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
NCMODELA wrote:
What would an approximate mpg be for these unloaded?
My wife gets 15mpg in the summer and about 14mpg in the winter on a daily basis. This is a mix of city/country driving. On the highway I have seen anything from 17-19mpg dependent on load, conditions and ethanol content of the fuel.
NCMODELA wrote:
The only thing that is bothering me is the previous reports of van rollover rates when fully loaded or towing a trailer. I noticed that the express has an exteneded wheelbase with the same overhang as the 12 passenger model. Unlike the fords or dodges which tack the extra back behind the axle. Does this make a difference? Has anyone towed with one of these?
What model year are you looking at? When I shopped almost three years ago I made sure that I was looking at vans only with stability control and I also wanted the 6 speed, which meant 2010 or newer. I also like the fact that the vans have side curtain airbags, all though they are only for the front three rows in the 12 passenger and only the first four rows in the 15 passenger(?).
Fortunately, I haven't had to test the stability control while towing or really any other time. I can tell you that with the winter we had last year I was very impressed with our van. The traction control works well and with both that and stability control on it was pretty much impossible to even slightly fish tail the van. I would have to imagine that these would work just as well on the 15 passenger model.
FYI...this past labor day I weighed our van. With seven of us, two dogs, two mountain bikes and a bunch of other stuff it weighed in at 7400# leaving me 2200# of payload capacity.
