Reliability of a used Van

[Joe Camilleri]

I've been towing with a 1 ton GMC van for 15 years. Most of the maintenance items have had to do with sitting around too much (cracked tires, sticky calipers, exhaust). Loaded to the rails it pulls a 3,000# open trailer car combo with no effort. The only thing that ever let me down was an idler pulley on the way home from Mid-Ohio.

When racing with an open trailer, the advantages of a full size van are many.

[lateapex911]

When racing with an open trailer, the advantages of a full size van are many.

yea, it seems like you have to go one of two ways: Open trailer with a van or suburban/excursion, or pickup with an enclosed. The open with a pickup sucks, LOL>

[Flyinglizard]

The van is nice. Stuff stays dry. The old Chevy works better than the old Ford. They just require less repair.
For open trailers, the Florda Custom vans turn out real nice. Low abuse factor, sometimes low mileage, etc. Full size Chev or the Box vans from the rental places. Check out any of the quad tired rear ends real well before you buy one tho. They get used hard, and have a very high replacement cost.
For enclosed trailers, the Excursuion is very nice but costly long term. ovewr 100K.
IMHO Mike Ogren

[fornetti14]

Mid to late '90's vans are all over the U-wrench junk yards too. That helps for fixing the small stuff.