IF I could have gotten a 4wd 3500 extended van, I would have over a crew cab for my family of 6. I towed to the local mountains and used my TT as a ski hut more than I did in the summer months. So 4wd was a must to get thru the upwards of 3-5' of snow it snowed a few times over a weekend, getting stuck at pass as it was closed due to avalanche danger etc......
FOr what you are doing, a G80 rig is as dang near as equal as an open diff 4wd! There are a few things about 4wd that make it nicer, but having had multiple rwd G80 rigs, dang near unstoppable in there own right.
I drive a work 9500gvwr vans with 14' boxes, bassically a 15 passenger version. I have a transit now, a Sprinter before. I'd take the sprinter with 5 years and 180+K miles over this POS transit I have now. The shorter wb makes it ride worst IMHO. Put a load in the back, you have many lbs taken off the FA, vs the longer WB of the sprinter was better. I think you will find a GM will ride much like the sprinter did from my standpoint. I would suggest one, but feel the 6.0/6 sp will be a better power/drivetrain than the 200/400 6 cyl diesel in the Sprinter. If you were towing a smaller trailer, say 6-8000 lbs, then yes, but it would be slower than the GM van.
Marty
