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Towing with Express 3500 6.0/6L90

K85 Octane

K85 Octane

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These vans are rated for 9,400lbs
I’m not someone who likes to push my luck towing far too much but I don’t have the funds for multiple vehicles.
First and foremost I need a van for work. That’s important. I’ve been torn between the Ford Transit 350 and the Express 350. I don’t know fuel mileage but can’t worry too much about that. One has a 3.5T and the other a 6.0. One year old Express under 40,000 miles runs about $20k. Similar for the Transit but closer to $30k. I don’t like that this might be my daily driver but there’s no getting around that.
Even looked at trucks but it’s not even possible to find a one year old 1/2 ton 5.3 for $20k. A one year old Express is the only way to get 1 ton and 6.0 for $20k.

However, if everyone thinks towing the Blazer would be way too much for the Express, than 1ton/6.0 doesn’t much matter.

(Only other thing is I’m seeing a lot of these vans used with 300k+ miles and I’ve asked a few owners with over 250k miles. That’s positive)

Just thinking/rambling
 
While slightly off topic I have towed over 200 vehicles {not an exaggeration} many of them being trucks and full size cars loaded with scrap metal with an old 1 ton G series GMC van and it towed great. Every bit as good as any truck I have towed with. I think it will do fine.
 
Your 9,400 pound rating is a little off depending on which year you look at. I just pulled it up for a '19 G3500 long wheelbase cargo van and it's 10,000 pound max trailer weight and 16,000 pound gross combined weight rating. The long wheelbase passenger van 3500 drops the max trailer weight to 9,200 pounds with the same 16,000 pound gross combined weight rating.
 
Passenger extended wheelbase. 9,200#
That’s it :)
Also I plan to pull all the rear seats out. I’m only interested in the passenger van because it has the sound deadening over a cargo. I think it’s easier to drive with the windows also. I’ll end up mounting my own system of hooks around the back. :D
 
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It's not a van but we have a 2500hd with the same motor/trans combo and I was happy with how it towed a K30 on a equipment trailer over the continental divide here in Colorado. I think the 6 speed transmission really helps.
 
A friend has used a 3500 Express 6.0L van standard wheelbase for years to tow his 1-ton'd 40" tire fullsize pickup trail rig (about 7,500 total towing weight) with no complaints. He also pulled a smaller sized toyhauler with a SxS in it quite a bit also at the same weight. However when he tried out a larger (forget the length but pretty long) toyhauler the weight wasn't the issue but the sway was really bad even with all of the WHD and sway control hitches and proper tongue weight.
 
Don't go for a 4 cylinder dirtymax. The towing values go way down for both passenger and cargo versions. They were available in 3500 models.
 
I think a Dmax or 8.1 might price me out of the option.
And, the gas mileage of those rigs and not needing a full-time tow rig probably sways me away from them also.
 
K85 Octane said:
I think a Dmax or 8.1 might price me out of the option.
And, the gas mileage of those rigs and not needing a full-time tow rig probably sways me away from them also.
Click to expand...
Good luck finding one too. They only made the 8.1 version for a couple of years. The 6.6 dirtymax is a packaging nightmare to work on if you did find one. Ugly.
 
Wow
Express 3500 is about 1k pounds heavier than an equal wheelbase 1500 Silverado. 11/16 reported mileage. Damn, no wonder they sell cheaper than the trucks.
 
One memorable sight I won't forget was when I was on my way to a swap meet in CT many years ago..
Up ahead of me on the interstate,I saw a full sized Chevy pickup with an "In Tow" sign on it's tail gate...I assumed a old style truck with a Holmes wrecker body was pulling it--till I got closer,and then passed it..
To my surprise,the tow vehicle was a late 70's G series Chevy van,must have been a G-30,it had 8 lug rims,and a full frame,not a unibody like the 1/2 or 3/4 ton ones...the rear doors were open and secured by ropes,and sticking out of the back of the van,was a wrecker boom!..:eek:..

The van was going 60+ mph with no sign of swaying or weaving,and I saw it later at the swap meet,turned out the guy was hauling the pickup there to sell,along with about another ton of parts piled in the van..he said he made the wrecker boom out of an old Holmes unit and all the did was weld angle iron to the base of it so he could bolt it to the floor and frame rails of the van..said he had been using it a lot to haul cars & trucks all over new england..
 
K85 Octane said:
These vans are rated for 9,400lbs
I’m not someone who likes to push my luck towing far too much but I don’t have the funds for multiple vehicles.
First and foremost I need a van for work. That’s important. I’ve been torn between the Ford Transit 350 and the Express 350. I don’t know fuel mileage but can’t worry too much about that. One has a 3.5T and the other a 6.0. One year old Express under 40,000 miles runs about $20k. Similar for the Transit but closer to $30k. I don’t like that this might be my daily driver but there’s no getting around that.
Even looked at trucks but it’s not even possible to find a one year old 1/2 ton 5.3 for $20k. A one year old Express is the only way to get 1 ton and 6.0 for $20k.

However, if everyone thinks towing the Blazer would be way too much for the Express, than 1ton/6.0 doesn’t much matter.

(Only other thing is I’m seeing a lot of these vans used with 300k+ miles and I’ve asked a few owners with over 250k miles. That’s positive)

Just thinking/rambling
Click to expand...
I towed with my 1997 1500 Chevrolet van Express with the 5.7 vortec.
Other than the soft rear suspension which in your case will not be the case, it was fine.
I say go with it.
Too bad you didn't try last year, there was a 2001 or 2002 8.1 Express for sale for $5500
 
Express all the way. My dad has a 2013 3500 Express with the 6.0 and 4l80e. He bought it when it was about 2 years old with 14k miles on it. I like it a lot. We towed our 20ft PJ Buggy hauler trailer with my Trazer on it a few times. It pulled it fine. I use it to tow my 16ft vintage camper trailer a lot now. Can't even feel the trailer is there. We camp in it, we haul car parts with it, etc. For my dad, it's his spare vehicle as he refuses to give up his 1998 Astro van.
 
Good to hear.
Just sitting on this info, waiting to get through the holidays and pull the trigger on a van.
Wife and I have a couple retail locations going, hope the malls don't close again, that could kill us.
But if things go well, I'll be getting my first van :D
 
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