Full size van

Tampakayaker

Does anyone tow with a full sized van?  

I love my truck, but just wondering if a van with a second row passenger seat and all of the storage space behind it would be a better tow vehicle. 

 Wouldn’t have to worry about items getting stolen out of the truck bed when stopping.

pthomas745

Some threads:

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&sxsrf=ALeKk02yU3VD0PU7o7VE5ecoSSMQ25AiXw:1609622400108&ei=gOPwX8KJBpbQ-gTqx6LACw&q=van+site:tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com&oq=van+site:tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com&gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQAzoECAAQR1D2H1inOGChOmgAcAJ4AIABW4gB0wqSAQIxOZgBAKABAaoBB2d3cy13aXrIAQTAAQE&sclient=psy-ab&ved=0ahUKEwjCyYXblv7tAhUWqJ4KHeqjCLgQ4dUDCAw&uact=5

GatorEgg

Probably better off financially just to buy a topper/cap for your truck.  You can pick them up for a couple hundred on Craigslist.

Sharon_is_SAM

I am sure a full size van will let you access your stuff much easier, just like our minivan let's us carry, store and access items easily.  It may depend where you want to wander.  I suspect your RAM truck will take you anywhere.

ChrisFix

One thing I really appreciate about a pickup vs a van, is that the dirty and potentially smelly items stay outside. I have a soft tonneau cover on my pickup and have adopted the mentality that anything in the truck bed could be stolen, but isn't likely to...and if it is, it is just replaceable stuff.
I don't think a hard topper is much more secure than a soft cover...the windows and locks are very easily defeated, and I like the vertical space an open truck bed provides. 
But every user and use case is different...which is why few of us own the same things - except of course for our T@Bs!!

HoBo

I have a Honda Odyssey and LOVE all the storage. I’ve travelled across the country for a month at a time and pack everything and anything I could possibly need. The second row seats are removed for my trips. That being said....the downsides are.....

I have to park at trailheads with nearly everything I own in there. I always have concerns about theft. 

The vehicle is less than ideal for travelling off the beaten path. I have probably gone places in it I shouldn’t and have had a few stressful experiences of ‘I got here but will I get out of here!’. This applies to camping locations and trailheads.

Eventually I will upgrade to a 4wd vehicle. I think every situation is different and you need to look at what your camping style is.

TerryHutchinson

I use a full size pickup with hard tonneau cover as our TV.  Loads of stuff stowed in the bed of the truck and it feels relatively safe.  A full size van would be equally capable as a tow vehicle and may give better mileage than a PU truck.  The high profile front to back may offer the trailer more protection from turbulence when towing at speed.  I would be reluctant to give up my 4WD though.  You can get this in a van, but they are harder to find.