Howdy,

So not 100% on topic, but I'll probably tow our enclosed trailer with the camaro in it with whatever we get... :-)

I'm starting to get into the market for a full size passenger van. I'd like 3/4 or 1 ton, able to tow our 24' enclosed trailer if it needs to, but will mostly be a run around town vehicle. I care about gas mileage only after stuff like room, ability to tow, reliability, price, etc. It won't get that many miles on it.

I've been figuring 2000+, with the 6.0 and 4l80e... Does that sound right? Has that been available since 2000?

Anything I particularly want or should particularly stay away from in the 3/4 and 1 ton chevy vans?

Thanks!

Mark

The duramax became available in '07 or '08, though only with the 4L80E so it's de-tuned. Not sure how many of them have been made, or even if they are made in non-work vans. Whenever I've looked, it seems like the 6.0L engine is 3500 only, but I don't know if that's a certainty, but it's the impression that I've gotten.

I had a 1993 GMC 3/4 ton (supposedly!) Conversion Van as my first tow vehicle. I have no idea how they could call it a 3/4 ton and it was very scary to tow with. 5.0 TBI with 4L60E and single-piston calipers.

That's about all I can say about those vans.

I'm not sure if they were available to the general public but...I drove a 1 ton 4x4 Duramax passenger van for field work when I worked for VA DOT. I *think* it was an 02. We also had a bunch of the RWD in both cargo and passenger...but I'm not sure if they were available to the general public. The 4x4 I had would go pretty much anywhere...except a parking garage! or rock climbing. We used to load it with equipment to take in the field, it didn't flinch. We didn't do any towing with it...

Of course we also had "special-order" 1/2 ton 6.2/6.5 diesel reg cab long beds too...which supposedly weren't available to the public.

I love towing with a van. I used to tow an 18" open with an E-150 with a 4.6l and now I tow a 24' enclosed with a E-350 V-10.

Personally, I like the E-series Ford better then the Chevy van. My dad has had a GM van for the last 20 years, so it's not just a quick test drive. I don't know how to explain it other then that the Ford feels more stable all the time. I like the seating position in the Ford better too. To get enough leg room in the Chevy, I feel too far away from the steering wheel (6'3").

Howdy,

So I picked up an '06 G3500 extended passenger van today.



More here: http://www.maracing.com/van/

Ok deal, I think. Not stolen, but not horrible either.

Its an arizona / texas van, 92k miles, everything seems to work. Paid $8750 not including tax & title, plus our '02 Venture minivan in trade (which was 167k miles, rusted rockers, needs brakes, and probably needs control arm bushings or something. But... Was still our daily driver and dependable). Edmunds said $1k trade in value on the venture, $1.5k private sale.

I need to put a hitch on it and probably an external tranny cooler (opinions on this? Its the 4l80e trans. External cooler was an option, but wasn't on this one).

Also need to get a spare key. Tried getting Lowes to cut one, which opened the door but didn't turn the ignition... Do these have some kinda security key? There's no chip thing in the key that I can see.

I'll also get another set of steel wheels for E rated snows.


Anyway, just thought I'd post the results of our search!

Mark

Did you try flipping the key over? On several of our newer GM's, cheap recut keys only turn the ignition 1 way and not the other.

I had Lowes cut a key once and in order to work the ignition I had to pull the key back out by a 16th or so to work. I think it had something to do with the big rubber boot on the original key that didn't let it sit in the cutter right.

Howdy,



I did the first time I think. Maybe even the 2nd.

Then I tried returning it, and I'll go to a locksmith or the dealer next week.

:-)

Mark