I'm currently researching my next vehicle purchase. We have one vehicle. I work from home and drive 80-90% city miles. Most of the time there is 7 people on board. We plan to have 2 more children for a total of 7. We are looking at 15 passenger vans because we often have 2 additional passengers and we would like to carry more.
What we currently have : 2005 suburban 1500 2wd, 8 passenger, 5.3 v8, it has 210k and runs good with no differed maintenance. It is getting a little tired. I installed 3.90 rear gears, eaton truetrac locker, and a tune to make it unstoppable in snowy weather, we live in Kansas City and there is a hill to leave home. It currently averages about 15 mpg city(the gears and tune improved this) and maybe 16-17 on the highway. When we travel its at max gross weight, figure 2200lbs of people/cargo. We also have a micro camper that is a converted 5x9 trailer that weighs about 2000lbs when its full. With the truck, 8 passengers, gear for 10 days of camping with a full kitchen to feed an army, and trailer it averages 13 mpg at 70 mph, in overdrive with no excessive shifting. I added the gears after suffering through a california trip with stock 3.42 ratio and having to stay in 3rd gear up inclines.
What I want: My budget is $30-32k I'm buying used between october and march 2016, 15 passenger, similar mileage, low or mid roof, lwb, dual air, power windows, prefer a sliding door, keyless entry, a radio, cruise, tow hitch. I would love the ecoboost, no diesel.
What i'm finding is 250 and 350's in XL and XLT trim, the cheapest I've seen is $27k but they are all 3.7l with 3.73 rear gears. My concern is that I'll end up with the same problem I had with the suburban of not enough torque and endlessly shifting up and down. Even when NOT towing. I would think the 4.10 gears would be a better option given how I use my vehicle.
Opinions?
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What we currently have : 2005 suburban 1500 2wd, 8 passenger, 5.3 v8, it has 210k and runs good with no differed maintenance. It is getting a little tired. I installed 3.90 rear gears, eaton truetrac locker, and a tune to make it unstoppable in snowy weather, we live in Kansas City and there is a hill to leave home. It currently averages about 15 mpg city(the gears and tune improved this) and maybe 16-17 on the highway. When we travel its at max gross weight, figure 2200lbs of people/cargo. We also have a micro camper that is a converted 5x9 trailer that weighs about 2000lbs when its full. With the truck, 8 passengers, gear for 10 days of camping with a full kitchen to feed an army, and trailer it averages 13 mpg at 70 mph, in overdrive with no excessive shifting. I added the gears after suffering through a california trip with stock 3.42 ratio and having to stay in 3rd gear up inclines.
What I want: My budget is $30-32k I'm buying used between october and march 2016, 15 passenger, similar mileage, low or mid roof, lwb, dual air, power windows, prefer a sliding door, keyless entry, a radio, cruise, tow hitch. I would love the ecoboost, no diesel.
What i'm finding is 250 and 350's in XL and XLT trim, the cheapest I've seen is $27k but they are all 3.7l with 3.73 rear gears. My concern is that I'll end up with the same problem I had with the suburban of not enough torque and endlessly shifting up and down. Even when NOT towing. I would think the 4.10 gears would be a better option given how I use my vehicle.
Opinions?
