wheels, tacomas, and towing an old oinker.

[StevenS]

Planning a pig purchase a little later this Spring/Summer. Thinking about the logistics on this and looking for some advice. The pig's a 71, and mostly original. It's got some small "ish" wheels and tires on it, and most likely they're dry rotted from having sat for several years. When I go to pick it up, I'd like to go ahead and swap out the wheel/tire combo for some stock steelies and skinny A/Ts. Here's the conundrum. I'm certain the truck still has drum brakes on it, and I'm not sure whether I need to be shopping for an "early" or "late" wheel or if there really is such a thing or a difference. Point is, if I buy a set of wheels for a pig, clean 'em up, put some new tires on them - is there anything preventing me from mounting them right up or do I need to be concerned about proper backspacing, fitment, that kind of thing? Trying to make it easy vs. difficult but at this point don't know if there's a difference in geometry between the brake arrangements.

Second, the thing's got a tow bar for it, so once I'm comfortable that it's going to roll without any troubles, I'm looking to hitch it up to the Tacoma (see specs below). Since the piggie's a little bigger (and maybe heavier?) than my Taco, anyone think I'll have any issues flat towing - or should I just borrow a full size beast to carry it home? The $60,000 question here is, if I want to trailer it to events will I be able to accomplish that in the Tacoma??

Thanks in advance for your input.

 

[Project Rusty Gold]

Well, since I have a 71 pig towing it with a tacoma would do more damage than good but if it is just 10 miles tops then the tacoma can do it but other than that if it is more than 10 miles don't do it. Also with a pig being around 4500ish pounds I believe that the tacoma will not be a good tow rig. Just my 2cents

 

[StevenS]

Oops - I guess I should have specified what kind of towing I'm planning on doing. Thanks for your reply Rusty. I'm going to be hauling it down some back roads then down a major highway across the state line back into GA. Overall journey is likely ~200 mile range.

So, sounds like this is 'undo-able' in the proposed Pork Taco configuration. Is it because the Pig doesn't do well at higher speeds? I know in my '40 I had to disengage the drive shaft in order to flat tow it. Same with a pig?

Would it be easier to just toss the whole idea and stick it on a flatbed?

 

[bobm]

Instead of towing Drive it! Thats what there made for. But Tow it home!

Thanks Bob.

 

[Project Rusty Gold]

Oops - I guess I should have specified what kind of towing I'm planning on doing. Thanks for your reply Rusty. I'm going to be hauling it down some back roads then down a major highway across the state line back into GA. Overall journey is likely ~200 mile range.

So, sounds like this is 'undo-able' in the proposed Pork Taco configuration. Is it because the Pig doesn't do well at higher speeds? I know in my '40 I had to disengage the drive shaft in order to flat tow it. Same with a pig?

Would it be easier to just toss the whole idea and stick it on a flatbed?

That would be the way to move the pig since that it has been sitting for some time the brake might be bad along with all the fluids also. Flatbed might be your best bet for the distance.

 

[landcruisnman]

Borrow the big truck and cruise home with no worries and a new piggy........

 

[StevenS]

Borrow the big truck and cruise home with no worries and a new piggy........

Cool. I'll do this. Thanks guys. Any input about wheels? Still confused on this issue.

 

[StevenS]

Thanks John! Tried to quote your message but not working for some reason.

I'd thought about going the M/T approach, but had been worried about tread life. I think after owning my Tacoma for however many years I've just now correctly dialed in my camber to get optimum tread life. I may get brave and go the M/T route on the 55. I keep referring to a pic of one painted in pollux orange that appears to have 9.5" BFG M/Ts on it, and it looks fantastic. May use that particular truck as a model for mine.

Regarding the steelies, I'll keep an eye out and will try to score some late model ones. I appreciate the advice. I wasn't sure if I could run them with either discs or drums but sounds like I'm in good shape if I get them and do a disc upgrade down the road - exactly what I needed to know.

I assume that FJ55s went the way of the disc the same year that the FJ40s did? (i.e., 1976?) That will help when I start tracking down wheels.

Thanks again.
S