getting a job as an escort

[grey ghost]

ok before the jokes start i'd like to explain.

my little brother has been hired to escort mobile homes this spring and really wants a ranger. {no suprize on that} my question is there anybody on here that does this for a living and could offer some advice as to what he should be looking for in a ranger? he has desided that an automatic would be in order so he dosen't have to deal with shifting and doing the driving/radio work at the same time. what engine or assories should he be looking for? i told hin that he should at least get the extended cab for lockable storage..
he has chosen a hands free cb mike and has bluetooth phone. so that's already done . maybe someone could post some pics of what their trucks are like as far as lights and warning plackards?
thanks in advance for all your help you guys have been so much help to me in the past.to all the members on here.,,grey ghost

 

[dgndngrngr]

that sounds like a pretty decent job actually. tell him good luck!

 

[grey ghost]

thanks i'm hoping he likes it they told him the pay is $1.25 a mile is that sound like the average for this ?

 

[rboyer]

I have a friend who escorts and i'm pretty sure that's what he gets paid as long as he's using his own vehicle. He doesn't drive a Ranger though, he drives a neon. I think he also used a Geo Metro for a little bit too. The more fuel you save the more money you make.

 

[Jim Oaks]

When I was a Trooper, I worked with a lot of escorts on super loads. Unfortunately, a truck driver I knew got killed hauling a heavy load on the interstate in Kentucky because his escort wasn't far enough ahead of him to watch for hazards.

Anyways.......

You'll want room for long trips. Storage. You may need a place on the front bumper to place poles (pilot poles) to check height clearance.

Pick-ups are great because mobile homes get A LOT of flat tires in transport. It's good to have room to haul some of their spares.

Need a good light bar with a place to stick red flags at each end. Need to be able to have an Oversize Load sign on the front and rear. The law dictates the size. Cant cover your headlights or taillights. All your lights must be in good working order.

A good CB radio is a MUST have. A spare is a good investment. If your CB breaks, your worthless to the driver of the load. Make sure you have good tires and plenty of gas. If your truck takes a crap, the load is screwed.

Remember that semi's carry a lot of fuel and they can't just pull an oversize load in anywhere. Some of those guys never want to stop, so be prepared to stay in the truck for a long time and eat on the go. Take a cooler.

Gas mileage is your friend. The less money you spend on fuel, the more profit you make. Also keeps you from having to make stops.

Also, some states (I think New York is one) require you to be licensed as an escort in their state

I use to escort stuff like this where traffic control was needed:

Been on loads where there was a truck pushing or where the rear trailer (called a jeep) had a big ass diesel engine to push with. Seen loads crab walk down the road to distribute weight, trailers raise up to clear guardrails on corners, and where the trucking comapny bought lawns and fences because they couldn't make the turn.

Fun stuff.

Back in 2004, I was making either $350 or $385 (I don't remember) a trip to escort huge loads to the state line (states car, states gas. They paid a seperate fee for the car).

Here's a Ranger with a pilot pole

 

[tpking]

i couldnt do that i have ADHD and would end up leaving it behind .. now a follow car i could do maybe

 

[grey ghost]

thanks for the info jim. i do know he has his new york cert. i'm not sure how many states he'll cover. he's done it before but those company's suplied the "car" . we wewre looking for ideas on how other's dealt with exactly what jim described . lac of fuel compaired to the toter. slopy weather and several other problems we normally take for granted.

 

[tpking]

put in an auxilary tank to hold another 20gal or so in the bed of the truck .. the added weight would help traction also

 

[rboyer]

This is where AllanD's 3-tank Ranger would come in handy. He has enough fuel capacity to make a trip from Pennsylvania to Wyoming without stopping for gas. Honestly if it were me I would be taking a 4 cyl extended cab Ranger and adding dual tanks to it. Then there is also the 4 cyl 4x4 Ranger. I just recently saw one of them for sale on craigslist out near Altoona for $350 but I just checked and the ad is gone now. The 4 cyl 4x4 was considered a "bastard" because of it's underpowered engine behind a 4x4 drivetrain but as far as escorting goes the 4x4 would be an incase of emergency type of thing and barely ever be used.

 

[triumphrider-1]

put in an auxilary tank to hold another 20gal or so in the bed of the truck .. the added weight would help traction also

+1 Defiantely want to add a second tank to try to get the same range as the big truck.

I would probably get a reg cab long bed or ext cab short bed with a 2.9L or 3.0L, maybe lower it later to try to improve aero performance. Also maybe some kind of bed cover.

 

[WNY964x4]

Also, some states (I think New York is one) require you to be licensed as an escort in their state

you are correct , all escort vehicles that ar in ny , or even pass through the state , must be certified

i have seen quite a few rangers as escort vehicles in my travels , i know a guy down by my college that has two

and this may be a good plan for your bro

the first he has is for late spring - early fall , it looks funny , it is a mid 90's corolla , 5 spd with cruise , he gets insane gas mileage and has a spare tank in the trunk , with a ford tank selector switch wired up in the front to switch tanks

the second he has is for late fall - early spring , because the weather gets grappy , it is a toyota highlander i believe , it doesnt do too bad on gas , it is 4wd , and has all sorts of room in the back for extra stuff

your brother may want to consider the 2 car idea , as it will save him gas in the long run

 

[grey ghost]

just wanted to bump this back into the lineup .
thanks for all the ideas so far...