Thinking of a new TV in the near future. I've always had trucks, and put a cap on first thing. For me the bed is useless without one, firewood, generator, etc needs to be covered, and more secure out of sight.At a campground last year, I saw a family towing with a Ford 3/4 ton van with diesel, and thought that really makes sense.Why isn't that more popular, is the price of a van a lot higher? I sure don't see many vans with the diesel, but probably because I wasn't looking. I would guess you could get it in 4WD also.Does Ram and Chevy make them also?

When all of our kids were still home and camping with us, I towed a 33' travel trailer with a 1 ton Ford E350 12 passenger van. Plenty of room for the kids, plenty of payload capacity, plenty of storage space. It worked great for us, and handled the trailer like a champ. My van had the 6.8L V10 gas engine, but as you noted they made them with a diesel. I love trucks and actually am back in one now as we no longer need the van, but I don't know why more folks with large families don't tow with them, especially when compared with SUVs. I think a lot of people get hung up on the image of vans compared to SUVs, but in many cases vans are much more capable family haulers and tow vehicles. Not to mention they tend to run significantly cheaper than trucks and SUVs on the used vehicle market.

Dave in TN wrote: I think a lot of people get hung up on the image of vans compared to SUVsI agree and think that's a big factor. But, a full size van can be a beast for a DD, depending where where you live/commute.

If you're talking about new full size vans, the selection of those with significant towing capacity have dwindled since years past. You can no longer buy a diesel full size van with a towing capacity much over 5000 lbs. GM no longer uses the V8 Duramax pickup engine in the Express and now offers the little 2.8 liter diesel used in the Colorado. They do offer the 6.0 V8 which has about a 10,000 pound tow rating. Ford discontinued the Econoline van and now offers the Transit with a range of engine options, but none of them can tow like the Econoline. Mercedes has the Sprinter with a diesel, with towing ability similar to the Transit. Nissan has the NV series with a gas V8 that can tow pretty well. Ram only has the Promaster, which has to be converted to a passenger configuration aftermarket if I'm not mistaken. It's also front wheel drive which makes it pretty unsuitable for heavy towing.

I've been towing with vans for 22? years. I don't particularly like pick-ups mainly becuse of having an unsecured bed. I currently use a Express 3500 passenger van with the rear seats removed. I carry bicyles, kayak, generator, boxes of spare clothes and even a small motorcycle fits (but not all at the same time !!). It's all out of sight and locked away.The 3500 Van tows like a champ, gets 12mpg towing and it's okay as a long distance TV. If I'm only going for 1 night, I usually just take the Van and sleep in the back on an air mattress. This is the 4th van I've had and my next one will be Transit EcoBoost.

I have been driving full sized passenger vans for almost 30 years. Even though we were only a family of 4 the extra space inside was awesome ! We only had a pop-up so when camping the extra space was very important. When the kids go older, our current van became a "moving van". Back and forth to college and everything else that would fit inside, without the seats. Because we were never hauling heavy stuff, we only had an E150 Chateau Club Wagon.Dave in TN wrote: but I don't know why more folks with large families don't tow with them, especially when compared with SUVs.Within 5 years of my daughter getting married, she had 4 kids (2 sets of twins will do that !) She absolutely refuse to buy a van, so they use a extended length Expedition (9,000 lbs max). Looks nicer, but it can not hold as much.Chevy is the only one still making a "full sized" van. The Ford Transit (NOT the Transit Connect) can not tow nearly as much as the old E-Series vans (5,000 lbs max). Stay away from the RAM Promasters.

Van for towing? | Good Sam Community

APT
Explorer
May 14, 2018
North American market for full sized vans is small. OEMs are limiting development on them and offer much lower equipment compared to the mid and high end SUVs. They are very much less expensive than full sized SUVs even for the same equipment. Nissan has the NV3500 and GM has the twins. If 2WD and the image are acceptable, go for it!
carringb
Explorer
May 14, 2018
CharlesinGA wrote:
Ford installed diesels in the E series from 1982 until the end of the 2007 model. The introduction of the 6.4L to replace the 6.0L made if unfeasible to install the new engine in the chassis.

Charles

Ford kept the 6.0 in the vans through the 2010 model year. There was a short hiatus of the v10 in wagons from 2007-2008 when cafe rules changed but it came back in '09 and WA sold through 2014.
Dadoffourgirls
Explorer
May 14, 2018
GM is still building them. There are not many passenger vans. The price of a off rental with less than 20k miles certified is around $24k or less.

I have been contemplating a move to a long wheelbase 15 passenger. This would give luggage room with 12.
dodge_guy
Explorer II
May 14, 2018
Dadoffourgirls wrote:
It does way more than any $24k vehicle should.

That's part of the reason why they don't build them anymore!
dodge_guy
Explorer II
May 14, 2018
Loved my Dodge Ram conv van. towed my 6500lb TT with no issues. these new vans are a joke! they can`t tow anything, look hideous and have hardly any towing capacity.

I wish someone would come out with a traditional van again!
Dadoffourgirls
Explorer
May 14, 2018
I have the 3500 Express, and it does a great job of towing the trailer. It was also my daughters beginning driver vehicle. It is also the winery and brewery tour vehicle. It is also the home improvement store vehicle (10 ft behind driver seat). It is also the sports team vehicle. It does way more than any $24k vehicle should.
fitznj
Explorer
May 14, 2018
The Transit models have a 3500 lb towing limit also.
Good choice as long as you don't have a big trailer !

Not sure where you're getting this info - the 2018 Transit guide shows a max of approx 7,000 is properly equipped.
The passenger version has lower ratings.

https://www.ford.com/cmslibs/content/dam/brand_ford/en_us/brand/resources/general/pdf/guides/18RV&TT_Ford_Transit_r1_Nov27.pdf
valhalla360
Navigator
May 14, 2018
The full size body on frame vans were perfect for towing with a large family. As a kid, they were very popular tow vehicles and that's what my Dad used.

Where I think they fell out of favor is a combination of smaller families and pickups that could carry 4-6 people comfortably. In the 70's extended cab pickups were an oddity and even if you had one, they space in the back was not good for long trips. With the van you could easily take 8-12 and there was room to spread out and lie down on long runs (before the days of seat belt laws).

Now the big 4 door pickups can comfortably seat 6 adults and if you have young kids they have to be strapped into a car seat anyway, so now a pickup is much more viable for the typical 1-2 kid family even if they bring a friend, plus you have the pickup bed utility.
CharlesinGA
Explorer
May 14, 2018
Ford installed diesels in the E series from 1982 until the end of the 2007 model. The introduction of the 6.4L to replace the 6.0L made if unfeasible to install the new engine in the chassis.

Chevy/GMC installed the Duramax in the Savannah from the 2006 models thru the 2016 models. I suspect it was discontinued due to lack of demand. The few I have seen were panel models, not full window bus models, but I am sure there are some out there.

The Sprinter thru the 2006 models has a 3500 lb tow rating with the I5 diesel and the 2007 and up models has a 5000 lb tow rating. I have seen a Sprinter panel model towing a 24 footish sized travel trailer in a campground.

The Transit models have a 3500 lb towing limit also.

Charles
theoldwizard1
Explorer II
May 14, 2018
fitznj wrote:

This is the 4th van I've had and my next one will be Transit EcoBoost.

Good choice as long as you don't have a big trailer !

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