Cargo Van with high top or Step Van?

[LeeRevell]

I like that C-head! Added it to my list...... thanks!

 

[karl]

I tow a tool trailer- weighs 2500 at least. It definitely requires slowing down and added cooling for both engine and trannie. Costs a couple mpg too.
Occasionally tow a Beetle, but wouldn't care to tow anything bigger cross country.

 

[Belchfire]

Why wouldn't you care to haul anything cross country

So that leaves me with the question

Can I haul a minivan 2500 miles using a stepvan
If so would a 4 cylinder diesel do it or a cummins 6?
If I can do it with either of those engines
How fast can I go given the kind of transmission that the stepvan has

Thanks

 

[highdesertranger]

so I will chime in. first towing a mini van will not have any tongue weight a plus. but what trans is in the mini van if it's an auto the drive wheels can not be on the ground so you need a trailer or a dolly. now your back to tongue weight. what is the tow rating for the step van? what is the gross combined weight rating(gcwr), what is the gross vehicle weight rating(gvwr)? what is the weight of the step van full of your gear, fuel, water, and yourself? what is the weight of the mini van? answer these questions and we can help out a little better. as far as the engine goes any motor can handle it, but how fast do you want to go up mountain passes? I see you where asking about a high top also. same questions apply. I have to ask why do you want to tow a mini van with a high top van? highdesertranger

 

[Belchfire]

OK
This is helpful
I will get the information on the minivan not sure how much weight I would have with a fully loaded StepVan
Why do I want to tow a minivan?

Once I get to my destination I will need something to get around in
Or I may use the minivan to make money transporting people

I prefer not to tow it but would like to have the ability

Thanks

 

[Belchfire]

My Minivan is 3450 pounds or "curb weight"
I am not sure how much weight I will put in my van
Here is a partial list

Heavy insulation
paneling
Wood heating and cook stove
Fresh and Grey water tanks
Sink/ Shower
Passive solar water heating in summer some kind of on demand gas heater in winter
Deep Cycle Batteries
Generator
Fridge /freezer
Fan on roof
Loft Bed or
Bed that folds away or stows
Sink
Composting Toilet

 

[Canine]

Have you picked out a stove yet? If so, which one are you thinking of?

 

[66788]

I don't know why people want a composting toilet in a small RV. The things stink. A porta potti is a much smaller and better smelling solution.

 

[Almost There]

I don't know why people want a composting toilet in a small RV. The things stink. A porta potti is a much smaller and better smelling solution.

All the reports I've read say that properly used, the composting toilets such as the C-head and the Natures' Head do NOT smell of anything obnoxious. There were only 2 reports I could find on one of the marine forums and the people admitted that they weren't dealing well with the toilets, mostly a matter of having guests who weren't properly informed and compliant. The only smell might be a little bit depending on the composting material used. Cedar shavings will smell like cedar etc.

I'll be the only one using mine...everybody else can go use the trees or go home...

After using porta potties for years and dealing with having to empty them and dealing with black and gray water tanks on the RV, I'll take my chances with the C-Head TYVM.

I've also used full sized composting toilets quite successfully for over a decade at the family summer cottage without any smell whatsoever so perhaps I'm more comfortable with them than others.

But then I'm also comfortable digging a cat hole in the bush and using a thunderbox on interior canoe trips.

 

[Belchfire]

No
I haven't picked out a stove yet
Here is one that's nice
Not sure if I can cook on it though
http://www.unforgettablefirellc.com/kimberly-wood-stove/

 

[Ballenxj]

I must respectfully disagree with this. I have a Chevy p30 step with a Grumman Olson body and parts are readily available right down to the body parts. And Chevys are famous for having interchangeable parts so if you want to change the rear gear ratio it is very doable. And mine is powered by the mighty Chevy 350 which is highly changeable (including carb to fuel injection) even the wiring harness from a truck twenty years newer will plug right in to my truck.

If you are talking P30 chassis, I will have to agree with you. My old 83 Sportscoach motorhome was based on a P30 chassis with a 454 Chevrolet engine. I believe the transmission was a Turbo 425, which was a derivative of the basic Turbo 400. My point here is there are a lot of different applications that used the P30 chassis, so you are not limited to looking at step vans for running gear parts.
As far as speed goes though, I will have to disagree with you. My 454 pushed that big heavy 31 foot coach with a Tag axle (8 tires total) to speeds well over 70 mph. (don't ask how I know) I'm sure a lot depends on how the vehicle is geared.
I would be happy with a 350, but happier with a Big Block if I plan on towing.
About the windows, you are going to have that problem no matter what you get. I have done a bit of thinking about that, and came to the conclusion that constructing a wall with a door for access to the cab area about a foot or so behind the seats would solve that problem nicely. Now all you have to worry about insulating is the living area in the back which is basically a square box.

 

[cdiggy]

I agree with the speed. I have had mine at 70+ mph just without the od trans the engine races at that speed.

