Bros, I need to make my mind up on this van. Make decisions for me
 

1997 E250 4.6l panel van with 107k miles
it passed inspection, decent tires, half the pad is left.

My concerns:
It's going to cost a fortune to register/TT&L
the trailer is going to be ~$800 and then more money for TT&L
$45/month to insure
both will be stored 45-minutes away for free.

I am resisting because I still have a student loan and send a minimum of $600/month, usually more like $1000. Is this deal too good to pass up, or should I wait, keep driving to and from the track with a tire trailer, and be marginally financially responsible enough to continue bleeding money at the track, just not with a van?

Post a price...


Why not just get an older diesel, I think you can do much better for a tow vehicle.

You don't need a diesel to tow one miata, and he needs the back area of the van to get his thing going. I say buy it, quit being a bitch.

4.6 isn't a lot of motor to tow with. Not sure what the curb weight is on a E250, but sounds like a pig.

$1700

Maybe it has the 5.4, I'm uncertain.

A 3/4 ton van can pull a 2800lb tag just fine. I do not have 1-ton money.

It'll be a pig.

I'd keep using the trailer.

The problem with the trailer is finding someone to watch it overnight, then driving my track car back and forth (incredibly intoxicated) to the hotel, parking it at the hotel, then hoping I don't break anything so I can drive it home. It's also loud and there's no AC.

Thanks for the input, but no one needs a 1-ton dually to pull a Miata. Remember that this vehicle is only for pulling the track car once every six weeks, not double duty as a work truck like most people. I can't justify a $50k diesel to pull my car 10x per year.

I'm talking old used diesel or hell any other truck. How much does your Miata weigh? How does the trailer weigh? Assuming 1500+ pounds. So looking at the minimum 3500 pound, get a truck with a V8 or a van with a bigger motor.

Ohh I hear you. Its probably nerve racking driving your track car to and from the track. I know it'd be a hell of a lot easier to just have a rig to tow it with.

The problem is that your thinking about getting a 100k mile Ford to tow it with. Look around for a Chevy or GMC and thank me later. Having towed and plowed with both Ford and Chevy trucks, I know which ones I'd stay away from.

Save and double or triple your budget and get something better. :2cents:

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/cto/2781265433.html

I like this dea; ^^


edit: no title lol

I don't want to spend $5k on a van I will drive 10x per year. What are the soft spots on the Ford? I almost exclusively pulled with 1-tons when I worked for the wholesale car guy. However, I used an F150 occasionally and thought it pulled fine.

I will not buy a truck because I plan to party in the van at the track.

Why would I buy a 20-year old three-speed with no title?:rofl:

Better than some van. (but yeah just noticed no title LOL) Why do you want a van again?

Here we go: Awesome motor, van, and cheap

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/cto/2778570403.html

It's a huge pain in the ass to insure passenger vans, it must be a panel. I also don't care to replace suspension on 300k mile 1-ton vans, I have no 1" drive socket tools and don't care to buy any.

God you really fail you know