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rv:cargo_van:comparo

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Cargo van comparo

Cargo vans come in various sizes, shapes, and capacities. Narrowing it down to one or two models can help you avoid analysis paralysis. These page attempts to collect specifications which you can consider (or not) based on your own needs.

Footnotes are in place so you can check sources for yourself. [frater says: don't trust anyone else's judgement on what van you need. It's your life, and it's your house!]

There are basic sections on American cargo vans, eurovans, and minicargo vans on other wiki pages.

Living area comparison

Model Cargo height1) Cargo length Cargo width at belt line Width between wheelwells Cargo volume Overall length
NV2) 75“ High
—-
55.8” Low
120“ 70.2” 54“ 323.1'3) High
—-
234' Low
Promaster 76” High
—-
65.4“ Low4)
123”5), 144“6), 160”7) 74“ 56” 406'8), 459'9), 529.7'10) High
—-
304'11), 353 159WB Low
Sprinter 77.8“12), 66.5”13)14). 87.3“15) 128.5”16), 169.317), 185.3“18) 70.1”19) 53.1“ 371'20), 494'21), 547'22)
Transit 81.5” High
—-
72“ Mid
—-
56.9” Low23)
125“24) 141”25), 171“26) 70.227) 54.8”28) 411.4'29), 496.0'30) High
—-
317.3'31), 363.9'32) Medium
—-
247' 33), 278“34) Low
Express 52.9”35), 53.4“36) 124.6”37), 146.2“38) 72”39) 52.7“40) 239.7'41), 284.4'42)
E250 52.5“ 122”43), 142“44) 72.4”45) 52.5“46) 237.8' 47), 278.3”48)
NV20049) 53“50) 82.8”51) 54.8“52) 48”53) 127.7 cu ft54)
Transit Connect 49.7“55) 71.5”56), 87.3“57) 48”58) 103.9 cu ft59), 128.6 cu ft60)
Nissan Quest 40“61) 86.5”62) 63.2“63) 108.4 cu ft64) 200.8”65)
Promaster City 50“66) 60.4”67) 48.4“68) 131.7 cu ft69)
Mercedes-Benz Metris 55”70) 105“71) 66.3”72) 50“73) 183ft274)

During some model years fleet Sprinters have been available with a fiberglass-reinforced plastic 84“ Mega / Super High roof.75)76) There is some concern that the Mega roof may be unsuitable for camping due to an inability to support roof vents, A/C, solar mounts, etc.77) A composite roof would also be susceptible to overhead limb damage in forested areas.

off pavement comparison

The approach and departure angles tells you how steep a grade you can drive onto or off without dragging the front or rear end, usually the bumper. Receiver hitches will usually reduce departure angle.

Model Ground clearance approach angle departure angle turning circle
NV 8.1”78) 17.8°79) 16.7°80) 45.2'81)
Express 2500 7.1“82), 7.7”83) ° ° 49.2'84), 54.5'85)
E250 7.0“ 30°86) 16°87) 48.6'88)
Promaster 6.9” at rear axle 18.6° 20° 36'89), 46.8'90)
Sprinter 6.9“91) 19°92) 13°93) 42'94), 47'95)
Transit 6.0”96), 6.1“97)98) at rear shock mounts. ? ~18°99) 39.2'100), 56.4'101)
NV200 6.5”102)
Transit Connect 6“103), 6.3”104)
Promaster CIty 5.1“105)

capacity comparison

Model fuel tank
E-250 33 gal106). Optional aux tap.
Express 31 gal 107)
NV 28 gal108)
Promaster 24.0 gal.109). Tapped for aux fuel use.
Sprinter 26.4 gal.110)
Transit 25.0 gal flex-fuel.111) Tapped for aux fuel use.
NV200 14.5 gal112)

total Cost of Ownership comparison

Some calculations of gas Eurovans based on NADA information, originally from this blog post. Sprinter left out but Express included; it was not a Eurovan-specific post.

annual repair costs

Compiled from repairpal data, Jan 2020.

3/4 ton vans:

  1. Nissan NV1500, $825/yr
  2. Ford Transit 150 , $963/yr
  3. Chevy Express 1500, $972/yr
  4. Ford E-150, $1070/yr
  5. RAM Promaster 1500, $1072/yr
  6. (no figures available for Sprinter)

minicargos:

  1. Nissan NV200, $645/yr
  2. RAM Promaster City, $795/yr
  3. Ford Transit Connect, $926

minivans:

  1. Honda Odyssey, $547/yr
  2. Toyota Sienna, $554/yr
  3. Dodge Grand Caravan / Chrysler T&C, $646/yr
  4. Nissan Quest, $659/yr

warranty comparison

ModelBasicPowertrainMiscTransferableRoadside AssistanceTowing to nearest service
NV5yr/100,000mi113)5yr/100,000mi114) on gas powertrain5yr/unlimited body rust115)yes116)3yr/36,000mi117)yes118)
Promaster3yr/36,000mi5yr/60,000mi on gas powertrain. 5yr/100,000mi on diesel powertrain.n/aYes119)5yr/100,000miyes120)
Sprinter3yr/36,000mi5yr/100,000mi on diesel powertrain.121)5yr/100,000mi on body rustyes122)3yr/36,000miyes123)
Transit3yr/36,000mi5yr/60,000mi on gas powertrain. 5yr/100,000mi on diesel powertrain.124)n/aYes125)5yr/100,000miup to 35mi126)
Express3yr/36,000mi5yr/60,000mi on gas powertrain.3yr/36,000mi corrosion
5yr/100,000mi rust-through
Yes127)5yr/60,000miyes
Ford E-series128)3yr/36,000mi5yr/60,000mi on gas powertrain129)5yr/unlimited rust-through

further reading

1)
at ribs
2)
full size
5)
136WB
6)
159WB
7)
159WB Extended
8)
136WB high roof
9)
159WB high roof
10)
159WB Extended high roof
11)
136WB low
12)
high roof
13)
low roof
15)
super high roof, if available
16)
144WB
17)
170WB, longest non-extended body
18)
170WB Extended
20)
144WB high roof
21)
171WB high roof, largest volume non-extended body
22)
171WB Extended high roof
24)
130WB
25)
148WB
26)
148WB Extended
29)
148WB high roof
30)
148WB Extended high roof
31)
130WB medium roof
32)
148WB medium roof
33)
130WB Low
34)
148WB low roof
49)
also sold as Chevrolet City Express
96)
RWB
97)
LWB
128)
up to 2014
129)
. 5yr/100,000mi on diesel powertrain.
rv/cargo_van/comparo.1598495005.txt.gz · Last modified: 2020/10/11 19:48 (external edit)