Weight Capacity

[Seajatt]

I'm a little confused. I've seen quite a few advocate for minivans, and there are a number of good reasons. But then I also see quite a few warnings about purchasing a van with a lower weight capacity, such as anything in the 1500 series. What gives? Is it just that the minivan is so small, that overloading it would take serious organizational effort?

 

[MrNoodly]

It depends on how much stuff you want to carry. The people who say you need a high load capacity are the ones who want to have a lot of gear with them. Will your load exceed the total weight of minivan passengers? If so, you need something with a higher capacity.

 

[ckelly78z]

If you camp in a minivan, you can't take it all with you, they aren't rated for any more than 6-7 relatively thin passengers. When you start adding up solar/batteries, along with water, cooler, a full hitch box, tools, and other hardware, you are at the limit at what the van SHOULD handle safely.

 

[Gr8ful]

You can under load with no problem but if you over load it there will be problems so I'd go heavier then you think.

 

[highdesertranger]

we don't know what mini-van you are talking about and what the weight capacity is. we also don't know how much gear(in weight) you want to bring. sure it can be done in a mini-van but you will be limited. highdesertranger

 

[ByeBye]

A vehicle can only SAFELY carry so much weight. Government has legal restrictions on this as well.
Full size vans usually have different models with different load capacities but same body style/shape, with higher capacities being more expensive. Mini vans, afaik, don't offer many gross vehicle weight options.

So when people are talking about full size vans, and Nomading, people are assuming that they're getting the bigger van to haul more stuff. And as we're on "cheap" rv living site, where getting the most out of the least is a trend, those in the know recommend to NOT go cheap in this area if possible.

It's easy to overload a vehicle with lots of space figuring that if it moves down the road ok that they're good to go. Which may be true if there are no variations in conditions, which, usually, is false for lots of us encounter all types of more extreme/different situations than just putting down the road. Mountain inclines/declines and curves, extreme weather conditions, rough roads, emergency braking situations and so forth will bring out the worst in a overloaded vehicle making it unsafe for passengers and/or others on the road.

As much of a noob as I am I've already had situations where I was glad I had more capacity than the weight I was carrying.

 

[MrNoodly]

Six years ago I set out in a 3/4-ton van with what I believed were only the necessities. Over time I realized some of the things I had weren't necessities after all, and were more like burdens. I now happily carry about half as much stuff. But my van is "underloaded" to the point the ride is harsh on anything but smooth surfaces. So how much van someone needs depends partly (a lot?) on their approach to van living and their relationship with their possessions.

 

[Homeless in Canada]

I'm a little confused. I've seen quite a few advocate for minivans, and there are a number of good reasons. But then I also see quite a few warnings about purchasing a van with a lower weight capacity, such as anything in the 1500 series. What gives? Is it just that the minivan is so small, that overloading it would take serious organizational effort?

It all depends on how much weight you will be carrying.

Every vehicle has a GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating). The combined weight of your vehicle and all its contents (fuel, luggage, passengers) may not be higher than GVWR. If you do overload it the springs will start to sag and a cop will pull you over and make you go on a scale and then you will get a big ticket. Also your insurance co. could decide not to cover you if you were overloaded and had an accident. So just don't do it.

Even if a 1500 van has enough payload for everything you want to do those trucks are not built as solid as the 2500/3500. At the end of the day you're moving the same amount of weight and a heavier truck that is built to do the job will require less maintenance and cost less money in the long run.

 

[MrNoodly]

...those trucks are not built as solid as the 2500/3500.

I'm not sure what you mean by "built as solid." The only differences between a half-ton, 3/4 -ton and 1-ton van are the springs and rear axle — therefore the differences in load ratings — and in some cases the transmission. Everything else is the same.

 

[JD GUMBEE]

The only differences between a half-ton, 3/4 -ton and 1-ton van are the springs and rear axle — therefore the differences in load ratings — and in some cases the transmission. Everything else is the same.

There's more to it than just the rear end and springs. Also depends on what era/manufacturer you are talking about.
As you get closer the current year models, the differences between 3500 series and 1500 series become even greater.

 

[highdesertranger]

yes there is a lot more to it. on the heavier trucks 3/4 and 1 ton, besides the rear axle and springs the brakes are larger the rims a different size to handle tires that can carry more weight, they even have more lug nuts. a lot of times the engines and transmissions are heavy duty compared to the 1/2 tons. most times the frames are larger both in physical size and thickness. front end components are also larger just look at the 4x4's except for GM, Dodge and Ford use straight axles for the 3/4 and 1 ton and independent front suspension for the 1/2 ton. as I often say a F-150 has more in common with a T-Bird then a F-250/350. highdesertranger

 

[Firtree]

Going back to OP comment about mini van and then something about 1500 (or half ton)

Is my thinking correct that a 150/1500/half ton van normally has more gross weight, better brakes, etc than a ‘mini van’?

If only those two choices which would you rather drive?

I’m mentally screaming when I read new van dwellers decking out a mini van with cabinets, sinks, heavy refrig, etc. I want to say ‘are you crazy?’ But maybe my thinking is wrong. ?

 

[bullfrog]

Yeah some things make wonder as the old 1963 VW van was rated at 1 ton. It would hold the weight as I carried roofing shingles in it but usually burned up the clutch to get it to move and had to use both feet on the brake petal a block ahead of time to stop. LOL! Never will I believe "facts" furnished by someone who will make money off the sale.

 

[JD GUMBEE]

Basically, think of a mini-van as a car with a box body on it.
(Aerostar and Astro did not exactly fit this, but they are the odd man out.)

Nissan Quest was a Maxima underneath.
(So were certain years of Mercury Villagers)
The original Caravans were really Kcars.
The ford FWD mini vans share most components with Sable and Taurus.
Chevy Ventures are Lumina/Delta88FWD/Buick LeSabre drive trains.

If you can go with lightweight stuff...like the foam cabinets (look up foam furniture on youtube) and keep the build simple...a minivan will return a major MPG return compared to a full framed 1500.
(This does NOT include the new full sized minivans (transit/promaster) which are pretty much oversized minivans.)

 

[popcorn2007]

My novice thought would be to pull a trailer and put the weight in the trailer vs the 1/2 ton van. The strain on the engine and braking from the extra weight of the trailer would be a concern, i assume.

 

[JD GUMBEE]

Actually, it isn't the weight of trailer nearly as much as the air resistance @ speed.
Once you get weight actually moving, gentle acceleration does not kill you.
It's the constant wind resistance over time that forces everything.

(One of the reasons why those stretched out tractor trailers are foolish. You want the trailer as tight against the cab as you can get it for the least wind.)