Originally, when there was but one T going places was limited by choice and if any distance there was the hassle of borrowing a trailer...
Then a trailer came along, ex-military, and that worked...until the T's started to think like rabbits at my place plus then the oldest son also picked up his own T...
So then a 34 footer came along, and it is a bit of a beast, but it does handle two at a time...looks empty with one on it! Thought was by the son to overhaul a '75 F-250 he has laying around to pull it...
Then the oldest son found something that sure made sense...a '74 F series with a sloping bed, nice heavy duty ramps at low angle, anchor points built into the deck, a PTO winch...the ultimate otherwise 'vulture wagon'. He showed up with it yesterday, new coat of paint, freshened mechanicals, and we just had to practice putting a T on and off. Didn't go thru the tie down straps, just on and off but it is soooooo easy!
Real sweet, but then the brainstorming began It also has a full Class 3 built into the frame and nice existing electric brake hook up. Can you imagine this tugging the 34 footer behind it?
Kids are fun
Just make sure to watch for gas station canopies and low bridges. Otherwise that is one sweet hauler.
You'll be your own parade.
Cool. Let me guess: 8 miles to the gallon?
That's the safest way to haul, George. Sell the trailer. Build a box on it, and you can use it for storage, too. You might even find a box from a junked box van.
Our '87 E-350 box van gets 7 mpg on the flat. It was the last year with a carb on the 460, or whatever size than engine is.
This year when I went to Chickasha, I averaged 6mpg with my 89 E350 ex-Ryder rental truck. It has a 460efi and c6 trans. I pulled an 18 foot trailer with a 24 touring and all my treasures on it. What I learned was, the truck only has a 20 gallon tank and I had to refuel every 100 miles, or else. When I got back I weighed the whole rig and found out I weighed 12,000 pounds. I know the truck itself weighs 7,700 pounds empty, I'm guessing the trailer is 2,500 or there about and the T is probably around 1,200. What my point to this is the box on the van is not tall enough for my 7 foot tall hack but is tall enough for the 23 touring with the top halfway down. The rear door opening is 6'2" by 7'2" wide, the touring is 6' tall at the windshield post, it is tight but works.
Bernard,
Don't know about the mpg...but I'll bet you are close based on other 70's (and even 90's) F series experiences.
Ralph,
It has the 460 carb'd...and a dual gas tank ($$$$ each time....but the '93 F-150 was a twin tanker, and you needed both for a 120 mile round trip!)
All...son also mentioned the winch makes a great stump puller, he already tried it.
Be extra careful: that winch might pull the front axle into a U.
Isn't 53 feet the maximum?
George, the idea is to separate the male rabbits from the female rabbits.
Myself and my sons waited to long to separate the rabbits.
On the tours a good way from home, the big covered trailer that holds 4 cars get loaded up.
Last years trip to Vermont was the first that I rode along on with my T in the trailer and three other T's. (We live in South central Texas)
George, nice rig. I pulled an open trailer with my 1913 hack for a couple of years. I started to notice a difference in the roof, however. The hack is made up with covered slats. The wind started to get through to the underneath of the roof and bulge the roof material. I quickly moved to the enclosed trailer!!
George
I have something similar. It is a '86 Ford 460 carburated automatic and 3.55 gears. I made a set of "bows" for the back and a fitted tarp cover with zippers held on with rubber tarp straps. I can set it up in about 10-15 minutes. So if I am hauling a "good" car or the weather is crummy it is enclosed. It sets up and knocks down fast enough that I can do one way in the "economy" mode and the other way protected. The deck is 16 feet long and the ramps slide in. The fuel economy is not horrible if you are not also pulling a trailer (which I have done). It has 2 fuel tanks so holds at least 30 gallons so you can pass a few gas stations.
About 5 years ago the engine developed a problem and I have not fixed it (it is not blown up, but it should not be driven the way it is). Quite frankly I would like it to find a new home. Added fringe benefit, it also accommodates a electric winch to load "dead" cars. The price is right if you can come and get it in Calgary. It has AC that did work when parked.