Have decided on my first Van, need advice on engine please

[Curtis]

Hi all,<br><br>After doing a lot of reading here, on Bob's other sites and else where have decided<br>to start looking for a extended cargo van with the ability to pull a trailer like Bob has.<br><br>Would appreciate input on make and engine size and reliability of a extended cargo van 1996-2001. <br><br>Thank you.<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[James AKA Lynx]

A lot depends on you. Have you worked on cars before? Can you read the manual and do the job if it requires simple tools?<br><br>Careful on vans that have been sitting for more than 6 months.<br><br>All vans can be very good and all can be very bad. Rear wheel drive and a V8. Make sure the check engine light works and is not lit. Inspect and have inspected.<br><br>James AKA Lynx

 

[user 423]

Each brand is generally reliable but they all have deficiencies. Dodges with overdrive trannys and engine computers and Fords with aluminum heads and sparkplug problems. Not real familiar with the 'newer' GM vans...the last Chevy van I had was a '66, LOL.&nbsp; All older US made vans had cast iron engines and were pretty durable if taken care of since they were designed to mostly be work vehicles. Using lighter (and less durable) materials to save weight and increase MPG started some time back. I'd just try to find one that has reasonable mileage on it and has been taken care of by a single owner but that can be a tall order.<br><br>OTH if I was mostly interested in travel and keeping fuel costs down, I would like to have a 1990 or so Vanagon with a Subaru 2.2L engine installed. 21-23 MPG would be nice.

 

[fantym1]

Hey Curtis - hope this helps:
I have a '99 E350 extended cargo. Triton V10, has an aux transmission cooler & now a (used) trailer hitch. My neighbor & I recently went bumper to bumper (pretty much) ensuring it's road ready when I finish up the projects. I mostly watched while he was explaining everything, but did help. He changed the sparkplugs without much problem other than he's a size lrg & the space was cramped - next, I'm gonna change out the sensors while he supervises. We dismounted the transmission & took it in to have the U joint mounted & dismounted & took the the ball joints in. The water pump was a real pain, but it was original & I figured it better to have all that kinda stuff new, brakes, rotors & repacked the wheel bearings. (ok so I'm an older female & wanted someone to hold my hand since I don't have much experience mechanically speaking & TRULY prefer not to break down). The alternator & starter had already been replaced a month or so b4 I bought it, tranny 2 yrs ago.

So far I like the ford, although I still haven't gotten the differential oil smell outa my jeans. Since it's basically a commercial vehicle, it should be durable since the maintenance was kept up by the previous owner & figure I can keep up with it . I acquired the 2 shop manuals for it & bought a Haynes as well.

 

[Curtis]

Appreciate all the replys.<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br><br><br>Anyone using a Chevy or GMC cargo van for living in?<br><br>Don't be shy let your voice be heard!

 

[cygvan]

2003 chevy express 2500 cargo van. heavy duty 8 lug version. standard wheelbase. 6.0 liter v8. 3.73:1 posi rear. <br><br>been living in it since 10/1/11.<br><br>it has been very reliable. i spent some money replacing items for piece of mind. it currently has 145k and runs like a swiss watch.<br><br>i get 18mpg on the highway...not so much around town..maybe 12. i dont really check.<br><br>i have a obdII cable that plugs into the computer port which i then connect to my laptop with usb.&nbsp; using the software, i can see virtually all the computer parameters and record them all during a trip. it displays realtime data like mpg etc...and any error codes should something go wrong.<br><br>on several trips to lake bomoseen in vermont i averaged 17.8 - 18.5 mpg. and 17.1 mpg on a trip to cape may, nj. with some traffic.<br><br>a curt 14090 hitch is coming soon to tow a cargo trailer...6x10 to 7x16. still working on that.<br><br>i. love. this. van. and recommend them. but it goes without saying that you need to do research and homework not just on make and model but the individual vehicle.<br><br>i paid an acquaintance who is a fleet mechanic to inspect the vehicle and verify options codes (most people are not aware that this is important).

 

[cygvan]

i agree that a haynes or chilton manual is a must.<br><br>also, for ford e150's and chevy/gmc 1500 and dodge 100's (?? dunno their nomenclature)....have the rear end checked.<br><br>tradesmen tends to cheap out and buy the low capacity vans and beat the hell out of them from a weight stand point. that kills the rear ends. not just transmissions.<br><br>the 2500/3500 and 250/350 tend to be purchased by those who understand that they need the capacity for their work and are less prone to rear end abuse (per fleet mech). regardless, once my van got the bill of health, i had same mechanic change the fluid and check the gears for proper clearance / wear etc.

 

[GrayWhale]

Why not go for a conversion van that's got all the comforts already and used mostly as family vacationing vehicles. Sounds like used cargo vans are used mostly by contractors who dirties them up (gross if it were a plumber as there's bound to be poo on their tools) and/or as fleet vehicles which get tossed around by those who don't care as it's not theirs.&nbsp;

 

[GrayWhale]

Extended vans and pulling trailers, I'd definitely stay away from V6's.&nbsp;