Idea On a Tow Vehicle

[AngliaGT]

I was looking through craigslist the other day,
& saw a Ford E350 (1 ton)van for sale.
I was thinking about how cool it'd be to set it up
with some metal ramps & drive a car inside.
I have a 1960 Ford Anglia 105E,but after measuring
an E350,found out that it's too tall.Then I checked the
dimensions of Spridgets.Seems that a Bugeye will fit,but
the later models are too wide (just barely).
Any other interesting ideas like this?

- Doug

 

[Steve]

Nial has an old cube van that he uses for hauling race cars.

 

[JodyFKerr]

I've seen school buses converted to an rv style with the apartment living in the front and car garage in the back.

Concievably you could get a "short bus" lower it and modify the rear end to open appropriately.

And if it's for racing, then you already have the requisite helmet.

 

[tony barnhill]

There's an old school bus around here that's been converted into just a cab & open bed for hauling farm tractors.

 

[Steve_S]

You aren't the first to think of this idea!

 

[Steve_S]

By the way, if you want the ultimate tow vehicle, something like this might be worth considering. :laugh:

 

[Steve]

By the way, if you want the ultimate tow vehicle, something like this might be worth considering. :laugh:

Tony would be all over that like a cheap suit.............

 

[weewillie]

My buddy used to drive his bosses single decker bus that was converted to hold 2 race cars, one above the other on a ramp that cranked up from the outside and a living section in front of that with fridge,stove sink and 3 bunks

 

[aeronca65t]

Yeah, here's my old FDNY StepVan (below). 1988, 350 V8 Chevy with all aluminum body.It was actually owned by the FDNY during 9/11, so I guess it has a bit of provenance.
It's still in the family, runs good and can probably be bought for about $2000 if anyone's interested.
Sprite, Mini, F-Vee and similar will fit.

These days, I use a 3.9 liter 2005 Ford Freestar minivan and open trailer. Lots of my friends thought it wouldn't work, but it works fine, is real comfy and gets 20 mpg (even with a/c on). I drive real easy when I'm towing and I've changed the trans fluid a few times (it has 50,000 miles on it). When towing, I never have it in overdrive and I keep it under 65 MPH.

 

[vping]

Steve what is that?

 

[bugimike]

A '57 Chevy designed by Brits
No, really, I'll let Steve answer that ashe has all the info!!

 

[AngliaGT]

Nial,

That was one thought - used fire department
vehicles are cool to have.Of course you need to
have the original paint.
I alway wanted to get one of the used CHP
Mustangs for an autox/hillclimb car,with a license
plate frame that says "STATE VEHICLE -FOR OFFICIAL-
-USE ONLY".Also,some of the U.S. Coast Guard guys
had a license plate from Antarctica - I wanted one of
those too.

- Doug

 

[aeronca65t]

Nial,

That was one thought - used fire department
vehicles are cool to have.Of course you need to
have the original paint.....
- Doug

Yep...mine did (still does). It was "Unit 512-FDNY".
~HERE~ it is next to a friend's Miata.

And here it is at a race car show a few years ago (you can see the "512").

 

[Banjo]

That British flag bus posted by Bteve is one of the original BMC Works team suppourt vehicles. Originally it was a rolling shop, but now it's been converted to a camper. The last owner brought it to Watkins Glen for a couple of years. I got a tour of it once, and heard it's history. Very neat vehicle. It's since been sold I believe.

 

[Twosheds]

Here's a '50 GMC half-ton that I bought on impulse for a vintage racecar tow vehicle. It came with a Weaver Auto Crane from the '20s. With a rated 88 HP, I don't know how much it would tow. And with the shot rings...

I got permission from Burt Levy to paint <span style="font-style: italic">Finzio's Sinclair</span> on the doors.

It would have been an interesting tow vehicle, but cooler heads prevailed and I bought a modern truck.

 

[Steve_S]

What Banjo said. It was for sale last year for $30K. It's an all aluminum bodied Austin bus with a diesel engine. Very cool, and if I had the space then I'd be $30K more in debt right now.

 

[GregW]

Hi Doug,
Michael Salter came up with a cool idea making a flatbed of sorts out of a mini van. Front wheel drive so the bed can be very low. Air ride suspension, so the bed can be lowered to the ground. No ramps needed. Here’s a link to his blog with photos.
Michael Salter

 

[bugimike]

Nice rig, that!! That is a truly elegant solution!!!

 

[GregW]

Mr. Salter's a smart cookie. He's done some neat mods to his 100S race car too.

 

[AngliaGT]

Greg,

Thanks for the article - I think Nial posted
a picture of that rig a while back.
I was curious though,being front wheel drive,
doesn't putting a load on it affect the steering &
handling?

- Doug