New Ride

[AlexThePalex]

I like the colour, Ferrari red. Van looks cool too. But if I had my tools in it, I wouldn't like the windows in the back so much.

 

[Billy stray]

Nice van peter, I have a 2012 e 350 when I got it I was in love with the cool truck looking grill that came on that vintage,  when I saw they were going with the European looking thing they were coming out with I hated it
Now after a year of seeing them I want one lol
Question; have you or anyone else here given any thought to the "vantainer" system ? Just curious

 

[peter halle]

Regarding the color, in my driveway in addition to the van are 2 red cars, 2 red truck, and a red trailer.  I like red.  I went looking for the red color because in a world of contractors who drive white vehicles it will get noticed.

The only other vehicle I looked at was a 2014 E-250 with 8700 miles on it.  Would have been about $10K cheaper but wouldn't have allowed me to stand up in the van.

I don't think that the vantainer system by Tanos is here in the US at this time.  If so, I probably couldn't afford it.  Sheets of plywood will work wonderfully!

Peter

 

[Billy stray]

Ah, there's a very good reason.. lol

 

[peter halle]

By the way, especially for us in North America, here is an interesting read about the history of the Ford Transit:  http://blog.caranddriver.com/van-tale-in-the-ford-transit-has-a-longer-history-than-you-realized/

Peter

 

[Tyler Ernsberger]

What happened to your old truck?  You said that it was a 1 ton Ford with the 5.4l.  I own a f250 with the 6.8l v-10.  My 6.8 is the same as the 5.4 with two more cylinders added.  Is there something that I need to worry about?

 

[peter halle]

What happened to your old truck?  You said that it was a 1 ton Ford with the 5.4l.  I own a f250 with the 6.8l v-10.  My 6.8 is the same as the 5.4 with two more cylinders added.  Is there something that I need to worry about?

I doubt you will have an issue.  The Ford 4.6 and 5.4 liters had many issues regarding the variable timing aspects of their engines as they were trying to maximize power and gas economy.

Peter

 

[DB10]

  I own a f250 with the 6.8l v-10.

  OK what am I missing here, A 6.8 litre v -10 in a work truck!
  Is this normal practise in NA, what are you guys towing that would need so much power?
A 3 litre turbo diesel seems to be the norm here in work trucks and vans run with smaller engines again.

 

[Tyler Ernsberger]

  I own a f250 with the 6.8l v-10.

  OK what am I missing here, A 6.8 litre v -10 in a work truck!
  Is this normal practise in NA, what are you guys towing that would need so much power?
A 3 litre turbo diesel seems to be the norm here in work trucks and vans run with smaller engines again.

In the States its common practice to have big trucks.  I tow all the time.  Once I have my tools and a loaded trailer my weight is 13000-15000lbs.    With my truck loaded down I still have power with the v10.  I only get 10mpg.

My next truck will be a Dodge 3500 with the 6.7 cummins engine.    Im really excited about 850ftlbs of torque.   

 

[Cheese]

A 3 litre turbo diesel seems to be the norm here in work trucks and vans run with smaller engines again.

Ya, the terrain is a big thing in the States, we typically reserve the 3 litre turbo diesels for our golf carts...anything larger, gets the appropriate boost in engine capacity. [poke]

 

[DB10]

Yeah I sort of get it now, just remembered seeing those Dodge 3500 trucks on a Top Gear special a while back, where they were messing around in either Canada or Alaska, Very impressive trucks. I think they also said that the Ford F150 is the best selling vehicle in the USA. I can see why you are excited. But if I had to pay for all that fuel there would be no money left for new tools [sad]
Over here they are going in the opposit direction. It's all about reducing engine size but at the same time increasing power and fuel consumption with improved common rail injection systems.

  Yesterday I test drove the new 2.8 litre Toyota Land Cruiser which has now superseded the old 3 litre unit, it's down on engine size but up on torque 450Nm very quite for a Diesel engine and now has a six speed auto box. This will also be fitted into the new Toyota Hi Lux, (equivilant to  your Tacoma) from next month.
Toyota have used Australia as the testing ground for this new engine due to the harsh Ausie environment and conditions, so that's good for us.
I believe that this new engine will be NAINA, but will be common place everywhere else in the world.
Only down side is the fuel tank on the newer trucks has been reduced in size from the old 180 litre tank to the new 150 litres and in a country with a lot of nothing in between, fuel consumption and tank size is also important.

 

[alkaline]

Hi Peter,

beautiful ride. Such van most be filled this tools. [wink] Congratulations and I wish you many happy kilometers or miles.

[thumbs up]

 

[peter halle]

Great new ride Peter!

I've been thinking that when my lease is up on my Ford F-150 truck in the New Year to replace it with a vehicle like yours.

I've looked up the internal dimensions of your vehicle and I'm clear on the back floor length capacity for transporting long materials, but what I can't seem to find is how long of a baseboard can be fitted inside the vehicle down the centre of the vehicle resting on the front dashboard.

