2008 Chevy Express Cargo Van AWD

[chocolatelab]

Anybody have any experience with these cargo vans.

Particularly the AWD model. 5.3 liter engine. They are super hard to find in socal but I understand you see them alot in the northeast.

I think it would make a kickass travel vehicle for Bryce and I for skiing, climbing, camping, motocross whatever.

I am looking at a black one with 36k miles.

Thoughts

[Jim Bremner]

I have the truck version with the 5.3 engine.

140k+ miles...1st servive other than oil changes didn't occur till 100k

only failure on the engine has been the fuel pump

[porsche4life]

I've never seen the AWD version around here... we have lettered quite a few for the local HVAC guys of the 2wd variety....

[Talewinds]

Barely on topic, I see a lot of these in the Yellowstone/Teton area.
IMHO, these things are the shiznit.
Sportsmobile Custom Camper Vans - 4WD (4 Wheel Drive, 4x4)

[vash]

ditto on the sportsmobile. buddy has one. the entire group gets pissed when he makes our tents smell like popcorn. he microwaves the stuff, to annoy us.

if you want it more on the tame side..buy a used quigley.

[phoenix_iii]

Sounds like a good idea. Astro awd!

[Gogar]

Originally Posted by phoenix_iii

Sounds like a good idea. Astro awd!

There's some Astro AWD out there, but the Astro has been discontinued, and apparently in some years there's difficulty accessing parts of the engine when it's in the van, and R&R of the engine is a PIA.

The full-size AWD on the other hand, seems pretty neat to me.

[chocolatelab]

There is a mod for the unit im looking at by a company called quigly. Converts it into full 4x4. They used to only do units they built but with the economy they are selling the kit if your van has less than 50k miles.



Those sport mobils are hands down the sickest vehicle on the road. Just cant seem to convince myself to cough up that kinda dough

[UconnTim97]

We have the 5.3 in our Envoy with the 3.42 gears. It will comfortably cruise at 70 MPH at just under 2k RPM. This is the typical American lazy V8, cruises at highway speed with little effort and has all the low end torque you demand off the line or highway speed passing, etc. We get about 21 MPG with cruise control on the highway, much less when I drive like an idiot with a torque happy V8. Your results may vary...hehe

We have about 36K trouble free miles on the engine with "routine" oil changes which occur when I remind my wife that her truck is due for one. We normally run synthetic oil about 4 -5K miles between changes.

Don't forget, this is on cheap 87 octane gas.