2008-201? Dodge Grand Caravan cargo van

dodge cargo van

The new Dodge Grand Caravan cargo van, built starting in 2008, provides superior space and durability for commercial customers who don’t need the massive power of a Dodge Ram or the cavernous interior of the Dodge Sprinter. It has a 3.3-liter V-6 engine with flex-fuel capability mated to a four-speed automatic transmission delivering 175 horsepower and 205 lb.-ft. of torque, providing EPA gas mileage (2008 cycle) of 17 miles per gallon (mpg) city and 24 mpg highway. The suspension has been retuned for heavier cargo without sacrificing ride quality, while the interior provides 143.8 cubic feet of cargo capacity, 58.9 cubic feet of front compartment volume, maximum Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 6,050 lbs., Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) of 7,000 lbs., payload capacity of 1,500 lbs. and impressive towing capacity of 1,800 lbs. These ratings are due to a commercial suspension that allows for heavier cargo without sacrificing ride quality.

In addition to outstanding interior space, the rear hatch and dual sliding doors ease loading and unloading. Rear seats are not included, saving money and adding to the storage capacity. An industrial cargo floor, with front rubber floor covering, covers the cargo area and front rubber floor covering.

2008 news: new factory upfit options include exterior vinyl window shading, full- and half-width cargo dividers, wire mesh and solid metal window interior inserts, a cargo compartment floor mat, and carpeted and molded wall liners placed over the inside of the windows. Premium fleet options include daytime running lights, power eight-way driver seat, power equipment group, security alarm, UConnect¨ hands-free communication system, and MyGIG™ hard-drive stereo with satellite radio, touch-screen, voice controls, and real-time traffic and navigation. Also available to fleet customers is speed control, security alarm, smoker’s group, heavy-duty engine cooling system, and a fleet delete option that removes supplemental side-curtain air bags, interior trim and sunscreen glass.

Convenience features include dual glove boxes and multiple storage bins and cup holders; dark sunscreen glass panels improve visibility.

caravan cargo vans

Chrysler is again missing sales opportunities. For a commercial vehicle, rear hatches do not work. For most courier, messenger, and delivery work, they are slow, hard to use and get in the way. Try to load a small skid with a fork lift. Or use a courier loading dock without banging your head on the hatch. I did this work for 10 years, much of that time as a supervisor of 25 messenger routes. Back in the 1980s and 1990s, side opening rear doors were available on Caravans. However, they were advertised so poorly that many salesmen did not know they existed. This could be a hot item. Vans are more versatile than pick-ups for this work. Whatever the new commercial Caravan sales will be, they could be increased probably 50 - 75% with a pair of side-hinged doors on the rear if they were properly advertised to the trades.

Standard features include 16-inch steel wheels, a 20-gallon fuel tank, power front windows and locks, front and rear power outlets, no intermediate or rear seats, industrial cargo floor and front rubber floor covering, sunscreen glass, dual manual-sliding doors, sliding door alert system, halogen headlamps, manual liftgate with single floodlamp, 12-volt power outlets in the instrument panel and rear quarter trim, tire pressure monitoring system, and intermittent front and rear wipers. An interior delete option is offered which removes the second- and third-row interior trim. Additional standard comfort and convenience features include front bottle holders, dual glove boxes, AM/FM/CD/MP3 radio, and YES Essentials® stain-resistant, odor-resistant, anti-static cloth fabric.

Safety features include side-curtain air bags (with option to delete), Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with traction control and brake assist, four-wheel anti-lock braking system, BeltAlert, brake/park interlock, constant-force retractors, Door Alert, dual-folding exterior mirrors, Enhanced Accident Response System (EARS), front crush sensors, halogen headlamps, loose fuel cap message on instrument cluster, pretensioners, side door alert warning, three-point lap/shoulder belt with height adjusters, tire pressure monitoring system, and a patented energy-absorbing steering column.

Exterior colors include metallic silver, black, bright red, white, beige, and blue. The vehicle will be made in St. Louis South (Fenton, Missouri) and should be available by Fall 2007.

2008 Dodge Grand Caravan Specifications

Engine	Horsepower	Torque	Transmission
3.3 liter	175 hp	205 lb.-ft. (278 N•m)	4 speed

Cargo van specifications
Cargo Volume, cubic feet	143.8
Front compartment volume, cubic feet	58.9
Maximum gross vehicle weight	6,050 lb
Gross combined weight rating	7,000 lb
Payload	1,500 lb
Towing	1,800 lb

Specifications (non-cargo minivans)	Inches (mm)
Wheelbase	121.2 (3078.2)
Overhang — Front	37.6 (955.4)
Overhang — Rear	43.7 (1108.9)
Track — Front	65.0 (1651.0)
Track — Rear	64.8 (1645.9)
Overall Length	202.5 (5142.5)
Overall Width	76.9 (1953.2)
Overall Width with Mirrors	88.5 (2246.8)
Overall Height	68.9 (1750.0)
Liftover Height	24.4 (619.9)
Cargo Width at Wheelhouse	49.03 (1245.5)
Angle of Approach (Curb Load)	14.3°
Angle of Departure (Curb Load)	18.7°
Breakover Angle (Curb Load)	14.5°
Minimum Running Ground Clearance (Curb Load)	6.1 (154.2)
Fuel Tank Capacity, gal. (L)	20.5 (77.6)

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