PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - Cargo van opinions (gas vs dsl) and ford vs chev

Nate · #1 10-30-2012, 07:40 PM

Hello, I'm going to enter the delivery business in a few weeks as a subcontractor, and am weighing my options for a delivery vehicle. I need a extended e250 or extended express 2500 for the job. The vehicle will be doing 60% intown miles, and 40% highway miles. Considering the high failure rate of dodge transmissions, I will exclude them from my choice.

I am going to be buying used, 08-10 range, so that narrows down my options to what I can acquire within a few hundred miles. Finding them with around 60k miles, in good shape, is very simple with an abundance of choices. The van will be owned by me, and maintained by me. My margins will be heavily effected if I dont maximize the efficiency of the vehicle. I'm trying to make the most intelligent decision, as it will effect my bottom line heavily.

There are plenty of engine options for the 3/4 ton chassis cargo van platforms, and I was wondering on opinions. Ford has the 4.6 and 5.4 gasser options, chevy has the 4.2 v6 4.8 v8 and 5.3 v8 gas options, plus the diesels, but they do commend a premium in the pricing. A sprinter van is oversized for the proposed routes that I will have, and a ford transit van is tough to find used, although I feel it would be a better choice because the cargo is not heavy, it is simply bulky.

Does anyone have experiences to share? I am weighing my options between gas and diesel, and then engine size. I think the chevys are a more well sorted platform, however the fords are slightly cheaper. Both are simple chassis to work on, however being vans, engine work is not easy without removing the engine from the vehicle.

I've looking at the options of using a smaller engine size van, however they seem to struggle with in town traffic, and require even more fuel then the larger engined vans to keep pace with local traffic and timed deadlines.

Thank you for your opinions and thoughts.

~Nate