Towing with a 60 please read

zukinut · 10-28-09, 07:45 PM

I posted a similar post in the 80 section. Long story short, ive come to a crossroad in life. For the first time i cant afford all my vehicles, plus it just doesnt make sense anymore. I need a daily driver/ tow rig. Right now i dd a 60 and have an 89 ford diesel for towing the zuk buggy. The ford sits and gets driven roughly 1000 miles a year, just doesnt make sense anymore, not that it ever did.

So ive decided to sale the ford and either put a small block in the 60, or sale the 60 and the ford and buy an 80 and put a 5spd in it. I would like a diesel swap more than anything, im a diesel freak, but right now it doesnt make good financial sense.

Ill be towing a 1000lb trailer and a 4000lb buggy. Im sure that a 60 with a small block would do it. Just wondering what yall thought.

Please post any opinions, other options or personal experiences you may have.

Will

Michael Hanson · 10-28-09, 08:02 PM

I pull a lot of trailers and boats with my 60,62, and 80. On flat ground no problem in the mountains it becomes more tricky. I actually like the 60 with the 4 speed better.Slow but steady. V-8 would be better,I always liked my Mercurys with the 400s in the mountains. I like Gary Wagneers 502 Mercruiser and have been toying with the idea of doing something similar. Mike

rusty_tlc · 10-28-09, 08:19 PM

Keep in mind the 80 still has the straight six, even with injection it's not the ideal engine for towing.

I'd go with the 60/SBC conversion if it were me. It's just a much easier conversion than the any conversion with the 80 series.

Or just buy a domestic diesel truck.

zukinut · 10-28-09, 08:30 PM

I have a diesel ford, it tows fine, but insurance aint cheap. And the truck sits until its towing. Which isnt gonna be much in the near future. Wanna be able to keep the cruiser and have a tow rig at the same time.

Will

Michael Hanson · 10-28-09, 08:32 PM

What about a 1998-2000 cruiser? Mike

mr natural · 10-28-09, 08:35 PM

Sell them both and buy a diesel 6- series? I've seen several good ones that could be imported from Canada legally. Ratpuke is selling a suh-weet diesel 7- series here on Mud. Just a thought. I would sure as crap buy a diesel cruiser before I did a swap. I would have to hire the swap done, and it would be ridiculous. If I could do the swap all myself, might make sense.

Mace · 10-28-09, 09:12 PM

a 60 (or 80) will never be a good tow rig for a 4K buggy and a 2K trailer.
It's not even the power, it's the braking..

Keep the ferd and the buggy.

MANUCHAO · 10-28-09, 09:18 PM

I would keep the 60 with a SBC and upgrade the brakes on the 60 and use trailer brakes on the trailer.
I pull my lil trailer with about 4k in weight and it does great.
Mace has a good point tho'. that's why up graded the brake system.

rusty_tlc · 10-28-09, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Hanson

What about a 1998-2000 cruiser? Mike

The short wheel base is an issue. I've considered towing my FJ40 with the UZJ100 but have been told it would be a problem. I'm tempted to borrow a trailer and give it a try anyway.
One thing is for sure the 100 has plenty of power, but at 14 MPG the Ford diesel might be a more economical option.

Kurtis · 10-28-09, 09:51 PM

I put a 350 in mine, I've never towed over 4500 lbs yet but it tows that fine. 3000 lbs is the most i've pulled more than 10 miles. The brakes are a little scary but other than that its fine. I have a 4l60e for transmission. A diesel 60 is cool but I don't see how a 2h or 3b would tow much better than the 2f even with a turbo. Any diesel swap that gains some good power would be pricey. When I did mine the sbc was the most economical way to be able to use my cruiser as a daily driver. I didn't want a car payment and still wanted to be able to tow a 6/12 trailer to the desert and dunes and be able to move my work trailer around job sites. It does the job. I still can drive a pickup if I need but I really enjoy driving the 60 around and it pulls fine. the only thing I would do if your pulling that weight is have trailer brakes.

cavemancaleb · 10-28-09, 10:26 PM

Like Mace said, power is not your primary issue. Its braking and control. Your going to be towing a 5-6 thousand pund load with a 4 thousand pound cruiser.
The factory stated towing capacity for a 60 or 62 is 3500. That wont change with more power.
I vote get a tundra or a sequioa. sell the ford.
I cant tell you to sell the 60 cause that goes against everything i stand for.
But you could keep the cruiser and the zuk as toys cause a tundra/sequioa would make a reasonable tow rig / DD. 17-18 avg. MPG i expect.

