Cargo vans

A cargo van drives down a highway on a sunny day in rural Utah, with rocky cliffs and outcroppings in the background.

Cargo vans are commercial vehicles with an unfinished interior (other than the "cab" driving area) and few or no windows in the cargo area. They are frequently white as it is a common fleet color.

In the United States, the most common cargo vans on the used market are the Ford E-series, Chevrolet Express and older G-series, and the Dodge B-series (Ram) van. Nissan NV series vans are less common. Astro mid-size vans have something of a cult following.

In 2001 Mercedes introduced the Sprinter, a high roof Eurovan. It was also badged as the Dodge Sprinter and Freightliner Sprinter.

Since 2014 additional Eurovans like the Ford Transit and Ram ProMaster (Fiat Ducato) have come on the market, along with their smaller stablemates the Transit Connect, ProMaster City (Fiat Doblo), Nissan NV200, and Chevrolet City Express.

Channels featuring Cargo vans

These channels may have more information about Cargo vans:

• DualEx
• EXPLORIST life
• I Ride Tiny House Adventures
• Jeffie Bear
• Storky Adventures
• Will's Whereabouts

Wikipedia: Van

Pro / Con

PRO

• blank slate for a build
• widely available on the used market
• nondescript for stealth camping
• available in extended length for maximum "house" area

CON

• commercial vehicles often see very hard use
• frequently have high miles
• Slightly stigmatized as the "creepy white van".

Resources

• Video discussion
  • [Witham #6]
  • [RV Life #3]

Some or all of the content on this page was originally sourced from this page on RVWiki

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Comparison

Cargo vans come in various sizes, shapes, and capacities. Once you've decided to go with a cargo van, 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.

Useful diagram for factory interior dimensions.

This article is incomplete or needs additional work. You can help edit this wiki to improve it!

Living area comparison

^ Model ^ Cargo height ^ Cargo length ^ Cargo width at belt line ^ Width between wheelwells ^ Cargo volume ^ Overall length | | | NV | 75" High \\ ---- \\ 55.8" Low | 120" | 70.2" | 54" | 323.1' High \\ ---- \\ 234' Low | | | | ProMaster** | **86"** Super High \\ ---- \\ 76" High \\ ---- \\ **65.4"** Low | 123", 144", 160" | **74"** | **56"** | **406'**, 459', 529.7' High \\ ---- \\ **304', 353 159WB Low | | | | Sprinter** | 77.8", 66.5". 87.3" | **128.5"**, 169.3, **185.3"** | 70.1" | 53.1" | 371', **494'**, **547' | | | | Transit | 81.5"/79"" High \\ ---- \\ 72"/70.5" Mid \\ ---- \\ 56.9" Low | 118" 129", 158" \\ (Measured from the driver's seat when fully back, to the rear cargo doors when closed) | 70.2 | 54.8" SRW, 44.5" DRW | 411.4', 496.0' High \\ ---- \\ 317.3', 363.9' Medium \\ ---- \\ 247' , 278" Low | | | | Express | 52.9", 53.4" | 124.6", 146.2" | 72" | 52.7" | 239.7'((135", http://media.chevrolet.com/media/us/en/chevrolet/vehicles/express_cargo_van/2016.tab1.html)), 284.4' | | | | E250 | 52.5" | 122", 142" | 72.4" | 52.5" | 237.8' , 278.3" | | | | | | | | | | | | | NV200 | 53" | 82.8" | 54.8" | 48" | 127.7 cu ft | | | | Transit Connect | 53.7" (first gen), 49.7" (2nd gen) | 71.5", 87.3" | | 48" | 103.9 cu ft, 128.6 cu ft | | | | Nissan Quest | 40" | 86.5" | 63.2" | | 108.4 cu ft | 200.8" | | | ProMaster City | 50" | | 60.4" | 48.4" | 131.7 cu ft | | | | Mercedes-Benz Metris | 55" | 105" | 66.3" | 50" | 183 cu ft((126" wb https://www.caranddriver.com/mercedes-benz/metris/specs)) | | | | Astro/Safari | 47.2" | 97.2" | 53.9" | 50" | 170.4 cu ft | | |

