Teddy B

I would like to know what you guys think. I have to decide between buying a 2500 or a 3500 Chevy Express cargo van. I plan on driving it cross country regularly through the mountains also. I am going to get the 4.3 V6 and the max amount I will carry is about 2,700 lbs but not always. I know the 2500's payload is about 3,300 lbs and the 3500's is about 4,300 lbs. The reason I am undecided is because the 3500 costs about $3,000 more than the 2500. What is the real difference between a 2500 and 3500? Will I lose gas mileage in the 3500? Realistically the engine and transmission will have to work equally as hard in both vans, won't it? What do you guys think?

mountainmanjoe

the difference is a stronger more durable chassis. The suspension and drivetrain is built to handle more load. The 3500 will be heavier, so yes worse economy (you can find the exact numbers on fueleconomy.gov)

Teddy B

Appreciate the reply but there is no data for newer Express's with that or a similar configuration on the fuel economy.gov website. I've looked quite a bit trying to find the data. Plus I just checked the specs on the Chevy website and a 3500 only weighs 6 pounds more than a 2500 (5099 vs 5093) so maybe I wouldn't lose anything in gas mileage.

mountainmanjoe

just go a few years back if you need. It'll be close enough. It doesn't change that much

if it's rotating mass, then it can make a difference. Maybe 1mpg

david starr

Mountian driving with the 6 cyl engine and a 1 1/2 ton load would be marginal. I bet that if you will wish you purchased a v8.

greenfire

Are you purchasing a new van or used? If going used find a V8 with the 6spd automatic, but forget about any decent fuel economy. If fuel economy is a major concern look for a 2.8 diesel. If you are buying new... good luck all together finding any vans and a v6 will be your only option. As for 2500 vs 3500,.. 3500 would be better for the weight you want to carry.

tech2

what ever you save in mpg with a diesel...you pay back in maintenance and repairs. DEF systems in winter climates are horrendous. better be parked in a heated garage.

greenfire

I had a Canyon with a 2.8 diesel and and currently an Express with the same engine. Plenty of miles on both. No DEF problems at all. The Canyon got 28 mpg on the highway and the Express in the 20s easily.. which is double what the van gas engines get. So even with some repairs I argue that you will save money with the diesel in this scenario. I don't see why you would need to park in a heated garage either. If temps are going to be below 15, I just use diesel additive and always use quality DEF. Maybe you have done a lot of repairs on these to the point where it is an issue, but from my experience there is none, so I was just mentioning this as an option for the OP.

tech2

i work at a dealership in Alberta. ny probably doesn't get cold enough and the def heaters can handle your climate. Every cold snap we get X's miles to shut down due to frozen def. fuel freezing isn't a problem. Your vehicles are barely off warranty...wait to you have to replace injectors, injection pump, turbo or any part of the exhaust, def injection, catalyst dpf or egr coolers. price it out. parts are too expensive. the small diesels can't tow like a 6.6 duramax are 6.7cummins...but they are great for mpg

injection pump goes and put metal into the injectors...injectors go stick wide open and wreck the dpf cat and clog the egr cooler. even city transit have dropped minibus diesels

once it goes industry wide to direct gas injection, small displacement turbo engines...gassers will have the same problems except no aftertreatment issues.