GM 4.8 V8, 2500 series van

There are plenty of 3500's with 6 liter gasoline engines and 4.10 gears out there, that is what you need.

I really want a cargo van and have seen a couple with the 6.0 but, it's not real common. The 4.8 is as common as cornbread. I want to build the inside of the van for transporting show dogs and pulling a trailer. I want to put a roof AC unit on it, insulate it and add some crates, storage and some human creature comforts. Then pull a 26-ish foot travel trailer to the occasional dog show.

If you are shopping for the van, then look for the 6.0 and 6 speed transmission.

It will be much better for towing, and "practically" the same when not towing. I spent a week with a 4.8, and it may have achieved 1-2 mpg better over the week.

You are talking about a newer one that has the 4.8L and the 6 speed tranny right? The 8000+ GVWR you mention, you were actually talking about the van and not a trailer GVWR?

What size trailer are you considering?

Hmmmmm....
As mentioned, need to let it go to higher RPM and it will tow upwards of 7-8000 lbs. My sone with his reg can 4.8 and 3.42 gears pulled my C2500 home from snoqualmie pass after a fuel pump went out. IT was on an 1800-2000 lbs trailer, truck is around 5500 lbs. We never dipped below 55 on all but the steepest grades in direct, once or twice on the steeper ones, ie 3-4% we were in 2nd. He and I will admit, a trailer that weight with the frontal area of a travel trailer will be harder to tow than my pickup and the car hauler......
BUT, you should be able to get from point A to B with a 6-7000 lbs trailer, not over load the truck/van, and it would handle the trailer fine from a chassis standpoint. You will potentially be one of the slower rigs on a steeper grade. Not the slowest mind you. You still have over 250 almost 300 ponies to work with, assuming you let the engine rev up. If not, you will not be too happy.

Marty

Just a data point. Our Class C with the 6.0 and 6 speed is ~12,000 lbs loaded for bear. I think the rear end is 4.10. The motor handles it easily with no strain, including in the mountains. BUT that's 60HP more than a 4.8. I sure would not think the 4.8 is the right choice for your application.

The 4.8 is adequate for the van itself loaded to its GVWR. Beyond that, unless you have a small light weight (4K lbs) max, hybrid I wouldn't tow a TT with it!

My work truck is a 1500 Silverado with the 4.8l. I pulled an enclosed 8 x 20 trailer with a 1600 lb plow in it with maybe 1000 lbs of parts and it was working to hit 65 and stay in third. This truck has 3.42 gears and the 4 spd transmission. I sure wouldn't call it "torquey" but rev it up and it will get the job done but who wants to listen to that for more than a few minutes.

falconbrother wrote:
Will the 4.8 Chevrolet V-8 engine in the 2500 series vans pull a travel trailer OK? Of Gross Weight rating is over 8000 lbs on most of the vans I have seen but, a 4.8 seems a bit small for the job.

If you're going anywhere near hills then your suspicion that the 4.8 "seems a bit small for the job" is correct. My old TV was a Chevy 2500HD with 6.0L gas engine and my TT was 7600lbs GVWR. On the flat land of Illinois the rig was fine. However, when we starting going to Bristol, TN for NASCAR we quickly discovered the sound of a screaming engine. Yes, the truck was reliable and it got us there and back every time. But.....4,400RPM at 40MPH up a grade for several minutes really tends to put you on the edge of your seat.

I would guess the 4.8L has much less grunt than the 6.0L. I couldn't imagine towing a TT anywhere near 7,000lbs with that smaller engine.

KJ

Hmmm. I don't think I would call the 4.8L "torquey".... The 6.0 even feels a little lacking in the torque department sometimes.