GMC/ Chevy 6.0 L 3500? Too Much?

[bethiebugs]

It seems that everywhere I look the only decent mileage cargo vans are the 6.0L 3500s. Is this just setting myself up for horrible gas mileage?

 

[4x4sporty]

I average 12 mpg on interstate and 13-14 backroading and my van weights near 10k fully loaded.
FWIW this is the best mileage van out of the 5 class B vans I have owned and my favorite to drive. Plenty of power!

 

[frater secessus]

The 3500 has .6" more ground clearance than the 2500, in case you are going to roaming trails.

 

[vtwinkicker]

I have the GMC Savana 2500 with the 6.0L engine. I can get 16 highway and overall avg about 14-15. It also is 4wd and has a hightop. I'm quite happy with it.

 

[NeedAnEscape]

I have a 2016 6.0l 3500 and average 16-17mpg with my typical driving, which is 99% highway.

 

[BigT]

These are refreshing mpg numbers to hear. I've always been wary of buying a 1-ton because I fear the single digit fuel economy.

 

[bpdchief]

I have a '92 GMC Rally STX with a 7.4 L I get about 12 mpg in town. Haven't road tripped yet, but, figure on 14-16 mpg at 55 mph.

 

[tdbroun]

I have a 2016 3500 Express with a 6.0 liter, a 24" high top, and a Quigley 4x4 conversion.  Overall I'm getting 14 MPG, 16 on the highway, and 12 around town.  Before I got the high top and 4x4 I got 20MPG on a trip (trying hard to get the best mileage I could)

 

[White+Nerdy]

The one concern I hear about one-ton vans like the 3500 is that some insurance companies automatically consider them commercial rather than personal vans and require commercial insurance. I don't mean to derail the OP's question, but has anyone actually had this experience?

 

[HappyCampingCouple]

The one concern I hear about one-ton vans like the 3500 is that some insurance companies automatically consider them commercial rather than personal vans and require commercial insurance. I don't mean to derail the OP's question, but has anyone actually had this experience?

Im in the market for my next van and wondered about this...  I called State Farm and was told that my policy would be about $12.00 a month more on the One ton compared to the 3/4 ton...

I hope I can find a one ton extended... at a decent price and not beat up...

 

[bpdchief]

My 92 GMC Rally STX is registered as a "Heavy Short Bus" because its GVW is 8600 lbs. Progressive insured it as a passenger van.

 

[Stanvan]

The one concern I hear about one-ton vans like the 3500 is that some insurance companies automatically consider them commercial rather than personal vans and require commercial insurance. I don't mean to derail the OP's question, but has anyone actually had this experience?

Yes. With Nationwide. I got the bad news and then spent 2+ hours shopping around, only to cal them back.  When I did, I got someone who recognized I was their customer for 30+ years, and went and found the person who could override it in the system.

 

[Stanvan]

And to the original question, I can't do better than 11 around town, but I do have a bit of a lead foot.

Oh, and it does 0 to 60 in 8.4 seconds. And I think I can do better.

 

[cortttt]

The one concern I hear about one-ton vans like the 3500 is that some insurance companies automatically consider them commercial rather than personal vans and require commercial insurance. I don't mean to derail the OP's question, but has anyone actually had this experience?

I initially had this problem with GEICO. In fact they put me on a very expensive commercial policy; a year later when I checked they said a personal policy was fine. I think its more what the van is used for. You have to make it clear

 

[cortttt]

I have a 2016 6.0l 3500 and average 16-17mpg with my typical driving, which is 99% highway.

Not bad! I have the 4.8L 1-ton and I average 17-18 mpg....Not bad at all....

 

[Mattkcc]

Not bad! I have the 4.8L 1-ton and I average 17-18 mpg....Not bad at all....

How does your 4.8L pull your 1-ton around, have you had it in the mountains? It seems most of the small 8's on 1-tons are used on vans used in town.

 

[cortttt]

How does your 4.8L pull your 1-ton around, have you had it in the mountains? It seems most of the small 8's on 1-tons are used on vans used in town.

I've been all over the Sierra's an in the Pacific Northwest up and down the grades of the Kaibab plateau in Arizona. It's not a powerhouse but it's not plugging away either. Only on the steepest hills can I not maintain around 60.  On a pretty good elevation climb from Phoenix to Flagstaff (5,000 fit) I think there are two places where I get down to 50 mph on the steepest grades. I might be able to do better but I don't like to push it too much. Otherwise it's pretty much 60 all the way. 

The engine has little torque - its slow off the mark but once it gets going it's got  pretty good power. Would I like the power of the 6.0L? Absolutely, I would love it but the 4.8L does OK for me and I voted for the v6 10 sp tranny combo.

This was a used van from Penske which was obviously used for cargo around town

 

[MrNoodly]

It seems that everywhere I look the only decent mileage cargo vans are the 6.0L 3500s.

That's odd, because when I was looking, I learned businesses tended to keep 1-ton cargo vans (whatever the engines) until they wore out. I guess it depends on the part of the country one looks in.

 

[cortttt]

That's odd, because when I was looking, I learned businesses tended to keep 1-ton cargo vans (whatever the engines) until they wore out. I guess it depends on the part of the country one looks in.

Penske is always selling the one tons (and the others) in extended versions. Two years in very happy with my van from Penske...

 

[Stanvan]

There's a fair number of Rental window vans available used. But a warning about any fleet vehicle. Don't believe a Carfax report. Fleet maintenance doesn't use anything but in-house mechanics or body work, so nothing is reported. The report on mine was clean, but a friend who knows body work saw something from 30 feet away.