CruisinFJ60 · 10-28-09, 10:37 PM

keep em all and take insurance off of the ferd till ya need to tow with it.

even with a v8 the 60 really isnt gonna be good for towing 5-6k trailer brakes would make a world of difference on it but still not a good combo in my opinion.

zukinut · 10-28-09, 11:07 PM

I understand the braking. I can overcome that. Dont drive fast, dont be stupid, use your knowledge, etc. Been pullin trailers since before i had a license, doesnt make me an expert but it does make me knowlegable.

The ford is no longer a good idea, i need something i can drive everyday and occasionally tow with.

I just wanna know that i can get to the top of an 8% grade and not blow a motor apart.

I appreciate the posts, keep em coming. Im sure more than one person has wondered the same thing.

Will

CruisinFJ60 · 10-28-09, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zukinut

I just wanna know that i can get to the top of an 8% grade and not blow a motor apart.
Will

a 60 with a SBC will do that with no problem.

cavemancaleb · 10-28-09, 11:15 PM

I do know that my buddy rob tows his fully built and exoed first gen 4runner on a trailer between moab and SLC regularly with his fzj80. says he has no problems but it still scares the poop out of me.

MANUCHAO · 10-28-09, 11:50 PM

I think a V8 could handle that and you could also beef up the tranny with aftermarket products and a nice size tranny cooler...

Mace · 10-29-09, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MANUCHAO

I think a V8 could handle that and you could also beef up the tranny with aftermarket products and a nice size tranny cooler...

And blow straight through stoplights cause you can't stop.

60's are not designed to haul 6K+ weights..

jeepgod · 10-29-09, 07:12 AM

As long as the trailer has breaks it will do most of the stoping of the additional weight. Upgrade the breaks on the 60 and you will be fine.

wngrog · 10-29-09, 08:46 AM

I have tried all of the above...back when I thought it was cool to have a Toyota tow rig.

60....don't do it. No way the brakes are up to it. Engine, yes with a 350, but that swap is a ton of $$$

80....towed a heavier load than that a lot for about a year. I went from N Orleans to Tellico 2x, to Clayton 3x and Texas 3x towing a FJ-40 on a heavy trailer. I ran it in DRIVE and it did OK. I ended up roaching the motor on the 80 so I am not going to recommend it. I think the heavy towing and the long pulls at redline to maintain speed were key to the early demise of the motor.

Now, if you must tow with a Cruiser I recommend a 100 series. I towed the hell out of my old buggy with mine. It towed GREAT, stopped GREAT and it worked.

lehiguy · 10-29-09, 08:59 AM

I have towed 6000 and 7000 pound trailers with my 60. The brake upgrade (GM disks/calipers on rear, 4-runner MC and front calipers) stops beautifully. On that much trailer, you should really have trailer brakes, but that's not always the way it goes.

PPFJ60 · 10-29-09, 01:06 PM

I have a 350 stroker motor (383) in a 60 and it is not fun pulling heavy trailers. I just pulled another 60 that was missing engine, tranny and transfer case 30 miles up hill from 6000 feet to 9000 feet. I tooled along at 45 miles per hour with the NP203 splitter in low gear.

I have thought about getting another truck to use as a puller but I wouldn't use it enough to want to keep it around. A 60 can not compete with a 3/4 ton or 1 ton truck for pulling trailers.

