Cargo van recommendation
 

I'm thinking about getting a cargo van to transport my toys to the field and also to go to jet events.
Do you guys have any opinion regarding what model is the best? Ford? GMC? Chevy? They all look the same to me...

Thanks for any input!

Arnaud

RE: Cargo van recommendation
 

Sprinter : ' )

RE: Cargo van recommendation
 

Full size GMC/Chevy-Have driven cargo vans for last 25 years-Stick with GM in my opinion-
Mike O

RE: Cargo van recommendation
 

For absolute size, versatility, and coolness (if you can call a van cool), the Dodge/Mercedes Sprinter takes it.

After that, it goes back to the Ford/Checy argument.....psssst, they're all the same [X(]

RE: Cargo van recommendation
 

Love my Town & Country.

RE: Cargo van recommendation
 

any of the units found on this page.

http://www.magtrucksales.com/DealerF...p?CategoryID=5

hard to beat em with any ordinary van.

i lean to the freightliner/cummins/allison option.

RE: Cargo van recommendation
 

SPRINTER!!!! I have two at work couldn't be without them.

RE: Cargo van recommendation
 

My Lumina APV does all for me both in and on top of it...

RE: Cargo van recommendation
 

here is a pic of my jet truck. it's a used penske truck, bought it 2 years ago 2005 80,000 miles at 8,000 dollars.....

mark

RE: Cargo van recommendation
 

Get you a small cargo trailer and haul it around. I found my 13X6X6 foot for around $1500. Sort of like the ones Uhaul has. You can pull it around and unhitch it and drive around town.

I saw one of those Spriter and man they are big. They are nice but thought of it to be too big. Very roomy too......

RE: Cargo van recommendation
 

I used to use a trailer before I bought my GMC Savanna. Personally, I prefer the dedicated toy van to a trailer, for a number of reasons. The main one is probably that the 55 mph trailer speed limit no longer applies.

A pretty decent cargo van can often be picked up from an ex-rental agency. That's how I got mine - I think the rental place may have been in Mountain View ?

RE: Cargo van recommendation
 

Found the place where I got mine : http://www.htrucks.com/sales_cargovans.php

RE: Cargo van recommendation
 

Oh yeah, I forgot about the 55 mph rule you guys have. Not over here, heck I was doing 75 on my trailer going and coming back from Florida Jets.
One of these days i might do a van or a toy hauler travel trailer.

RE: Cargo van recommendation
 

I really don't want a trailer. I have been towing race cars for a long time and trailers are a major PIA. I certainly would not want to tow every weekend.

Thanks for the great suggestion. The sprinter is cool but very pricey. I'll check out htrucks.com.

Arnaud

RE: Cargo van recommendation
 

sprinter all the way. I've got a friend who has a chevy, he is going with a sprinter even bigger than mine. as far as the cost its worth it i can carry 4 jets and several small edfs

RE: Cargo van recommendation
 

Arnuad - I found the perfect vehicle at Hengehold Trucks : http://www.htrucks.com/sales_cargova...il.php?ID=8975 It's big enough for toys, but it's REFRIGERATED, so you can keep all of our drinks cool for us at the Willow !! :D

RE: Cargo van recommendation
 

Here is what I have done

RE: Cargo van recommendation
 

This is very cool!

Arnaud

RE: Cargo van recommendation
 

I told my wife I wanted to replace my 12 year old pickup (and camper shell) with a cargo van. I'm tired (and too old) of crawling on my hands and knees to put something in the front of the bed up against the cab.

But I could not get her past the fact that a cargo van only has 2 seats in it. Of course my standard cab pickup only seats 3 so I was having trouble seeing her side. So she lets me buy a standard length passenger van instead. 2008 Chevy Express 1500.

The 2 bench seats pop out by removing 2 pins each. There is 127 inches of cargo space from the back of the front seats to the back doors. That's alot more space that my 8' pickup bed had and I can load stuff from the side door.

Now I just need to design/build a rack to carry jets on. Anyone have any pics of there solution?

RE: Cargo van recommendation
 

arnaud..please pm me..I have just the thing for you....already modied w/racks...located in sacramento calif.....k

RE: Cargo van recommendation
 

Gordo, thats site is awesome, some really sweet deals on there. If I had the storage room for one I would get a van.

RE: Cargo van recommendation
 

Sin city wrote: <<After that, it goes back to the Ford/Checy argument.....psssst, they're all the same >>

Not really, i have purchased 20 ford vans for my service business from `96 to `04 and found the same service issues with virtually all of them. I switched to Chevy / GMC express vans in `05 and have since seen much better dependability with these trucks.
V..

RE: Cargo van recommendation
 

Actually, you make his point perfectly...I bet you could find someone to say the exact same thing you just did except for it would be Chevy that had the issues and the Fords save the day....

Like he said, same old argument...

RE: Cargo van recommendation
 

I have gone through 2 chevy express vans and am on my third in the last 30 years of modeling. They have worked just fine with nothing but tires, batteries and mufflers until they died of old age. They are really handy. The wife and I use them for travel as well as local model hauling. When you go on vacation you just keep throwing stuff in until most of your household is there and go. No need to plan what you want to take, just take it all :D

RE: Cargo van recommendation
 

ACW, Like you, I pondered the many options .... and was starting to drive myself crazy. I went with the trailer for 2 main reasons: 1. with a 7-foot wide trailer you can put the airplanes in there assembled if you want to ... this is very handy for the overnight events and for temporary shelter from rainstorms. 2. I prefer to unhitch the trailer and leave it at the event site ... as opposed to bringing everything to the parking lot (overnight) of a 1/4 or 1/2 Star hotel that we all often have to stay at. Market is pretty soft on used trailers and basic tow vehicles like an F-150. This combo will probably be cheaper than a van. Bob