Hi, Im looking to purchase an older full size van, mostly for parts hauling and towing a trailer around 6000lbs.
Was told my best comparison would be ask mechanics which ones they see less of, ie have less issues.
looking around 1986-1994 year range

possible options
Chevy G-20 vans, 5.7L v8
Ford E-250, 5.8L v8 prefered, but 5.0L is acceptable
Dodge Ram Van, 5.9L (LA series 360), but magnum 5.9 would work

prefer older vehicles as I would be able to fix more and understand more on my own. basically looking for the most reliable full size van i can get, the older the better (within reason). also, wondering how hard some repairs are with the engine halfway under the dash... is this a situation where a ford distributor up front is a good thing, having a larger portion of the motor in the cab on a dodge easier to work, etc

Any personal experience with any of these vans, serious issues or reasons to avoid one, etc would be appreciated.
thanks for your time, Joel