 

[TucsonAZ]

This question is a lot like asking if you should buy a shotgun or a pistol. I just did 4,500 miles over two months in a 1997 Utilimaster with a 350 SBC and a 4L80e trans and here are my thoughts on it:

Pros

Plenty of room.
Great views and visibility.
Easy to work on.
All flat walls, square corners.
No rust concerns.
Worst case, you're lugging around $1,500 in scrap aluminum.
Huge flat roof for solar or whatever.
Very water tight/leak proof so no rot or mold issues.
Commands a presence on the road.
I did 80mph in mine, 70mph without any concern.
Common motor and transmission.
Blends super well in some areas.
Room underneath and a lot of it, like, you could hide a body, hell, a family.

Cons

Really bad GVW for the size, the size is great but plan on keeping much of it empty.
Rattle, rattle, rattle, more rattle (non issue if you don't drive much, I just wore earplugs 90% of the trip).
solar gains, like, impressively much, wow, I seriously underestimated that one.
You would think the parts were easy to find and some are but others aren't, some, like a rotor said it would fit and was close but turned out to be special oder and 2x the price, same applies to the spindle nut which was special order.
8-9mpg
Tough to drive in a city or navigate through smaller parking lots/gas stations.
The only think your step van is going to tow is itself and even that'll be a challenge on some hills.
Rear door will need to be addressed if it's a roll up, either remove it or...well, remove it.
Solar gains, just thought I would make sure to add that again.
Not enjoyable to drive more than about 200-250 miles for me, I did 430 in one day as the most, I wasn't a fan of that day.


Those are my thoughts, I will be selling mine and opting for some type of van configuration. This will allow better stealth camping and better off the beaten path options. The step van was great but after my trip it became clear I would rather go without the shower and some of the creature comforts and instead have the more enjoyable driving experience, easier stealthing, better MPG and less stress while navigating things like Big Sur, downtown SF and steep grades or mountain passes.

 

[sassypickins]

Hi Tucson, thanks for sharing the good and the bad about your step-van experiences. I think it was smart of you to decide it wasn't the best fit for you and to not pour money into renovating it. I had a step-van about 35 years ago that I fixed up and lived in and loved. I was drawn to getting one again, but this time I settled on a cargo van, a 350 v8 with not the greatest mpg but with good power to get me up and down and all around, and much easier to fit in everywhere. For now, that is just fine with me, though I really should put a framed photo of my beloved old step-van on the wall in a place of honor. Best wishes to you in finding just the right van.

 

[TucsonAZ]

Thank you for the kind words, if I can hunt down an extended 96 Ford cargo van with a high top, the 300 inline six, 4x4, and a manual trans I will be pretty darn happy! If I can get four of those seven I will be 95% as happy!

I'm actually having a hard time deciding on what to get for a van, I guess extended and a cargo van are highest on the list.

 

[Belchfire]

Thanks Tucson AZ
I reached a similar conclusion and decided a sprinter might work best for me because plan to stealth camp in the city and plan to do quite a bit of driving twice a year

You mentioned Solar Gains as part of the Cons
What do you mean?

Thanks

 

[flying kurbmaster]

just to add a little more confusion, there are more then one size of step vans, the small juniors with 8feet behind driver, 10 footers like mine, both of these have single wheels and fit in a normal parking spot, then you get into the 12 footers, 14,16 and maybe longer most of these have duel wheels are wider and higher then the smaller ones. All come with different engines and different maintenance cost, some are harder to drive, get different gaz mileage. You really have to narrow it down to your needs and lifestyle. If you are planning on living full time or doing a road trip etc.. same with Cargo vans they come in many different sizes and makes.

 

[TucsonAZ]

By solar gains I mean if I was in the fun, even if it was 60 degrees outside, I was at 100 inside fairly quickly, with all of the accompanying pops, pings, danks that went along with the expanding metal. I ended up parking in places that gave me early shade and full sun around 11am so I could recharge my batteries. I even added another inch of insulation under my solar panels on the roof, very little help from that, it was certainly warm and very uncomfortable. Some huge side windows would have helped but also would have blown my stealth cover. The two roof vents with 100cfm fans in the roof did little to actually curb the heat.

 

[akrvbob]

I lived in a box van for 6 years in a city and loved it. But now I'm a boondocker and there's no way i would ever be in a box van or step van. I look at them as city only, not long-distance driving or on public land.
Bob

 

[66788]

I lived in a box van for 6 years in a city and loved it. But now I'm a boondocker and there's no way i would ever be in a box van or step van. I look at them as city only, not long-distance driving or on public land.
Bob

Why not long distance driving or on public land? I think my step van will be fine on BLM land.

---

I lived in a box van for 6 years in a city and loved it. But now I'm a boondocker and there's no way i would ever be in a box van or step van. I look at them as city only, not long-distance driving or on public land.
Bob

Why not long distance driving or on public land? I think my step van will be fine on BLM land.