Best V8 Cargo Van?

[frankgn87]

You can't go wrong with a GM or Ford van. Both top notch all the way.. We have many 15 passengers vans that are used heavy all day to transport people and this year we have Chevies.. Great running vans. So were the Fords last year

[rbohm]

over the years i have driven, and serviced, the full size vans from the big three, and these are my observations;

1: the worst vans to tune up are the chevy vans with the V8. some plugs you can get from the inside, others you have to get from underneath the van.

2: the dodge vans are easier to service than the chevy vans,, but the fords have been the easiest.

3: all three vans have the same issue with rearward vision.

4: all three vans are reliable and long lasting

5: in the end which van you choose is going to come down to the test drive and which one you like the best.

my preference is the ford van, i just like their control layouts a bit better than the others. but as with anything, if you drive each of these vans, and there is something you dont like about them, no matter how minor the annoyance, pass on the van unless you can make the needed changes.

[us66]

I've recently rented a Nissan and a Ford almost back to back. The Nissan is THAT GOOD. The Ford was a near-complete disappointment after renting the Nissan. The Nissan, even with the 5.6, still had serious room under the hood, probably more than my Chevy pickup with a V6. You could do almost anything in there and I'm not sure if there even is an interior engine panel. The Nissan has more room than a regular length Ford inside, and the vertical walls actually do add space. I drove it on a 350 mile road trip and was able to do 85 on the freeway and it was really not that bad. It was a bit wind sensitive, but not bad. The Ford felt a bit goofy over 65-70. The only thing about the Nissan is that it's as long as the long-body Ford because of the long hood. If I were buying one new, I'd get a Nissan, unless I were splurging for a Sprinter, though the off-rental E-Series vans are priced fairly. Used in the OP's price range, go for the best one you can find, there's not much difference at that price and condition. Some find these vans to be indestructible, some think they're junk. V6 models are probably a lot easier to work on.

The Nissan has much more comfortable seats, too, and the seat goes back further.

[sunsprit]

Originally Posted by hoffdano

You may be driving a much newer van. I drove one ten years ago - though it was new at the time. We were loaded with 9 people and full of ski gear. Lane changes at highway speed were an adventure. The van would oscillate on the road. Since the OP is buying "cheap" that means old and very used.

LOL ... my Dodge B350 is a 1993 vintage with well over 125,000 miles on it. It's a Roadtrek conversion van which means that it's been close to max weight load for every mile it's ever been driven. And it has towed a 4,000-6,000 lb trailer a lot of those miles. It doesn't behave like you describe "oscillate on the road". It tracks remarkably well and I'm driving it in an area of the country that makes the typical winds you encountered down south register as almost a calm day for us.

Is that old and high mileage enough to qualify per your "older vehicle" concerns?

PS: I bought the Dodge with almost 100,000 miles put on it by an owner who did nothing more than routine factory suggested servicing. With the exception of batteries, tires, wiper blades, windshield, and brakes, filters and fluid changes, it's 100% original. It drives straight, the cruise control works like a champ, and I use it as a mobile office/living quarters traveling the region putting on about 500-800 miles in an average week on the road. It even tracks the secondary roads around here in inclement driving conditions rather well. We have the stock tire size, 10 ply Michelin's on it which appear to be giving good tire life and have worked remarkably well as a winter tire for inclement driving conditions, too.