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Considering new van, thoughts?

bobwg

bobwg

Expert Expediter
I would say yes to this ask for the flat floor version you may have to pay a little more I know a couple people at Landstar that got these same ones but special ordered the flat floors (no wheel wells) not sure how much more they had to pay for the flat floors I could try to find out from them
 
LDB

LDB

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
Looks good. How does it compare to various Unicell offerings as far as weight and aerodynamics?
 
greg334

greg334

Veteran Expediter
I think Supreme is a good choice, but personally I would not buy a GM chassis.

I would ask them what the weight of the body is and give Unicell a call to see if it is less weight, I think they may be close to the same.
 
G

geo

Veteran Expediter
Charter Member
Retired Expediter
US Navy
myself i like the sprinter , also will it be under 10,000 lbs
 
greg334

greg334

Veteran Expediter
Maybe the best of both worlds is a sprinter chassis under 10k with a nice box on the back ... I have seen a couple out there.
 
K

kubusio

Active Expediter
Are you going to use it long distance or just around town? If long distances, where are you planing on sleeping? My favorite was always the 2500 170wb extended Sprinter but it can only fit 4 skits. Not sure what size box you are looking to get but I see there are many options that wit fit more than 4 skids. The biggest adventage with the sprinter is MPGs and the comfort of the ride.
 
Monty

Monty

Expert Expediter
The Sprinter is not availabe in a < 10,000 version for the cargo box, ALL cab and chassis from them are 11,030, however, they are once again offering the 3500 VAN in a 9,900 version once more.

As for sleeping, I will have a sleeper conversion inside the body it's self. That Supreme body can be ordered in 14' or 15' versions. It give's 5' in front of the wheel wells. And 96" width.

The wheel wells themselves is not a issue. there would still be 9', or more, for cargo, one pallet right down the middle to the front, and two across the back. Of course weight would be an issue, can't have to heavy one's in the rear, as it would squat the vehicle, I think.

I have never liked the Unicell concept, of course it is an option, perhaps I should look at it also.

I owned a 2003 Sprinter in which the engine puked ... $10,000 replacement at that time. And they still ask for new engine if anything goes wrong.

So, while I am a fan of Sprinters, I don't relly trust them anymore.

Thanks for the feedback!
 
chefdennis

chefdennis

Veteran Expediter
You sure that Supreme will put a 14-15 ft box on that srw short wheelbase unit??? When I spoke with them and unicell, they wouldn't...yes they wouldl on a drw but not the single because of the shorter wb...also, make sure that the chassis is not a 9900, which most are in the pools...

The FRP is heavy, but it also is strudy...one thing to keep in mind is I personally wouldn't buy off a dealers lot or take a pool chassis..I'd order the chassis from a dealer and have it drop shipped to the bidy upfitter.. you can then also work with the upfitter to build the box the way you want it...set back bulkhead, remove the factory roof and open the are into the air deflector so you can standup between the seats and move around easier...no door on the bulk head...more lighting, those are just a few things to think about...

There are alot of those cubes on the road and I considered one when I bought the cargo max, but when it was all said and done, i paid less for what I got (a 12,300 gvw chassis) then what a cube would have cost me setup as i wanted it...

Set it up the way ypu want, and enjoy!!!
 
Monty

Monty

Expert Expediter
Either I am not typing clearly, or y'all aint reading right! :p

If you look at the options for the Savanna cutaway, (on this link), you will see they do offer a 10,000 # version DRW. The SRW is rated at 9900 # Check this link

http://www.gmc.com/savana/cutaway/specsCapabilities.jsp

The top line, DRW, 159" wb, 10,000 #

And yes, if you look at the options on the other link, you will see Supreme does indeed do 14' boxes on the 159" wb. Look at page 10 of this .pdf file

http://www.supremecorp.com/media/pdf/Supreme GMCutaway.pdf

FEDEX Home Delivery uses them all the time .... watch for one.

Now to get the 96" wide, you must do the DRW, normally exceeding 10,000 pounds, but does not have too.

The "Top Hat" option allows the stand up room in the cab, just like a Sprinter. The "Top Hat" is also shown on page 10

Here are a few pictures I took, the first is an old unit I found on a dealers lot. You can clearly see the "Top Hat" that makes the ability to stand up in the cab.

The next two are a SRW I found on a lot, and it is indeed rated at 9900#, but does not have the "Top Hat"
 

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islandfire1

islandfire1

Expert Expediter
Owner/Operator
US Marines
I have 2008 GMC,6.0with GVW of 9600. It has wheel wells but they have been no problem. I built a very comfortable bunk and storage for clothes. I have not lost any of my 12ft. of cargo area.
I had Supreme build the box the way I asked and it works well for me.
 
Moot

Moot

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
Notanewbie said:
Now to get the 96" wide, you must do the DRW, normally exceeding 10,000 pounds, but does not have too.
Click to expand...

Do you have any idea what the curb weight is on something like this? What you gain in volume capacity, you lose in weight capacity. The two extra tires and wheels (spare tire?) combined with the large box will greatly reduce your weight capacity. The 96" box will have a huge impact on your fuel consumption. Take a similar spec'd truck to a scale and get it weighed before you buy.
 
Monty

Monty

Expert Expediter
My present cargo weight is listed at 2,500 pounds with this Sprinter, (after the Midway Sleeper conversion), I can stretch that to 3,000 once and awhile, of course it over GVW.

The Supreme info on that body is "payload- 3950" ... add in a sleeper and of course that drops.

With Landstar I am loosing a lot of freight because I am not wide enough, 70' wide freight will not fit in here.

So I will pickup inches of width and pounds of capacity .. I'm pretty comfortable with the configuration.
 
Monty

Monty

Expert Expediter
No idea on mpg ... yet ..... hopefully it will not kill me, but with diesel being so much more expensive than gas, it may be a wash no matter the mpg!

I do know this, my Ford F-150 gets 19mpg, UNTIL I put the 5th wheeler on it ... it falls like a rock to 10mpg!

I should have some figures to play with soon on the unit .... Ben Cornwell, at Stoops Freightliner, Dayton, is putting the deal together now.

(Stoops owns a GMC dealership in Indiana, and all the dealers can sell products from a different division, which makes it easy to trade the Sprinter away.)
 
chefdennis

chefdennis

Veteran Expediter
Ok, now I am confused...that van pictured is a SRW, 9900 gvw chassis..the box looks to be a 12 ft'er...from reading your post, I thought you were going DRW with the bigger box....

I can tell you that a friend of mine (the father of the guy driving my old van( just bought one of those (2011 chev supreme box) 6.0 6 spd and he is having a fit with the mileage at 14 mpg's....(makes me feel better :) ) but I can't believe that the 9900 gvw with a the 12 ft box can't get 18 min...oh and his scales at 6550 lbs...empty...
 
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