Towing with 6 cylinder (1 Viewer)

[hairy_apple]

I currently have a V8 in my cruiser... but I've been wanting to put a 3FE into it for some time. I have been collecting parts, and reading up on the swap. Getting closer.. and the I started thinking about the fact I also want to be towing a trailer and wondering if I'm shooting myself in the foot loosing HP and then pulling a trailer.

I'm looking to either buy 416 style, or build one similar. I imagine they get somewhat heavy with goodies added and loaded with stuff. How do you guys with 2F and 3FEs find towing trailers?

 

[RockDoc]

In my experience towing with a 3FE and a 2FE, brakes are the limiting factor, not power.

I have flat towed an enginless / trannyless 62 with a 3FE, a 55 in similar condition with a 2FE, and U-haul's largest enclosed trailer (tandem?) with a 2FE. I have also seen a VJ40 with 40" tires pulled on a car hauler behind a 3FE powered FJ80. All of this on highway over significant distance.

 

[76technician]

An M416 is so light you won't know it's back there unless you've got it way overloaded. At the dump today my tare weight for my 40 with a hard top and my 416 with its spare tire was 4980 lbs. I tow my small sailboat with it, about 900 lbs on the trailer. My 2F is well used but in decent shape, with headers and a Weber that really shouldn't make any difference, with 33s and stock 4.11 gears.

 

[hairy_apple]

Awesome. You guys have put my mine at ease. Thank you. I've only towed once with my V8 and it was aweful... the SM420's weird gear spacing between 3rd and 4th made it so I was either over reving or lugging the whole time. I was pulling a truck on a trailer though and I'm sure I was WAY heavier then a camping trailer is ever going to get.

 

[Josh N]

I have a 3FE in my 80. Tows fine for the loads I tow, but I haven't towed more than 1 ton yet and really wouldn't try. Up a steep hill I am not getting anyplace fast.

 

[hairy_apple]

Not looking to tow a ton... just a small military trailer behind my 40 so I can have more stuff with us for long trips. It's just cramped and I want a trailer.

 

[Brentbba]

While I have the 1FZJ80 engine in my '94, I've towed as much as a 4000 lb trailer for my scout troop. You don't get anywhere fast uphill, but you do get there. I regularly tow my M101CDN trailer (same size as the M416) and I agree, you don't even know it's there.

 

[Redgrrr]

Go drive a 3fe without a trailer and come back and tell us what you think.
Me personally I'd keep the better gas mileage and power