Just bought a Ram Promaster

[MChrist]

I'm tired of constantly fixing our 13 year old Chevy vans at work. Passing by our local dealer, I noticed their first shipment of Promasters came in!! I like the way they look, and have a lot of very nice features. Told myself "Next time something goes wrong with one of our vans, I'm taking one for a test drive".
Two days ago, started up a van, crazy squealing from under the hood, AC compressor is toast.
Drove straight to dealer, test drove one, decided it's worth a shot. Had my guy that will be driving it everyday go in, order it how he wanted it with all the shelving units and ladder racks etc. He's in love!!

Salesman said he didn't think they would get the diesel version until Summer, and with diesel prices being 15% higher than gasoline, and a $4,000 up charge for diesel, I went with gasoline. Their diesel engine seems to have a long track record, but I wasn't under the impression that the auto shifted 6 speed manual trans that only comes with their diesel engine was as well tested. It'll be interesting to see how she tows our 5,000 lb work trailer during winter snowstorms. Apparently they do better than RWD vans. Time will tell if their claims hold water!

If anybody is interested, I'll keep you posted with how she works out as a work van. I have a feeling it'll be just fine!
Oh, it's a 1500 version, 136" wheelbase High Roof. GVWR is 8,550!!! All the Promasters have the same tires, too. Same size, load rating, everything. I thought that was odd, but good.
Getting a reciever and hitch installed as soon as parts come in. People using it as a service van are claiming to be getting 17-19 doing short in town stops. Our Chevy vans always got 10-12. Never better, never worse.
Wish me luck!

 

[MChrist]

Last night, I read a report saying that the diesel option won't be available until LATE 2014. Hmmmm
Also of note: I was figuring that if traction in snow pulling a 5,000 lb trailer wasn't up to par, I'd just buy some winter tires. After all, 225/75/16 isn't an odd size. NOBODY makes that same size in the same weight rating as the original tires!!
Original tires are rated for 3195 lbs/tire!! Even Michelin LTX in that size is around 2700 in load range E.
Not a huge deal, since this work truck won't ever be at max GVWR, just thought it was noteworthy. People on the Promaster forum don't care for the original tires, and switch to Michelin LTX MS2, and are very happy with the switch. Apparently that is a common thing in the Sprinter community also.
Then again, it would be much easier to sipe the original tires if traction was really that bad..It'll be interesting to see.

 

[JJPage]

Pictures????? C'MON!

 

[MChrist]

Should have it in a few days. Getting a class 4 hitch installed and the shelving units, rubber floor mat and ladder rack. Not sure who is more excited, me or the guy who'll be driving it!
On a side note: When we bought our 3 GMC Savanas, (cargo, 2500) from UHaul, used, they only had less than a few thousand miles...they seemed pretty flimsy. Brakes sucked and wheels were 6 lug. Oh well, I thought.
Years later, I noticed that the GVWR on these 2500s was only 7,300 lbs!! That's the same as their 1500s! The titles say they are 2500s, the VIN indicates 2500 also. So how the heck can these be 3/4 ton vans? Payload was only 2,000lbs, which we don't ever exceed, unless towing our 5,000 trailer.
These Promaster 1500s have 8550 GVWR, weigh about 500 lbs less than our vans, and have roughly 3800 payload. Oddly, the Promaster 2500 version only has about 300 lbs more payload...
I'd have to weigh everything we carry in our vans, but I'm pretty sure we carry less than 1500 lbs of tools and supplies in the back. We can shift most of that weight toward the front for even more traction if it's ever an issue.

 

[mwilson]

I have a 2006 2500 Chevy Express that I am running between stores with. They offer two or three GVW's in the 2500 series, everytime I get parts for it I have to get them for the 8600 GVW version. Mine has 8 lug wheels, dual piston calipers and large spring packs in the rear.

I find replacement parts to be fairly priced and readily available. I am wondering how the Promaster will fare in that department.

I will without a doubt step out and buy another Chevy with the hope that it will be as tough as this one has been. 259,000 miles and counting.

