Finally joined

[Mike25405]

Thank you everyone for all the advice and ideas I have found over the years. Currently I have an e350 shuttle that I pull a 35 foot travel trailer with. It was hard to find something that tows good and fits the seven of us. I have now just purchased an IC RE to possibly do a conversion with and hope to interact with the forum.

[kazetsukai]

Newer version of my chassis, yay! IC REs are my favorite bus chassis.

[Simplicity]

Welcome!

2000 (year) Model 3000 RE, 33' here.

I haven't finished my project yet, but it's 95% functional for camping. Yet, knowing what I know now, I kind of get excited about finding another bus and doing a 2.0 version.

That shuttle van / trailer is one long articulated setup! Do you have airbags under your rear suspension? Looks like you're riding a bit low in the rear. I put them on my ol' half-ton when I towed, made all the difference in the world. Easy to put in too.

[Mike25405]

That picture was when I first hooked up. Now I have e450 leaf packs and the correct w/d hitch. Now it only drops about an inch and hauls really nice. It is a long setup but we have squeezed it in some tight spots at camp grounds. I have tuned the engine and upgraded the cooling and now prefer to tow anything heavy with the bus. I do have bags on my ram and it does make a big difference.

[Simplicity]

Glad to hear you have it set up so it's safe. Much easier to tow when level. Sounds like you have it set up really nice. Yeah, it's long, but when articulated, it's amazing how tight of a space you can get into, and out of.

I also like that you have a travel vehicle after dropping the trailer. Hmmm, got me thinking...no, stop thinking. That's what got me where I am now! ha.

Good luck with the school bus project!

[Mike25405]

Lol. Thinking has gotten me into this mess too. We was thinking of getting a new travel trailer but then I started talking about a skoolie and found one in auction. Was told it was OK to bid and I did, didn't even meet reserve and still one it. Picking it up on Friday to see how it goes. Little bit worried since it's a maxxforce dt with all the emission crap on it but for what I paid it's worth a try. If we can't figure out a good layout you might see it for sale on here but I think it will work and we can definitely hook a toad up behind it.

[Mike25405]

Brought the RE home yesterday. I lucked out, it's a 2008 with a 2007 DT466 (Not a MAXXFORCE) with the egr already deleted and an Allison 2500 RDS. Made it 110 miles with no issues running 70 mph. Now time to figure out if I really want to go all in.