When discussing our Airstream towing setup, one question frequently arises: Why did we choose a 2022 Chevy Express van as our tow vehicle? After seven years of living the van life, the decision stemmed from our appreciation of the inherent conveniences that van living provides.
Our Chevy Express is a workhorse. As a 3500 series one-ton cargo van equipped with the powerful 6.6-liter V8 engine, it boasts impressive capabilities. It has a 10,000-pound towing capacity and over 4,500 pounds of payload. This easily handles our 30-foot Airstream while providing ample room for additional cargo.
The van’s cavernous interior serves as both our mobile garage and weekend getaway vehicle. The cargo version’s bare-bones design, free of unnecessary trim and accessories, maximizes available space and payload capacity. We’ve installed a bed platform that doubles as an efficient storage system, with items stored both above and below.
Safety and security were key considerations in our setup. The van features numerous D-rings and attachment points for securing cargo, ensuring nothing becomes a hazard during travel. The open concept allows easy access to essentials from the front seats. It also provides shelter during adverse weather conditions or as just a simple changing room.
Modern pickup trucks might offer more luxurious amenities. But the van’s snub nose design provides superior maneuverability in tight spaces. That’s a crucial advantage when backing our 30-foot Airstream into campsites. The elevated driving position offers excellent visibility, though the trade-off is more complex engine access for maintenance and repairs. That’s because the snub nose is made possible by only some of the engine being under the hood. The majority resides under a “dog house” in the passenger compartment.
There are some limitations to consider. The van lacks modern conveniences like heated seats or built-in Bluetooth, though we appreciate its mechanical simplicity. With only two front seats, passenger capacity is limited, and its height can restrict access to some parking structures. That’s more of an issue when not towing, as the Airstream sits higher than the van anyway.
Following our 90-10 rule — designing for 90% of our needs — the van has proven to be an excellent choice. While it lacks four-wheel drive capability, this has rarely been an issue since most of our travel is on maintained roads. The ability to securely store bikes, inflatable paddleboards, tools, and camping gear inside while maintaining easy access has made our Chevy Express the perfect companion for our Airstream adventures.
If you want to see and hear more, you can also watch a video we produced about this topic on our YouTube channel.
