need a van
 

I'm thinking maybe an older gmc diesel fullsize would suit my needs. A caravan would work, but I think they offer the same mileage. I would rerally like a diesel VW eurovan with a 5speed manual and diesel but non to be had around here.

What wouldl you drive if you needed lots of room?

a 90's diesel Long wheel base ford transit, hightop.

Sadly, the Transit didn't become available stateside until 2010. The (Dodge, M-B, Freightliner) Sprinter is the only other Eurovan we got, in 2001, and it's my favorite older full-sized van. With the L5 turbodiesel and a six-speed manual, you should be able to get very good numbers for a vehicle with that much internal cargo volume.

But if I needed a truck, I'd buy a Prius and a 4'x8' trailer. :)

thats why I was looking at the old volkswagen eurovans and transporters, diesel with a 5 speed. Saw a few but $$$ not in my range.

was thinking about a 3/4 ton gmc with a diesel and regearing the rear for maximunm fuel efficiency.

What is your budget?
What is your size requirement?

For cheap, the Caravan (some motors aren't very fuel hungary), or Ford Econoline (my dad gets about 15 in an E350 packed with steel and 4 feet of stuff piled on the roof driving 72) are hard to beat, but if you have the money, don't consider anything but a Dodge sprinter/ equivalent (assuming you need that much space).

i need to get seating for 7. The extra towing capacity of the fullsize would come in hand. I want it cheap, say 1 to 5 grand max.

How much tow capacity do you want? What mpg hit are you willing to take?

My advise would be decide between Caravan and Ford E-150 with the smaller v8 if possible (unless you need big towing capacity).

Ford Aerostars have seating for 7. Some even come with a computer that measures stuff like MPG. My parents' 89 XLT got around 22 MPG on average with a 3.0 V6 and 4 speed auto.

I forgot about aerostars.
My parents had one brand new that was a lemon (by 10,000 miles it had 3 transmissions 2 engines and several a/c repairs. However everybody else I have talked to with them were very happy with them (virtually no issues).

My mom has an aerostar - so thats out.
I need to tow about 5000 pounds fairly regularly.

I'd go for a honda odessey, Toyota sienna, or nissan quest personally. All 3 have a 3500 lb towing capacity. But if you need 5000 lbs, then get an e-150 with the powerstroke. You could touch 20 mpg with the powerstroke, and have room to spare. The e-150 and 250 are basically trucks anyway.

OR you could get creative and go for the dodge sprinter with the mercedes I-5. I've heard lots of good things about those. Wouldn't be hard to outfit it with seating for 7.

Have you thought about a Suburban or Expedition with a diesel? With 3rd row seating you van seat 7 in those.

BTW, does that mean you also have 5 kids? I have 5 kids myself, think there are few out there that can fill all the seats in nearly all vans!

Trailer has brakes?
Towing in mountains?
5000 lbs is on the far end of my **estimate** for a CarAVan.

My wife and I bought a really nice 2000 Chevy Venture this spring for 4500 bucks. Only 78,000 miles.

We average over the course of a month or two around 26.1mpg. Includes warming in the morning, hurrying to work, country roads with traffic, turns, stops etc.

I've averaged as high as 36.4mpg over the course of about 100 miles doing around 65 in traffic (very reduced wind resistance)

Any kind of highway driving from 65-70 mph will net 30mpg. Slightly under or over depending on how close to 65 or 70 we are going.

I'm more than happy.