gmc savana 2500
 

just picked up a sevana 2500 2006 has the 6.6l cummins in it i was wondering how this would tow my lavey 21? Anyone have any experience with this van? I did not buy it to tow with it i bought it to move merchandise just curious what its capabilities are. Hitch says 4k with standard hitch 10k with wd.

Cummins or Duramax??

Upgrade then hitch and it should tow great without too much load in the back.

Its a Duramax, not a Cummins. Cummins aren't offered in any light/medium duty GM vehicles.

Meant duramax

It will tow the 21 Lavey just fine. The Duramax in the van is derated so they can put the 4L80 behind it (I think). That trans is plenty beefy. I tow a 31' Chris Cat (11,500# incl trlr) behind my Avalanche which uses the same trans and never an issue.

The derated Duramax is a little slower, but plenty of torque.

Wannabe

You won't know your Lavey is back there. I love towing/traveling w/a van.
When I was bucks down I bought a '86 Chevy 1500 van off e-bay for $800. and put a $500. used e-bay crate motor in to replace the smog motor, Jegs headers and a junk yard 3.73 posi.
Pulled my old 24' Sonic all over hells 1/2 acre.
Just sold my 1/2 ton Chevy p/u to buy this '00 1/2 ton van. Truck had the 5.3 and the van has the 5.7/350.
From about a 10 mph roll the van will bark the tires ;)

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/l...strbdfront.jpg

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/l...nportfront.jpg

I have several 3500 Chevy vans in my fleet. The first one was a 99 w 350. They are the 15 passenger vans. Pulled my 29 Outlaw fine.
Also have a 3500 regular size w the 8.1 motor. Man it has power!.
Lady ordered it new to tow her Harly trailer, so it has tow package and all.
Of course since I got my CC 3500 PU w Durmax, I havent used vans for anything but work.

x2

less than $200 and you are in business.

any suggestions on what hitch to use? What is the max tow rating?

My first choice would be the Curt 15520. http://www.curtmfg.com/part/15520 Do an internet search for pricing. you should find it from $150-$190 delivered.
It is rated for all the weight that van should probably be pulling at 1500# tongue / 15,000# weight carrying.
2" receiver so ball mount options are plentiful.

Just make sure to match the ball mount and ball are also rated for the job you may do with them.

It is an hour job but you do need a pretty good sized deep well socket, 15/16ish or the metic equlivent as I recall.

I tow with a 2001 Express
 

1500. Upgraded the hitch put airbags in the back and an extra transmission cooler. Mine has the 5.7 and I tow my 25' Rage with seven of us and all our stuff. I'd love to have a van like that!

Yep.
 

Already has a class III frame hitch and may even have the towing package haven't really had time to check. Been parked since last Sunday when I bought it.

Here's a pic of my old e-bay baby. That boat, loaded was 6600. Had a blast w/this thing! Pulled that Sonic @ 70 on cruise all day long. Cols to Lake Erie every weekend (2 1/2 hrs each way) and in between, Ohio River and Rice Lake in Ontario.
Went to put the crate motor in it when the experts told me I had to tear the entire front end off to do it!. I said screw that, It's a $1K van!
I pulled it through the drivers door ;)
If that van could talk ;) Almost as good as my old company car that had toe prints in the ceiling that my boss noticed one day while riding with me :cartman:

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/l...ontofbar-1.jpg

All that weight in the van like passengers and stuff subtracts from your overall gcwr. I don't know what your tow rating is, but you may be over your gcwr, while still under your tow rating. Max tow rating is calculated with an empty tow vehicle; only a driver.

Your tow rating is 10,000 lbs according to the tow guide.

Wannabe

parents hauled our boat and trailer around as a kid and that thing was great. I even used once or twice and was a great vehicle. And you have a 3/4 ton frame with a diesel that 21ft boat will be like a utility trailer. Heck a chevy cruze would tow that boat fine probably weighs all of 3000lbs

fully loaded with coolers and fuel is around 3800 plus the trailer.

a colorado could tow that youll be fine

I'm within the range but...
 

it's just not good towing that close to the margins. No close calls but the most important people in the world are inside. My boat is 3700 dry. The van you bought is great. If I could find one with the low top leather conversion I'd buy one instead of a newer truck. Fantastic for traveling in comfort and taking folks with you.