Window Van

[b3player]

Greetings All!!

And thank you for all the info provided in these forums!

So I have a chance to get a used Chevy 3500 ext 15 passenger window van 350, 4 speed auto, at a very resonable price. Only about 45,000 miles and well maintained. I know the owner.

And I was thinkin this thing is so cheap, maybe I take out the seats,and make a little money with this honey. The former seat latches in the floor could be used for tie downs. And so on. I've been lurking in these forums for three months or so and have a sense of what expediting's about. Only a sense. I have no expediting experience except what I've read.

I have a class b cdl w/air brake, and have logged miles on the road.

Any comments on running a window van other than the obvious I've thought, like fright exposed to plain view? Do companies have a pro or con stance? Thanx in advance

George N. I use geo elsewhere but I see we have one here already.
A good Geo is hard to find

 

[geo]

some of company's don't like windnow vans as people may see what is in there and try beak in, but the fix would be to put in some kind of nice looking plex glass dark in color and easy to remove when you were done with hauling freight, also when trying to sleep hard to sleep with all that light shine in

 

[MSinger]

1997 Dodge Ram 3500 with 12' cube. Dock high with jackstands. 5.9L Cummins Turbo Diesel.


Two other things to consider:

1) Does it have the dual heat/ac unit? Not sure how the GM's are set up but on some of the early 90's Ford passenger models it becomes an issue due to height restriction just inside the rear doors where the heat/ac unit comes out of the ceiling.

2) Several insurance companies are refusing to insure the 15 passenger vans due to the numerous well publicized roll over accidents that have occurred over the past few years. Even if you take the seats out I believe the VIN # will still show it to be a passenger van. Some of the churches in our area have gotten rid of their 15 passenger vans because they either couldn't find insurance or couldn't afford it when they did find it.

Just my two cents worth.

Good luck in what ever you decide to do.

 

[merkurfan]

The chevy vans are not prone to roll over like the dodge (hell of a overhang from rear axle) and the fords. Both dodge and ford extended their vans behind the rear axle. GMC/Chevy are extended in the middle and thus not as prone to roll. However they have a larger turning radius.

I doubt there is a company that will sign a window van. period. Even if they are painted over. I am not sure why, but Panther made it very clear my van could not have any windows other than in the doors (on the side and rear of the van). I would assume any company not hurting for drivers will not budge from the no windows requirement. And those companies hurting for drivers are companies you should not be driving for (All Types comes to mind).