My 2007 Chevy Express 6.6 LBZ Duramax Quigley Van, is a great tow rig

Hi Fred, I take care of a fleet of vans for a couple of summer camps here in NC. I can tell you we have not had great luck with any of the GM vans after around 2008. The older ones are pretty good the newest GM vans they have are the most problematic. We decided a few years back they should start buying Ford Transit's and they have been awesome thus far, only issues there seem to be that they go through brakes more frequently and aren't really equipped to do much towing. I will say the star of the entire fleet is the oldest and highest mileage van which is a 2000 Ford E-350, I almost never have to work on it and when I do it is just normal maintenance.

I have had 3 Express vans, 5.3 4 speed auto and 4.8 6 speed auto and the first thing I did was pull all the trim plastic, squeeze some silicone RTV in strategic spots and install plastic. No more issue for 150K! All of the Vans were near flawless and still worked great when moving to the ''Fresh'' one as a Commercial vehicle for business. Yes, they are ''long in the tooth'' but that also means the bugs are out. Got 16mpg at 75 on the highway with the 3/4 Ton versions with the 5.3 in a 1/2 Ton as my favorite...called it the ''Vette Van'' because it hauled ASS!

Awesome review. Straight forward with no fluff.

I got a diesel colorado ZR2, tow my 4800lbs travel trailer in the British Columbia mountains with it and I love it for that. Really good fuel economy (compared to my previous 5.3L chevy and 3.5L ecoboost). Not a rocket ship but not underpowered, 6-speed in those feels good, exhaust brake is nice, and its quiet.

Tune the 2.8 to get more out of it. In Aus most of our work utes and touring rigs are small diesels. I towed 2 Ton + with my 2.5 turbo Diesel. only makes about 140hp but about 500nm of torque. Yes its pushing its limit but still managed the hilly terrain along the coast. exhaust temps are my only concern on very long uphills.

Hey Fred more than likely the coolant and limp mode issue your having is due to a faulty egr cooler

I love my 99 gmc 1 ton van with the 6.5 turbo diesel it has over 400,000 miles and no blow by also original trans and rear end. Gets over 20 mpg too and can tow 10k pounds with ease

Great video need more adventures

I always love seeing how different everyone's "little bit of everything" is. The fact that you were able to put thousands of miles on this thing with 7k hooked up to it checks every "I tow every now and then" box for me, but ya know - different strokes as they say. Anyway, I'd love to get my hands on one of these. My experience with small diesels, even towing loads that size or a little smaller, has been really pleasant. I wonder if it's not something about the trans or the tune as others have said, who knows.

The 6.6 L8T engine is amazing in these vans and the trucks too. It would most certainly be my choice of engine for this platform.

It just really frickin ticks me off that you can't get the 2.8 in a 2 wheel drive Canyon base model.

That’s a lot of weight for a 2.8L diesel, it would be nice in the correct state of tune with a 10 speed, but the towing is still pushing it.

Would be curious to hear updates on the coolant issue. Have had the same issue with my 2016 Colorado diesel.

I towed a 74 bronco on 33's behind an Astrovan on a homemade trailer with no brakes from Ontario to the Smokey miuntains & back with 3 adults! So your setup sounds ok.

Have you ever owned a Ford Excursion Fred? I feel like that checks all the boxes you’re looking for. Since the 7.3 excursions are exorbitantly priced, a V10 one or an 8.1 swap or even a Cummins/Duramax swap would be awesome. Add to that an 05+ radius arm 60 swap in the front, and that’s an awesome rig. That’s my dream at least.

I'd love to see a 4wd Van tow/ expedition/camping build!

Hmmm. Sounds like you need to trade the van for an excursion w/ the 7.3. Love the van, thanks for the update! Almost bought one before I found a low mileage Ex.

Honestly I agree with you. Well done brother.

Ha, I've had to replace hvac knobs in my 17 Savana twice. And the rear wheel seals. And the front control arm bushings. And the transmission. And the abs module. That one was tough to find during the gm strike. My company was supposed to get me a new one this year with the 6.6, I was really looking forward to that, but gm cancelled their order! Guess they're going to get me a transit now. But at least I'll get AWD, that will be nice for Midwest winter.

