Which full-size van is best for towing a large trailer? Is the Chevy Express or GMC Savana the best choice for towing heavy with a big van? We recently received this question from Nic.
Nic Boulis writes:
“First and foremost, I could watch your videos on YouTube all day long. It is a complete time suck. I own a small painting business in northwest Ohio. I used box trailers for my job sites, this is what has gotten me interested in towing. I prefer GM Vans over Dodge or Ford based on towing ability. They can fit through a carwash and in a standard overhead garage door. I also buy the extended passenger models because I leave one bench row in for my kids and or transporting painters.
1. How does a Chevy Express 3500 HD van compare to a similar Chevy Silverado HD truck?
2. In Northwest Ohio we do not deal with up and/or downhill driving, but we do deal with pretty significant winds due to how flat it is. I use box trailers that are approximately 7-feet wide by 16 long by 9 high. I do not have any issue, besides when I’m out on the interstate going into the wind at 65+mph. If I am running at higher RPM, then what would be an acceptable range or when should I start to be concerned about wear and tear of the drivetrain. This all being mentioned I made a mistake when buying my last Express van and only got the 4.8 liter, which makes me constantly question how much better the 6-liter would perform in this area.
Any information you guys could provide me with would be great and appreciated.”
The new Chevy Express and GMC Savana vans remain mostly unchanged, but recent announcement by GM says the 6.0-liter Vortec V8 is being discontinued. The new 6.6-liter gas V8 from the 2020 Silverado HD trucks is replacing it. The transmission is the updated 6-speed automatic.
The GM full-size rear-wheel-drive vans do have a relatively high maximum towing rating. Unfortunately, we do not get to test many full-size vans with trailers. What do you guys think? What are some of your experiences with towing heavy trailer with a full-size van? Is there are a lot of suspension squat or stability issues?
Many competitor vans use smaller displacement turbocharged engines and/or diesels. Here is a look at the new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van lineup.
