Ford Cargo van vs Chevy Cargo van

[Tavitiger23]

I'm in the process of looking for a van and I just wanted to hear yalls thoughts on which would be the best van.

 

[johnny b]

Ya didn't say whether you were looking at 'old school American style' or the newer 'Euro style'.

For old school I'd go with Chevy/GMC up thru the 2017 model year (even though I own a Ford).
For the newer stuff I'd go with the Ford Transit tall and long version. (Although a new Chevy is in the works...unknown release date...might be based on a Nissan?)

Old Dodges are nice too...318 V8 is bulletproof...check carefully for rust.

Search thru this van category as this is a common question and has been addressed b4 with lots of experienced replies.

 

[Tavitiger23]

Thanks, yeah I'm not really interested in anything fancy just want something that's reliable. I'm a country girl I don't like a lot of fancy gadgets.

 

[Almost There]

I don't really think it's a case of one being THAT much better than the other, other than when we start getting in to diesel or the newer years.

Instead of looking at one make or another, make a list of what is important to you!

Personally, I didn't care whether it was a Ford or Chev/GMC that I found when I went looking. 

I was looking for good condition, low mileage, an 8 cylinder and at least a 3/4 ton - 1/2 tons are too light for a van interior IMO. Needed to be clean and in good shape and as new as I could afford.

Bonus was the 24" high top - if it didn't have one already, I had it in the budget to add one.

Even then it took me 6 months to find her and it was an almost 4 hour drive to go see it.

 

[velojym]

Back when I was in the market for a van, purely for cargo hauling, I test drove a bunch, besides the previous experience I had anyway (The ol '88 Ford custom van was a good 'un, and I had it for years) and found that while the Fords seemed stout and put together well, the Chevy vans were far more comfortable to drive. The Fords just seemed kinda top heavy and... lurchy.

I wouldn't turn one down if I got a good deal, though.

 

[SilverVoyager]

I just wanted a simple dependable van too, and I got a Chevy Express cargo van. It has power windows, a radio, air conditioning and heater. None of that gps stuff. It had been used as a lease vehicle so it had less than 20k miles on it. I really love it, but I got a security system installed as part of the deal. If I was a man it might not be that important, bit I need security. I push a button and all the doors lock.
But I'm sure all this comes on a Ford too.
Good luck!

 

[Scout]

Bob has a video on this.lots of good info. Checkout his youtube.

 

[BinDerSmokDat]

I have looked and don't see a huge difference in reliability for 2000 and newer vans from the Big 3.
There will always be some engine/trans combinations that are a step above and you have to do a little research by model specifically.

As for Ford handling, Ford loves those radius arm suspensions, they are strong and durable.
However on any older van, and ESPECIALLY the Fords you need to look at the soft parts in the suspension.
I have a 2001 E150 and it handled OK at 80K miles with original springs shocks and suspension bushings.
But a weekend of wrenching and a $100 for a full set of urethane radius arm bushings, sway bar end bushings and sway bar front mount bushings and it rides like it's on rails now.

It's amazing how what a difference it makes; when you take the slop out of the front end the rear settles right down.

 

[Artsyguy]

I went with the 2015 Chevy Express over the Ford Econoline. My thinking was a little better handling AND the walls on the inside were more uniform with less bracing, that would make for an easier and quicker insulating and wall build out. The new Ford Transit 250 was a little out of my price range, but I would seriously consider that van if you can afford it.

 

[MrNoodly]

Since cargo vans are used mostly in commercial applications, the owners tend to hold onto them longer than the owners of passenger vans. They also get more wear and tear, particularly when the users don't care because it's the company's van, not their own. So that means that when used commercial vans come up for sale, a lot of them have seen hard lives, and some are essentially used up. The thing, then, is to worry less about the brand and more about the condition of the vans in question. I looked at a LOT of cargo vans in five states. Most had the crap beat out of them and had over 300k on the odometer. I finally found one in great shape and acceptable mileage that had been used by a security systems company that was downsizing because of the recession. I would've got it even if it hadn't been my preferred brand.

 

[Sitdad]

I'm buying a 1998 Ford passenger van [E350 Extended van] it has 130K+ miles on it with a blown engine and bad transmission. I have removed the 4 bench seats from inside. I am saving up the money to buy a engine and tranny along with the money to pay to have them pulled and put back in. My boss is selling it to me for a grand. I am looking forward to the adventure of the van life...