Express Van owner/fans - 2001 Express Cargo 3500 with SMB top vs 2008 AWD Passenger

[flyloki]

Hi All,

Been looking for a full size camper van and wanted your opinion on a few I've found. Use would be Western fire road van camping and towing a small race car on trailer.

2001 Chevy Express Cargo 3500 with SMB top. Van was converted to penthouse style pop up in 2002 by SMB with 2 forward facing pass seats that fold into a queen bed installed. Factory window in sliding door (slider a big plus for me) and aftermarket window on driver side. Manual windows, has tow package. Thats it for the build. White paint and body in good shape - plastic grille needs painted. Low for the year 85,000 miles and new tires. They want $6000 for it.

Other is a 2008 Chevy Express AWD 1500 basic passenger (NO power windows, locks or tow package although it has tow/haul mode button) built into budget camper. Closet" in back, bulkhead then single bed, pergo floor and insulated walls. Also sliding side door. 100K miles and they want $9000. Indigo blue.

Both reg wheelbase and similar level of interior build. I like the newness of the 2008 and AWD and the 5.3 gas mileage. The 2001 is 2/3 the price, closer to me and has the SMB penthouse top with excellent canvas. It has decent (but definitely less than the 2008) mpg with the 5.7 Vortec but may ride hard with the 3500 springs.

Which would you get and why?

Thanks for your input.

 

[hitekhobo]

Are they both in good working order and free of accidents?

That topper on the 2001 cost as much as they are asking for the van.
To convert the 3500 to 4x4, it'll cost you another $12-15k.
Do you have to have a poptop? Do you have to have AWD?

How heavy of a load will you be toting? If it's going to be a lot, I'd rather have the 3500.

I'd probably go with the AWD for my purposes. I travel a lot of dirt/sand roads to nowhere and don't tow.

Do either of them have the G80 RPO (locking rear axle)? That'll get you almost as far as AWD or so I've seen. The 3500 would be easier and cheaper to lift if that's part of your plan.

 

[flyloki]

Hitek - Thanks for the reply.

No damage history on either van. I don't have to HAVE to have either poptop or AWD. I feel like I could DIY a vanagon top or take it to Fiberine or CCV as well if needed.

Seems like the AWD would be easy to convert to 4x4 with the T-case swap. Probably wouldn't lift beside torsion keys and 265s if that. I'd tow 5k lbs max.

Leaning towards the newer 08 with AWD for overall driving experience and MPGs If the 2001 gets 14-15 highway and the 2008 gets 18 that's a 20-25% gain in fuel mileage which to me is substantial esp out here in the NW where everything is far.

Alternatively I could pick up the 01 and drive it for awhile and then sell if I find I really need AWD or better mpgs. In your opinion would the 01 with SMB (top only) sell easily at $6k?

 

[libarata]

What would be wrong with leaving the AWD as an AWD?

 

[flyloki]

Absolutely nothing with leaving the AWD AWD. I seriously doubt I would change it to 4x4.

 

[libarata]

Alrighty. It just caught my attention of the idea of changing it to 4x4. AWD should get you as far as a van can go haha!

 

[mikracer]

If you bought the 2001, I dont think you will have a hard time selling it. Just as someone mentioned above, people tend to look at how much things cost if they were to add it themselves. For some reason, the sportsmobile pop top seems to retain much of its initial cost when selling. Also, that motor in the 2001 is a proven work horse with many examples going 300k+ miles.

 

[jdharrin]

just a heads up, there may be compatibility issues with a pop top and a 2008 passenger. I've been told that the rear passenger curtain airbags interfere with a CCV top install and i believe that was standard starting in 2008.