Chevy Express 2500 or 3500 with 6.6L V8 Gas engine 6-speed heavy-duty auto Experience

[sarz272000]

Looking at the GD 2400BD and a tow vehicle being a 2023 Chevy Express 2500 or 2500 Passenger Van (GMC has the same van called Savanna) with 6.6L V8 Gas engine 6-speed heavy-duty auto. We don’t want a PU because we prefer the room in the passenger van for grandkids, kayaks and bike hauling. Very satisfying to just open the rear doors and heave the stuff in instead of mounting them on top of a roof. The Express passenger van seems to be enough for the tow task. It is however older technology compared to PUs. But it us also priced much lower. A drawback is it is rear drive and no AWD available.

Looking for anyone to share any experiences towing with CHevy or GMC passenger vans in the 2500 or 3500 series.

Thanks

Ron

[Stealth13777]

I can’t speak directly, but I’m very interested in the responses you receive.

I did see that they can have 135” or 155” wheelbases. Assuming you meant the 2400BH, that is a trailer people often try with 145” wheelbase pickups. My recommendation based on that and my own experiences would be that you try for the extended wheelbase van.

From there I think payload is the key for you. Make sure you buy a van with enough capacity for everything you want to put in it plus 1000# on the hitch. I would guess a 2500 is enough for that trailer, but they do have a 3500 if not. If you can see them in person, take a look at actual numbers on the yellow sticker inside the driver’s door.

Good luck and I like the idea, especially with the 6.6 power train. It won’t want for power.

[WhittleBurner]

We used to tow our 28 ft TT with a full sized van . With a TT we liked the combo and versatility the van offered. Suggest you go with the 3500 and the extended long wheel base, also consider adding a leaf to the springs to help eliminate rear sag with the hitch weight and cargo in the back of the van.

Welcome to the forum!

[COGrandDes]

Looking at the GD 2400BD and a tow vehicle being a 2023 Chevy Express 2500 or 2500 Passenger Van (GMC has the same van called Savanna) with 6.6L V8 Gas engine 6-speed heavy-duty auto. We don’t want a PU because we prefer the room in the passenger van for grandkids, kayaks and bike hauling. Very satisfying to just open the rear doors and heave the stuff in instead of mounting them on top of a roof. The Express passenger van seems to be enough for the tow task. It is however older technology compared to PUs. But it us also priced much lower. A drawback is it is rear drive and no AWD available.

Looking for anyone to share any experiences towing with CHevy or GMC passenger vans in the 2500 or 3500 series.

Thanks

Ron

I grew up in OH and my dad pulled our campers with vans and Suburbans at that time....neither were 4x4s and we were fine. I would agree that you should get the 3500 and ensure the payload numbers still work for what you will be hauling. If you plan to use the rig mostly at sea level and low altitudes....that engine and powertrain setup will be fine. If you intend to travel across the US where the altitudes are much higher....your engine will work harder thus the reason that many of us use diesels to pull. It's a personal choice based on camping style and traveling desires. Once you leave sea level....the non-turbo, non-supercharged engine power numbers start to decrease. Just something to note! Good luck with your journey and enjoy!

[Soundsailor]

Looking at the GD 2400BD and a tow vehicle being a 2023 Chevy Express 2500 or 2500 Passenger Van (GMC has the same van called Savanna) with 6.6L V8 Gas engine 6-speed heavy-duty auto. We don’t want a PU because we prefer the room in the passenger van for grandkids, kayaks and bike hauling. Very satisfying to just open the rear doors and heave the stuff in instead of mounting them on top of a roof. The Express passenger van seems to be enough for the tow task. It is however older technology compared to PUs. But it us also priced much lower. A drawback is it is rear drive and no AWD available.

Looking for anyone to share any experiences towing with CHevy or GMC passenger vans in the 2500 or 3500 series.

