Hi I was wondering if anybody has tried to convert a box truck into a race car hauler? and if its a good idea and how did you prep it?

 

I think a box truck would make a great tow vehicle with the following 2 modifications:

1. Lower it as far as possible and put nice long ramps on its (probably custom folding ramps would work great.

2. Install a winch at the front of the box to pull a car up the ramps.

 

just curious, which box truck are you referring to? i drove the ATS USA isuzu cab over to topeka this year (3,000 miles) and i will never never do it again...

 

I think its a 80's chevy do not know to much info about it yet, it looks pretty low to the ground and was used as a moving truck, just wondering what upgrades to the suspension I should use and engine mods? I read Grassroots about the mobile homes and adding some mods like new shocks and rear sway bars wondering if there is other mods to think about and if anybody has any expirence with this?

 

My family used to carry Formula Fords in the mid-1970s in a van nosed cube truck and it was great. As mentioned previously, you need to think about ramp length and especially deck height. The lower deck will be very helpful but usually has wheel well boxes protruding into the floor that you will have to deal with. We just had little ramps on either side bit it was an open wheeled car. By the time the cube is big enoguh to hold the car inside, it might be a high deck truck.

We had removable carpet and bench seating inside so when the car was not present, it was quite civilized inside. The owner of the racing team was wealthy and owned a trucking company so he could afford to have a limited use vehicle, normal tow vehciles can get used as a daily driver as well but cube trucks usually can't. Years ago i had wondered about buying a high mileage used Iveco/Isuzu and doing a conversion but realized the costs and maintenance would be really high in the long run for only doing a dozen or so race weekends. Those things in the price range I was considering had lots of wear, tire dry rot, etc. that would costs big chunks of money. You can register it as an RV if you are smalrt so you won't need a CDL license.

Things to think about: Storage room to keep it when not racing, rear end/final drive ratios that on the highway might rev so high that gas mileage sucks, huge ramps, etc.

 

I have some first hand experience on this one...

My uncle bought a box van (isuzu NPR) to use for storidge @ his bakery.
We emptied it out.. Made some ramps (18ft long with 1x1 tubing) (the max length tthat would fit in the box) Installed some tie down points.. and wallah!

Drive the car in.. Drive it out.. If thats not your thing. It will tow 8000lbs when empty.. Still not your thing ? By an old ryder truck (98) and get the 24" box..

Lift gate ? If you have one.. Just make some exntions . Drive the car onto the extentions and raise it up.. Then push/drive it in!

~Jonathan

 

thanks for the responses

 

One thing to think about, is adding a layer of 3/4" plywood to the floor to spread the wheel loads out a bit. Even a 2000lb 60/40 weight distribution front drive car is going to have 600lbs on its front tires. Pretty big point load, depending on the box floor structure.

 

A guy that runs autox around Syracuse uses a breadtruck style van to haul a sprint car. He has ramps built inside to run the car up on and a winch to run it in and out. The thing to remember is that most of them use a Chevy 350 and 3 speed auto. That means at highway speed it's turning some pretty good revs. Plus they push a LOT of air. Those two things mean they wear out motors fast. Around 60K and they are tired. I think he's running a TPI motor from a Firebird, not sure what transmission. Also remember that they have huge, flat sides and will move around a lot in crosswinds.

 

There's an F350 Dually based box truck with a Powerstroke in it on Ebay right now. Buy it now price is under 5 grand.

Hell, just rig it up to tow a trailer, use the box for a campground/tool shed!