phlat65 Sean Medcroft Super Moderator Location: Edmonds, Washington Join Date: 02/12/2009 Age: Possibly Wise Posts: 1,802 Rally Car: Building a Merkur |
Alex, buy the most modern van you can afford, stay away from contractor vans, as they are usually more expensive than a comparable conversion or passenger van. I would not be too concerned with getting a diesel. We tow with a 2001 Ford conversion van, gas motor, cruise, air, tv, bed, 4 captains chairs ext. It gets 15-16 towing the XR on a single axle trailer at 70, and it is super comfy. My buddy owns it, and he paid I think $4500 for it 4 years ago. What we give up in utility and rally look, it makes up for in comfort.
I would get in this order: Conversion van, Chevy tahoe, 2001 or newer Astro 4x4 (5500lb tow rating factory), or a suburban The Astro seems like a bad idea, but it is small enough to use for recce, the 4x4 version are common, and do tow OK. We have a customer that routinely tows his large camper on long trips, and has never had an issue |
A1337STI Alex Rademacher Ultra Moderator Location: Reno,nv Join Date: 09/10/2007 Age: Midlife Crisis Posts: 686 Rally Car: 93 GC with an 01 RS swap! |
Wow 15-16 mpg towing? that's what I need...
![]() My crew chief didn't like the 86 so much when there is a 96 for 2Grand. the 96 E350 (ambulance) doesn't have a tow hitch. which is good sorta... (its never been used to tow with) its the 7.3 Turbo Diesel and also has a "Veg Kit" not sure if its 2 tanks or 1 (hopefully 2) It was an ambulance. not sure if that's good or bad. Probably had a strict maintenance schedule, and you can't really drive too crazy with all the gear in the back , or if there's a patient in there. how long has it been owned by a non EMS person.. i dunno.. a nice $4K van like what you have is probably what i Should buy.. but i really want to keep this years tow vehicle cheap. not so cheap that i need to dump 2K fixing it, I just want basically the bare minimum to tow me for the next 2 years (at which point i'll have the wifeys Debt, and her ring paid off) then its party time! ![]() thanks for the helpful info.. hmm... an AWD Astro van would tow me. wonder how it would do on gross cargo capacity ? I think my trailer is 1640# car is 2700# (ish) = 4340 , and maybe 400# of tires (8 tires) so i could say 5,000 pounds being towed . do i assume a 10% tongue weight? which would be 500 pounds of cargo + 900 pounds of passengers seems like an astrovan would work. But it wouldn't have a lot of excess cargo capacity (weight wise) I have a spare transmission and other heavish stuff i could bring to rallies. (lacking the ability to install one even over night means i probably won't take it with me too often) but that's a different problem lol |
Mad Matt F Matt Follett Elite Moderator Location: La Belle Province, Montreal Join Date: 03/13/2006 Age: Possibly Wise Posts: 646 Rally Car: Don't Laugh, the Justy is Fun! |
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SeanP Sean Lane Professional Moderator Location: Sacramento, CA Join Date: 07/29/2011 Age: Possibly Wise Posts: 334 Rally Car: 2000 Dodge Neon G2, bruised |
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alosix Jason Powers Godlike Moderator Location: Lyons, CO Join Date: 08/02/2011 Age: Midlife Crisis Posts: 326 Rally Car: 02 WRX, still to quiet, but it finished a rally |
Dude, if we're talking win the lottery money.. might as well make it something interesting... http://globalxvehicles.com/global-expedition-vehicle-pangea-4x4-rv/ I've been in one of their Mogs, it was quite nicely put together.. at a mere $350k..
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pdxphil42 Phil Meyers Infallible Moderator Location: Portland, OR Join Date: 05/05/2011 Age: Possibly Wise Posts: 116 Rally Car: 1988 Mazda 323 GTX #214 |
I think I just wet myself.
