Most vans have rear wheel drive, which might take them out of the running if you tow in snowy areas or like to head off the beaten path to explore. It’s possible to find a full-size van with all wheel drive, but it’s generally an aftermarket addition, and it’s definitely not common. Be ready to spend a lot of time searching in advance for surface lots when you travel in cities. This can be an issue with larger trucks and SUVs as well, but full-size vans tend to be a few inches taller, and that’s often the difference between squeaking by when trying to park underground and not. Speaking of big, tall boxes….full-size vans often don’t fit in parking garages and decks, so that’s something to keep in mind. Gas mileageīig, tall boxes are not very aerodynamic, and, especially when combined with a giant engine built for towing, that makes for some pretty abysmal gas mileage. But if you want a tow vehicle to double as a daily driver, you might not want to roll up to work in a big old cargo van. This might not matter much to you if you’re a function over form type or if you’re in the market for something just for towing, and it’s going to sit in your driveway most of the time. The typical full-size van has looked pretty much the same for decades now, and people tend to associate it with shuttling preschool kids around, or with the guy who comes to repair your internet, or with the terrorists from Back to the Future. Vans don’t win many points for flashiness. Big family that needs seats for all the kids? Small family that needs space for bikes or other gear in the back? Couple with a pack of dogs who needs a place to pile up crates? Want a tow vehicle that can also BE your camper part time? The van has you covered. ![]() It’s a blank slate ready for you to write your camping story on. And there are some excellent deals to be found on used ones! FlexibilityĪt its heart, a full-size van is really just a big empty box with an engine in it. This will vary a great deal among different makes and models, of course, but a well-equipped full-size van with the maximum tow package will usually be thousands of dollars cheaper new than an SUV or pickup truck with similar towing capability. Numbers vary with different vans, but generally speaking vans are built to haul a lot of stuff around and their payload numbers reflect this. Big families in particular will often max out their payload capacity before they hit the upper limit of their vehicle’s overall towing capacity, so this can be a hugely useful feature. And, arguably even more importantly, they usually come out way ahead of SUVs when it comes to payload capacity. Towing and payload capacityįull size vans compare favorably with even the most heavy duty SUVs when it comes to towing capacity (up to 10,000 pounds for the current best-towing vans on the market) and can hold their own against most half ton trucks as well. You can find a 7, 9, 12, or 15 passenger van, sometimes with the flexibility to switch back and forth between more seating and more cargo space depending on your needs. No other kind of vehicle can compete with a full size van for seating, and if you’re considering a van it’s probably largely for this reason. In other words, she has a bit of experience on this topic. She travels around the country with her husband, four kids, and three dogs towing an RV with their van. To listen to our whole discussion about towing an RV with a van, listen to The RV Atlas podcast episode with Gretchen from Boxy Colonial on the Road. As with any tow vehicle, though, it’s not the right choice for everyone or for every situation here’s an overview of the some of the big pros and cons to consider when deciding whether a full-size van might work for you. This often overlooked workhorse can offer awesome towing and payload capacity and plenty of seating for big families, all at a bargain price, and is worthy of the same consideration its flashier cousins enjoy. But we think it’s an outside of the box tow vehicle that deserves a bit more air time.įor many people, deciding on a tow vehicle to pull a travel trailer just means choosing which truck to buy. People who need more seating for kids or who want a more traditional “family car” for everyday use might want to avoid the truck their search to include SUVs.įew people stop to consider the third option: the sturdy and dependable, but decidedly utilitarian, full-size van. ![]() ![]() Towing an RV with a van is an option most folks don’t even consider.
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