Opinions on the 2017 GMC Savana 2500

I found a couple of 2017 GMC Savana 2500 cargo vans, both with barn doors and very low miles. Beautiful condition, both with less than 12,000 miles on them, but both ex rental vans. I’m unsure of what company they belonged to or who they were rented to and for what purpose. ( heavy duty, commercial use or light, residential)

 One van is $23,000, while the other is $26,000. The more expensive is being sold by a very well-known used, commercial truck dealer nearby. The slightly cheaper van is out of town,
but not more than about an hour and a half away. 

Both vans I have the 4.8 L V8 with a six speed transmission.

 26,000 may sound like a lot for a used car, but here in the California bay area, it’s pretty standard. 

 Just curious what people think of these things. I’m getting a little tired of my tiny little, Ford Transit Connect. I also need to be able to tow something with it, which I cannot do with this wimpy little man I have now.

IMO engine is too small for a 2500.

It will seriously compromise the towing capacity.

I have a 5.7 L (350 cu. in.) and quite truthfully, I wouldn't want anything small in that size of a van even without towing anything. My van (2002 GMC Savana 2500) with a full interior but not heavily loaded weighs in around 7,300 lbs.

Check this one out. https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ank/cto/d/hastings-2011-chevrolet-express/6877150276.html
AWD If i had the cash it would be gone! Looks like it has a 5.3 ls motor, 300+ HP

4.8 is a good engine. No identifiable longevity difference between 4.8 and 5.3.
There are a ton of them in vans.
Really depends on how often and how heavy you tow if it is the motor for you.
The 4.8 has more power than a 5.7. (Talking about a stock van engine.)
4.8 is 285 HP 295 Ft Lbs in its most tame form from what I see.
It will rev quick, pull right up to 5800 RPM and keep on doing it for a long time.
They handle towing a lot better than people think.

Have you thought about a full size Ford Transit with a mid roof or high roof?   The 2018 models still on the dealer lots are going for less than $30k.   The 3.5L turbo has over 400 ft-lbs of torque and 4000 pounds of payload, 6800 pounds towing capacity.

We just bought one.  There was one on the lot that had the normally aspirated 3.7L engine which was $27k brand new with mid roof and 148 inch wheel base!

IGBT said:

 The 3.5L turbo has over 400 ft-lbs of torque and 4000 pounds of payload, 6800 pounds towing capacity.

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...and when you constantly use all it has to give with a 6000 pound travel trailer behind it... that engine will GRENADE itself in short order.

Turbo gasoline engines are good for light loads and MPG. Not towing.

I encourage you to go hook 6K behind your turbo Ford and see if you really think it is made for that on a regular basis.
(It is not.)
Those numbers are more for a guy who tows his fishing boat to the local launch...or someone with a light trailer to go on vacation for a week or two...not constant hard use.

Those V6 turbos have a questionable lifespan without towing anything and a fair number of built-right-in problems Ford will likely manage like the previous (numerous) failures...(meaning they will ignore the issues for ten years or so.)
There is a reason why you will not find many in commercial use. They were tested and they failed. Quickly and rather spectacularly.
I advise you to keep trading in relatively new models if you wish to remain in love with the platform.
Trying to see trouble free 250K...especially towing the numbers you quoted...is little more than an unrealsitic dream.

Pretty sure the 3.5L ecoboost is recognized as one of the better engines.   I wouldn't suggest towing 6000 pounds constantly but it sounded more like the OP was going to tow a little cargo trailer like Bob does, which is maybe 2000 pounds?   The Transit wouldn't even know that was back there.

With a 5 year 60,000 mile warranty there is a lot said for buying a new van for $30k vs a used van for $23k

I have a 2017 Ford F150 with the smaller 2.7L turbo and it has towed a 3000 pound sailboat over the mountains many times, some 10,000 miles. No problems so far with 30k miles on the truck. It is what sold me on these small turbo engines. It gets 22mpg too (not while towing though)

From https://www.americantrucks.com/everything-about-the-ecoboost-f150.html

EcoBoost F-150 Reliability & Longevity
Both the 2.7L and 3.5L EcoBoost F-150 engine were built to last just like all of Ford’s products. While there is no definitive amount of mileage for how long an EcoBoost engine can or will last, especially a modded one, there has been growing information on how current ones are doing based on independent research. Some forum users have seen as high as 200,000 miles on the odometer with no issues outside of the regular maintenance and replacing your typical truck parts.

