Thoughts on a diesel conversion van as a TV

I would look for a diesel powered Suburban and get something that was engineered for the weight of the engine and the torque output.

I would look for a Duramax van. I don't think $8K will get you one but I have seen a few for around $12K.

A late model GM 3/4 or 1-ton 6.0L/6-spd/3.42 axle van can hit 20mpg on the highway empty. And it has far more power and wheel torque available than a 20 year old diesel. Should find a high mileage one in your price range.

I would not touch a GM 6.5L diesel. A Ford turbocharged 7.3L - sure. GM diesels sucked prior to Duramax.

bucky wrote:
A conversion interior will pretty much use most of the payload on a lot of those vans. That stuff is heavy. That's why the mileage is so crappy on them.

It all depends. If its a regular half-ton. Yes.

If it's a heavy half-ton (Ford E150 2007+), not really. The newer E150s have a base payload over 3,000 pounds. I normal conversion probably adds 1,000 pounds, if that. Mileage really isn't any worse than full size trucks and SUVs with the same size motor.

And he's asking about a diesel, which requires a 1-ton chassis from Ford and Chevy. I don't really count the Sprinter as a real tow vehicle, even though they come in diesel.

bucky wrote:
A conversion interior will pretty much use most of the payload on a lot of those vans. That stuff is heavy. That's why the mileage is so crappy on them.

I don't think it's that bad. I had a fully loaded Chevy 1500 high top conversion and it weighed 5800 lb. The high top roof is probably heavier than steel and it also blocks a lot of air.

I think the conversion interior would be less than 1K. - two captains chairs and a bench in back that folds to a bed and some wood cabinets.

A conversion interior will pretty much use most of the payload on a lot of those vans. That stuff is heavy. That's why the mileage is so crappy on them.

hertfordnc wrote:
That is very cool. What's the towing capacity? Did you save any money over buying a truck? Not sure there's much difference buying new but in the used market it's 200%

As Bob said 20K with the 4.10 which I have and I bought it on the A-Plan (the one via the experimental A/C membership) and it listed as delivered at 34,090.70 (taxes/tag not included) and my TOTAL COST with $950 for taxes and tags I paid separately was 30,884.70

I have no idea on the saving over a truck since I WANTED A VAN which I have used to tow with since 1978 so no pickup for me.

Larry

Diesel E350 vans are rated for 16,000 GCWR with 3.55 gears and 20,000 with 4.10 gears. Effectively that means you could tow up to 14,000 pounds but the factory receiver is only rated for 10,000.

I don't think a Cummins 6-cyl would fit in a Chevy van. They have short engine compartments. Also they lighter front end components. They will fit into the Ford vans but it takes a lot of work. QuadVan recently did a Cummins 6.7L swap into a newer E350 van using the power-train control module and wiring for the F650.

You could buy diesel E350 vans through 2010, however the 6.0 PSD has its issues and require a certain amount of patience (and deep pockets sometimes).

That is very cool. What's the towing capacity? Did you save any money over buying a truck? Not sure there's much difference buying new but in the used market it's 200%

hertfordnc wrote:
I've been posting a lot lately on the pursuit of a sub-$8K diesel TV that will carry a family of 4 and pull 6-8K and get 20 mpg running empty.

Here's what I've come to so far,

Diesel Burbs were just not that great

Dodge Cummins and Ford did not make many crew cabs before 1998 so the prices are still very high ($15k)

But diesel cargo vans, either 15 pass. E350's or cargo vans from around 2000 are fairly cheap. Likewise gas conversion vans from the same era are very cheap,

See where this is going?


For my skill set swapping all that interior bling is a lot more doable than putting a Cummins engine in a Chevy (as was suggested)

Has anyone else thought about this ? Is there a fatal flaw?

thanks

YES, but I planned and did it from the get go on a new special ordered 2001 E350. Back then you could get almost every option available on the passenger vans such as full head liner, captains chairs, full carpet, running boards, full power and chrome bumpers and upgraded interior and exterior packages. This also included the recreational towing mirrors. The only option no avail was the 6CD changer, I got the single. The only options I didn't get were PTO, aux fuel, aluminum wheels and dual A/C-heat and dual alts. I finished it myself which basically included installing a secure storage area in the last 2' with a sofa/bed in front of that. I didn't get any seating except for the front since I didn't need them and the sofa/bed doesn't have belts since I took that out of my old Van and install it in this one. THIS ALBUM shows all the mods, how I did them and the explanations are in the captions. Total cost was just over $1,000 back in 2001 and was fairly straight forward.

I even finished off the sliding door and two rear windows for around $350 with OEM trim parts from Ford that matched the interior color.

Larry