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

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95 Honda Shadow ACE 1100.
1999 Plymouth Neon Expresso. 2.4 swap, 10.5 to 1 comp, big cams. Autocross time attack vehicle!
2012 Escape, 'hunter" (5 sp 4cyl)

Sprinter.


My friend has a Diesel Sprinter with 450k hard miles. He has replaced the torque converter twice, but other than that, its been a good unit.

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

They do make smaller sprinters than the stretched cargo vans.

Yes, lots of variety in Sprinter sizes.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Transit seems to be a no brained here. 22 city 27 highway, and I'd imagine higher resale value when you're done with it. Sprinters are too expensive.

Would a Toyota/nissan pickup with a topper do the job?

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

Don't worry about the Dodge, they have been out of the van business for about 10 years, and never offered a diesel option. A Ford with the 7.3 PS may be a good option if you can find one that hasn't been used up. The 5.4 gas engine is known for the $3000 tune up, when you go in for plugs and come out with two new heads. They also have the habit of blowing the plugs out of the heads. Ford did offer the 6-leaker in the van for a short while but it had less than a stellar reputation in the PU. Personally, I would consider the Chevy/GMC, but a Duramax could be a hard find, they're very rare. Nissan also makes the NV work van, but it is gas only, and with the 5.6 V8, could be a real guzzler. The Sprinter may still be your best option, espescially when considering the fuel economy. The Transit Connect is a compact van with a high-revving 4 banger that might be good for a florist or pizza delivery, but it is not a serious work truck. A new full sized transit van is on the horizon, but that may not suit your time frame.

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'83 300D, 126K miles.

Way too small for what he needs.



When the fuel economy and the durability and the resale value are all factored into the purchase price, you might have a different opinion.

How about a small cabover diesel truck like an Isuzu or a Fuso FE?

http://denver.craigslist.org/ctd/3283113851.html

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

We picked up a 2001 Isuzu 12' box truck for a bit over $8K for the shop. It has just over 100K on the clock and drives quite well. The fuel economy is only touching 12 mpg, significantly less than anticipated.

uh,, are you OK there....???

If conditions are right, people report 16mpg for them but my experience is more like 13-14mpg on a regular basis with 12 if driven hard. They are built to last a very long time.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

We're getting 12 driving it very, very easy. I need to check timing on it.

We were expecting 15 out of it...........hell, it's only a very slow turning four.

I'm one of about 10 people out of about 2 million that actually has the lights on...........and I'm ecstatic about it.

Never going forward again without a generator ready to go. Some of these people won't have electric for a MONTH!!

How's Preacher Schmoe?

Nate,


I bought a 2004 Ford E250 with the 5.4 and I can honestly say I love it. It rides very nice and has served me well. Mine had a trans problem while it was still under warranty, the dealership took care of it without issue. Other than that just general maintenance. I was looking at pre owned vans originally, but anything I found with a good price had stratospheric mileage. Anything, that had low mileage was 2 to 3 yrs old at the time with only a few thousand price difference from the brand new vans. Finally I broke down and bought a brand new 2004 in january of 2005 it came with the furniture delivery package it has the divider full covered ceiling, walls and rubber mat floor with the slotted rails for the safety straps for cargo. My cousin has the extended GMC Savanna I didnt like driving it as the wheelbase is extended, unlike the ford where the body is extended. I felst like I was driving a bus when I was driving the GMC

Im quite sure he still has no class whatso-ever.