Behemoth Limo Fits 24

December 18, 2008

Hardwood floors, leather seats, 10 TVs
just some of the luxuries of this ride

By AL BEEBER

Lethbridge Herald

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. -- It has hardwood floors, 10 televisions, a killer sound system and two bars, seats 24 people, stands about 2.4 metres high and is 12 metres long.No, this isn't a mobile home for the rich and famous although Dave Brodoway's new limousine could qualify as one.

Brodoway, owner of Executive 4-Star Limousine, has the biggest and maybe baddest limo in Canada, a behemoth built on a Ford F-650 chassis. He won't divulge the price for the record, but suffice it to say, it's worth a lot more than a mobile home. With a stainless steel roof, laser lights, leather couches and the ambience of a high-class restaurant, this limousine is unique and its definitely an eyecatcher.

Driving down a busy thoroughfare, this fabulous Ford generates stares and dropped jaws from fellow motorists who are dwarfed by it. Access to the cabin is via two doors mounted at the rear of the truck and hydraulically operated steps, just in front of a set of duallies. Behind the duallies is a third axle with a single tire and rim on each side.

Brodoway had the machine custom-built in the U.S. after getting it approved by Transport Canada. "Transport Canada has very strict crash test guidelines," says Brodoway who also operates limousines built on the smaller yet still gargantuan Ford Excursion frame.

With the capacity to haul 24 passengers, the machine now gives Brodoway more versatility, especially for hauling groups of people to NHL games. Guests can operate the limousine's lighting system themselves from a panel at the back, giving them the chance to create their own interior ambience depending on use.

"It's a city bus," says Brodoway of his machine's immense size. And he can manoeuvre it with the skill of a veteran trucker, backing it smoothly into a narrow garage opening with the help of a rear view camera mounted on the dashboard.

The turning radius is either tight or the 36-year-old former Safeway worker knows how to drive a bus as good as anyone. Brodoway started his company in 2000 after 14 years in the grocery business, taking over a name and a garage with one older car-based people hauler.

Like commercial buses, the big Ford has emergency escape latches mounted on each of its darkly tinted windows. He puts mats on the hardwood floor to prevent scratches from high-heeled shoes and accidents from people slipping during wintery weather. The hardwood is an unusual feature but one which matches the rich tones of the seating.

Running the truck doesn't come cheaply. It has dual fuel tanks for the big Triton V10 engine under the massive Super Duty styled grille. Even with one tank still a quarter full, Brodoway spend $250 on diesel filling it.