Astro Van, AWD, 1998 tow vehicle ?

[ALX357]

Been looking at this vehicle on car lot... what experience does anyone have with it as a tow vehicle for my

[Frank C]

I had two of them, an '86 GMC Safari, and later a '95 Astrovan AWD. Bought both of them new and kept for 75k and 50k miles respectively - long before I had the 26X. I liked them both better than their replacements. It's a great package as a vacation box - tons of interior room, comfortable for a crowd, but I think the 4.3L V-6 would definitely be challenged by hills if it also had a healthy interior load.

Jeff Stagg uses an Astro for all of his towing and swears by it. If you're towing locally (not too much in the mountains) I'd think it just fine. Check the placard in glovebox to see if it has factory towing package (a hitch could be aftermarket, meaning it might lack other towing equip).

[Bobby T.-26X #4767]

I've got a 2000 GMC Safari AWD.
I added rear helper air shocks to keep the rear end elevated when trailering. You can adjust for your load.
They look like these...
AirShocks
There are other brands out there, but for the do-it-yourselfer the Firestone brand is the best value.
I went with the single tapered vs. the double.
You'll find that there's not much clearance, but it works great for me!
As far as pulling power...mine has the "tow/haul" tranny feature which maximizes RPM's. That works good.
When pulling a hill, I'm just aware of the AC being minimized or off, and taking it easy.
But as you are aware, the 190 hp Vortec is a proven engine with alot of torque.
Overall, it's a great option as a tow vehicle.

[Murv Barry]

Towed with my 90 Atro for 13 years and the only regret I have is that they quit making them. Not the most powerful but totally adequate for normal towing. Just be sure you have the factory towing package. My present Ford Expedition has more power but not near the room inside

Murv Barry 01X - San Diego.

[ALX357]

re:
"You'll find that there's not much clearance," ......

what kind of clearance ??

ground clearance, clearance between the furler drum and the back of the Astro Van, or some other kind....
BTW, all your responses are really helpful in deciding on these vehicles....( using a marginal Venture fwd minivan right now for short hauls.... )

[Don T]

Hello:
My experience with a 95 Safari was less than acceptable. It has some truck parts in the suspension but was softened for a car like ride. The result was part car, part truck with the problems of both and the benefits of neither. The V6 had adequate power and the brakes were ok but the tail wagged the dawg. Braking caused steering action which started the trailer swaying. I modified the thrust angle of the rear end to 0* to help but if the road was not perfectly straight it still had problems. I know other people with Astro / Safari's and all agree braking while going downhill with a medium to heavy trailer is scary.

My model had the loosely fitted fiberglass springs in the rear. As I understand it, some models had conventional steel springs which may net a different result. I nor my frends have experience with models so equipped.

[Chip Hindes]

My experience with an 86 Astro lwb bought new is well documented in earlier posts. Mine was factory equipped for 5000 lb tow capacity, and my tandem axle utility triailer loaded to 5000 lb with electric four wheel brakes actually towed quite nicely. I had no problem going nor stopping.

On the other hand, it was the absolute worst piece of crap in reliability that has ever been my misfortune to own. That and the totally horrendous dealer service caused this lifelong GM man to switch to Ford, and I've never gone back. One of the happiest days of my life was when my son rolled it into a ditch and totalled it; fortunately he was unhurt.

My brother had much the same experience with an 88 Safari.

Presumably they would have corrected some of the problems by 98, but personally, if it were the last vehicle on earth, I'd be riding a bicycle.

[cuisto]

I had a 95 astro rear weal drive untill this spring..gave it up because thebody was rotting out, needed new tires and had 360000km on it..the canadian winters and salted roads play hull on a vehicle. It pulled like a demon, after 3 years of towind boats, utility trailesrs etc I replaced rear shocks with heavy duty ones, was not expensive. Loved the van, always had way to much gear, tools etc in the back, my wife called it the ABYSS.
To sum up I loved it and had no problems at all towing loads with the factory hitch. would recommend one to anybody.

[Catigale]

Presumably they would have corrected some of the problems by 98, but personally, if it were the last vehicle on earth, I'd be riding a bicycle

Are you saying you didnt like it??



Have a safe trip, Chip...

[DLT]

I'd love to see that bike tow a Mac...

[Robert]

I'd love to see that bike tow a Mac...

A few decades ago, me and a friend hooked up a 4x8 foot utility trailer to my heavy duty one speed "paper boy bike" bicycle. There is only a little bit of forward motion and the front wheel hardly touches the ground when I leaned over the handlebars so not much steering and never got going fast so did not need the brakes. We also once put an old washing machine on the back baskets of the same bicycle, like the do in the far East countries to deleiver furniture. I used to go fishing 20 miles from home on that bike when my mom thought I was just around the corner within hollering range. That bike has been in storage 25 years. The storage is no more and I am trying to decide whether to keep that bike or get rid of it. I bought a nice 15 speed fat tire mountain bike in 1981 to replace the old one, and now I need the gears on it to pull the kids trailabike which is pulling a two seat trailer. The whole thing together has 5 wheels rolling and seats three kids total and I live in a hilly area. We get a lot of "looks" going around in this bicycle train.

[Bobby T.-26X #4767]

Regarding "clearance"...
I'm talkin' 'bout "Mounting Clearance" for the air shocks.
With standard width tires in the rear, you end up with approx. 1.5 inches between the air spring/mounting plate and the rear inside tires.
It's plenty of room. But it looks a bit close when you are mounting them.
That is, I've never had any problems.
I can send you a picture if you want.
email me at: taylorbob1@yahoo.com

[Bobby T.-26X #4767]

More about clearance on a Astro/Safari AWD...
With the air shocks/springs, you will probably not have enough room for snow chains on the rear.