Towing with a 3500 Van

[the_bear_II]

I would like to hear from anyone who may have experience towing a TT or bumper pull Toy Hauler with a Ford Transit Van 3500. Looking for comments regarding stability, hill climbing performance and down hill braking with a load. Overall thoughts on your towing experience with this van.

Ram Promaster 3500 van or other 3500 van impressions as well.

[Bert_Ackerman]

Grit dog wrote:

blindeyes wrote:
Ram owner here. Towing my Rv with ram 3500 (2017) is easier in my opinion compared to my Jeep. You need to install an additional part which is https://www.ramsareus.com/sku/82213822.html.html. This could tow at least 20000lb which can tow pretty much any rv. As of the moment, no serious problem towing it. I guess it really all boils down to the power of a truck.

Wut?

Wut indeed. I've thought about it over the course of two beers and a double bourbon. I'll be damned if I can figure out how I would hitch up my TT to that Ramasuarus **** thing in his link ROFLMAO.

[the_bear_II]

Thanks for all of the replies. I'm beginning to lean towards the Nissan NV 3500. Guess I'll have to head to the dealer and test drive one.

[hvac]

Fryer5 wrote:
Blt2ski I disagree with your view of only one van to tow anything pushing 5k.
I have a Nissan nv3500 sl passenger van. I tow around 6500 lbs estimated. I have a keystone passport ultralight 290bh. It is long, but light for its size. I have towed it from Wisconsin to Yellowstone, sosuth from wisconsin to Kentucky and Missouri. I have had this trailer for ten years. My tow vehicle progression was
06 suburban 1500 2wd
08 suburban 2500 4wd
And now 2017 Nissan nv3500 so 2wd

The van is night and day difference from the suburbans. It is that much better. Plenty of power, less shifting of gears. I can set the cruise at 70 and stay there all day. The only downside is the 28 gallon tank makes fuel stops more frequent.

Anybody with three kids + thinking of towing owes it to themselves to at least check the Nissan out

Its brother is is Titan XD. Similar platforms, both incredible towing machines. Nissan refuses to market them. Too bad..

[Grit_dog]

blindeyes wrote:
Ram owner here. Towing my Rv with ram 3500 (2017) is easier in my opinion compared to my Jeep. You need to install an additional part which is https://www.ramsareus.com/sku/82213822.html.html. This could tow at least 20000lb which can tow pretty much any rv. As of the moment, no serious problem towing it. I guess it really all boils down to the power of a truck.

Wut?

[ShinerBock]

I wonder if anyone has towed with the new Expedition Max with the optional heavy duty trailer package. Has a rear GAWR over 4,300 lbs and a tow rating of over 9k.

[blt2ski]

Fryer5
I said 5 tons, or 10,000 lbs! 5-6000 lbs, any of them will work. But the days of a van being able to tow 50-100% of pickups max capacity is gone.
I know a few with the FWD dodge that like them. I would not put much more than 7-8000 for short city hops behind it. The GM could do upwards of 12-13,000. Sprinters I drove, same as your Nissan for max I'd put behind it, due more to power than chassis.

Marty

[blindeyes]

Ram owner here. Towing my Rv with ram 3500 (2017) is easier in my opinion compared to my Jeep. You need to install an additional part which is https://www.ramsareus.com/sku/82213822.html.html. This could tow at least 20000lb which can tow pretty much any rv. As of the moment, no serious problem towing it. I guess it really all boils down to the power of a truck.

[Fryer5]

Blt2ski I disagree with your view of only one van to tow anything pushing 5k.
I have a Nissan nv3500 sl passenger van. I tow around 6500 lbs estimated. I have a keystone passport ultralight 290bh. It is long, but light for its size. I have towed it from Wisconsin to Yellowstone, sosuth from wisconsin to Kentucky and Missouri. I have had this trailer for ten years. My tow vehicle progression was
06 suburban 1500 2wd
08 suburban 2500 4wd
And now 2017 Nissan nv3500 so 2wd

The van is night and day difference from the suburbans. It is that much better. Plenty of power, less shifting of gears. I can set the cruise at 70 and stay there all day. The only downside is the 28 gallon tank makes fuel stops more frequent.

Anybody with three kids + thinking of towing owes it to themselves to at least check the Nissan out

[blt2ski]

You have one van worth considering if you want any bigger sort of trailer, ie pushing 5 tons, that is the GM.

Having been driving a Ford 250 transit the last 2 plus years or so......really soft suspension! compared to other 25 series ANYTHING I have driven in the past. The sprinter IMHO is probably the best hand over fist above any of the other European styled vans. You can even get a 4wd version! The approx 200/400 6 cylinder diesel is pretty peppy.

Marty

[ShinerBock]

rjstractor wrote:
The GM Express/Savana and the Nissan NV3500 both have GCWRs of around 16,000 lbs. The Ram Promaster is front wheel drive and not really worth considering as a serious tow vehicle.

I forgot about the Express/Savana 3500 and NV3500.
They have enough tow rating for a bumper pull. Up to 9,400lbs with the V8. Either would be a good choice.

[rjstractor]

The GM Express/Savana and the Nissan NV3500 both have GCWRs of around 16,000 lbs. The Ram Promaster is front wheel drive and not really worth considering as a serious tow vehicle.

[starlord]

I don't think any of the new vans can tow very much weight.

[Lwiddis]

X2, Shiner.

[ShinerBock]

The Transit 350 is the only one rated to tow over 5k. Even though the 3.2L diesel is rated to tow a little more at 7,500 lbs, I would go with the 3.5L Ecoboost if hill climbing performance is a concern. The 3.2L diesel would probably be a better choice if fuel mileage is a concern.