Is this a decent buy on a Chevy Express cube van?

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Fulthrotl

Fulthrotl

~Autocorrect is My Worst Enema.~
Location
HB, CA (19 Hrs. 22 Min. from Winged Horses)
Occupation
E
Mule said:
I currently have a reg Express van 06'. I emailed this guy to see if he would do some trading......

I'd like to get my ladders and conduit closer to the ground for easier access.

Is it a decent buy? its a 05 Express with a 13ft box, 24k miles, single wheel...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250391976608&_trksid=p2759.l1259
Click to expand...

well, for whatever reason, they threw in a set of shelves for hvac that have
never been used. the wheel pockets show wear, as does the floor, but the
shelves haven't a scratch. miles are low. my 'o6 van is just approaching 50k.
'musta been used for general delivery, and not service work. light bulky
stuff, cause it's a single rear wheel.

two things come to mind, and if i was getting a box van, i'd sure want a
dualie. single rear wheel is not enough. i guarantee you'll be over weight
on single rear wheels. by the time you load up.

second, commercial truck sales are dying on the vine around here. you can
get brand new for awfully cheap. when i bought my van new, it was 0%
down, 0% interest for five years, and ford would have included up to $8k
in add on's, even if they weren't bought from ford. shelving, stereo, etc.

that was three years ago, and it looks like a sunny day at the beach
alongside of the way it looks in the commercial truck industry right now.

i googled e450, and got this..... $17,618
============================================
Take Over the Lease! Only 24 months left, $383.00 biweekly.
Your first payment is FREE! Ready to go.
2005 Ford E450 Truck (with 16 ' box), used for local business.
Well maintained at local Ford Dealership. All service records available.

Air conditioning, bucket seats, diesel engine, AM/FM stereo,
brand new set of winter tires.

The truck is in excellent working order, and we no longer
require it for our business.
============================================
 
Fulthrotl

Fulthrotl

~Autocorrect is My Worst Enema.~
Location
HB, CA (19 Hrs. 22 Min. from Winged Horses)
Occupation
E
Mule said:
Is it a decent buy? its a 05 Express with a 13ft box, 24k miles, single wheel...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250391976608&_trksid=p2759.l1259
Click to expand...

i got curious about new service van prices, cause i'm not sleepy yet,
and for a full boat dualie e-450, they are about $14k cheaper than
they were in '06... same power train, everything. looks like the same
financing is available as well. this rig is about $3k more than i paid for my
stripped e-350 diesel van 3 years ago. stuff is really cheap right now.

92294069_1thumb_550x410.jpg
 
iwire

iwire

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Massachusetts
I have to agree with leadfoot, this truck will be overweight in no time at all. It would be fine for an HVAC contractor but not for an electrician in my opinion

Beyond the single wheel issue just look at the overhang on this rig.

734d_4.JPG


All your heavy stuff would have to be stored up near the cab or it will handle badly and also drag it's tail looking overloaded even if you where still under the total GVRW.

Then there is the other issue ........... it is ugly as sin.

72ff_4.JPG


I know, I should be practical but heck, it looks like someone got a sawzall hacked a van in two and installed a storage shed on the back.

Now on the other hand I think this truck has some style.


92294069_1thumb_550x410.jpg


The leaned in walls match the cab a lot better and the air foil helps blends the box into the cab.
 
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Mule

Mule

Senior Member
Location
Oklahoma
I also am looking at a Express box that is a dual wheel box. I guess what attracted me to this one, was resi drive ways, making it easier to get in and out of with a customers vehicle parked beside it .

For me, my wife is getting ready to quit and join us, and she's short. If I have conduit and ladders in racks on the floor elevation, and then parts shelving on top of that it would be easier for both of us. Agreed its not as purdy as the other style....but being a GM product over a Ford it should make up for that..:D
 
iwire

iwire

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Massachusetts
Where I work we are provided with GMC 3500 standard wheel base vans with a total GVWR of 10,000 lbs.

Almost all of us in the company run right around 10,000 or over and that is with a lot smaller body then that cube truck. If your any kind of pack rat (and I bet you are just like me:smile:) you will have that thing stuffed to the brim in no time.

That said your options become smaller box or heaver duty truck. Overloaded kills brakes, suspension and can be rough on the transmission if your a heavy foot kind of guy.

Of course being able to stand up in the truck makes up for a lot. :smile:
 
Mule

Mule

Senior Member
Location
Oklahoma
iwire said:
Where I work we are provided with GMC 3500 standard wheel base vans with a total GVWR of 10,000 lbs.