With my existing truck configuration and back window, I'm able to carry full 14 foot base/casings resting on the dashboard, through the slider window opening and resting on my tonneau cover with no overhang. With 16 foot pieces they only overhang the tailgate by about a foot. Trouble is that we have crappy winters here in Alberta sometimes and that can prove challenging picking up and transporting long materials.

[member=40924]BMAC[/member]
[member=1018]builderbob[/member]
14'4" would be about the longest with my short wheelbase.  I think that the longest wheelbase model is about 2 feet longer.  With the winter weather you have you might look at the Ram Promasters which have front wheel drive.  Builderbob drove his thru the last winter in Connecticut.

Peter

 

[Sparktrician]

Great new ride Peter!

I've been thinking that when my lease is up on my Ford F-150 truck in the New Year to replace it with a vehicle like yours.

I've looked up the internal dimensions of your vehicle and I'm clear on the back floor length capacity for transporting long materials, but what I can't seem to find is how long of a baseboard can be fitted inside the vehicle down the centre of the vehicle resting on the front dashboard.

With my existing truck configuration and back window, I'm able to carry full 14 foot base/casings resting on the dashboard, through the slider window opening and resting on my tonneau cover with no overhang. With 16 foot pieces they only overhang the tailgate by about a foot. Trouble is that we have crappy winters here in Alberta sometimes and that can prove challenging picking up and transporting long materials.

[member=40924]BMAC[/member]
[member=1018]builderbob[/member]
14'4" would be about the longest with my short wheelbase.  I think that the longest wheelbase model is about 2 feet longer.  With the winter weather you have you might look at the Ram Promasters which have front wheel drive.  Builderbob drove his thru the last winter in Connecticut.

Peter

Sprinters are now available with 4WD, right from Mercedes. 

 

[Tyler Ernsberger]

Yeah I sort of get it now, just remembered seeing those Dodge 3500 trucks on a Top Gear special a while back, where they were messing around in either Canada or Alaska, Very impressive trucks. I think they also said that the Ford F150 is the best selling vehicle in the USA. I can see why you are excited. But if I had to pay for all that fuel there would be no money left for new tools [sad]
Over here they are going in the opposit direction. It's all about reducing engine size but at the same time increasing power and fuel consumption with improved common rail injection systems.

  Yesterday I test drove the new 2.8 litre Toyota Land Cruiser which has now superseded the old 3 litre unit, it's down on engine size but up on torque 450Nm very quite for a Diesel engine and now has a six speed auto box. This will also be fitted into the new Toyota Hi Lux, (equivilant to  your Tacoma) from next month.
Toyota have used Australia as the testing ground for this new engine due to the harsh Ausie environment and conditions, so that's good for us.
I believe that this new engine will be NAINA, but will be common place everywhere else in the world.
Only down side is the fuel tank on the newer trucks has been reduced in size from the old 180 litre tank to the new 150 litres and in a country with a lot of nothing in between, fuel consumption and tank size is also important.

Your right the bigger trucks comes with the price low mpg.  Not sure how you guys do it over there when it comes to towing?  My f250 I had to upgrade the suspension to f350 springs to be able tow more safety.  Note the only difference between a f250 and f350 is suspension and gear ratio and I already have the bigger ratio.  Theres no way a 3 litre diesel would be able to keep up.  I would blow it up. 

Fuel prices in the states have come down a lot.  Im averaging around $2 a gallon for gas and diesel was actually cheaper than regular gas the other day. 

 

[Jozsef Kozma]

Beautiful van I know you will enjoy it
If it is to interest the sprinter does very well
In Connecticut winters
16 foot material between the seats also 32 feet ladder
Jozsef

 

[BMAC]

Thanks for the measurements Peter, that will help with my search!

 

[Sparktrician]

Peter, how are you coming along with the build-out of your red sled?  Inquiring minds want to know... 

[popcorn]

 

[peter halle]

Just getting started.  Had to wait for the divider to be installed (idiots).  And yes, I did do the limo tint (5%).  Have most of the walls skinned in plywood - because of the rib layout you need to use portions of 5 sheets of plywood.  Four sheets done, picking up a couple more this weekend.

Peter

 

[BMAC]

[member=1674]Peter Halle[/member]

How's the upfit of your new ride going?

Because of your posting and others re: new vans I ended up getting a new ride myself. Last week I just took delivery of a 2016 Ram Promaster high roof 159" wheelbase with GPS, back up camera, heated seat, etc. Photo attached.

My 2012 Ford F-150 Lariet was getting pretty beat up carrying millwork, etc (see photo of 966 lf of 14 foot millwork shoved through the rear window! No more sheet goods in the truck bed sticking out exposed to weather!

Once the weather gets a little warmer (minus 20 Celsius this morning without the windchill) I'll start my build and will post photos of my progress in a new post.