FRED! good morning thank for the bday video

I wonder what kind of tuner options are available for that engine. I recently bought my first diesel, which is a Duramax as well. However mine is the 6.6 and it barely notices my little 5,000 5th wheel. I know there are lots of different tuners for these however I don't feel it's currently needed for me at the moment... Maybe down the road when I start putting this thing to work towing larger loads. Anyway, it might be something worthwhile to see if the van thing is all it's cracked up to be for ya. Don't want ya to go out and upgrade to another rig and thwn decide vans aren't your thing. Haha

Idk Fred, I have an almost van (4x4 Subie, so can almost sleep in the back 😂) with a 5.3l and every time I tow it drops to 10 mpg, so 15 is not bad. This is the same with a friends Ram 1500, 10 mpg. See if you can get Chevy to loan you one of the Yukon/Yukon XLs with the 3.0 liter for comparison.

The 3.0 I6 1/2 ton diesel would be perfect, but it almost certainly won't fit; too bad!!!!! Keep up the good work!

I wonder how many of the 2.8 vans there are. You're the first one I have heard of since I got my 2.8 Express. The 8L90 is trash. Also having turbo issues.

Did they put the 6.6 duramaxx in those?? I own a 7.3 PSD powered E-350. Maybe not as fast as a newer diesel vut at 330k its holding up great for a 2001. I have seen a few 4bt swapped vans which seem cool. The headroom of the sprinter would be nice but man they are pricey

I’d like to hear more about the redhead.

A 4x4 van would make a Great project !

I'd love to have my GMC one ton van as four wheel drive, and I'm only about 2 hours away from Quigley's. But there's too many miles on it and it's too old (97). Maybe I'll convert it myself.

Sounds like that GM 2.8L diesel is just as much of a pain as the VM-Motori 2.8L diesel that was in my '05 Jeep Liberty KJ...

Out of all the things you listed. You never mentioned taking it to a dyno to tune the engine and transmission.... transmission is tuned for the stock gears and tire size. Guarantee you get the engine and trans tuned youd get better performance and MPG's.

Cool real world review.

With regards to the Engine issue. I had a 2007 JK wrangler CRD. God I hated that engine so much. I ripped it out and put a 4.0/AW4 out of a 95 XJ and it just felt so much better. This whole big power from small engines I swear is a myth. Its like they pull torque figures out of the air. The 4.0 was quicker 0-60 and had no problem holding onto O/D on highway hills on 37's with 4.10 gears. The 2.8 CRD was constantly downshifting on 35's.

If the small Diesel is lacking on towing power I wonder how that new 2.7 turbo 4cyl gas in the Chevy truck does.

Fred...how about an update on that 304 you dumped fuel in behind the shop?

You know the one vehicle I miss was your old Jeep-Dumpster😮😢

I have a 2021 1500 3.0 duramax with 80,000 miles and recently had to add coolant

The Chevy cargo van with the 6.6 is actually kinda quick (for a van)

Is it possible that the towing issues stem from the lack of a proper tune for gears and tires size?

I’ve really tried to like the smaller diesels and I was set on a Colorado with that diesel and I just can’t do it. The little diesels seem like they are hard to work on and kinda unreliable compared to their big 3/4 ton and 1 ton 6.6 duramax cousins. Truth is it’s hard to get used to towing when you’re used to a HD truck

Van life fa life!

New is nice but old is cool. I always wanted a FC van until I saw another influencer do a FC Jeep and realizes the front cab is too low. I think a 72 ish Ford Chevy when they pushed the front tires in front of the doors would work better with a 4x4 conversion. Not a Ford guy, but using a 72 econoline with the front tires pushed forward to meet the front bumper, 42” tires with a 6” lift and a 5 link up front and clearance the body for full articulated function. Mod a early bronco grill to fit between the front tires and call it a Bronconoline.

Waiting for the sale or upgrade lol.

It hard beet the 6.0 runs like screaming ape and just works well for 300.000 miles

Shoulda got a 6.6 duramax van!

