Towing with Express 3500 15 pass

NCMODELA wrote:
For those that had or have one...with 4 kids do you have enough room for stuff or does it get cramped? Wish you had more space?

I have 5 kids and the regular wheelbase 12 passenger van. My kids are currently 13, 11, 8, 7 and 11 months. Honestly, there hasn't been a trip we have gone on that I really needed more room. That includes spring break to Florida last year when the youngest was 2 months. Now that we have an infant again, when we go places we are taking a pack-n-play, an exersaucer and several other things. We also have two dogs that often go with us and typically travel in a crate/kennel.

About the only time that a 15 passenger would have been a benefit for me is when we take our bikes somewhere. With the 12 passenger there isn't enough room behind the third row to put a bike in length-wise with both tires still on. Therefore, I have to take the front tires off and I put them in sideways. If I had the 15 passenger, there would be enough room behind the third row with the fourth and fifth rows out to just throw the bikes in.

The one thing to consider, is that a 12 passenger van has about 50 more cubic feet of cargo space (92.1 cuft) behind the third row as you do behind the third row of your Suburban (38.9 cuft). So, you will still have room for 8 and gain cargo space. The other thing is that the fourth row is a split bench. So, you can take out one side and gain some cargo space and have seating for 10.

The turning circle of the regular wheelbase is about 6' larger (49.2') and a long wheelbase is 11.5' larger (54.5') than your Suburban (43' for half ton).

NCMODELA wrote:
I was really looking at a 09 with stabilotrac and the 6.0 6 spd combo

If that is one that someone/somebody has advertised, you will want to double check that. I thought the 6 speed wasn't available until 2010. I really like the 6L/6 speed vs the 6L/4 speed combo I had in a 3/4 ton Suburban and would encourage looking for one unless the 4 speed is a really great deal.