Looking for a new work van

I am looking to replace my GMC Savana with something a little more fuel efficient. I get 12mpg in this thing. Thats $180 every 5-6 days! Time for a change. If you are using a smaller more fuel efficient vehicle, could you please post a few pics so I could see how you have it set up? Ive posted a few of mine so you can see what I carry. Any suggestions? I'd like a Sprinter, but $53k before new shelving etc.









Thanks for any and all input.

 

How about a diesel powered Ford full size van? Or, is that out of the question given how shockingly high diesel prices have gotten?

 

Didnt know they were available. I'll look into it. Thanks.

 

you could get away with a V6 pickup and have a small trailer in tow.

i used to use my moms Toyota X-Runner with an enclosed trailer working the weekends out to neighboring Austin some years back and i easily get 24mpg fully loaded..... that big 4.0 V-6 has some power and damn good economy even with towing

 

Grey Ghost's suggestion may be better - I guess it depends on what you need to carry around or tow, and how much all that stuff weighs. I had my diesel Excursion (SUV) when I was towing a race car.

So...my Excursion was a 2001, with the 7.3L power stroke diesel. It was a wonderful truck. Great seats, great stereo, great A/C and heat, well built, and almost completely trouble free. I say "almost" because the power door locks finally packed up at about 100K miles - something that Ford Super Duty trucks of that generation are famous for, they all do it.

Mine had the 3.73 LSD rear axle in it, and was the "Limited" 7-passenger SUV. It was seriously heavy, at a tick over 7000lbs :yikes: Reason I mention that is that, even with all that luxury stuff like three rows and dual A/C and heat, empty, I could get 18mpg around town, and 20mpg on the highway. The highway mileage starts to decline pretty quickly if you cruise over 2000rpm (70mph for a 1999-2003 7.3L with the 3.73 rear axle) - that's when the turbo starts to spin up, and fuel mileage declines. 2000rpm is "about right" for a diesel though.

If a work van is lighter than my SUV was - and I think it would be - you might get a shade better mpg than I did, but 18-20mpg is a good baseline. When I was pulling a 5000lb car carrier with the race car on it, I got 14mpg. If you tow heavy and enclosed, you're gonna do a lot better than an equivalent gas truck - but it's still going to hurt.

Looks to me like you can no longer buy a brand new Ford van with the diesel, so used is what you're after. And IMHO, you wanted used anyway. The 2004+ Ford diesels were much different than my 7.3 - 6.0L, and then 6.4L. They've had their share of problems. The 7.3 is a tried and true motor that is still used in a lot of mass transit today - if you see an International bus with "T444E" on the side, that's the same motor.

I really loved that truck. Now that I no longer tow heavy though, I just couldn't justify keeping it

EDIT: fix rear axle ratio from 3:55 to 3:73

 

I'd say a used Sprinter all the way!

 

My amsoil dealer swears by his chevy HHR

 

I looked at the HHRs. I could put some 20's, possibly 22's on it. Only thing is I dont know if all my gear would fit. Possibly if I didn't carry a water tank. Hmmmm......

 

You want to put 20s or 22s on an HHR?

I say you go all out and then just buy a donk for detailing:

 

hey esay nice ride hahahahaha :lol2: :lol2:

Man just look how high that thing is off the ground :lol2:

 

I have been thinking about this as well and want something that stands out and add a bit of uniqueness to my outfit... I have been toying around with the idea of an old VW bus or an old panel van... Granted I dont haul a water tank

 

minus the ford emblem!

 

I would love to get my hands on one of these or a Mercedes Vito, neither of which are available in N. America.

 

I've been toying with the idea of losing my tank. I do a ton of SUVs and routinely go through over 100 gallons per vehicle. What are you using now for a vehicle? Any pics?

 

What about just a regular gutted minivan?

 

Daymn :afro:

 

Have you thought about tunning it for better mileage?

Westers does some awesome stuff for GM vehicles......My 8000lb diesel lays waste to many vets with his tuning......

Im sure Lyndon would have something that would help you out.

 

does that van of yours even have a diesel?

if not, theres your problem.

a turbo diesel with just some minor modifications such as a full exhaust, intake, and a tune can net some very substantial fuel economy, not to mention enough torque to pull a house off its foundation an enough horsepower to keep up with some fast imports and even a few muscle cars.

a taller rear end gear ratio will help in highway fuel economy as the revs will be quite low meaning less chance of a lighter load on the truck to spin the turbo into positive boost