Typical Mileage / Van research

[Finatic Angler]

I have been bitten by the 4x4 van bug. BAD. I am in the process of looking for a van and researching what I will need to Do to it to outfit it.

I will probably only go with a lift and 33's. I have my eye on a van up here but after talking to Ujoint Off Road I might be better finding a van down his way as the weather is kinder to sheet metal than it is up here in the North East. I have to give Chris a big thumbs up for answering all my questions. When the time is right and it is time for the conversion the van will be headed down his way.

So I have a easy question as this will be my first van. What should I expect to get for MPG with a van. Now I know that is a loaded question for gas vs. diesel.

So what is your rig and what is your MPG?

 

[ujoint]

Hopefully the perfect van falls in your lap soon!

I should have mentioned in the email that the diesel vans get much better mileage. Whether the difference is worth it to you depends on how you plan to use the van. Diesel vans are also easier to convert (no exhaust mods) Here are some #'s that I know of, all hwy:

Vanaconda (8" lift on 38's, 6.0 diesel) avg 15-16
08 E350 V10 (4" lift, 33's) avg 10mpg
00 E350 7.3 (6" lift, 35's) avg 17-18mpg

 

[Bbasso]

just so you have more info...
05 E350 V10 everything stock but tune, avg 14mpg up to 17mpg

and the 00 (V3) Chris mentioned, used to get 19mpg stock up to 22mpg

 

[ihatemybike]

While not in the best running order Grumpy has returned the following.
BABE Rally 2010 - 2950 miles - 18.03 mpg
Rt 66 Road Trip 2010 - 5100 miles - 17.56 mpg

 

[arlon]

Just put my first full tank of fuel through an AWD Astro (in town driving only). My commute mileage was 12.8, about what my old 4x4 suburban was. Astro got about 17 on the highway trip bringing it home. Astro van sure isn't an economy car but I assume you have the bug for a full size van anyway. I'd assume a full size 4x4 diesel van with buch bigger tires would do a lot better than the little Astro but would be surprised if the gassers did any better.

I'm pretty interested in converting the AWD to a regular Hi'Lo 4x4 transfer case, not sure if that will help or hurt. At least it is doable.

 

[MadChad]

2003 e350 chateau 7.3 two wheel drive with 4.10 stock tires getting 16 mpg could be better if I didn't drive 75 mph. But soon going to 3.73 then 33' with UJOINT 6" lift. After that I'm hoping for something in the 18+ range, if it doesn't get there I'll add a programmer.

 

[deserteagle56]

'07 Quigley, V-10 with 4.56 gears, on 33s. 12 mpg whether it's doing 45 or 75 mph.

 

[deserteagle56]

Just remembered I saw this on the Reno Craigslist a couple days ago:

 

[dsw4x4]

My real world tire and gearing corrected numbers on vans I have owned and driven are no where near what everyone else is claiming.
Personally my van is a 00 4x4 7.3 on 37's, 4:10s and 5.5 inches of lift and the best I get is 15 flat or mountains the worst I get is 8 or 9 towing 14k and about 12 or 13 towing my 5k pound boat. When it was bone stock with 4:10 and stock tires I squeezed out 18 totally empty with no seats and just me in there. Reality was 15 16 with the stock van. It dropped accordingly as I went up in tire size. When I added an edge chip it went up about two to three. So now when I run a stock tune I am around 12 or 13. My buddy runs a 04 v10 4x4 pop top with 34.5 inch tires and he gets about the same as me empty 14 or 15 when we both start to load up and run through the mtns he is around 8 to 10. I had a v8 rb 2010 van that got about 19 on the hwy empty (the little computer claimed 20 and 21), that was pretty good. But I have a customer with the same rb van with the same v8 and they claimed 16 17 on a 3k mile trip lightly loaded.

 

[Finatic Angler]

It is quite amazing that a 4x4 van is getting better mileage than my silverado.

Awesome info please keep me coming