During some model years fleet Sprinters have been available with a fiberglass-reinforced plastic 84" Mega / Super High roof. 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. 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" | 17.8° | 16.7° | 45.2' | | Express 2500 | 7.1", 7.7" | ° | ° | 49.2', 54.5' | | E250 | 7.0" | 30° | 16° | 48.6' | | ProMaster** | 6.9" at rear axle | 18.6° | 20° | **36'**, **46.8' | | Sprinter | 6.9" | 19° | 13° | 42', 47' | | Transit | 6.0", 6.1" at rear shock mounts. | ? | ~18° or 9° (Ext) | 39.2', 56.4' | | | | | | | | NV200 | 6.5" | | | | | Transit Connect | 6", 6.3" | | | | | ProMaster CIty | 5.1" | | | | | MB Metris | 4.4" | | | |

capacity comparison

^ Model ^ fuel tank ^ | E-Series** | **33 gal. Optional aux tap. | | Express | 31 gal | | NV | 28 gal | | ProMaster | 24.0 gal.. Tapped for aux fuel use. | | Sprinter | 26.4 gal. | | Transit | 25.0 gal standard,, 31 gal optional for 148" WB. Optional Aux Tap. | | | | | NV200 | 14.5 gal |

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.

[[https://boondockplan.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/5ytco.png (external image)]]

annual repair costs

Compiled from repairpal data, Jan 2020.

3/4 ton vans:

• Nissan NV1500, $825/yr
• Ford Transit 150 , $963/yr
• Chevy Express 1500, $972/yr
• Ford E-250, $1070/yr
• Ram ProMaster 1500, $1072/yr
• (no figures available for Sprinter)

minicargos:

• Nissan NV200, $645/yr
• Ram ProMaster City, $795/yr
• Ford Transit Connect, $926

minivans:

• Honda Odyssey, $547/yr
• Toyota Sienna, $554/yr
• Dodge Grand Caravan / Chrysler T&C, $646/yr
• Nissan Quest, $659/yr

warranty comparison

^Model^Basic^Powertrain^Misc^Transferable^Roadside Assistance^Towing to nearest service^ |NV**|**5yr/100,000mi**|**5yr/100,000mi** on gas powertrain|**5yr/unlimited body rust|yes|3yr/36,000mi|yes| |ProMaster|3yr/36,000mi|5yr/60,000mi on gas powertrain. 5yr/100,000mi on diesel powertrain.|n/a|Yes|5yr/100,000mi|yes| |Sprinter|3yr/36,000mi|5yr/100,000mi on diesel powertrain.|5yr/100,000mi on body rust|yes|3yr/36,000mi|yes| |Transit|3yr/36,000mi|5yr/60,000mi on gas powertrain. 5yr/100,000mi on diesel powertrain.|n/a|Yes|5yr/100,000mi|up to 35mi| |Express|3yr/36,000mi|5yr/60,000mi on gas powertrain.|3yr/36,000mi corrosion \\ 5yr/100,000mi rust-through|Yes|5yr/60,000mi|yes| |Ford E-series|3yr/36,000mi|5yr/60,000mi on gas powertrain|5yr/unlimited rust-through||||

further reading

We're the Russos has an excellent article on eurovan pro/con.

Resources

	Resource	Description
	Campervans	A sub-forum of VanLivingForum.com
	Full-size vans for full time travel
	Search forums and groups	Search van life discussion groups for "cargo vans"
	Search related sites	Search van life sites for "cargo vans"
	Search NomadLife.wiki	Search other pages on this wiki for "cargo vans"

Some or all of the content on this page was originally sourced from this page on RVWiki