Another Pick Up Or A Van?

MinConst

Hi Guys and Gals,

The lease is up on my Tundra in December and I am starting to think about whats next. This might be long winded one so bear with me.
Right now I'm pulling a trailer full of my tools etc. Gas gets sucked up pretty good when I do. Without the trailer I get about 14-15 never really measured it with the trailer but it is much worse. So I've been thinking about a Van instead. Also I can't keep my trailer at home so I have to use a storage place. Blows 45 minutes to an hour a day getting it and bringing it back.
So can anyone that uses a Van (Chevy, Ford) inform me on mileage they get? I probably will carry a few hundred pounds of tools in it. I drove Chevy Vans for 25 years in a prior career, never owned a Ford Van but did have 1 ford F150 that I wasn't happy with it. Bad transmission after 1 year. Hence the move to the Tundra. I like to be comfortable.
If anyone can add some input I would appreciate it. Not in a big rush but time flies so I'm thinking this through starting now.
Thanks.

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send_it_all

If I had to get another truck right now, I would spring for a Ford F250 diesel. I know diesel fuel is more expensive, but I've heard some of their owners claiming OVER 20 mpg. I have also heard that pulling a trailer doesn't affect mileage very much. This could all be B.S., but I have been asking owners of these trucks because I've been considering buying one. I think I'll stick with my F-150 for a little while longer and my 15-17 mpg.

BKFranks

LOL. I don't know where these diesel owners are because I've never seen them. I have a Chev 2500 HD crew cab with a gas engine. I get 12 mpg. I worked for a guy last year with the same truck except diesel engine and 1 year newer. He gets 13 mpg. There's a display that shows the mpg's, so no guess work. I'd love to have a diesel, but not when diesel is over $4.50 a gallon. Ouch!

As for the van vs truck. As long as you never have to throw anything big in the back, I'd say go for the van. I've been thinking about getting one too. I tried finding some EPA mileage info, but couldn't find any.

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send_it_all

Vans with a V8 gasoline engine get p*ss poor mileage. I would guess 10-11 mpg. You might get 12-13 if you get an E-150 with a 4.6l in it, but it won't be able to get out of it's own way.

neolitic

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/byclass.htm

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rex

i get 13 mpg out of my 99 1 ton chevy van w/350 loaded down every day its a utility body with doors on the side and a walk in box single wheels in back.....112*** miles

buildenterprise

I've got a 2004 E350 15 passenger van that I converted to a cargo van. I'm running about 8500 pounds daily. With the 5.4 V8 I'm getting anywhere from 9.5 mpg with a trailer to 12.5 to 13 mpg without.

dougger222

Don't have any vans but my father has a 03 E250 with the 4.2 V6. He gets 12-14 mpg but when loaded it goes down. Pulling the trailers it's really bad. He's always had F150's with the 6 cylinders with manual trannies and he wished he would have bought the van with a V8.

My 99 F250 diesel gets 15 mpg, the 99 F350 DRW gets 12 mpg but tows big a lot, the 00 Excursion diesel gets 18 mpg but has gotten as high as 20 a few times. Between the three diesels have around 578K total miles and never done any motor work to any. The F250 which towed a lot for a couple years, plowed, and his chipped has had two trannies.

Cheap gas here is $3.65 a gallon and diesel ranges from $4.09-4.19 a gallon for the #2. All three diesels have suffered worse mileage since the new USLD15 fuel has come out.

IMO, the best van you could buy would be a 2000 E350 with the 7.3 diesel motor. I know a guy with one, very rare, he loves it.

woodchuck2

I have an 06 D-max 2500HD with a tuner and exhaust, i get 13-14mpg towing my enclosed trailer or my mini-ex. I have gotten up to 22mpg on trips empty. It is harsher on fuel in the winter but man you cannot beat the power. I hate vans after owning several of them and working out of them but if i were to buy a van it would be a Gm with the Duramax and i would opt for a high top for more head room. This combo should get 17-20 mpg and still have at least a 10k tow rating so you could still tow your trailer with no issues. You could always look for a used school bus with the Duramax in it, at least you could walk through it and have more room for shelves.

MinConst

Well from all the input I have seen and what I've read on the EPA site that neolitic posted I see vans don't get as good mileage as pickups. Not a hell of allot of difference but a little. Now pulling my trailer would make a large difference in it so it might be a wash. I don't need a 2500 3500 and don't want diesel. So the thinking process will continue.

I really appreciate all the input guys. It helps.

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Teetorbilt

Hi Paul, I just pulled up my stats based on 4 '03 Chevy 1500 Express vans w/ the 4.3L that run almost fully loaded. In town is 13.2 OTR is 18. Another thing to consider is that all of your stuff is locked up and not sitting in the bed of a P/U, also nice when it rains and you have a load of drywall/ply staying nice and dry.

