Either of those would draw a crowd... but I'm not the one...
Scenicruisin'..?
- Thread starter amazinblue82
- Start date
Never seen one of these on the road in my neck of the woods. Interesting "RV"s.
Trying to warm up to this design (innovative, cool looking) but not quite there yet..
Custom Made Ford F-750 Dunkel Luxury Hauler (18 photos)
"Owned and built by Peter & Daniel Dunkel, Dunkel Industries, La Mirada, CA. Paint is PPG Ford black. Engine has a Cat 300-horsepower turbo upgrade and is mated to an Alison 3000 6-speed transmission and a Fabco military grade 4×4 system. It has a 266-inch wheelbase, its cab is widened 22 inches and lengthened 104 inches, and the bed is large enough to carry a full-size car. The interior fits 10 passengers, is able to sleep six, and also features hand-laminated cabinetry, twin refrigerators, microwave, cooktop, shower and toilet."
Trying to warm up to this design (innovative, cool looking) but not quite there yet..
Custom Made Ford F-750 Dunkel Luxury Hauler (18 photos)
"Owned and built by Peter & Daniel Dunkel, Dunkel Industries, La Mirada, CA. Paint is PPG Ford black. Engine has a Cat 300-horsepower turbo upgrade and is mated to an Alison 3000 6-speed transmission and a Fabco military grade 4×4 system. It has a 266-inch wheelbase, its cab is widened 22 inches and lengthened 104 inches, and the bed is large enough to carry a full-size car. The interior fits 10 passengers, is able to sleep six, and also features hand-laminated cabinetry, twin refrigerators, microwave, cooktop, shower and toilet."
another F-750: Guess no "Rams" in this "weight class", now or ever?? (although "750" has gotta be close to/into Class "8" range, yes?)
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commando1
Old Man with a Hat
oliver
Senior Member
Don't let age ever stop you from indulging in the pursuit of eternal childhood....in whatever form it may be
good advice!
"65" is the new "50" -- in my mind at least . we'll see if the old bones will back me up
Not on the shopping list (cant drag around my car behind me), but these are kinda cool to me (a few seem have European license plates). a couple (first and fourth photo) even have "Bugs" that gave up their upper halfs.
my Dad bought two used (late fifties models) ones in 1962 when he started is business - always liked these first generation micro-buses
like a PD-4501 you wont see many on the roads
my Dad bought two used (late fifties models) ones in 1962 when he started is business - always liked these first generation micro-buses
like a PD-4501 you wont see many on the roads
MrMoparCHP
Old Man with a Hat
I recall seeing a few of these in the 70's
Another I saw was a Chevy Street Van with a third generation (F-Body) Camaro/Trans-Am top section done the same way, it even retained the deck lid and spoiler.
Alan
Another I saw was a Chevy Street Van with a third generation (F-Body) Camaro/Trans-Am top section done the same way, it even retained the deck lid and spoiler.
Alan
commando1
Old Man with a Hat
Build your own
300rag
It's Not Going to Shift Itself
It looks like the VW bus people have their own A/B/E type crowd
40 large!? for that?
assuming seller is not having a lucid price dream, and no offense to Type 2 V-Dub lovers is intended by that comment, but ... DAM!
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I saw one of these in another thread here last year...meant to follow up. I might have to have one -- just for fun.
guess i prefer dual axles (how do you even build one?) OVER a dually setup.
guess i prefer dual axles (how do you even build one?) OVER a dually setup.
MrMoparCHP
Old Man with a Hat
My understanding is the rear axle on the tandem setup is a dummy, there are a couple brackets that attach to the springs. They carry no weight.
Alan
Alan
Well that's silly... But I bet your right. Appearance only ruins it for me, why invest in 2 more tires if they do nothing?
i think PD-4501 is driven by one of its two rear axles though both are load bearing.
on these vans i guess u need (this isnt the right name) of of those long-body chassis models with enough "overhang" behind the drive axle to put another one in?
on these vans i guess u need (this isnt the right name) of of those long-body chassis models with enough "overhang" behind the drive axle to put another one in?
Yes the Scenic uses both axles full time to carry weight, the later Buffalos may have used a air operated tag axle to help meet weight requirements and lift to allow better cornering in urban areas. IDK off hand if the Scenic was driven by both axles, but I don't believe so.
Alan has ruined the vans for me... well except that one with the pickup rear end under it. I also really question the fuel filler between the tires on the one... seems like you would be begging for trouble in a blowout.
good points cantflip. anything non-factory has risks that never underwent any engineering/verification likely..unless there's an engineered "kit" to make conversion?
Or they use TWO vans to make one?
Or they use TWO vans to make one?
commando1
Old Man with a Hat
I have never seen a conversion van that didn't look like it was made in a 2 bay garage in a rundown industrial area.
70bigblockdodge
Old Man with a Hat
Look at me.
My experience is many of those companies are in small farming communities. Work force close to minimum wage and no real skills. I have had several that I had to chase electrical issues in behind the paneling when Billy Joe Bob George didn't crimp a wire or strip the insulation before crimping or put a screw through it. There is a local ambulance company that I hear pays about $16 per hour, that is the best I have personally heard of and half what a good tech would be worth.
Had a customer in the early 90's who was and engineer working for the steel industry. Young guy close to my age who wanted to get married and stay close to home(all of his work was overseas). He took an interview with Blue Bird Bus co in Ford City PA (I think)... they offered him $5.50 an hour at a time we paid the gas station cashiers $6. He said he thought it was a joke until they told him he would be the top paid person in that location. They built Wanderlodges there and occasionally one would come through and refuel on it's way to delivery.
The conversion van industry really disappointed me with how many 80s and 90s models I worked on that were built on half ton chassis and had passenger car tires. They sat empty overloaded. I always figured the key decision was so they could use 5 lug custom wheels, but I know the half tons are cheaper to purchase too. I would have been a little excited to see a half ton with a functional tag axle... anything that helped it handle the weight better. I put load rated LT tires on several to help as much as that could (big difference) but I had to tell several owners they were pretty much screwed where brakes and suspension are concerned.
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