While mileage in the hundreds of thousands may not be the case 100% for all owners, EcoBoost F-150 owners have seemed to have no issue adding an intake, tune, and exhaust and still seeing stock like reliability and longevity out of their trucks. A lot of this comes down to the quality of the tune, but it is still a testament to the build quality of EcoBoost F-150s.

BigT said:

I found a couple of 2017 GMC Savana 2500 cargo vans, both with barn doors and very low miles. Beautiful condition, both with less than 12,000 miles on them, but both ex rental vans.
Both vans I have the 4.8 L V8 with a six speed transmission.

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I'd take a drive in the Van thats closer to you. A 2017 4.8 V8 w/6 speed tranny is a pretty stout setup for a Van, unless your going to max out payload. Get the dealer to give you details on previous owner and I'd write down the Vin and check it yourself too. I'd be curious why it was traded/ ? after less than 12K. Otherwise keep doing your homework on what you need it to do for you.

just my 2¢

Just ran a Carfax on a 2017 GMC 3500 Van for same money.
https://www.carfax.com/Used-GMC-Savana-3500_t535

Might be worth driving to get one in a 3500...

IGBT, best of luck with it.

They are NOT that great an engine and have had constant issues since inception.

Not sure where you get your info, but it sounds like you are reading FOMOCO propaganda.

Ask even a Ford mechanic which engine THEY would choose.

Most go for the small V8.

LOL, someone sent me this:


2017 survey of Ford dealership mechanics on which engine they would choose.

IGBT said:

Have you thought about a full size Ford Transit with a mid roof or high roof?   The 2018 models still on the dealer lots are going for less than $30k.   The 3.5L turbo has over 400 ft-lbs of torque and 4000 pounds of payload, 6800 pounds towing capacity.

We just bought one.  There was one on the lot that had the normally aspirated 3.7L engine which was $27k brand new with mid roof and 148 inch wheel base!

Click to expand...

Having had such good luck with my little Transit Connect, I considered the full-size Ford vans with the factory hi-tops, but having a fleet of them at work, I know all too well how little foot room there is in the driver's side footwell.  It's really cramped down in there if you have large, size 13 feet, like I do.  I was also a little dismayed to find out you couldn't get the hi-top (highest top) in the shorter wheelbase.  Only the mid-top and low roof models come with the shorter frame.  

I'm 6'4" tall, so if I'm going to pay upwards of $30,000 for what's likely to be my last van, it's going to be a high top. 

I really do like that the Ford has a factory, steel top and not a fiberglass or plastic hi-top.  I'm still waiting to Chevy to come out with their promised metal hi-top Express van.  

As for towing, I'd only be pulling a small sailboat, probably a dinghy or daysailer in the 15' to 17' range.

BigT- have you looked at the Nissan NV2500? Seems to fit the bill for a short high roof with plenty of leg room that can tow.

You want shorter wheelbase than the 148"?   For turning or something?

I was surprised to find that the 148" wheelbase mid roof Transit we bought fits almost exactly in the same length spot as our Ford F150 supercab with 6.5 foot bed.   It seems weird to have over 11 feet length behind the driver seat but be the same length as the truck.

I agree with you about the foot well...there is something there near the left foot, a raised platform.   Hasn't bugged me yet but I could see it would bother someone.

StarliteRambler said:

BigT- have you looked at the Nissan NV2500? Seems to fit the bill for a short high roof with plenty of leg room that can tow.

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I've thought about those before, but I have no experience with Nissan at all.  They do look interesting, though.

BigT said:

I've thought about those before, but I have no experience with Nissan at all.  They do look interesting, though.

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Nissan likes to work out the bugs, then make them like that forever. So you get an older tech drive train that is reliable but not the best fuel efficiency.

Nissan has good reliability/longevity in numbers for sure.

Finding low mile, used Nissan NV2500's is turning out to be difficult.  I guess owners just don't want to let them go.  

I did find a 2013 NV3500 with 85,000 miles for $16,000, but I'm not sure I'd want or need the 1 ton model.  

Oddly enough, or maybe not.... what do I know?, the 3500 and 2500 share the same Titan 5.6 liter V8 engine.  

I should probably take one for a test drive.

for a conversion van I would call a 1 ton, an advantage. highdesertranger

^^^^^x2

Minimum 3/4 ton but if you think you  might ever, ever tow something of any size then go for the 1 ton.

I purchased a 2017 GMC Savana 2500 cargo van with low miles and I LOVE IT! I drove it to L.A. and had a 24" fiberglass bubbletop hightop installed and I love that too. My van right now is like 10' tall without solar panels. Super cool. It wasn't cheap but I got the rollover warranty.