Above 100,000 miles: Ford/Chevy/Dodge vans?

[Naio]

Hello all!

I am planning to move up to a full sized van. In my price range that usually means over 100k miles. I have not ruled out a Class B, but I think I prefer the DIY route -- buying a plain van and putting my own bed, fridge, etc. in it -- like I did with my current rig.

What issues should I expect in the different lines? I have an idea that in Fords it's usually the tranny that goes, and in Chevys it's the engine? Is that right? What about Dodge? I don't think I want a Sprinter because I don't want to be looking for a Mercedes mechanic in East Boonie, Nevada.

Then there is the diesel/gas question. I have never had anything to do with a diesel engine. Would I like it? I hear 100k in a gas is like 200k in a diesel...

I know all these issues have been talked to death in trucks :). Are the vans the same? E.g., is a 3500 truck the same as a 3500 van, just a different body?

Yeah, I am kind of a vehicle dummy :). Do you all think anything particularly stands out as best or worst?

[Naio]

Colliehauler: Thanks, I didn't know about those!

[Naio]

Westend: The vans I have been looking at are around $5-6k. Used class Bs that I've seen seem to be mostly about 20k, and rarely have the high clearance I need. (Sportsmobiles are more like 40k used, unless very old.)

I'd also have to modify most class Bs to fit my shave ice machine inside.

Is there somewhere else I should look -- am I not seeing the cheap class Bs?

I'm not ruling out a B or small C, and have been looking at them online, but so far, with the mods I'd have to make, I haven't seen anything that inspires me to cough up the cash.

[colliehauler]

Have you checked off lease companies? They usually sell white off lease vans reasonable. They are plain Jane type but usually less than 5 years old.

[westend]

I would guess from what has been posted that you are more confident in buying a van with some miles on the clock.
I think you can find similar year RV's with less miles. It is about the nature of their use. The RV may have been treated better than a commercial van, too.

I would explore pricing on new Sprinter type vans like the Nissan and similar. The difference in price between a used 1 ton van and a new NV200 may be close enough to tip the scales in favor of new.

[free_radical]

My boss had chevy astro van,with V6 motor,
put over 650.000 klicks on it..

Had to replace transmission at about 250.000 km

I prefer GM Chevys with v8 motor,never had any fail yet,,put 300.000km
On my 2000 gmc,truck,,only had to fix one ball joint,one ignition coil,and transmision solenoid,,

[patperry2766]

Maybe stay away from Houston vehicles right now with all the flooding going on right now.

[Naio]

Thanks, patperry :). I do like window vans, and I def don't rule them out!

[patperry2766]

Have you been looking for the 12 & 15 passenger vans as well, or just strictly limiting the search to "cargo" vans?

You could easily pull all the bench seats out, and a lot of them will have rear A/C since they were designed to haul people. I don't know how close you are to Texas, but there is a place here in town (DFW) called Capps Truck & Van Van Rentals(http://www.cappsvanrental.com). If your willing to drive this far, it might be worth a call to them to see what they do with they do with them when they take them out of the rental fleet. Plus with being from Texas....NO RUST!

They also have locations in Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Mesa AZ, OKC & Tulsa OK

[Geocritter]

I too have often thought of purchasing an older 4X4 version of the Ford van but the reputed gas mileage that the 460 engine gets is a big turn-off for me too. FWIW, I've been busy setting up my 25mpg Dodge Caravan for a late spring Alaska road trip. I posted some photos on this same General RVing Issues forum.

Steve

[Naio]

Hello again!

Still having a hard time finding the right van. There's a '92 ford, 460 injected engine, under 100k miles. But Cheyenps, above, implies they are high maintenance, and some guys on the Ford boards say they are very low gas mileage (single digits). It would be a long drive to go look at that one, and so far I have put it off. Should I bother?

[wa8yxm]

I can not speak to Vans, save Dodge, but when it comes to cars I have driven many cars well over 100K miles..

Fords normally wore out bearings and such and lost oil pressure

Chevys and Dodges did not

The only van I owned was a Dodge.. Ran that puppy a long, long time.

[steveh27]

My 1997 Xplorer 230 is a Dodge and has 165k miles. I do take good care of it and plan on keeping it forever. Eventually I may have to replace the 360 engine, but it runs well now.

[ktmrfs]

our 87 chevy van with the 350 had 180K when we sold it, still running strong, towing a small trailer much of the time.

[Carb_Cleaner]

1999 Chevy 2500 Express, extended van with the larger v-8 had the tranny go south at 140,000. It hauled a lot of tools, materials and construction debris over its life, and occasionally pulled a cargo trailer with motorcycles in it to Florida and back. It was 13 years old when I traded it in on a new, 2012 2500 extended wheelbase, just like the '99, but with a smaller v-8 and a 6-speed tranny. Other than a fuel pump, and the dead tranny, I had zero issues with the '99. I opted to buy another, rather than go with a Ford extended box that uses the same wheelbase with a longer rear overhang. Besides a better towing capacity, the Chevy seems to have a roomier passenger-side foot area and a smoother ride, as well. I never considered a Dodge.