3/4 ton cargo van

[Racefan1]

For many years I have used my company truck (F250) to haul my tag along. My role in the company has changed and I am thinking of purchasing a 3/4 ton cargo van. I would use it for work and for hauling the trailer. My trailer is a 30 foot Palomino and weighs loaded about 8000 lb. what are your feelings on the use of a van for this role?

Moved to Tow Vehicles forum from DIY.

[Carb_Cleaner]

Well, there ya go.
Now, I know. I guess I was thinking about the 2500 Series.

[carringb]

Carb Cleaner wrote:
The Chevy has more towing capacity because of the leverage effect on the Ford and Ram

Actually the Ford vans have the highest tow ratings. Chevy "max tow" numbers come close because they do the math different, but the GCWRs of the Ford vans are higher. Diesel = 20,000 pounds and V10 = 18,500 with 4.10 gears.

The 6.0 Chevy tops out at 16,000 pounds. The DuraMax vans get a bump to 17,000 but they weight 500 pounds more.

I have towed with both extended Ford and Chevy vans. The Ford vans handle the weight better. While the Chevy van has a loner wheelbase, it also has softer and narrower leaf springs, which allows the rear end to get pushed around more. Plus, the Ford vans have much bigger brakes and a much more robust cooling system.

The Chevy vans have a more car-like steering feel to them (stronger steering center) and they ride better lightly loaded. Also, its much easier finding used 6.0 Chevy vans than it is V10 Ford vans, at least when looking at used passenger vans.

[Carb_Cleaner]

The Chevy uses an extended wheelbase for long box vans. Ford and Ram attach an extra 16" or so onto the back of their regular wheelbase. The Chevy has more towing capacity because of the leverage effect on the Ford and Ram. I have a 2012 Chevy 2500 Extended with the little 4.8 V-8. I've towed about a 3,500 pound enclosed trailer (motorcycles), plus camping gear, clothes, food, etc. in the van. The suspension was fine and the trailer towed well, but the 4.8 is lacking going up hills. If you're towing 8,000 pounds, definetly shoot for the bigger motor. The 4.8 does well everywhere else, including about 15-18% better gas mileage than my old '99 2500 Extended that had a 5.0.
Vans make great tow vehicles. There's so much lockable, dry storage. We kept the bikes in the trailer (dry/security) and slept in the back of the van for 2-3 weeks at a time. My tool shelves in the van were helpful, too, but I did take out one shelving unit to make room for the air mattress. The biggest pita was unloading all my tools, removing the shelveing unit (6 bolts) and then putting it all back and being ready for work. The roof-mounted ladder rack makes a good tie-off point for awnings, too. We pull the trailer with a pick-up and a truck camper, now. I'm real glad we did it, but sleeping in the van got old (or maybe it's just me getting old).

[Drbolasky]

I towed a 6,000 lb. trailer for 9 years with a Dodge 3/4 ton window van, and in certain respects I liked it more than our current TV. It was the 5.9L with 4.10 rear axle. Loaded and ready to camp we were about 1,000 lbs. below our GCWR and I don't know that I would have wanted to to get any closer to the maximum. Performance was adequate for all but the longest and steepest grades.

Both the previous replies you your post are right on the money. I flirted with the idea of getting a Ford E-350 diesel van for a while, but I couldn't justify the expense as it would have been my daily driver more than anything else.

[carringb]

Vans are great. But you probably do want a 1-ton. Beside being able to stuff more stuff inside, the big engine offerings are only available in the 1-tons.

[popupcamping]

Better get it quick. this is the last year for the Econoline van.

[VintageRacer]

3/4 ton van can be a good choice. Things to look at - some engines are de-rated for use in a van due to high engine heat and subsequent cooling issues. The diesel engines in the Ford vans were almost 100 hp less in power (and far more reliable for it). Axle ratio is always important, vans sometimes are spec'd with tall axles for fuel mileage and suffer towing. Some van's extend the chassis behind the rear axle for the longer versions, some extend the wheelbase. You want the extended wheelbase if you go for a long van. But overall a 3/4 ton van is a really good match for a 8,000 lb trailer, with the right engine and axle. About the only downside in some situations is lack of a 4WD option.

I towed with a GM Express van 2500 for five years. It was a good tow vehicle, did the job fine, it was just a horrible truck. Bought it new for $40K out the door, got $5K in trade after 5 years and 50K miles. The interior trim literally started to fall off on the drive home from the dealer.

[popupcamping]

Golden_HVAC wrote:
Probably the E-350 van is equal to the F-250 truck. Both will have full floating rear axles, and have the 245/75R16 tires.


Fred.

he said 3/4ton van

[Golden_HVAC]

Probably the E-350 van is equal to the F-250 truck. Both will have full floating rear axles, and have the 245/75R16 tires.

The curb weight on the van will be a little higher than the F-250. I am just thinking that the higher GVWR of the E-350 will be required with your hitch weight and the weight of passengers and cargo within the van.

Also you might try to find a not extended length van. The extra distance between the rear axle and bumper will make even more weight transfer from the front axle to the rear axle when hooking up the trailer and applying 800 pounds or so 60" behind the rear axle (better to have the shorter van with only about 42" behind the rear axle).

Fred.