A minivan is too small. We use one of these for small pickups. For anything 700# and under, it's great! 28 MPG, has all the amenities, and has quattro to boot!
Now, an Astro van or a "Maxi-Van"? I don't know much about them. We need something bigger than a Caravan, though. I currently run an F150 with a 300 I6/M5OD/3.31 gears. It's terrible. 5000# with trailer, and I could only keep 35 MPH on the flats- and I felt like a whipping boy doing that. 200 miles of that isn't doable. We will also be using this for farm work- hauling straw on trailers. Our loads are 5000# tops- and the F150 won't be doing that again! I don't anticipate that much weight very often, though. When we tow, it'll be around 3000-4000# usually (if that much). I do collection events all over the state- I can't see a Grand Voyager doing that
We need enclosed trucking. My goal is resale- I scrap the obsolete and dead stuff. I can make more on a refurbished system, so I do that whenever possible.
I've owned three half ton trucks. The only way they work for me is with a cap. I've lost computers before to rain in the open trucks. I'm tired of worrying about outrunning the storm, or losing stuff.
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@Beardo: How do you think a Suburban would handle 5000# of towing? Could I hold 55 on the flats, or would I be doing 30, hoping I don't kill the truck? How do you think one would do with cargo in the back- say 700#? 1000#? 1500#?
Suspension won't be an issue. I know he can do that. I did shocks on the Ford- they're the easiest thing I've ever done.
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His pricing seems cheap for out here: last time, he had a 1999 4x4 with 180k miles. He was looking for $1500 out of it. His pricing is low. Heck, I missed out on a 2001 Dodge 2500 with the V10 for $1700.
Please keep the thoughts coming!
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