Thanks

Ron

Welcome to the forum. One thing in your post jumped out at me, no all-wheel drive. That may not be an issue if your always on good roads, so think about where you might want to camp. If there are any rough surfaces involved, you may want a 4W drive.

[Ynot4me2]

Welcome to the group. I agree with @Soundsailor, I always recommend awd or 4wd. 4wd it is not just for snow or off-road, I needed mine when backing our tt on a really really wet soaked grass lot at the Wasaga Beach campground. It was a flat grassy lot. It just got real soft after 3 days of hard rain.

[sarz272000]

Thank you for your comments. I did not realize the WB for std van was 135”. Thanks for that. I agree with the need for AWD especially since we live in Michigan. We went to local camper show to look at travel trailers. Very disappointing. We want less than 26 feet with bunks. The only model that impressed us was the Grand Design Imagine XLS 21BHE. I liked the Murphy bed. I did not think I would. It opens up the space nicely. GD has much better quality than any other brand from the ones that were there. But even at about $30k for the 21 BHE that troubled us. Prices are coming down but quality as well. Many RVs bathroom took up about 1/3 of the unit. Not something we like.

So we will not get an Express van because we decided the cost for the TV and RV is not worth the times we would use them. Probably look to rent them and get a nicer vehicle to travel. Will look for a GD RV for sure to rent. Thanks for ur comments.

Happy, safe travels.
Ron

[That 1 Ron]

Thank you for your comments. I did not realize the WB for std van was 135”. Thanks for that. I agree with the need for AWD especially since we live in Michigan. We went to local camper show to look at travel trailers. Very disappointing. We want less than 26 feet with bunks. The only model that impressed us was the Grand Design Imagine XLS 21BHE. I liked the Murphy bed. I did not think I would. It opens up the space nicely. GD has much better quality than any other brand from the ones that were there. But even at about $30k for the 21 BHE that troubled us. Prices are coming down but quality as well. Many RVs bathroom took up about 1/3 of the unit. Not something we like.

So we will not get an Express van because we decided the cost for the TV and RV is not worth the times we would use them. Probably look to rent them and get a nicer vehicle to travel. Will look for a GD RV for sure to rent. Thanks for ur comments.

Happy, safe travels.
Ron

There’s at least a few options to make the Express 4x4;

https://www.quigley4x4.com/products/gm/

https://timberlinesupply.com/collect...ndard-lift-1-3

https://weldtecdesigns.com/product/w...n-torsion-bar/

Look around the more “overland” oriented websites and you might find one for sale already converted to 4x4.

[sarz272000]

There’s at least a few options to make the Express 4x4;

https://www.quigley4x4.com/products/gm/

https://timberlinesupply.com/collect...ndard-lift-1-3

https://weldtecdesigns.com/product/w...n-torsion-bar/

Look around the more “overland” oriented websites and you might find one for sale already converted to 4x4.

This forum is amazing!! Another thing I would have never thought of. Thanks for that. I am in no hurry. So maybe I will keep an eye out for a used converted 4x4 van. The Nissan full size passenger van is a quigley conversion product. That could be another option.

RON

[eeshelman]

I towed a 2021 2450rl for two years with a 12 passenger 2019 Express 2500. I bought it one year old and it was just over half the cost of a used crew cab 4wd truck with the same engine. With 2300lb of payload, it had no trouble carrying the trailer and all our stuff. It had the 6.0 with 6 speed and did not have trouble pulling 7500lb trailer. I now have a 2022 Silverado HD with the 6.6 engine and 6 speed. The 6.6 is a beast and hardly notices the trailer - downshifting less than the 6.0. Once I got rid of the crap OEM tires for something with tread the performance in snow was pretty good. If ordering new, definitely opt for the $300 G80 limited slip.

I never got stuck or had a wheel slip. For insurance I carried a professional tow bridle, soft shackles, and a 30,000lb tow strap. Like most insurance, I never needed them and, all in, that cost less than $150 vs the cost of a 4wd truck. I only switched to a truck due to back problems and needing a different seat.