New Tow Rig

Da Nag

Da Nag

Administrator
Staff member
Well...you Dodge boys still haven't converted me.

Just picked up a new tow rig for those CA-WA road trips. Got a 2003 E350 Ford van with a Quigley 4x4 conversion and 7.3 PowerStroke. Found it locally from a poor dude just about to have it reposessed - they were literally coming for it on Monday. Got it for a song compared to a new one, only has 19K miles on it.

Once the boating season is over, I'll be fixing up the interior into something that, in my youth, would have scared every father of a teenage gal if he saw it... :lol:

Here's a few pics - the monster treads are going to get replaced with something that spews forth a little less testosterone, and more importantly, something that doesn't sing so much on the freeway. Otherwise, she's ready to go...
 
PS_Rick":1fdof7if said:
Hey Bill, how many extra hood latches did it come with? :lol:
Click to expand...
Actually, there's four on the doghouse (inside engine cover, for you van neophytes)... :mrgreen:
 
Da Nag":2ujidhiz said:
Well...you Dodge boys still haven't converted me.
Click to expand...

When I first saw the title "New Tow Rig" and that you had started the "thread"......I said to myself...."Self, Bill finally purchased a Dodge....cool." :smiled

Then I saw the pictures of the vehicle some of us dreamed of having back in the 60's and 70's..... :smilep

It ain't a Dodge, but I imagine it will be a handy unit for your frequent Ca. - Wa. trips! Congrats on the new rig, now Dana can drive while you sleep in the back on those long hauls and you'll be all refreshed ready to take the helm of Da Nag when you get here. :roll:
 
Hey Bill,

When you do the inside will it have an Espresso bar or a REAL bar like in the old days? Cool looking ride. We went from Ford to Chevy, just couldn't go to Dodge.

Tim
 
Hey Tim - I hear you're the guy to see about liners and insulation...can I make an appointment? :mrgreen:

Not even a Dodge (or Chevy) option this time. You can get a dinky diesel in those MBZ powered Sprinters, but the only big diesel in a van comes from Ford. A couple of guys have talked about retrofitting vans with a Cummins, but it's darn near impossible - they're a really tall motor, just no room in a van...
 
Bill,

The patterns will be loaded in the boat for Blakely and since you're the first to speak up or ask I'll hand them your way. They should slide under the mattress just fine. B~C Ken used them already with no problems so they should be good to go.

Tim
 
Hey Tim - wasn't referring to the boat. I want to see some of your fine handy work on those bare metal van sides... :mrgreen:
 
wow, way neat rig there Nerdmister. The brother and I where plotting a run down Baha way to Lorento for some Dorado fishing next summer....how much does the van rent for? Me thinks that would be the perfect rig for a Baha adventure....what a find
 
Cool van! Should be a great tow and convenience rig. I'm a little concerned about what you might do in the way of a paint job. Tell me it's not going to a flower theme. Sounds like you got a great deal on some great wheels and thats what worries me..........too much bread left over for that some artisan to go crazy with the brush strokes!

I'd like to get in line for the insulation/lining patterns from Tim's marine upholstery and detail shop, when you are through with them. That is of course if Tim concedes to spread the wealth this far north.
 
2nd Byte":axud87l4 said:
Tell me it's not going to a flower theme.
Click to expand...
No flowers, but my buddy Brock is hard at work tracking down a peace sign emblem for the grill...:P

2nd Byte":axud87l4 said:
I'd like to get in line for the insulation/lining patterns from Tim's marine upholstery and detail shop, when you are through with them. That is of course if Tim concedes to spread the wealth this far north.
Click to expand...
As cool as it is, I won't get to that project any time soon. If I somehow made it in line for the patterns, it's OK with me if you take cuts - pending Tim's approval, of course...
 
Diane just posted a picture in the Immacu-nada album of a flag that she made for their crab pots. If Bill sees that flag, he's liable to ask her to make several of them for him to plaster all over his fancy new tow rig. (They'd go good with his peace sign and psychedelic paint job.) :roll:
 
Congrats Bill! We've had a Quigley 4x4 Ford E-350 since 2002. Great van, very versatile. You won't even know you're pulling a boat with that big diesel engine. I wish you were closer, as I would be happy to buy those tires from you. Happy trails!

All the best,

Tom on Otter
 
You did good!!!! Congratulations!! The 7.3 Power Stroke is a good machine. I've got 103,000 on mine and burns very little oil between oil changes. Those tires don't look too bad either. Don't appear to be out beyond the fenders. :wink Carry a chain with you so you can pull those broke down Dodge Cummins off the road (In the interest of Traffic Safety). :lol:

Bill
 
Bill, I'm really sorry I killed this thread. I actually DOOOO like both the Dodge and Ford diesel trucks.

Here's a little tidbit regarding the Ford Powerstroke from the Summer 2004 edition of Power Stroke Registry.

Ford and International teamed up with Caterpillar more than a decade ago to produce the engine now known as the Power Stroke.

Hope you enjoy towing with your Van as much as I've enjoy my truck.

Bill
 
The "boating season" gets "over" for you guys in California?? Whimps!
Da Nag":2xqnvv2b said:
Well...you Dodge boys still haven't converted me.


Once the boating season is over, I'll be fixing up the interior into something that, in my youth, would have scared every father of a teenage gal if he saw it... :lol:
Click to expand...
 
Okay, I've rounded up your hood ornament. Snipped it from the Plutocrat down the street, the one with the big house on the hill and the blonde trophy wife. His big, fancy, German car had a round corporate symbol on the bow, perfect for your retro look.
 
Hi, Bill,

Nice tow rig ya bought there, a 7.3 diesel yet. There's a Quigley 4x4 van just a few blocks from where I work, and I drool looking at it almost everyday as I drive past it. Sure would like to get my mitts on one myself....take care.

Dan and Jan on Flat Iron
 
C-Bill":21zpts8w said:
Bill, I'm really sorry I killed this thread. I actually DOOOO like both the Dodge and Ford diesel trucks.
Click to expand...
Dead thread? Not here...we've breathed life into threads far older...

RE the good-natured Dodge/Ford diesel ribbing that take place here - were I buying new, I'd probably get a Dodge truck. Just too dang many reports of problems with the 6.0 in the Ford, which is why I was pleased as punch to get the 7.3 in the van - they just started putting the 6.0 in the van a few months ago.

Too bad there's no Cummins equipped van...from what I've read, it's just too tall to fit in any current van without major redesigning.
 
I feel sooooo shallow. Your humble nerd has sunk to a new low.

Just reserved the following for the new hippie rig. It should go well with the rainbow peace sign Brock is tracking down for my grill.

Now if I could only find some 12 volt black lights...




bratvan.jpg
 
Back
Top