Travel Trailer Towing Recommendations

The 4x4 unfitting price for a van on the east coast is about the price differential between a comparably equipped crew cab or 3 row SUV. Vans are less expensive because people don’t want them like they want a truck or SUV. While the van will not match the towing weight of the truck, the truck will not match the traveling comfort for more than 5 adults/teens.

It’s not like to “good ol days” when you simply put the excess passengers in the bed of the PU. :D (more friendly banter)

Grit dog wrote:
...
Recommending a van for these folks is like recommending a diesel dually. Kinda silly, in different ways...

Because we all know that a 3500 SRW standard box diesel would be acceptable. (Which I do have to park next to my Extended Express);)

Dadoffourgirls wrote:

Grit dog wrote:
...5. A van is the best option for Hauling the booger eaters and still being able to tow albeit with an inferior drivetrain compared to about any other option. But sucks for everything else.
And who the F wants to drive a short bus around town and to the grocery store and park it in the winter because traction sux? Vans are for people with too many kids and/or not enough money...

I would not say that the Express has inferior drivetrain. The 6.6 or 6.0 gas engine with 6 sp transmission and 3.42 is not inferior. I personally appreciate the 3.42 for the balance of fuel economy and capability.

Driving it around town is not much different than an HD crew cab. Way easier to load things into, like the slushie machine we take camping (or deliver for party rentals). Easy to get PVC pipe or 12 ft boards. A couple bags of salt in the back, good snow rated tires, and no issues in the winter.

Of course, Grit will never see the advantages.

One of the best snow vehicles I ever had was a 15 passenger E350. It was a "company car" that I drove around to sell medical equipment. I put studded snows on it, and it was an absolute beast in the snow.

I remember going over Ike in a blizzard with the traction law in place without any trouble.

I should also say that is the least favorite vehicle I have ever owned. Personally, I will never have another.

New Jeep Wagoneer is body on frame, rated for 10k towing. Available air suspension. Might be worth a look.

MFL wrote:
While Grit dog is taking a few jabs from others, I'll add that Grit seems to have an issue with yard birds, ankle biters etc. I don't think his issue in this case is from personal experience. IIRC he just raised a couple of well behaved boys, that grew into helpful family contributors!

Jerry

Haha, no, I presume you mean little kids (aka the crumb muncher comments). Nah, it's all cool. I am glad to not be vacuuming up fishy cracker and juice box stew out of the seats and carpets anymore, though.
Our kids are pretty good kids, thank you for remembering. Oldest is coming home next week from his first year at college. Proud to say he just got all As and Bs as a Junior in Marine Biology (this is his freshman year, did 2 years of college courses in high school).
Younger boy will get his drivers license in a couple monts if

I was simply being funny, providing some banter. There's too much stuff that is far too serious in our lives right now to be offended or take anything personally on the internet.

Dadoffourgirls wrote:

Grit dog wrote:
...5. A van is the best option for Hauling the booger eaters and still being able to tow albeit with an inferior drivetrain compared to about any other option. But sucks for everything else.
And who the F wants to drive a short bus around town and to the grocery store and park it in the winter because traction sux? Vans are for people with too many kids and/or not enough money...

I would not say that the Express has inferior drivetrain. The 6.6 or 6.0 gas engine with 6 sp transmission and 3.42 is not inferior. I personally appreciate the 3.42 for the balance of fuel economy and capability.

Driving it around town is not much different than an HD crew cab. Way easier to load things into, like the slushie machine we take camping (or deliver for party rentals). Easy to get PVC pipe or 12 ft boards. A couple bags of salt in the back, good snow rated tires, and no issues in the winter.

Of course, Grit will never see the advantages.

Sorry, good for plumbers and small time construction guys as well.
I fully understand the "advantages" of a van.
And by inferior, I didn't mean incapable. Just inferior. Any number of 1/2 tons will outpull the best (the only) drivetrain option available. Step up a notch to a big pickup and it's not even a fair fight.

Aside from being able to haul ALL the grandkids at the same time, I cannot think of another "advantage" a HD van would have for a retired couple that lives in the snow belt who are apparently looking for a very expensive luxury SUV.
Have friends with a big van. They also have like 6 or 9 kids...I lose track. The ONLY time I see him in it, is if there are more @sses going for a ride than there are seats available in their car or suv.

Economical? From a cost benefit ratio as a tow rig, yup, I see it. Lightly used vans are considerably less than a lightly used crew cab base model gasser truck with a similar drivetrain (minus the 4wd, some of us go places that snow tires and a posi rear end won't cut it, 4wd vans are otherworldly expensive, comparatively). No cheaper way to safely haul people, gear and tow a small to moderate size trailer all at the same time.
Recommending a van for these folks is like recommending a diesel dually. Kinda silly, in different ways...

While Grit dog is taking a few jabs from others, I'll add that Grit seems to have an issue with yard birds, ankle biters etc. I don't think his issue in this case is from personal experience. IIRC he just raised a couple of well behaved boys, that grew into helpful family contributors!

Jerry

Vans are also for people who require interior cargo space PUs and SUVs cannot offer. A van with locking rear and the right tires offers adequate traction for summer on road towing; 4x4 towing is really only needed for off road towing and towing in the snow (which most don’t do). This comes from 20 years experience boondocking on dry and wet pastures.

Grit dog wrote:
...5. A van is the best option for Hauling the booger eaters and still being able to tow albeit with an inferior drivetrain compared to about any other option. But sucks for everything else.
And who the F wants to drive a short bus around town and to the grocery store and park it in the winter because traction sux? Vans are for people with too many kids and/or not enough money...

I would not say that the Express has inferior drivetrain. The 6.6 or 6.0 gas engine with 6 sp transmission and 3.42 is not inferior. I personally appreciate the 3.42 for the balance of fuel economy and capability.

Driving it around town is not much different than an HD crew cab. Way easier to load things into, like the slushie machine we take camping (or deliver for party rentals). Easy to get PVC pipe or 12 ft boards. A couple bags of salt in the back, good snow rated tires, and no issues in the winter.

Of course, Grit will never see the advantages.

valhalla360 wrote:

Sorry for the miscommunication...I was including you with the salesmen saying the engineers don't know what they are doing.

Do you believe the "engineers" are responsible for setting the FHWA vehicle class weight ratings?

FWIW, all I'm hearing is you deflecting or talking around the actual subject.
BTW, it's ok to just say you don't know or understand and be that as it may, choose to use the "engineers" rating. It is a nice conservative number.