I towed our 05 Cherokee Lite 28A that was 6500lbs ready to travel with a 97 Dodge Conv. van. the van had the 5.9 and 3.90 gear. combined weight I was around 13000lbs. it towed and handled with no problems. even went on a 3500 mile round trip out to Glacier NP with it. the newer GM vans will have the longer wheel base of the three if you go for the extended versions.
With the 5 kids your going to want a minimum of a 2500 with a minimum of 5.9 for the Dodge 6.0 for the GM and 5.4 or V-10 for the Ford. all these with atleast a 3.73 rear end.
Wife kim
Son brandon 7yrs
Daughter marissa 6yrs
Dog shadow
07 Cherokee 32B
02 Excursion 4X4 V-10 4.30 gear
Reese HP dualcam,Prodigy brake controller,
Air lift air bags.
Better to have a bad day of
camping than a good day at work!
In March 2006, my wife and I purchased a used 2004 E-350, V10, 15-passenger Extended van. It has the 3.73 non-LS rear axle and 4R100 4-spd automatic OD transmission. It was less than 3 years old, still on factory warranty, with only 9800 miles. It was a former daily-rental vehicle, that spent most of the time parked on the lot. Selling price was just under $23,000.
We have now used it to tow our Nash 22H travel trailer (5500 lbs. loaded) about 25 times. We absolutely love the big van! It tows the trailer like it wasn't even there. The V10 is smooth, quiet, and powerful. The van has tons of storage space for gear and/or people. We removed 2 of the 4 rear bench seats for more cargo space. We don't carry passengers in the rear, but we slide two 10 foot kayaks inside (fully enclosed) resting on top of the 2 remaining bench seats. We still have plenty of room for 2 bikes, firewood, portable generator, etc. My wife also loves the fact that it is NOT a noisy, smelly diesel! I love the fact that it didn't COST as much as a diesel.
The Ford E-350 van (regular or extended length, V10 or diesel) is a highly recommended tow vehicle!
Ed Morgan
Ed and Susan Morgan
TT -- 2005 Northwood Nash 22H
TV -- 2004 Ford E-350 Extended Van, 6.8L V10, 4-spd. Automatic OD, 3.73 rear axle.
Generator -- Yamaha EF2400iS
E350 vans make EXCELLENT tow vehicles. For what you need, I think its the best choice, as long as you can do without 4x4.
Yes, there have been concerns about instability with the extended length 12/15 passenger vans when fully loaded. HOWEVER, for what you need, you don't have to get an extended version - get you a regular length E350 van (WITHOUT that extension on the back), and those stability problems are not an issue. You will then have what is probably one of the most rock-solid towing platforms there is. And, a regular length van would STILL give you considerably more room inside, than an Excursion or Suburban. For towing purposes, you're better off without an extended E350 anyway, 'cause that extension behind the rear axle is not the best for towing.
Look for/get you a regular length E350 with a V10, you'll be set. Plenty of room, obscene amounts of payload capacity, as well as towing. And, you can get one just slightly used, for an absolute steal right now. Considerably cheaper than a V10 Excursion or 8.1 V8 Suburban can be found.
Someone mentioned the Dodge Sprinter vans. Not sure that would work good, as those vans are very limited in towing capacity, due to the small engine they have. They are not designed tow much more than their own weight.
If you can find an older '01 or '02 Chevy van with the 8.1 V8 in it, that might be one to consider also. Although, the suspension on those Chevy vans, is known to be a bit mushy for towing. Ford's E350 vans have a bit better suspension, and are better for towing.
Here is a comment that also needs to be addressed:
Quote: You might do a search as there have been some accidents with lightly loaded passenger vans towing heavy trailers down hill and under slippery conditions. The trailer tends to push the van around.
..If you read further into the incident being referenced here, you'll find that there has been exactly ONE occurrence of this happening. And, this was with a guy that had already towed a very heavy, long trailer with that (extended length) van, without a problem, for 230,000 miles. He went over a bridge covered in ice (unknowingly), under conditions that would have probably spun ANY vehicle, towing or not (even the salt trucks that night, slipped and ran into a police car on that bridge!). Also note, that considering the conditions, that van proved just how safe it really is, in that a 17,000 lb trailer ran into it at 60 mph, and it held up really well to such. All doors still opened/closed just fine after that, and van was driven away from that incident and still drives fine.
Anyway, I would say this: If you can get past the looks of these vans (some think they are 'nerdy', and wont drive one), and can live without 4x4....I think its probably the best choice, given the size of your family. If we did not need 4x4, we probably would have gone this route instead of the Excursion we have now.
Look for posts/information from 'carringb' on here. I'm surprised he hasn't already chimed in, perhaps he will soon? He can tell you all about these vans, and how good they can be for towing. He is actually the one that towed with one for 230,000 miles, until the mishap on the icy bridge mentioned above. He is also in the process of getting that van repaired, and right back on the road towing. He can tell you all you need to know 'bout these vans.
Will & Angela
2 wonderful children that love camping, Stephen & Allison
2003 Ford Excursion V10 4x4
2003 Thor Citation 33M, Hensley Arrow hitch, Brakesmart Brake Control
(wanna see? Here is a picture of it )
We tow with a full size Ford Van. We bought a PSD Excursion and sold it because of the lack of cargo space.
We have towed to California and to Florida several times. I would love to have found a used Diesel Chateau Van, but they are few and far between around here. Anyway, by the time this one wears out the kids will be gone and I will have my class A
I have a 2002 Chevy Express 155" wheelbase passenger van with 8.1 big block and I am sure it would tow my 41 ft TT without a problem. I had a 2003 PSD Excursion but needed room for 12 passengers and luggage for our trips to our timeshares in Florida etc. It has twice the storage space behind the 12 passenger seating compared to the Excursion behind the 8 passenger seating.
We have always towed with a standard size Ford van. They seem to have more usable room inside, especially with removable seats. I can carry sheets of plywood, 10' boards or if needed 11 passengers. Bikes and camping stuff is easy to pack. The Ford's long wheelbase seemed to tow nicer than comparable SUV's.
Our current Ford is a Chateau model and the third seat(OEM) makes into a queen bed. We let the older kids sleep in the van, giving us more room in the TT.
The Club Wagons have always had a good rear AC system and it minimizes the complaints from the back seat drivers.
Roadhouse66 wrote: Vans are great, but I don't think I could live without 4WD. Thats why I prefere Suburbans or Excursion.
You won't catch me pulling a trailer in conditions where 4WD is necessary, so that would be kind of a moot point to me!..............
...Maybe, but I can think of many, MANY times when we pull the camper to places, where once we get there and unhitch, the 4x4 is very much needed/desired. Like the Outer Banks of NC, for example..
Also, I can think of some instances, where you may go somewhere not *intending* to ever need 4x4 when towing, but due to things beyond your control (like weather), you may well end up needing it anyway..
When we had our 4 children traveling with us, we towed with a GMC passenger van. It was a delightful tow vehicle. One of the best things was the storage space, because it allowed us to store things in the back of the van while we were camped, thus keeping the "stuff" in the trailer to a minimum. We could leave our campsite without having to worry about securing bikes, coolers, etc. that we might otherwise have to put inside the trailer while we were gone.
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