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Discussion Forum

Trailer from 15 passenger van?

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Truck

05-19-2003 06:32:26




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I was given a 15 passenger one one ton van that had an engine fire, but the rest of the van is pretty nice. I'm rolling around ideas in my head on how to make a heavy duty enclosed trailer out of the beast. Has anyone out there ever done something like this? I was thinking sheet metal over the windshield opening, slice off the front end, and extend the frame with a tounge welded to the cut off frame rails. Gut out all the unneeded interior stuff,and anything else I can to reduce weight, and pop a pair of decent axles underneath at the correct balance point. As enclosed trailers of this length run over $2000 I think the weirdness of having a van shaped trailer wouldn't bother me a bit.It's a 89 Ford, if that matters to anyone.

Ideas anyone?

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Gordon Iin IN

05-20-2003 17:04:09




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 Re: Trailer from 15 passenger van? in reply to Truck, 05-19-2003 06:32:26  
I saw a Ford van converted to an enclosed "trailer" or "wagon". It used all 4 of the original wheels and had a "tounge" to pull it and steer the front wheels (just like a "farm wagon"). The entire van was used (with winshield in place, grill, and bumper). The Engine and transmission was "gutted" and the engine compartment enclosed with sheet metal for added space. From the outside it looked like an average van with a "tounge". The sheet metal that had been added behind the grill was painted "flat black" so it was not obvious. The owner said that he had seen one that was made by using a "tow bar" arrangement instead of the "tounge" but he liked his version better. He had it LOADED. He also commented that it was MUCH heavier than an enclosed trailer, "kind of hard to pull and difficult to back up" (he was using a large truck to pull it) but was much cheaper than an enclosed trailer.

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Kevin

05-19-2003 19:47:18




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 Re: Trailer from 15 passenger van? in reply to Truck, 05-19-2003 06:32:26  
I would think that by removing the drivetrain and by slicing off at the rear of the doors, you could leave the axle in place and use as a one ton trailer. There is a ford four door sedan from the sixties out by me that is complete from the windshield back using just the regular axle. I've never seen it in action, but it looks very hiway worthy. HTH



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Jet9N

05-19-2003 18:24:49




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 Re: Trailer from 15 passenger van? in reply to Truck, 05-19-2003 06:32:26  
I realize you're looking at a much heavier duty
application, but some years ago I made such a trailer from an Escort station wagon. Cut it off
at the fire wall and closed it up with sheet metal
and attached a bunch of framework and tongue. I paid $100 for it. It made a great trailer for
moving kids to and from college. Lockable and
water proof. It was a bargain. It's amazing how
much room there is when you gut it out completely.

HTH

Jet

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VaTom

05-19-2003 06:50:26




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 Re: Trailer from 15 passenger van? in reply to Truck, 05-19-2003 06:32:26  
Interesting idea Truck,

I had a 1 ton cube van that burned. Gave it to a guy who made a trailer from it. I never saw it but he said it worked great. Removed the cab and welded the hole shut. This fire involved the whole thing so he had a lot of damage to clean up, including disposal of my two charred welders and a whole lot of hand tools (insurance co. wasn't happy, nearly $6000). Apparently the fire didn't damage the rear axle. The tires burned so I don't know if he reused the rims. Axle was too far back, per T_Bone's 2/3 rule, but all he did was add a tongue to that substantial frame and said it towed fine. Don't know if he got it licensed.

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T_Bone

05-19-2003 09:15:40




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 Re: Re: Trailer from 15 passenger van? in reply to VaTom, 05-19-2003 06:50:26  
Hi Truck,

I made my Dodge 2.5ton flatbed into a water trailer as it had the DRW axle to carry the weight and it's worked well. I don't take it OTR tho just local, no plates, lites, etc. LOL

I also have a 76 1 ton Van thats going to get converted to a trash trailer when I get the time. On that I'm leaving the front axle on the ground with a steering tongue on the tie rod. Vans work really good as a wood hauler.

I think it'd be nice just to load the trailer as the trash is thrown away then hook on to take to the dump and unload.

You can increase the 2/3 rule if your towing with a DRW with a GN or 5'er hitch. Depending on the load or how you load it, 80% wouldn't be unusual but 80% on a bumper puller wouldn't work well.

T_Bone

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