Grand caravan/minivan and heavy duty package!!

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ben - 29 Aug 2006 23:40 GMT

Hey, does anyone out there know much about minivans?
I want to buy a ~2000 or so Dodge Grand Caravan, Plymouth Voyager, or
Chrysler minivan and want to use it not only as my occasional family
car,, but ALSO as a commercial vehicle in my small construction
business. If I ever have really large jobs I can always have lumber
delivered,, But still I would like to have the TOWING CAPACITY, and
INTERIOR SPACE to load it up with as much as possible if I can.. I
also intend to put a heavy duty roof rack on it too, if anyone has any
suggestions...
Basically, I've heard that there are a few models that have oversized
radiators, heavier duty suspension packages, and better more fuel
efficient engine, or what not, for what I need to do..
I would like the option of maybe even hooking up a trailer or something
sometime if i ever needed to as well if I ever get around to it, in
case I ever need to haul away debris to the dump or something such as
that..
Are there any mini-van enthusiasts" out there that may be able to give
me some good and useful advice?? I want to buy one soon, but I want to
get the "good" model.. ALso, I'm interested in the AWD (all wheel
drive), and would like to get that option if it seems good.

Any or all advice would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Ben, in Boston

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AustinMN - 30 Aug 2006 15:16 GMT

> Hey, does anyone out there know much about minivans?
> I want to buy a ~2000 or so Dodge Grand Caravan, Plymouth Voyager, or
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> also intend to put a heavy duty roof rack on it too, if anyone has any
> suggestions...

Chevy Astro. I don't think you can get new ones any more, but a late
model used will have more of everything you're looking for *without*
the tow package than a Crysler product will *with* the towing package.

Austin

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Jim Redelfs - 30 Aug 2006 17:20 GMT

> Chevy Astro.

Leave it to Chebby, my favorite brand, to cease producing one of their most
successful models. Full-frame, rear- or all-wheel-drive, the Chevrolet Astro
and GMC Safari (twins) make an IDEAL pop-up-trailer tow vehicle.

Get this: I witnessed a front-wheel-drive Chrysler minivan towing a large
hybrid travel trailer the other day. Their ascent onto the freeway while on
the ramp was, to say the least, leisurely. <sigh>

Just look around you as you are out and about. You'll NOT see any
front-wheel-drive ANYTHINGS towing a utility trailer or, even rarer, sporting
a ladder rack.

I have been with the local RBOC (Regional Bell Operating Company, the former
Northwestern Bell Telephone Company) for many years, the last 27 of which were
spent driving a company service vehicle. I know all most would want to know
about a fleet service vehicle including types and capacities of roof-mounted
ladder racks and what works, bin- and drawer-wise inside the van.

"Half-ton" pickups and vans are dying fast. My company seems to have
purchased ONLY 2500-series pickups and vans for at least the past 10-12 years.
My valued coworker is valiantly holding-on to his beloved but
virtually-falling-apart 1500 pickup ~1995(?).

They tried the Astro minivan with a substantial purchase years ago. These are
RARELY seen with a ladder rack anymore which means the pampered technician
that drives it has it loaded only modestly, and then with technical material
and equipment (as opposed to DRIVE HOOKS that are used on top of poles, etc).

So there. Front-wheel-drive minivans ARE NOT suited to sustained utility work.

If the utility companies have figured it out - and they have been, since
divestiture, watching "the bottom line" as MUCH (or more) than "normal"
service companies - you can observe and see what works. Minivans and pickups
are NOT it. We're not even using much, if anything, in the Dakota, Canyon and
other mid-size pickup segment. They finally broke down and gave us air
conditioning. I am on my fourth company vehicle. It took me 30-years to get
one with a/c. <sigh>

The OP should find a "good", 2-3 year-old "three-quarter" and make it work.

Signature

:)
JR

2000 Skamper Ultra 249 TT
2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
Vortec 8100 - Allison 1000

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Chris Cowles - 01 Sep 2006 04:06 GMT

They're really not full-frame, at least not later models. My understanding
is that it's sort of a hybrid. Front end is unibody, with part of a frame
welded to the body in a way that makes it seems like full-frame? No doubt,
they have better capacity than any FWD unibody.

Personally, I hated mine, but it did tow my pop-up far better than the
previous Voyager did. IMO, the seats were mushy, handling was lousy with
minimal load (most of the time, for me), interior layout was primitive for
passenger use, gas mileage was pretty bad.

I traded it a year ago for a Durango Hemi. Gas mileage isn't much worse,
only ~1 MPG average over the past year. Comfort is MUCH better and it
effectively seats as many passengers. We did sacrifice a lot of interior
storage for camping trips, but got a lot more tow capacity in trade. That,
and just getting rid of a vehicle I hated, was the whole point.

YMMV, and probably does.

Signature

Chris Cowles
Gainesville, FL

> Leave it to Chebby, my favorite brand, to cease producing one of their
> most
> successful models. Full-frame, rear- or all-wheel-drive, the Chevrolet
> Astro
> and GMC Safari (twins) make an IDEAL pop-up-trailer tow vehicle.

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Wesley - 02 Sep 2006 19:29 GMT

Why don't you look at a full-size van? More room inside (you could probably
get 4x8 sheets of stuff in it if there's no seats in the back) and would
handle towing things much better.

Wesley

> Hey, does anyone out there know much about minivans?
> I want to buy a ~2000 or so Dodge Grand Caravan, Plymouth Voyager, or
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
> Thanks,
> Ben, in Boston

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