Bring back the Ram Van?
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 16
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You seemed to have skipped over the full size requirement, along with being able to pull a large travel trailer.
The H1 was never designed for on-road use, rides like a nightmare and is not very good at towing, I wouldn't even consider one for my current needs. Would take one in a minute for use off-road though. Other issue is that it only seats 4. I would need to drive two of them to haul the entire family.
The H1 was never designed for on-road use, rides like a nightmare and is not very good at towing, I wouldn't even consider one for my current needs. Would take one in a minute for use off-road though. Other issue is that it only seats 4. I would need to drive two of them to haul the entire family.
Rookie
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 62
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If only Chrysler could learn to properly prevent rust for a reasonable time period-say 10 years, they would have a really good product. My neighbor has a 98 Ram van, and the rear spring mounts are gone-he has them supported with wood blocks, front frame is gone, runs good, though. I repaired the strut tower tops on my 00 G Voyager, door bottoms and rockers are gone. My 2003 Neon already has holes thru the rockers. Mom's 06 Caravan has holes in the rockers, and the hood will be rusted thru in a few years on the front edge.
Was in Florida by the east coast, and saw a Sprinter with holes rusted thru the flat sheet metal above the windshield, and holes in the rear doors.
My 99 Chevy 3500 cutaway express only has slight surface rust on the rockers-no rust anywhere else, and hasn't been washed since it was bought. I am scrapping it out with just over 400,000 miles because the service body on the back is so rotted out, and the engine is tired, but not shot, and the trans shudders.
Why is there factory rustproofing getting worse? I have another neighbor with an 87 Caravan that is perfect. My 93 shadow never got washed, and all that ever rusted was a small area on the bottom lip of the trunk lid. That one was on the road until 4 years ago.
If there rust proofing gets any worse, they will be rotting on the lot before they ever get sold.
Skip the sprinter, just make us a diesel Caravan like they already sell in Europe, but with enough power to actually use it like a work truck like I use my 00 voyager.
Was in Florida by the east coast, and saw a Sprinter with holes rusted thru the flat sheet metal above the windshield, and holes in the rear doors.
My 99 Chevy 3500 cutaway express only has slight surface rust on the rockers-no rust anywhere else, and hasn't been washed since it was bought. I am scrapping it out with just over 400,000 miles because the service body on the back is so rotted out, and the engine is tired, but not shot, and the trans shudders.
Why is there factory rustproofing getting worse? I have another neighbor with an 87 Caravan that is perfect. My 93 shadow never got washed, and all that ever rusted was a small area on the bottom lip of the trunk lid. That one was on the road until 4 years ago.
If there rust proofing gets any worse, they will be rotting on the lot before they ever get sold.
Skip the sprinter, just make us a diesel Caravan like they already sell in Europe, but with enough power to actually use it like a work truck like I use my 00 voyager.
Love to see'em bring back the Ram Van, and I have been thinking the same as you, why not start with the pickup components, and add a van body. Makes sense to me, so I guess Chrysler would never do it.
Record Breaker
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,412
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From: Nashville
Your neighbor has done the same thing I've done for the past 6 months. My rear shackle on the driver side rusted totally apart. I cut a 5x6 section from a pressure treated deck plank to keep the leaf from rubbing through the floor. The cost to fix it is $300 per side. Not going there any time soon. If I could punch out the shackle pin from the bracket and the leaf, the cost is less than $20 to fix.
Record Breaker
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,412
Likes: 2
From: Nashville
and I'll bet the Magnum V8's produce a lot more usable power than whatever Nissan puts in it. Just sayin.Yah, the truck looks UGLY. But the usefulness and features should not be over looked. Starting at $31K, it's in the range of a Chrysler Town-n-County minivan starting price, BUT, you can haul 12 people and TOW seriously too!
Just add the towing package for $970 for the total cost around $33K. Much of the options are all standard.
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Last edited by stev; Jul 14, 2012 at 12:48 PM.
Captain
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 617
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Registered User
Joined: Apr 2012
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Toureg seats 5 and rated for 1650 lb towing capacity, unless you get the factory towing system installed (my guess is they bolt up a sub-frame to the unibody) which magically allows 7700 lb towing, if you have trailer brakes. Still, a very short wheel base to be towing a big trailer. The V10 diesel might have the torque to get it moving, but the rest of the handling and braking are not there. cannot find any options to get the V10 diesel in the US. Their site only shows the 3L diesel.
Rookie
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 99
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http://www.conversionvanland.com/pag.../new_vans.html
I think it is highly unlikely anyone would be willing to pay prices such as the ones in the link for a van. I like a van WAY better than an SUV or freakin hummer but that's just me.
I think it is highly unlikely anyone would be willing to pay prices such as the ones in the link for a van. I like a van WAY better than an SUV or freakin hummer but that's just me.