It all comes down to weight. If you're moving several tons of van and cargo, you need the engine that can handle it. Also, the LV1/LV3 engines are scheduled to be produced through 2025

Current GM light duty diesels are often made.. With Aluminum Heads. Bad Choice. 16:1 Compression and Turbo heat like Cast Iron for longevity... Ask any trucker or your local John Deere dealer about that.

If you'd like, if you send me the VIN I can pull up the options and see if there's any bulletins related to the 2.7.

hey, remember the 79 dodge van from the gambler 500? that was a bit extreme to be practical, but it got me thinking about converting a van, since the baby duramax really can't pull great, and the duramax 6.6 is way too heavy for off roading, a mercedes om606 could be a great swap for a 4x4 van , they can make lots of power and are lighter than a 6bt, oh well, day dreaming

Why wouldn’t they use a 3.0 Duramax in these? Are they just trying not to do it right? Please someone explain if you know?

Try the GDE tune. It is EPA legal, just not CARB compliant.

Put a scope in the cylinder and you will find your coolant ! 12 valve p - pump conversion problem solved !

Tow capacity on a 3500 express 135 wheelbase with 2.8 is 5700 pounds

Hmm... I get 20+ on the highway in my 6600 lb 2v 4.6 E150 conversion van. I wouldn't want to tow more than about 3k with it though.

There is no replacement for displacement.

Yeah I think I’d stick to the v8 for a full-size van. Especially with the cost of diesel and rarity of the small diesel in that van it’s way more feasible to use a gas v8.

Didn't know Gary Oldman was doing tow reviews.

Please scale it. For reference, 2018 Z71 diesel, 6" lift and decked... 5846 - I've crossed the scales with 15,000 gcvw. fast? no. not great mpg. but it did it.

Do you think the Cummins R2.8 would do better in that van?

I thought the 6.6 was the Duramax V8. I think the 6.2 is the gas.

Do you know Richie from Boston?

Mystery coolant leak is possibly the EGR cooler failing.

So tiny engines in big rigs still don't work. Imagine that.

He says, "Probably towing abput 7k lbs". Me: Buy yourself an F250/350 to tow 10k. Problem solved. How fast were you driving during your MPG test?

That little engine should not be in such a heavy vehicle. It’s great in the Colorado but that’s about it. Man if they could get the the new 6cyl diesel in that van it would be awesome. But I’d stick with the V8’s

Real bummer that diesel did not workout 😢

There is a perfect tool for every job. Get a tow truck brother.

Uh Oh. Sounds like Fred is going Hoovie's Garage on not liking a tow rig.

My 2018 ZR2 diesel on 35's averaged 18 mpg. Not that impressive with the price of diesel. My ZR2 tow rating was only 5000 lbs. It's a very slow engine in need of more horsepower. The diesel ZR2's come with a six speed transmission. The van needs the 3.0 diesel, it's supposed to have way more get up and go.

Bring back the v10...or 496🤓🤠😎✌✌✌

Dang i saw the title and thought it was the big boy duramax , not that crappy small one ..

Parts is parts

Any plans to take it off road for a video? Nothing extreme just beach and trails and see how the independent front end holds up.

It’s falling apart because of the direction GM has taken since their bailout. Now they make their products as cheap as possible, sourcing their parts from the lowest bidder.

No way I'd imagine the little 2.8 even with a lot of boost would move a near 7000 lb van, plus a 7000 lbs trailer.. Vans are heavy, 4x4 conversions add big weight, big tall. Why Ive shy'd away from GM products since the 80s. Interior parts always seem to be cheaply made, rattly, break..

The 2.8 duramax is terrible. Wait til you have to have the timing belt replaced at 150k. It will barely pull itself.

Getting old. You sound like Paul Harvey…

Too bad Chevy isn't still making the 6.6 duramax Van. 2.8 cubic inches just isn't enough for a full sized vehicle let alone towing with it. My 2.8 cummins in my TJ is better than the 4.0 gasser and gets great fuel economy, but it is no horsepower monster.

Probably emission problems!

You could just drive the jeep !

Duramax engines are garbage. Cummins or bust in my opinion.

Chevy interiors are complete garbage. Rattling loose door panels and broken knobs everywhere.