ktosv wrote:
Grit dog wrote:
Never towed with a long tail van but it’s probably not much different than a truck with a long hitch extension?
If you are talking about the rear overhang, it’s pretty much exactly the same between the 12 passenger (regular wheelbase) and 15 passenger (long wheelbase). All of the extra length goes into the wheelbase.
The Express/Savana will actually ride better loaded than not, that is my experience. The shock upgrade is a must. I also put Belsteins on our van and it rode much better loaded and not. If we weren’t going to be towing for extended times I would deflate the tires a considerable amount. I think I would reduce the rear from 80 to 50 PSI or less.
We towed a 7200# gvwr 32’ trailer and the van did great. I don’t think I ever used anything less than 4th gear in the Northern Michigan Hills (Cadillac, Gaylord), so even in the mountains you should have plenty of gears to choose from. There was times the van was actually content towing in 6th gear, which was impressive considering my 2004 3/4 ton Suburban with the 3.73 couldn’t hold speed in 4th. Kind of proves that the 3.42 may actually be the right gear in the van.
Good to know. Thanks for your input. From what ive read, the 6th speed tranny helped tremendously over the previous 4 speed. Thas why these vehicles can get away with the higher gearing.
The shock thing will be the first mod I do. I've read a dozen different accounts on the benefit of the upgrade. Do you know which Bilstein shock you used? 5100?
As far as the rear overhang, the wheelbase does increase by some 20 inches with GMs extended length vans. Ford's older E350s extended the rear cargo but left the axles in the same spot as the shorter 12 passenger vans. Read about instability issues when loaded up on the tail.
