Would this Van make a good tow vehicle?

[Wildbob52]

2013 CHEVROLET EXPRESS PASSENGER 3500 REGULAR WHEELBASE REAR-WHEEL DRIVE 1LT

It's a one ton Van with a 6.0L engine.

2013 Chevrolet Express Passenger for sale in Lebanon - 1GAZGYFGXD1119527 - Wilson County Chevrolet Buick GMC


Thanks

[Go Dawgs]

Well based on the specs it can tow up to 9600# minus cargo and passengers. I would go with a trailer of no more than 7000# with a go brake controller and a WDH.

[TXiceman]

That 7000# is a loaded trailer...not dry or brochure weight.

Ken

[BigBaron]

I've always thought about a van instead of a truck. Too bad they don't come with diesel engines anymore.

What do you want to pull with it?

[Go Dawgs]

Thanks Ken I forgot to add total weight.

Arnold

[SmokeyWren]

Originally Posted by BigBaron

I've always thought about a van instead of a truck. Too bad they don't come with diesel engines anymore.

Look again. Chevrolet Express vans have optional diesel engine.

http://www.chevrolet.com/2013-expres...wheelbase.html

Also next Spring you can order a 2015 Ford Transit full-size van with a diesel engine.

Originally Posted by Wildbob52;1802663L

Would this van make a good tow vehicle?

Depends on what you want to tow with it.

Like any van or large SUV, you can either haul a van full of people, or tow a 7,000-or-so-pound travel trailer (TT), but not both at the same time without being overloaded.

GCWR is 16,000 pounds, and the dry weight of the van is about 6,000 pounds, so the overly optimistic "tow rating" is 10,000 pounds - provided there are no options on the van, and there is absolutely nothing in the van but a skinny driver. But nobody tows with a stripper van and with nothing in the van but a skinny driver. And that van is the fancy LT version, so it's not a stripper work van.

So assuming you remove the back two rows of seats to get it down to a 5-passenger van with lots of room behind the seats, and you will have the normal load in the van for an RVer on a family camping trip, the above posters' 7,000-pounds estimated max trailer weight is probably close to accurate.

But don't go over about 7,000 pounds GVWR of any TT you consider unless you first load the van for camping and towing, then fill up with gas and weigh the wet and loaded van on a CAT scale. Subtract the weight of the wet and loaded van from the GCWR and GVWR of the van to see the max trailer weight and max hitch weight you can have without being overloaded.

You won't win any drag races up the mountain pass with that 6.0L gasser drivetrain dragging a 7,000 pounds TT, but you should make it without overheating anything in the drivetrain and without being the slowpoke blocking traffic going up the grade.


2013 Chevy Express Capabilities | Cargo and Passenger Vans | Chevrolet

That link doesn't show the passenger version of that van, but if you look hard enough on the Chevy van website, you'll see that those specs apply to both the passenger and cargo vans.

[gggplaya]

The Nissan NV is also a great van to look at as well. Optioned is the same V8 used in the nissan titan, which is known to be an excellent towing engine due to the good low end torque. However, you would have to buy a slightly used 2012 to meet the same price as that 2013.

Also, depending on how big your TT is, the Sprinter can to up to 5000lbs, and the diesel will return exceptional MPG as well.

[Wildbob52]

Originally Posted by BigBaron

I've always thought about a van instead of a truck. Too bad they don't come with diesel engines anymore.

What do you want to pull with it?

2011 Gulfstream 24RBL Travel Trailer. I've had a 1997 Ford E150, 4.6 V-8 engine, Van for the last 16 years. Weight of my TT is loaded at 7,000 lbs.

[SmokeyWren]

Originally Posted by Wildbob52

I've had a 1997 Ford E150, 4.6 V-8 engine, Van for the last 16 years.

That 4.6L 2V with 3.55 axle was a dog in my 2003 F-150. I made one long trip with it, from west Texas to Phoenix and back, dragging a 7x14 enclosed cargo trailer that grossed about 7,000 pounds going out and about 3,000 pounds coming home. Even with an empty trailer it was a dog with only the wind resistance of that trailer. Downshifted for every little bump in the road.

So if you were dragging that 7,000 pound RV trailer with the 4.6L, I'll bet you'll be delighted with the increased power and torque of the 6.0L drivetrain.

[Wildbob52]

I wonder if this van would be good in the snow in Michigan? My E-150 Ford Van was real bad for sliding around on snow covered roads with even a cargo load.

http://www.wilsoncountymotors.com/Ve...-TN/2103706163

[SmokeyWren]

Two-wheel rear drive vehicles are not good in snow or ice. But with excellent winter tires and proper load placement over the rear axle, a good driver can get along okay. We bought a new 1977 E-Van that was our family ski vehicle for a few years in Denver. We special-ordered the van to include Posi-traction and that helped a little. We often crossed the Rockies to the ski slopes in the wintertime. Coming home to Denver in the Sunday night rush hour was a real challenge, but that's a frustrating challenge even in a 4x4.

[gggplaya]

Originally Posted by Wildbob52

I wonder if this van would be good in the snow in Michigan? My E-150 Ford Van was real bad for sliding around on snow covered roads with even a cargo load.

2013 Chevrolet Express Passenger for sale in Lebanon - 1GAZGYFGXD1119527 - Wilson County Chevrolet Buick GMC

Tires are everything, especially considering your comment about sliding around alot in the snow, too many people cheap out on tires and not all "all-season" tires are very good in snow. I drive over 30k miles per year in my car, and have bought plenty of tires. My favorite all-season tire that performs excellent in the snow are Continental PureContacts which have little vertical ridges inside the grooves to help promote snow on snow traction. It really works. They also happen to be the quietest tires i've ever had. The worst all season tire i've had in the snow were Yokohama's, they were terrible and inspired no confidence at all. My car slid all over the place with those tires.

For that van, you would have to get the Continental CrossContact LX20's, which has all the same tire technology in it, it would be my best pick for an all season tire that does well in the snow. But, if you have tons of snow and ice where you live, there is no substitute for a dedicated set of snow tires and wheels.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....omCompare1=yes



Also FYI, having more weight in the snow is a double edged sword. With more weight, you have more momentum. That makes the car more resistant to changes in direction. So highway cruising is better with a heavier vehicle, it will feel more stable. But if you take turns, the vehicle is again more resistant to changes in direction, so it will tend to want to go straight, while you're trying to get it to turn, causing you to slide. In RWD cars, adding weight to a vehicle should be done for more balancing, to bias the weight to the rear. I've driven both trucks and small cars in the snow on a regular basis. Unless it's all highway, a small light car is much more fun in the snow and a lot more controllable.

[Wildbob52]

Here is another idea for a vehicle when comes to winter driving in the snow,

2011 Ford Transit Connect XLT 4D Cargo Van

This van is good on gas and should be good in the winter because it's front wheel drive. Bad thing about you cann't pull a travel trailer with it because 4 cylinder engine.

[gggplaya]

The 2015 Ford Transit Van (not to be confused with the transit connect) will recieve a 3.5L ecoboost engine from their F150, and a I5 Diesel from europe. Both engines will be decent on fuel and excellent for towing. However, the Transit van was delayed for production until next year, pricing hasn't been announced but it's likely going to be much more than you're looking to spend on the chevy express.

FYI, the 6.0L engine is really bad on fuel. Expect like 16mpg tops.