I'm out camping this weekend and I'm seeing numerous full size vans being used as tow pugs.
AM I wrong for thinking about it? 10-15 year old American v8 11 passenger van as a weekend warrior / camper hauler?
Vinyl floor with removable seats to use as a junk hauler as well?
What model / drivetrain am I wanting?
I think a diesel cargo van makes a heck of a hauler. For me, it would be a Chevy Express/GMC Savannah 3500 with the Duramax. Should be able to tow 10,000 lbs. all day long.
Downsides? Loud inside for long stretches if you don't insulate, not quite the same towing as a Duramax equipped truck, little more difficult to toss things in the back and has a bit of that creep look. Although I've always thought you could get some cheap magnetic signs with a fake plumber or septic take company.
Upside? Always protected and locked. Can be stealthy (see above). Covered for raining days. Easy to crash in the back of and sleep or change clothes or whatever. Usually much cheaper than a similar truck setup.
-Rob
chebby express 3500 - about 9700# towing. Drive till tinworm takes it. Use engine for next awesome build. The diesel wasn't in them 10-15 years ago, so they're pretty much in a different price range than all the old work vans laying around.
I've spent many many miles in an e250. City, rural, highway. Unless you need to be able to dump gravel or topsoil in it like a truck, I see no reason not to have one. Ours had probably 10,000 lbs of snakeoil in the back at any given moment and we still got 300k out of them.
Joey
My biggest load would be a family of 6 and camper. Currently a small pop-up, but plans of upgrading to a larger one.
The T&C gets tight on longer rides with the camper
Just think of the size of a roof rack on a 11 passenger van.... wow!
1500 express with 5.3 would be plenty, then when it rots use the 5.3 in something else or sell as a drivetrain donor.
I loved my '99 Chevy 3500 cargo van. I'd probably still have it if it had factory a/c.
Vans are great for towing! The body punches a larger hole in the air vs a pickup so the overall wind drag is less. Lots of dry, lockable storage, seat configurations, conversion options, etc. Its a big box on wheels, fill to meet your needs. They only thing they suck at is hauling dirt, gravel, etc. (unless they are bagged).
I've had an E-150 since 2001. (Two different ones, not the same van the whole time.) They are pretty awesome to carry all sorts of things in them, but yes, sometimes a truck is better. I won't fill my van up with mulch for instance. I've towed a 21' boat on a tandem axle trailer home from VA and the van really didn't mind at all. It was easy to almost forget there was anything back there at times, but my route was very flat and no hills or mountains.
I miss my van for all the things it did that my pickup can't. I love my pickup for all the things it does the van didn't.
Google is barking up the wrong tree with self driving cars. What we really need are transformers. 
I know a couple people who use E350's (gas V10 and diesel) to haul 24-28' enclosed race car trailers all over the east coast.
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