 

[MChrist]

Mike, ours have the 5.0 and are 1999 and 2000 MY. First one had motor blow at 140,000, followed by trans. Second one had to have head work at 110,000. Was never the same after that. Third one, right about 130,000 with no real big problems yet, but I refuse to dump any more money into them. They're beginning to rust under the doors, those goofy external hinges on the side doors rust and stick if you don't constantly oil them, those locking mechanisms for the side and rear doors constantly are breaking/falling off. Its just time for a change.
I have high hopes! Just hope I'm not disappointed.
I've always had the oil in the GMCs changed between 3000-5000, usually 3000. They aren't over stressed driving around with less than 1500 lbs in them. Maybe I just got a bad batch. They WERE bought from UHaul with only a few thousand miles on them. Maybe flood vans? Maybe in accidents? Dunno.

 

[mwilson]

Mine has the 4.8L engine and it is a TOUGH little gasser.

When it was brought up here for me the side doors were screwed up, the lazy *******s never oiled the hinges. It was so bad that the hinge plates were sprung enough to allow the tops of the doors to contact each other. A half day with a heat gun, Marvel Oil and my porta-power took care of that.

See these for your remaining vans, a novel idea.....

http://www.dormanproducts.com/p-745... 2500&parttype=Door Hinge Pin and Bushing Kit

Mike.

 

[MChrist]

Mike, thanks for the link. That would've been nice to know before I drilled through the hinges to get PB Blaster in there!

 

[mwilson]

I just stumbled onto them the other day while checking out dash clusters on the Dorman site. I will be retro-fitting mine with that kit shortly.

 

[Wayne M.]

Good luck with the pro master. It's just butt ugly from the front! I see one or two running around already, and on the lots. What engine is it- the pentastar 3.6? It's transverse mounted? Body on chassis? I don't know too much about it yet. I do know that we're having a hard time getting sprinter parts. We have a few of those.

 

[MChrist]

Yep, Pentastar 3.6. I had my doubts, too. Turns out that engine is very highly regarded. As far as "Butt Ugly"...I actually think it's pretty sharp! I may be the minority there, but I don't care.
After we get some miles on her, I'll report back with how she's working out. She'll be towing a 5,000 trailer around about 1/3 of the time, even through winter, so that was my biggest hang-up. I figure since our RWD vans with open differentials tow that trailer in winter with no problems, a van with the drive tires under the axle with the higher weight and traction control will HOPEFULLY do at least as well.
Will the transmission hold up? I guess only time will answer that one..

 

[MChrist]

Ok, I just picked up the new van this evening after getting all the shelving and ladder racks and hitch installed. Very nice, I must say. You sit higher than a standard van. Very tight turning radius and very powerful brakes. All the advertising says the brakes are 16" Brembos. I found that hard to believe, since the wheels are only 16". So I crawled under it only to find maybe 10-11" rotors. They stop great, but you think somebody in marketing would've caught that...
Only put about 20 miles on it in town with crazy wind this evening, and average mpg indicates 15.5. I'll predict 14-16 average over the next year, towing included.
Time will tell. I'll keep you guys posted as I learn more.

 

[MChrist]

Ok, the Promaster is finally outfitted and customized the way we need it. Topped off the tank yesterday. Tonight, my technician topped it off again to a hand calculated 11.6 mpg. Computer said 11.3. Keep in mind, roughly 1500 lbs cargo and towing a 5400 lb trailer 85% of the time. A lot of stop and go, but also some rural roads. No highway, and tow/haul engaged.
Considering our gmc vans with 5.0 would always get 10-12 and rarely towing, I am impressed! Still expecting 14-16 ballpark once we can unhook this trailer. The driver loves this van!

 

[Wayne M.]

Pictures please! Just not dead on from the front- I don't want my monitor to crack :-laf

 

[MChrist]

If somebody can walk me through the process of getting pics from my Galaxy S4 to here, I'd be happy to show her off.

 

[JJPage]

Send yourself a picture email, then right click the pic in your email and send it to the desktop of your PC. You need to be in "advanced" mode in the thread so you can click on the paperclip for attachments, choose file and search for the file/pic on your desktop and open it up, then upload it, it will appear when you post or preview the post. That's just one way, and probably pretty crude but it works.

 

[Wayne M.]

I put pictures up from my iPhone all the time. Just click on the little framed picture just like you would on a PC. It walks me through. As long as the picture isn't too big a file it's good.

 

[pandlrobb]

Now that you have had your Promaster for a while, how do you like it? I am looking to buy one and will be towing a 3500 lb trailer. Any problems with towing?

 

[promisedland]

hes havin to much fun driven the van to take the time to post pics..................Oo. :--)

 

[Regcabguy]

I see them all over San Diego. They look like a lot more maneuverable that the full sized ones.