Almost all of us in the company run right around 10,000 or over and that is with a lot smaller body then that cube truck. If your any kind of pack rat (and I bet you are just like me:smile:) you will have that thing stuffed to the brim in no time.

That said your options become smaller box or heaver duty truck. Overloaded kills brakes, suspension and can be rough on the transmission if your a heavy foot kind of guy.

Of course being able to stand up in the truck makes up for a lot. :smile:
Click to expand...

I really dont want much more inventory than I currently carry, just easier access for the ladders and conduit....and yes being able to stand up insided is a huge seller for me.....Got a bad T9, bad knees, bad feet, and oh yes a thick head..................:D
 
iwire

iwire

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Massachusetts
Mule said:
.and yes being able to stand up insided is a huge seller for me.
Click to expand...

I hate trying to crawl around the van.


and oh yes a thick head..................:D
Click to expand...

You need that if you own a modern GMC van, the left rear door top latch is a killer on the noggin if you forget about it. :D

I have hit it a few times and one of our guys got a lot of stitches from it.
 
Mule

Mule

Senior Member
Location
Oklahoma
Fulthrotl

Fulthrotl

~Autocorrect is My Worst Enema.~
Location
HB, CA (19 Hrs. 22 Min. from Winged Horses)
Occupation
E
Mule said:
but being a GM product over a Ford it should make up for that..:D
Click to expand...

in repair bills alone....:D

i've had three econolines, and one chevy van.

econoline #1, 550,000 miles on original power train. replaced clutch and
incidentals. straight 6 & three speed. indestructible. sold it for what i
paid for it, less $300. owned it long enough that inflation cancelled out
depreciation.

econoline #2. 475,000 original miles. 351 windsor & c-6. finally spun a main
bearing. time to go to van heaven. engine was never apart. burnt up c-6
in a sandwash after climbing annie green springs hill in the mojave desert,
aided by a bottle of jack daniels. not vehicle failure. operator error. still was
able to drive it 30 miles home, altho in reverse, which was all that was left,
down a powerline road, backing home all the way.

chevy van #1. bought with 180k on clock, from original owner. week after
purchasing, blew right head gasket. year and a half later, engine seized and
spun main bearing. year after that, 700r4 transmission grenaded at top of
chirlaco grade, going from feen-x to LA. year after that, tranny grenaded
again. sold for scrap.

econoline #3. bought new. diesel. oem tires only lasted 30k or so.
50k on it now. fluid changes. some discretionary purchases. bulletproof....
so far.
 
Mule

Mule

Senior Member
Location
Oklahoma
Fulthrotl said:
in repair bills alone....:D

i've had three econolines, and one chevy van.

econoline #1, 550,000 miles on original power train. replaced clutch and
incidentals. straight 6 & three speed. indestructible. sold it for what i
paid for it, less $300. owned it long enough that inflation cancelled out
depreciation.

econoline #2. 475,000 original miles. 351 windsor & c-6. finally spun a main
bearing. time to go to van heaven. engine was never apart. burnt up c-6
in a sandwash after climbing annie green springs hill in the mojave desert,
aided by a bottle of jack daniels. not vehicle failure. operator error. still was
able to drive it 30 miles home, altho in reverse, which was all that was left,
down a powerline road, backing home all the way.

chevy van #1. bought with 180k on clock, from original owner. week after
purchasing, blew right head gasket. year and a half later, engine seized and
spun main bearing. year after that, 700r4 transmission grenaded at top of
chirlaco grade, going from feen-x to LA. year after that, tranny grenaded
again. sold for scrap.

econoline #3. bought new. diesel. oem tires only lasted 30k or so.
50k on it now. fluid changes. some discretionary purchases. bulletproof....
so far.
Click to expand...


at least Ford isnt soaking up so much stimulus money, right?
 
A

active1

Senior Member
Location
Las Vegas
It says the box is a little over 7' tall. I don't think that is correct. The I seen 5.5' and 6' ones. I would guess that to be a 5.5' because it looks like 1.5' above the cab.

That is a short wheel base for that truck. The back wheels are almost in the center of the box. I guess the rear would cary more of the cargo load that way.

It is hard to find (or at least was) a low mile work truck. I am guessing the truck sold between $22-27K new.

The rear tires have a load range E which is about 3K each. The rear is rated for 6K and the front 4.5k lbs but I agree these are lighter duty trucks. The difference is the brakes, trans, suspension, and cooling system may be lighter.
 
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