very difficult position We are blessed to have the 2006 with the 8.1L engine and the 4.1/1 gearing, and it only has 75,000 miles. However, it is already 8 years old, and we anticipate another 8-10 years of camping with our family of 5 and our dog.

We had every expectation of buying a new 2500 in 3-4 years, and that plan is now shot! Ugh!!

You could buy a 2014 Chevrolet Express Passenger Van 3500 LS Extended Wheelbase that has a towing capacity of 10,000 lbs. that would give you the seating capacity and inside storage space.