Which Airdog for our vans? Darth I know you're out there...! - Diesel Forum

msnunes · 12-12-2005, 10:42 AM

Getting ready to order an Airdog from ITPDiesel -- BTW, they are on sale right now for a short time, so now's your chance!

There are 2 versions, one for F-series and one for the Excursion. According to ITP, the only difference is in the brackets, otherwise the same.

Does anyone know which would be more appropriate for a van? I assume some custom bracketting is necesary anyway.

Thanks...

DarthSurplus · 12-12-2005, 05:07 PM

You're really stretching my memory - perhaps Dennis could check his records and be certain. If he needs my specific permission to allow him to tell you what he sold me, I grant it here, or he has my cell phone number. It seems to me I got mine in April, since I was in Phoenix to be with Dad on his birthday.

However, I believe that I used a truck bracket to make my van bracket.

I'll talk to my wife and see what it would take to set everything up so I can upload pictures again. (We are still enjoying post-move chaos)

You might want to take a look at my ramblings and mutterings on the topic here, for guidance, reference, and reassurance that you're probably doing the wrong thing.
[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

DarthSurplus · 12-12-2005, 05:11 PM

And this one?

msnunes · 12-12-2005, 08:02 PM

Thanks - and wow, a lot of good info there (which it seems I have seen before, so much for my mid-term memory).

I'll ask Dennis to see if he can look up what you last purchased. Did you say you had them on both trucks? Do you remember if the kits were exactly the same? (just a memory-jogger - since I'll probably have to fab a bracket anyway, it may be a toss-up, but don't want to pick the one that no one's seen...)

msnunes · 12-12-2005, 10:11 PM

Dennis said you purchased the Truck kit... However, he mentioned that was around the time the manufacturer changed styles of brackets and he's not sure which one you got -- it would be for either "inside" or "outside" the frame mounting. He said if you had a pic he could tell which one... unless you happen to remember that detail.

If you don't have a pic handy, it's okay. I may just go with the truck kit since it will require some "fabbing" anyway. I can't see how much different -- or better for us -- an Excursion version would be anyway...

fordmastertech · 12-12-2005, 11:38 PM

The Excursion Air Dog kit mounts to one of the horizontal frame cross members not the frame rail. I have some PICS in my signature of my Air Dog install.
FMT

DarthSurplus · 12-13-2005, 09:53 AM

With a little help from Tim, we have a winner! (thanks for posting the excursion pics, Tim)

I can now say with certainty that I have never possessed an excursion airdog kit.

It’s difficult to try to compare my two installations, because by the time I performed the van installation, the bracket had been transformed beyond recognition. Also, I do remember having the inside vs. outside the frame rail discussion with Dennis in April. I got the last outside-the-frame-rail truck airdog kit he had in inventory. (Actually, I got his last airdog, period.) I think my truck bracket mounts to a transverse bed channel at the front of the bed. I was told at one point that the excursion bracket clamps to a frame cross member, sandwiching the member rather than drilling it. My modified van bracket is a rectangle, with one long edge supporting the airdog and the other long edge bolting directly to the frame, in the vicinity of the filler neck, using two OEM holes.

I’ll try to get some pictures and measurements of my bracket over the Christmas break.

If you’d care to swing by Indianapolis, I’ll help you install it in my driveway, snow or shine!

msnunes · 12-13-2005, 10:08 AM

Thanks all, and yes, it appears the F-series kit would be more appropriate in my case. The X kit bracket looks a little too specialized...

And also got the word from Dennis early this morning about the "in" versus "out" thing. Looks like I'll be getting an "innie" and making it mount like an "outie" (most likely).

Time to order now!

DarthSurplus · 12-13-2005, 06:22 PM

Even if it were (barely?) possible to fit the airdog inside the frame rail, to the left of the drive shaft, and between the tank and OEM pump unit, on a standard E350, I would expect that insurmountable difficulties would arise from the presence of a transfer case in the instance of a 4x4 Quigley van such as yours. If you straight-piped it, you might have room on the passenger side inside the frame rail, but I would have to insist that the selection of such a locale is decisively indicative of poor judgement. (It'd be a bad idea, goober) The exhaust and the fuel system are isolated from each other by Ford for some very sound reasons.

Eckstam's new owners want the airdog and its associated fuel lines inside the frame rails for some very sound reasons, also. Unfortunately, serviceability and accessibility aren't among them. I've thought about fabricating a cage, a frame, or some sort of reinforcement to provide protection for the airdogs from side impact that is superior to the body panels alone. The good news is, at least it ain't gasoline. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Here is one final thought:

If you had an extended-body 4x4 powerstroke econoline, and did not have a pullrite hitch or a 37" spare, you might be able to mount the airdog inside the frame rails aft of the rear axle, but still well clear of the rear bumper. Just an idea. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

msnunes · 12-14-2005, 10:17 AM

Points taken. Maybe that's why the new owners don't officially offer a van version... Be we're already used to that sort of thing, and it's never stopped us before!

I have plenty of time to think about a mounting scheme and appropriate protection. Yes, at least it ain't gasoline...