got my new towing rig!

[2stroke1971]

For the last season, I had been pulling an old 15 footer with a minivan. No problems at all. Took my tax refund and bought an old Bayliner and on the way home it was a rough trip for the minivan. (made a previous post about that)

I dont have much in the way of financial means, I cant finance anything but....
I finally brought myself to sell my little old boat and with the proceeds I went and bought what will be my toy hauler. (I also race motorcycles)

Its a 1989 Dodge B250 work van. Its got the two part side doors with a couple of windows, and it has windows in the back. Its got the 360 v8 and its a sweetheart! Its got some issues, I will iron them out. I do all my work myself..(Thats the only way I can afford to own a boat!)

I was on the fence about buying a v8, but my Brother who is a professional mechanic told me that the guy who was selling this van was NOT lying when he said it gets 19 miles a gallon without a load in it. 360 with the throttle body injection, and sure enough on the 110 mile ride home, the needle didnt really move much!

For gods sake, thats the mileage I get out of the minivan!
Granted it might get less pulling the boat but thats ok. Its not gonna have a problem pulling the Bayliner, its got some decent power!

The neat thing is, it was used by the last owner as a camper and it has a fold down table and some carpet...so its not like I had to shovel mounds of dust and dirt out of it. Its really pretty cool.

 

[Bucks45]

Re: got my new towing rig!

Pics!!!!!!!!

 

[ClassyGlassy]

Re: got my new towing rig!

Let's see some pictures of this toy hauler then!

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: got my new towing rig!

Yep. photos inside and out please.
Good Luck with it.

 

[mickjetblue]

Re: got my new towing rig!

Sounds like an ideal vehicle! I have dreamed of something similar.

Only suggestion I have is that the engine and vehicle are over 20 years old,
and doesn't sound like any towing was done prior. I'd still relube everything
and make sure it's in tune.

A change of workload can be adverse to an older drive train. For example,
I had an '86 v8 actually cave in on me when I put it to use in a parking garage.
Stop and go traffic on level streets was what it was used to, and the constant
quick start and stops in the parking garage did it in.

Good luck!

 

[tawood]

Re: got my new towing rig!

Congrats!
Not to rain on your parade, but...

"For gods sake, thats the mileage I get out of the minivan!
Granted it might get less pulling the boat but thats ok."

There ain't no "might" about it!

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: got my new towing rig!

After buying a 1987 Chevy Beauville van to tow my 21' Chaparral, I became a "van man" I even bought a 1990 Chevy van 6 years later, when I had to throw the 87 away. I proudly drive my 99 Montana van, too.
But your fuel mileage experience is just the opposite of mine. My 87 got 15mpg highway, my 1990 got about 13. My 99 Montana gets 26, highway. Not sure what you minivan is, but it sounds like it's a Dodge. Be aware, not all minivans are that fuel thirsty.

You will find that full sized vans have many other great qualities. Like the ability to load full size couches, right side up, and not have to worry about rain during moving situations!

Congrats.

 

[ClassyGlassy]

Re: got my new towing rig!

my 87 Suburban can load a full sized couch as well when I remove the 3rd seat and fold forward the 2nd! Don't forget about these jewels as well

 

[180shabah]

Re: got my new towing rig!

...and you can step right out the back door onto the trailer tongue for launching and loading with dry feet.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: got my new towing rig!

...and you can step right out the back door onto the trailer tongue for launching and loading with dry feet.

Amen, brother, been there, done that.

tubtoy, true, but vans have an even higher opening in the back than Subs. And 16ft boards? Just slide them right up to the motor box (no seat removal required, they go right under them) and only about 3.5 ' stick out the back doors! Handy as all get out.

 

[2stroke1971]

Re: got my new towing rig!

Heres some pics...

Its not a beauty queen but for the money I think its cool. Paint is dead, the topcoat is all off and I bet some of it is spray can. No dents though, and thats rare for a work horse. Not sure about the inside. I want to add a big bench seat behind the buckets so the kids can come along. Maybe a single seat to the side behind the bench. Ive seen these HUGE vans in the junkyard...like the airport shuttles that have these small bucket seats. Small foot print, they bolt to the floor and have their own seat belts.
That should still leave some decent cargo room. Its not the longest model, but not the shortest.