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"I, for one, welcome our Robot Overlords." - Philip J. Fry |
Here's my newest acquisition. '88 Ford F250 with a straight 6. All it costs me was two days, $350 in fuel, and $300 in parts. It is going to be way better than towing with an Exploder. Plus it can pull double duty as the farm/shop truck.
Now all I need to do is get the rally car log booked... ![]() |
Racinkid13 Max Infallible Moderator Location: Durham, NC Join Date: 02/04/2009 Age: Midlife Crisis Posts: 611 Rally Car: 1983 MKI GTI |
wholy wet dreams.... |
fiasco Andrew Steere Senior Moderator Location: South Central Nude Hamster Join Date: 12/29/2005 Age: Possibly Wise Posts: 2,008 Rally Car: too rich for my blood, share a LeMons car |
What did you tell U-Haul you were putting on that trailer? Holy overload, batman! (not that I wouldn't do the exact same thing) Andrew Steere Lyndeborough, NH KB1PJY |
Aaron Luptak Aaron Luptak Professional Moderator Location: SLC Join Date: 02/15/2008 Age: Midlife Crisis Posts: 776 Rally Car: Civic... |
As long as you're not trying to tow with an Exploder, U-Haul could care less. ![]() ![]() http://www.utahrallygroup.com |
A1337STI Alex Rademacher Ultra Moderator Location: Reno,nv Join Date: 09/10/2007 Age: Midlife Crisis Posts: 686 Rally Car: 93 GC with an 01 RS swap! |
Uhual for the win!
![]() looks like a great little truck. I'm obsessed with being able to fit some crew in the tow vehicle (don't want to pay gas for 2 vehicles, or make the crew pay their own gas) plus we travel with dogs a lot. Think i found a great vehicle ... I also suspect its going to need some work but , meh in my price range that's probably gonna happen. sounds like it may need new glow plugs (no real clue) owner says a few months ago it started and ran fine everytime. then it needed to turn over more and more to start, and now you need to use the heater block (overnight or an hour ish) but then it starts fine and runs great... he also said he has to replace the starter cylanoid or the entire starter. ( sounds like the van may have some electrical issues... ![]() still $2,000 a good 7.3 turbo diesel , and it has a grease car kit, from grease car installed. 2 tanks, 3 batteries, extra interior lights... some flood lights up top (i just need to add a few spot lights! hehe) hmm... hopefully i can go check out the van sunday.. or maybe friday after work. |
fiasco Andrew Steere Senior Moderator Location: South Central Nude Hamster Join Date: 12/29/2005 Age: Possibly Wise Posts: 2,008 Rally Car: too rich for my blood, share a LeMons car |
I've towed a bunch of cars with an Exploder and U-Haul trailer, including a Sapphire and a two-stroke Saab Sonett, and I was on Dayton tires, which is Firestone's Economy brand!!! This is back before they banninated Exploders from tow duty, even the newer ones. Moe-rons. Andrew Steere Lyndeborough, NH KB1PJY |
Aaron Luptak Aaron Luptak Professional Moderator Location: SLC Join Date: 02/15/2008 Age: Midlife Crisis Posts: 776 Rally Car: Civic... |
Not to mention the fact that they're A-OK with you towing with a Mercury Mountaineer or Mazda Navajo... ![]() ![]() http://www.utahrallygroup.com |
Jon Burke Jon Burke Mod Moderator Location: San Francisco, CA Join Date: 01/03/2008 Age: Possibly Wise Posts: 1,402 Rally Car: Subaru w/<1000 crashes |
"hey, check out my new truck, its got those cool steps that retract!" "Cool story, bro.....my truck has an entire flight of stairs." Jon Burke - KI6LSW Blog: http://psgrallywrx.blogspot.com/ |
A1337STI Alex Rademacher Ultra Moderator Location: Reno,nv Join Date: 09/10/2007 Age: Midlife Crisis Posts: 686 Rally Car: 93 GC with an 01 RS swap! |