Elbert · 10-29-09, 02:35 PM

if you want to be safe...then I would not be towing much weight with the 60 or an 80, no mater what engine they had. Towing safe means a 3/4 ton truck at least. You can't plan for emergency stops with a lot of weight and stock brakes.

Not much adds up with the idea of saving money...

I bought a 2500 suburban for towing, it has the 7 pin trailer wiring + brake controller, a HD reciever hitch that's rated for more that I plan on pulling, and its made to do that type of work.If you get outside a 2500 or 3500 vehicle then its not going to be safe in my view. I have a FJ60 with SBC...I have no plans to tow with it at all.

I want to be safe, and be able to stop no matter the conditions, and be able to pull whatever grades I need to at reasonable speeds, and be in control of the vehicle. Some of that means I need trailer brakes, the towing vehicle needs substantial weight itself, and proper brakes+suspension+cooling on the tow vehicle.

Just about anything will move a trailer on flat ground.... of course that's only part of the business at hand.

Cruzerman · 10-29-09, 09:27 PM

I agree with Mace. If you are only going to keep one rig, and towing 6K lbs. is a requirement, keep the Ford and sell the cruiser. The Ford not only is a way better tow rig, it most likely gets better mileage as a daily driver.

zukinut · 10-29-09, 09:48 PM

The ford gets 10mpg on a good day. Its NOT a turbo diesel, its normally aspirated. It used to be a rollback, was cutdown to the 8' flatbed it is now. It still has the suspension from being a rollback, driving it everyday in the city is impossible.

Will

Kurtis · 10-29-09, 10:52 PM

When I move 5k around with the 60 its really not that bad, Granted its just a few miles around town and I take it nice and easy but if you upgraded the brakes i'm sure you'd be fine. I've pulled 3k on a 400 mile trip and it pulls just fine. I didn't have any problem with the shorter wheelbase control was fine, and the brakes stopped me just fine was well. If you can afford to drop in a 350 i'm sure some trailer brakes would be a drop in the bucket compared to that and you'd be good to go for sure.

Bird · 10-29-09, 11:22 PM

i'm with wngrog, get a 100 series for the tow rig. ive towed heavy loads with my 62 and my 80 and they will get you there but nothing like the 100series. i borrow my parents when i need to tow and it makes all the difference. got to have the trailer brakes.

Cruzerman · 10-30-09, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zukinut

The ford gets 10mpg on a good day. Its NOT a turbo diesel, its normally aspirated. It used to be a rollback, was cutdown to the 8' flatbed it is now. It still has the suspension from being a rollback, driving it everyday in the city is impossible.

Will

Bummer. If you must only have one rig that will pull double duty for both a daily driver and tow a relatively heavy load, I still would say that any cruiser is not the rig to do this. We all love our cruisers, or why else would we be here? But they just were not designed for this purpose and I don't think you could ever make them as good or safe as a rig that was designed with towing in mind. If you must only have one rig, perhaps a turbo diesel pickup or something similar is a better choice.

If it were me, I'd stay with the tow rig and a DD. Just take the tow rig off insurance when not used. JMHO.

alaska60 · 10-30-09, 08:30 AM

[QUOTE=cavemancaleb;4919045]Like Mace said, power is not your primary issue. Its braking and control. Your going to be towing a 5-6 thousand pund load with a 4 thousand pound cruiser.

You mean 5,700 pound cruiser!

ntsqd · 10-30-09, 08:36 AM

Just a note on taking a vehicle on and off the Ins. If you are a KA resident it trips a switch at the DMV and all kinds of trouble comes your way. BT, DT. If it's off the Ins. it's got to be non-op'd.

GLTHFJ60 · 10-30-09, 10:00 AM

Suburban wheelbase = 129"
60 wheelbase = 107.5"

I've towed a lot with a sub and you can barely tell that heavy trailers are there. Does the 20" wheelbase make that much of a difference when towing? I haven't towed anything buy my 416 with my 60 but I'd think that with a FF rear axle and upgraded brakes, it could tow just about anything up to 5k lbs.

X2 that trailer brakes are a must.