If things go bad you could always turn your van into a bumper pull trailer

[Jimmyflorida]

Hmm!!

 

[PECVD2]

Excellent idea

I have seen a guy running a older Chevy van, minus engine, tranny and drive components mated to a tandem axle trailer running around southern NM a couple of times.

This seems like a much easier solution to extending the life of these older camper vans. One could stash the battery pack and small generator and much more in the engine compartment, retro fit the gas tank for grey or black water etc.

I love it.

 

[highdesertranger]

If that van empty on a single axle trailer isn't already overloaded it's got to be real close. Highdesertranger

 

[user 423]

This one makes more sense:

 

[bullfrog]

You could actually make a pusher trailer out of the VW to hook to your disabled vehicle! Some rescue departments on beach patrol used to use them when they had a lot of blown sand to cross, just hook up the trailer and have instant 4 wheel drive!

 

[RoamerRV428]

super cool

but does it 'meet the darn law requirements'?? I mean I don't know LOL but I love it!!

 

[wayne49]

Tongue weight might also be a problem.

Definitely not enough rear overhang to balance the body plus contents' center of gravity near the rearward single axle.

If left "as is" as a drive axle, the differential still needs to maintained with gear oil.

 

[Scott3569]

yeah your right, the weight distribution would be horrible.. But cool Idea though.. I would have replaced the axles with trailer axels, both front and rear. Weight distribution solved.

 

[Scott3569]

super cool

but does it 'meet the darn law requirements'??  I mean I don't know LOL but I love it!!

the only things truly needed to meet the law requirements are working taillights, marker lights, as long as it does not get loaded with more weight than it would be rated for.. your good to go.  you can build a camper from the ground up.. and get it licensed, registered and tag..

 

[highdesertranger]

Well how can you all tell it still has the stock rear axle?

To me it appears some one set the body on a utility trailer. Remember a Dodge van has no frame, it's a unibody. So in the pic the front of it is not Dodge. So either it has been married to the unibody(bad idea IMO) or It's a whole trailer.

Highdesertranger

 

[Scott3569]

Well how can you all tell it still has the stock rear axle?

To me it appears some one set the body on a utility trailer.  Remember a Dodge van has no frame,  it's a unibody.  So in the pic the front of it is not Dodge.  So either it has been married to the unibody(bad idea IMO) or It's a whole trailer.

Highdesertranger

oh sure just had to come in a trump all of us huh 

 

[highdesertranger]

Just sayin. Highdesertranger

 

[Scott3569]

yeah of course your right, there is no way of knowing what mods have been done

 

[RoamerRV428]

yea the UNIQUE of it is a red flag for law enforcement to pull ya over and 'just see' if ya know what the hell ya got behind you and some of them can be 'quite' annoying that way......I would think alot of issues would be mute thru it all in travel...but that one darn day LOL

 

[B and C]

That's an old Chevy Roadtrek. Frame was probably extended to make the tongue. It would have to have a load equalizing hitch installed as the tanks are in front of the rear axle. I would bet dollars to donuts that the stock rear end is still under there. At least it would have built in trailer brakes!

 

[highdesertranger]

"At least it would have built in trailer brakes!"

How would you activate the brakes?

Highdesertranger

 

[user 423]

Install a Ready Brake:

 

[crofter]

Maybe one of these would help add a few axles.
-crofter

https://www.kaufmantrailers.com/car.../deluxe-10000-gvwr-car-trailer-diamond-floor/

 

[crofter]

2 axles and slide in ramps, what more could you want?
-crofter

 

[AuricTech]

Just remember that "cool idea" =/= "good idea."