opinions on possible tow/camping rig

Hellboyz

Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2013
Location
Coastal NC
I'm looking at a 1997 Ford Econoline Cargo Van with the 7.3 diesel to use as a dedicated tow/camp rig. It has 216,00 mile on it and it appears to be in very good shape. I can get it for about $4,500. I will be towing a 17 foot trailer/ with e-brakes on both axles with my heavy ass XJ on tons and lots of armor on it. Trailer weighs about 2,600lbs by itself. So I'm figuring I'd be towing roughly 8,000-8,500lbs. Ya'll think this would be a good candidate. Currently using my 2001 Yukon XL with 250,000 miles and I am pretty much at capacity for what it can handle. I have to take it real slow and take it easy on it. Going to URE which is about 3 1/2 hours from ain't too bad, but I want to do the Gulches, Harlan and other places that are further away and a thru the mountains. Opinions, pros and cons. Thanks for ya'lls advice and opinions.
 

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Can you put the rig in the van and pull a pop up?

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No, jeep has full width dana 60's on it. measures 85 inches wide with 14.5in wide TSL/SX's. Also wanted to put in bunk beds, flat screen tv's, ac and other stuff to make things as comfortable as possible. Pretty much everything a Rv would have minus water, since the places we would stay have bathhouse and restrooms.​
 
Being that it is a dually, I'd go for it. You can always do a 4x4 conversion and just wheel that and take everybody with you :D
 
Have you test drove it yet? It would be pretty sweet to build a camper out of a box van, and the 7.3 is a good motor, but they aren't the most comfortable vehicles to drive. I drove one to Raleigh and back (about 2 hours each way) one time to help my sister move and I'd had enough. Just make sure you don't hate driving it before jumping into this project. It'll pull your trailer and jeep no problem.
 
jankoid said:
Have you test drove it yet? It would be pretty sweet to build a camper out of a box van, and the 7.3 is a good motor, but they aren't the most comfortable vehicles to drive. I drove one to Raleigh and back (about 2 hours each way) one time to help my sister move and I'd had enough. Just make sure you don't hate driving it before jumping into this project. It'll pull your trailer and jeep no problem.
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^^What he said. The box truck we use for work would make a sweet tow/camping rig but there's no way I could drive that thing out to Harlan or anywhere over an hour really. Unless you could do some cutting and change the seat and move it back.


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shawn said:
There's a reason the U-Haul versions of these have extended cabs....
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Shoot my boss bought the most basic model he could lol


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I don't have a picture but I drove a e350 with the 7.3 but in the church bus design. With a 24ft enclosed trailer at 4klbs and a civic in it, I drove to Chicago, and once with a empty 20ft flat trailer to Austin Texas. Wasn't too uncomfortable but it doesn't get very good mpg, I think 9 with either trailer. and with the enclosed trailer it was rough getting fuel. But It was my first trip in a diesel and long load. I'd do it again if my buddy does some more maintenance. Needed tires and suspension work so it was a little rough ride and roads in other states suck.

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paradisePWoffrd said:
only downside, i believe the vans did not have an intercooler. could be wrong though.
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That is correct.

Not enough room in the nose. Later model (6.0??) trucks do have intercoolers. They're easy to spot -- the nose is 8" longer.
 
If you can get a good deal on it I would go for it. The guys Jody referenced are top notch dudes and do fantastic work.

My 7.3 truck doesn't have an intercooler either. I just reach my happy place where all of the needles point to the right thing and chug up really steep hills. I don't notice it on rolling hills or flat ground. I still get there safely which in my book is the objective. Fawk a 6.0
 
Another selling point for this truck would be that if you go through the challenge of making it a RV, you could have it reclassified to be an RV and then you would save on the tag because you would not need a weighted tag. Your local DOT office can give you a paper to tell you what you need to do this. Items on the list are things you'd want anyway, such as a bed, cooking as in stove/oven. Toilet, sink, shower holding tanks and so on. You could source the items individually, or keep your eye open and find a complete camper that say the roof it rotting away and take out the amenities, and have all you'd want or need.
 
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