Mick: You are right, I thought about that. It does not have a hitch set up at all, so Im sure it hasnt towed anything before. Im gonna put new ujoints in it for sure, we'll see. My normal boat trip is about 30 miles one way, a few small hills.

The bayliner is only a 19 footer, but it is a pig compared to my old boat. I will be interested to see the mileage with the boat on. At least around town its good, and if I throw a motorcycle in the back and make a 200 mile trip for a race it ought to do well.

Tubtoy, the suburban was on my list of prospective rigs. MY neighbor has one I was trying to buy, but the price was a bit more than I can handle. It just happened that the van showed up on craigslist right about the time I sold the boat, and I wasnt even thinking about vans, just searching in a low price range. It fit!

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: got my new towing rig!

Great photos. Thanks. Looks like a great boat hauler with room for whatever or whoever you want to take.
We used to make a lot of stamped components and assemblies for the one made and built in Windsor, Ontario Canada. They were built very well.

 

[nimmor]

Re: got my new towing rig!

That is a great set up. You can go camping at the lake and have it all in one towed rig, camping and fishing.

 

[kamby]

Re: got my new towing rig!

Those are similar chassis used on motor homes. coachmen i believe used a dodge van frame and front end.

 

[redfury]

Re: got my new towing rig!

"The Club"...seriously? Nice tow vehicle though...my Dakota gets less than that for mileage with the V6...granted that probably gets good mileage because it isn't laden with extra weight from rear seating and interior pieces.

However, you won't have any problems pulling a boat with it, and you have a place to store all your gear, plus a place to sleep on an over-nighter.

 

[superbenk]

Re: got my new towing rig!

Thanks. Looks like a great boat hauler with room for whatever or whoever you want to take.

That's like a 15 or 20 body trunk there!

 

[j_martin]

Re: got my new towing rig!

I love those old dodge vans. Bought one last year myself. It is a bit more rusty, but for two hundred bucks, what do you want.

One thing I've noticed over the years is that the frame and spring mounting seems to rust out if it has any chance. It'd be a bummer to watch your boat pass you up with your rear bumper and spring hangers sparking along in front of it, still attached to the hitch ball. Just inspect it and be sure it's sound.

In fact, I have to rework the back 2 feet of frame and spring mounts in mine. I think there's still a little left in the budget for it, and I have 50 or 60 world class welders for personal friends at work.

Me and the missus like to go camping and fishing, and this is almost ideal on a budget.

John

 

[2stroke1971]

Re: got my new towing rig!

I love those old dodge vans. Bought one last year myself. It is a bit more rusty, but for two hundred bucks, what do you want.

One thing I've noticed over the years is that the frame and spring mounting seems to rust out if it has any chance. It'd be a bummer to watch your boat pass you up with your rear bumper and spring hangers sparking along in front of it, still attached to the hitch ball. Just inspect it and be sure it's sound.

In fact, I have to rework the back 2 feet of frame and spring mounts in mine. I think there's still a little left in the budget for it, and I have 50 or 60 world class welders for personal friends at work.

Me and the missus like to go camping and fishing, and this is almost ideal on a budget.

John

Im with you there. Budget that is. LOL I did look at the undercarriage, its surprisingly clean for its age. Ive got to put some ujoints in it, so I will check the spring hangers out while Im under there, thanks for the suggestion!

Redfury:
A club?
Yeah I admit that does look funny!
Well, Im a bit shell shocked because I recently had our family mini van stolen...it was 10 years old and half beat but it still got ripped off. I live in a bad neighborhood, and work in a worse one. This big van would be a great joy ride theft for some crack head and I am surrounded by them!

In all seriousness, I am a bit overcautious.

 

[jdsgrog]

Re: got my new towing rig!

It looks like a nice buy...pretty clean for the year. Used to drive one of those back in college, but the extended version. Great hauler. Was in a band back then...drove all over the country with up to seven of us plus all our gear. Put a mattress on the cargo floor for those long hauls. Brings back good memories.

 

[wvmedic]

Re: got my new towing rig!

2stroke1971, good find. I've been thinking about something similar myself. And I agree with you on the club, when you don't have much you have to protect what you've got. I've been there my self, in fact I'm not but about a half a rung up the ladder from there now.

Congrats Brother.

Jeff