I don’t see that much tongue weight for a C3500HD. I am assuming the payload put in that van will stay behind the doghouse. There is a long way between the hitch and the doghouse and all that length is unloaded.
I’ve got to be questioning the tongue weight on that. A good enclosed trailer is $2000 out here, so I could see someone doing this if they already had the van, though….
After 14 years, I’ve finally gotten where I can back a hayrack nearly 30′ before getting completely tangled up in myself. They actually have competitions around here doing just that.
That takes talent! I have a hard time backing gravity wagons (We don’t use hay racks out here, but it’s the same idea).
Our White goes a lot slower in reverse than any of our trucks, visibility is better, and you can attain a tighter turning circle (Especially if you use one of the directional brakes). It’s a lot easier to back up with a tractor.
With a tractor, a second axle would be nice. With a truck, though, I couldn’t see that going well for a lot of people….
Steve65
Posted September 7, 2015 at 2:20 PM
Put giant grocery-cart style freewheeling casters under the front. Extra support for the load, and no weird steering issues to deal with when backing.
I’m assuming the entire powertrain’s been yanked, along with the front suspension that I can’t see any of, so that should help with the tongue weight.
But then, looking at that 15-passenger van whose wheelbase seems awfully short and rear overhang terribly long as a complete van, suddenly that axle looks awfully far back in it as a trailer. Probably just as well it wasn’t based on a 146″ wb GM van.
Ha! I *was* in the South when I shot this! If you look closely, you can see the ends of the sway bar have been cut and welded so they’re hanging out each side a bit.
Definitely a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma…
Back when vanin was the fad it wasn’t taht uncommon to see a custom van towing a matching trailer but they tended to cut them behind the passenger doors, and of course usually put a rear cap from yet another van to close off the front.
Ha Ha
Probably more work than it is worth, but what the heck give it a try. I saw an old rounded shorty school bus turned into a fifth wheel camper in Wyo. My favorite is old Yugo bodies turned into enclosed trailers.
I’ve seen three rigs from school buses that were turned into livestock haulers. Two kept the bus intact, using the engine and transmission. One was cut at the front, lobbing the hood off. It was turned into a gooseneck trailer from there. It looked like a pretty nice setup, actually….
That looks like an awful lot of tongue weight. I see possibilities as a redneck rv but not with my 4runner hauling it.
I don’t see that much tongue weight for a C3500HD. I am assuming the payload put in that van will stay behind the doghouse. There is a long way between the hitch and the doghouse and all that length is unloaded.
That should keep me supplied with nightmares for the next few months.
ITS A VANNILLER
Seems like a smart thing to do when those old vans are so dang cheap used…
I’ve got to be questioning the tongue weight on that. A good enclosed trailer is $2000 out here, so I could see someone doing this if they already had the van, though….
Would have been better leaving the front axle in and just A frame towing it.
Ever try to back up a wagon like that?
After 14 years, I’ve finally gotten where I can back a hayrack nearly 30′ before getting completely tangled up in myself. They actually have competitions around here doing just that.
That takes talent! I have a hard time backing gravity wagons (We don’t use hay racks out here, but it’s the same idea).
Our White goes a lot slower in reverse than any of our trucks, visibility is better, and you can attain a tighter turning circle (Especially if you use one of the directional brakes). It’s a lot easier to back up with a tractor.
With a tractor, a second axle would be nice. With a truck, though, I couldn’t see that going well for a lot of people….
Put giant grocery-cart style freewheeling casters under the front. Extra support for the load, and no weird steering issues to deal with when backing.
No different to a regular self steering truck trailer, do that all the time.
With a tow bar on a car you can’t really back up. Tow bars rely on caster for the towed vehicle to follow. Backwards the caster is the wrong way.
Y’all might be a redneck if…
I’m assuming the entire powertrain’s been yanked, along with the front suspension that I can’t see any of, so that should help with the tongue weight.
But then, looking at that 15-passenger van whose wheelbase seems awfully short and rear overhang terribly long as a complete van, suddenly that axle looks awfully far back in it as a trailer. Probably just as well it wasn’t based on a 146″ wb GM van.
Ha! I *was* in the South when I shot this! If you look closely, you can see the ends of the sway bar have been cut and welded so they’re hanging out each side a bit.
Definitely a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma…
“suddenly that axle looks awfully far back in it as a trailer. ”
Horse trailers often have an axle further back than that.
This is a hackjob. That is at least a one ton truck pulling it and it is squatting. No thanks.
That truck will drive like that trailer aint even there!
The bed and welder on that truck weighs more than the entire weight of that empty shell of a van.
You’ll know that trailer is there if the state police pull you over to weigh this mess.
They don’t chase down pickup-looking trucks under a class 6(and that pickup is a class 3 or 4 at the most), or motorhomes…at least not where I am.
Back when vanin was the fad it wasn’t taht uncommon to see a custom van towing a matching trailer but they tended to cut them behind the passenger doors, and of course usually put a rear cap from yet another van to close off the front.
memories
I forgot all about those van trailers!
Should work alright as long as you put the piano in the back and the music on the front of the trailer. The musician will walk…..
Ha Ha
Probably more work than it is worth, but what the heck give it a try. I saw an old rounded shorty school bus turned into a fifth wheel camper in Wyo. My favorite is old Yugo bodies turned into enclosed trailers.
You haven’t been in Wyoming very long!
I’ve seen three rigs from school buses that were turned into livestock haulers. Two kept the bus intact, using the engine and transmission. One was cut at the front, lobbing the hood off. It was turned into a gooseneck trailer from there. It looked like a pretty nice setup, actually….
Some people should be kept away from welders at all costs.