The Mother of all Tow Vehicles!

[mcneon]

I've found it: the ultimate tow vehicle, a Ford F-650 pickup! Seen at a race weekend at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, this sucker is huge; the picture is deceptive. Notice the trailer next to it, which was 9 or 10' high. Bring on those 34-footers! One problem, it's so tall the trailer it tows has to be a tag style - goosenecks won't fit. The hitch adapter had about 18" drop. I know what I want for Christmas.

Bob

[Van]

Sweet. Bet that thing wasnt cheap by any measure.

[john hd]

wonder if anyone has put airbrakes on a airstream?

there is an outfit in monroe wi that does such conversions, chevys mostly.

can you say "kodiak pickup"!!

john

[85MH325]

I'm making out my Christmas wish list... does it come in Maroon to match the stripes on my Limited?

Roger

[ALANSD]

trailer tow? Looks like it could pull your house!

[bredlo]

Ferget it! With gas prices what they are, I'd rather take my chances on Snoqualmie Pass with a lil' Tracker or something.

[GStephens]

Really love the styling. I am thinking you will be able to get the same styling (front flared fenders, etc.) with an F-350 which wouldn't sit so high off the ground.
GStephens

[85MH325]

Anybody REALLY want one?

http://www.ford-trucks.com/news/newsa3.html

[GStephens]

I think the truck given in the previous link is not the same truck as is shown in the picture above. While it is an F-650 referred to in that link, the styling and bed configurations are different. Ford apparrently produced 300 of those trucks in 2001. I think the truck pictured is a concept truck by Ford called the Tonka. You can review pictures of the Tonka and a story about the vehicle at http://www.edmunds.com/news/conceptc...8/article.html.

The Tonka has many neat improvements including cameras in the bed to help with hitching, a hydraulic full floating suspension Comanader's Seat, rear doors that open backward giving cavern-like interior access, a 350 horsepower/600 torque diesel engine, and an air bag suspension system that allows the truck to "kneel" 5 inches when a door is opened to allow for easier entry and exit.

The article said that it is doubtful that Ford will ever produce the vehicle as a production truck.
GStephens

[Van]

That is certainly possible GStephens, though i think it is very possibly a standard F-650 that someone dumped some cash into for aftermarket customization.

The general body styling is that of the "normal everyday" F-650s i see on the road that the power company and other such outfits own.

Which ever one it is, i am bigtime jealous.

[GStephens]

You know, I think you are right and I also agree with you that I'm jealous. I really like all three trucks The original one pictured in this post, the one shown in 85MH325's post, and the Tonka truck referenced in my earlier post.
GStephens

[mcneon]

Originally Posted by Van

The general body styling is that of the "normal everyday" F-650s i see on the road that the power company and other such outfits own.

There were no badges on it to indicate that it was any sort of Ford special edition, so I think it is just a modified F-650 work truck. Note that the front wheel wells fit the tires but the rears don't - the bed may have had to be widened, but it otherwise appears to be from a standard dually.

Several of my racing friends were experiencing severe pickup envy over this one, I'll tell you. As one said, "If you're going to get a truck, why not go all the way?"

Bob
Happy towing with my Argosy 24/502/Howell MPI