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neolitic

Finally switched to a van after
30 years of crawling over tools
and what-have-yous, and twice
having the shell popped open
and cleaned out by scum bags....
Don't know how I stayed
that dumb that long, working
out of the van was like moving up
to a Caddy after driving a '58 Beetle.

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MinConst

Thanks Teetor,

Yes and it would be nice to have it all in my driveway too :-)

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buletbob

I run a E350 15ft DRW box truck getting 9mpg And A 2007 F350 DRW diesel with trailer and get 10MPG and 13mpg with out love the power of the diesel. but love the fact that everything i need is in the box truck. my plumber runs a dodge sprinter and loves it 18 - 20 mpg

72chevy4x4

mine is an Express box truck with the older vortec and it gets very consistently 9.5mpg. again, it is a 'box'. on the other hand, I can load it up with materials (small stuff now) and even fit a 10'6' brake inside (sliding door between cabin). with all of the custom shelving, I've got a LOT of stuff in there, should be able to convert your entire trailer contents to a box van.

If you're considering the mileage, also consider the 45 minutes extra you drive around for the trailer, if you convert 30 minutes of that extra to work time, not only are you saving fuel and time, you're making money as well.

Duane1982

I have a 1995 e350 dually 16ft cube van with an aerocell body. The 7.3 powerstroke gets me right now 14-15 and thats with using the turbo at every stop sign/light. I might see 16-17 if I drove like a grandpa. It's loaded to the top with all sorts of roofing and siding tools also.The Power is great!

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2ndGen

Have a '97 E-250 with a V-6. I'm lucky if I get 12 MPG.

Just picked up an '01 Excursion V-10. The computer reads that I'm getting 7.9 MPG's (but I'm doubting that, I think it's more like 10-12 by comparing my tank fills and actual mileage).
Thing I've learned is this...if you're working, you're going to average between 10-15 MPG average.
Besides, the gas is considered an expense and a good accountant will get it written off for you.
When it comes to work, it's another expense that has to be added to the cost of doing business.Fact is, if they charged $5./Gal., who wouldn't work?

Contractors have to start to pass these costs on to those we serve.
Nails are supposedly going up too about 200% I hear. It's all going up...insurance, labor for good men, etc...
For some reason, contracting seems to be the business who's prices haven't risen in accordance to what the cost of doing business has risen.

My advice, get exactly what you need. Don't stress a 5-10 MPG difference. I believe in having more power than I need. How much is a new engine that is underpowered for the task at hand going to cost if you over work it?
Next truck? Isuzu NPR Diesel (somewhere in the neighborhood of 2000) with a 16' Box and Liftgate. Will I sweat the mileage? Nope...if that truck is moving, it's making me money.



PS...for me, I will only buy a Ford when it comes to vans. Their just tough as all hell. Not knocking Chevies, but through my experiences in them, I prefer the Fords.

If you don't go for the Ford, forget the Chevy and go with a GMC, same van, but not. Workwise, GMC is always superior to Chevy when it comes to work vehicles.
Also, how many tools to you have? I have a van now (and I love it for jumping from job to job), but want a box truck to have a rolling shop (w/built in fridge, micro, generator/convertor, superior storage space for stock, etc...).
Or you could go with a van and trailer set up since you already have the trailer.
Personally, I've come to appreciate a van or box truck for keeping tools and equipment and stock clean, dry and secure.
But I will get a Pick Up (an F-350 SuperDuty Diesel 4X4).

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Justin Miles

Ford every time!

skyhook

Not always. Mine gets 18 on the open road, fully loaded. 91 Ram 250 v8. The 2002 similar equipted only gets 15 on a good day, empty.
I too got tired of climbing in and out of the back of my f-250, un-loading every night and re-loading every AM. With the van, I lock the doors and fugedaboutit.

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stp57

I don't know what in the world I would do with half of my tools & stuff if I had to go back to a Ford or Chevy van. There is so much more practical room in my 2006 Sprinter van. It handles more like a car so that my stuff doesn't go flying around whenever I make turns. I consistently get 20-22 mpg. I could get better if I didn't drive so fast on the freeways. With 45K miles already, it has been nearly trouble free. Plenty of power for me from the 2.7 diesel. I realize that Mercedes parts can be expensive, but I have been collecting typical replacement parts for it on Ebay cheap for the last year & a half.
I paid $30K for it new. If the standard items on it (like auto traction control, diesel engine, four wheel disc brakes, 5 speed automatic/ slapstick & others) where added to a Ford or Chevy van purchase, then they would cost about the same as the Sprinter.
Steve