Converted e450 for hotshotting?

I'm looking at a 2010 E450 cab & chassis that I'd like to put a sleeper on to use as a hot shot truck. I'm curious if anyone has run a van based chassis before and if there is any reason it would not be as good as a truck?

Reason I'm looking at the E450 is because I want a pre-DPF truck and I want a actual sleeper not a back seat. The E450 was the only chassis to not go to the 6.4 diesel from Ford. Meaning the 2010 I'm looking at has a pre-dpf 6.0 engine. I'd much rather get a 6.0 and bulletproof it vs spending 50 grand on a DPF truck hence the reason I want to go this route.

Anyone know any reason I should stay away from the van chassis vs a truck chassis? I will be hauling a 40ft flatbed and the van cab & chassis is roughly the same wheelbase as a F350/450/550 crew cab log bed.

 

Good point, if I go that route I can change out the rear end gear set so it wouldn't be a deal breaker, but that's a good tip I didn't think about.

 

Yea I've seen those but still a quite pricy option.

I've found this option here,

https://www.cabbacks.com/product-page/ford-42-cab-back

That is big enough to be a legal sleeper and is more room than a normal crew cab truck. Not sure if I'd go that way but it's a solid option.

 

Yea, I also have a fiberglass high top that I could cut down to fit a short set up like that would would make a pretty cool set up.

This is one set up as a hauler with that cabback

 

I've done a lot of research on 6.0s and I currently have a 1 ton van with a 6.0 . after 2005 the 6 0 was a pretty decent engine out of the box and head issues are not that common if you are not hot rodding them. Sure they can blow a head gasket, but in all honesty so does the duramax and hell even the Cummins

The problem with 7.3 trucks is they eat transmissions , they use the older front suspension so are much rougher ride and the wiring harness & electronics are starting to become a problem to source.

A 2010 is going to have all the nice modern updates like full disc brakes anti lock, I can still work on it and it's not a 20 year old truck. You cant look at just the engine you have to find the best package overall IMO.