Ford Cube Van vs Standard Cargo Van

goby42

Active Expediter
I am trying to weigh the pros and cons of 12' cube van vs stretch cargo van. Can anyone give me an idea what kind of mileage I should expect in the cube van? Also is there a better chance of picking up more loads with the cube? Any info will be appreciated.
 

Rocketman

Veteran Expediter
Use the search function and you will learn alot. It has been discussed alot.

The cube will be taller which allows taller freight which makes for more loads and revenue. The 12' cube is also capable of hauling 3 skids where the van will probably be a 2 skid. That also adds revenue.

The mpg? I think it will be close as long as your comparing simliarly spec'd drivetrains. It is my understandng that the cube needs a wind deflector on front of the box. If the front of the box is exposed...thats a huge brick and the cube's mpg will suffer.
 

guido4475

Not a Member
Get a 12' Spartan body single rear wheel van, you'll be alot better off,and comfortable! MPG around 12-14 in a Spartan with a 5.4 gasser in it.
 

cableguymn

Seasoned Expediter
Get a 12' Spartan body single rear wheel van, you'll be alot better off,and comfortable! MPG around 12-14 in a Spartan with a 5.4 gasser in it.

Weigh one of those lately? I didn't check the body maker name on the one I weighted.. 1 ton GMC single wheel.

Empty weight 7400 GVW 8900 payload 1500..

And that is before the sleeper, gear, me, and a full tank of gas.


I say sprinter or 1 ton extended.
 

guido4475

Not a Member
That's all the GVW a 1 ton chevy is?Are you sure that wasn't a 3/4 ton?That seems awful low on the GVW for a 1 ton, being as how my Ford is 9,600#, and the new Fords are 9,900GVW at Telegraph Ford, Spartan body, 12 ft.
 

cableguymn

Seasoned Expediter
That's all the GVW a 1 ton chevy is?Are you sure that wasn't a 3/4 ton?That seems awful low on the GVW for a 1 ton, being as how my Ford is 9,600#, and the new Fords are 9,900GVW at Telegraph Ford, Spartan body, 12 ft.

Fords may be higher. But your limited also by the load range of the tires.

The DOT don't care what the sticker says. If your 6500 on the rear axle but your tires are rated for 6000 (3000 each) your getting a overweight ticket and a red tag.

This one said 3500 on the out side of the door. The GVW sticker was made by the final assembler of the truck (The body company) They may have lowered it, or gone with the sidewall rating of the tires.

My 1996 E350 extended had a GVW of 9850. So I suspect it depends on year as well.

The Payload rating of a 2011 Express 1 ton extended is 3200 lbs. Not sure how much of that would be gobbled up by the added weight of the van body.
 

Moot

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
The Payload rating of a 2011 Express 1 ton extended is 3200 lbs. Not sure how much of that would be gobbled up by the added weight of the van body.

According to Chevrolet's online PDF brochure, a 2011, 155" wheelbase cargo van with the standard 4.8 litre has a payload of 3992 pounds. Same van with a 6.0 might be a 100 or so pounds less on the payload and a Duramax could bring it down to the 3200 pound range.

Somewhere I thought I saw a stock 2012 Chevrolet 3500 extended with a GVWR of 9900 pounds. I did some searching and can't confirm it. Anybody know of this?
 

cableguymn

Seasoned Expediter
Ford really screwed us with the single wheel 10,050 cutaway vans. The E350 cargo van is up to 9500 GVW.

The Chev looks to be 9600GVW for the G3500 extended.. Probably closer to the 9900 for the short wheel base.
 

Moot

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
The Chev looks to be 9600GVW for the G3500 extended.. Probably closer to the 9900 for the short wheel base.

There should be no difference in the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) between the long and short wheelbase Chevrolet vans. Payload rating yes, because the short wheelbase weighs less.
 

cableguymn

Seasoned Expediter
There should be no difference in the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) between the long and short wheelbase Chevrolet vans. Payload rating yes, because the short wheelbase weighs less.

Your probably right. Chev's web site is hard to find the numbers on.
 

chefdennis

Veteran Expediter
GMC/Chev has a 159.0 wb srw @ 9900 gvw...with a 4.8 and with a 12 unicelcube with the wall in place behind the seats and the pass set inand 1/2 tank of gas i have a weight ship of 6570 lb.....
 

greg334

Veteran Expediter
You can order the ford under 10k, just find the dealer who is willing to follow up on the order.
 
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