Quote Originally Posted by Carter1 View Post
I would like to see some serious discussion on tow rigs. Ford, Chevy, GMC, Dodge and Toyota and of course you can others if you want. Consider the pros and cons of each. Not just that you think Ford is better than Chevy because you like them. Facts mostly and some opinion. Base what you say from what you know or have experienced.

For example, I have a full-size 2003 GMC Savana 1/2 ton passenger van I bought new. It is a 5.7, automatic, rear-wheel drive. I like that it has lots of cargo and passenger room. It is not too bad on gas. I think the tank on mine is about 35 gallons. I have gotten as high as 21mpg on flat road while fully loaded but not towing. When towing my 15' ProCraft lately I get about 14mpg.
I can sleep and cook in my van. It is easy to change clothes inside the back.
Looking back I wish I would have gotten something with 4-wheel drive. I hunt too and there have been a few times I could have used 4-wheel.
A downfall of this vehicle is the door hinges. I have double side doors on both sides. The hinges are on the outside of the body. They get a lot of grit and such in them and eventually they become hard to operate. I had to have one set of hinges cut off because everytime I opened and closed the door the hinge would bend/warp. It finally got to where one day I tried to close it and it would not even latch. I had to bungee it closed until I got it to the shop. So, a big con for these are the outside hinges. The replacement hinges have grease fittings on them.

Another con to this type of vehicle is limited hauling of certain items unless I use my trailer. I can't haul a freezer or refrigerator properly inside. If I had a truck it would not be a problem.

I am probably forgetting points both good and bad but this is a start. Hope to see some interesting posts from you all.
I think it all gets to be matter of what your individual needs are and what your prioritites are.
2003 Ford E150 Chateau, 5.4, 3.55 rear gear, pulls up to 6900 lbs bone stock, seats 7, keeps all my gear and clothes, beer coolers, and food baskets dry and accessible insde, as well as more secure than in a pickups bed with a topper or a solid bed cover. It's not 4 wheel drive, but I don't hunt and don't off road. 17-18 pg highway, 13-15 intown and about the same towing a boat, motor, trailer, 4 batteries trolling motor, full 53 gallon gas tank, with rods, tackle box, andchors etc onboard, about a solid 4300-4500 lbs rig, and the truck has not problem doing that. In fact on the highway it rides better towing than not.

The van easily hauls 4X8 sheets of plywood or drywall with the back bench seat out, and I mean fully inside with the doors closed so no rain or thiefs get in. I've had washers and dryers in the back, I agree frigerators too tall, but, I've never had the need to hump one.

By the way, I've never had my van full to the roof while moving a friend, and had anything blow out the back. I see stuff fly out of pickups all too often.

MSRP new, you will get far more truck in a van, than you will in a pickup or SUV because the vans ain't sexy or in demand. Vans depreciate faster than the pickups do, so buying one 2-3 years old, maybe with a little warranty still under it save you a bunch for a fairly low miles vehicles.

4X4 pickups have their place, so do 2x4 pickups, and I'd never try to tell soeone what they got isn't as good as what I have. It's just that what I got fits my life style, needs, and budget.

RE pickups with toppers on. Being anal about clean glass, trying to wash the window on the front of the topper and the rear of the truck cab would drive me nuts. :-)

Last big bonus. I take the back seat out when I go with 3 friends, a total of 4 of us. If we decide not to get a motel, 2 can sleep in the van fully stretched out in the back, and 2 can sleep in the cabin of the boat. Saves a buck on a motel. Warning, don't try this with folks that snore a lot :-)