Iz's Bingo Bus/Tow Rig

I decided it was time to pass on the old E-350 and replace it with another.

So I picked this guy up on Saturday.

- 2001 E-350 7.3 PowerStroke (does not leak!!)
- Auxiliary air-conditioning/heat under the chassis
- 13 seater (including the driver) but I'll probably change up this combo.
- Air-powered side barn doors (by far the coolest part of the vehicle)
- Wide power side mirrors
- Padded interior walls (in case I go nuts.. oh wait)
- Luggage rack (will probably be removed)


Some exteriors:

Some interiors:

 

[94 Crawler]

OMFnG First the ex now this. Dude you need help. Just kidding. I was telling someone today verry few things supprise me but you, you keep things interesting on here.

 

[IZwack]

Well the Explorer probably hates the van at this point cauz the van is eating away fab work that could be going towards the Explorer.
But in time they'll be friends and will go on long trips to the trail head

 

[cybergasm]

Well the Explorer probably hates the van at this point cauz the van is eating away fab work that could be going towards the Explorer.
But in time they'll be friends and will go on long trips to Truckhaven.

Fixed it

noticed Truckhaven is one word!

 

[IZwack]

Been thinking about a 14-bolt dually for the van in the future but ran across this interesting study:

Replacing Dual Tires with Single Wide Tires on Class 8 Tractor Trailers Improves Fuel Economy
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/facts/2008_fotw537.html

So maybe just going with wider tires/wheels will be better .. study doesnt say anything about handling though.

 

[Maniak]

Been thinking about a 14-bolt dually for the van in the future but ran across this interesting study:

Replacing Dual Tires with Single Wide Tires on Class 8 Tractor Trailers Improves Fuel Economy
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/facts/2008_fotw537.html

So maybe just going with wider tires/wheels will be better .. study doesnt say anything about handling though.

As few miles that thing is gonna be driven I don't think its worth the axle cost or tire cost.. Those tires cost more.. If you drove 100k miles a year then it would make sense.

~Mark

 

[IZwack]

Yeah you're right.

I didnt mention it but I was actually looking more into adding some stability into this thing once the Explorer is in tow. I usually stay at 60 mph when towing but this van has a lot more surface area than the previous so cross winds might add some challenge. But we'll see once the Explorer is ready to go.

 

[Stic-o]

It just becomes a problem when rotaing tires or if you need to have a spare But the big fat tire look bad azz!

445/45/19.5

Rated at 14,000 - 20,000lbs. I think that will do! :

 

[Burns]

Yeah you're right.

I didnt mention it but I was actually looking more into adding some stability into this thing once the Explorer is in tow. I usually stay at 60 mph when towing but this van has a lot more surface area than the previous so cross winds might add some challenge. But we'll see once the Explorer is ready to go.

We have van like this at church but without the wheelchair access and is the Triton V10. When driving it at 75 it has very little sway in high winds. I drive it about once a week. Never towed with it but i would say that it would help more than hurt.

 

[IZwack]

Rated at 14,000 - 20,000lbs. I think that will do! :

LOL, we could convert the van to a diesel powered unicycle and that tire would still work for towing.

 

[JTX]

But we'll see once the Explorer is ready to go.

:bsnicker::bsnicker::bsnicker::bsnicker::bsnicker::bsnicker::bsnicker::bsnicker::bsnicker::bsnicker::bsnicker::bsnicker::bsnicker::bsnicker::bsnicker:

 

[IZwack]

Yeah yeah .. I'll get some fab done this Saturday.
No fab Sunday though, snowboard tuhh-eye-m.

 

[JTX]

You got jokes tonight IZ!

 

[gijoecam]

Niiiiice.

PTO ideas:

On Extreme 4x4 a few weeks ago, they showed a Generator setup... Something like 20,000 watts AC should do nicely.

I'd also look into an arc-welder setup... I firget who makes them, but I've seen them on field service rigs before. That'll provide you with both AC power as well as DC welding ability (and quite a bit of it).

There was a company (Mile Marker?) that had a series of hydraulically-driven options for PTOs... One hydraulic PTO pump on the port could provide energy to power several remote-mounted modules for generating power, welding, etc.

Nice rig though... With 113k on it, it's just broken in!

 

[IZwack]

Thanks for the info GIJOECAM! That's something I'll definitely look into once the Explorer is finished.

I saw an ad on CraigsList for these four beauties for $100 so I picked em up last weekend.
I've never seen a 5-spoke "star" design on 8-lug that isnt a trailer wheel before.

 

[JTX]

Please change the title to Iz's Bingo Bus/Tow Rig

 

[IZwack]

*sigh*


:

 

[cybergasm]

waiting to see what these wheels look like on the Bingo Express

 

[IZwack]

Wuheels -- might get some center caps for them later on.

And there are flurries here in Maryland today -- whiskey-tango-foxtrot, its almost the middle of April!

 

[Willard]

Yea it's been snowing some in Indiana as well...and it's supposed to be back in the 60's by the end of this week

Those wheels look sweet, give the van an A-team sort of feel. Maybe a paint job should be next

 

[cybergasm]

means one more opportunity to hit the slopes with the Geritol Express :

altought it does look better with those wheels on it