FSJ or truck?

[duncanstives]

Next year I plan on buying another vehicle... One of the requirements is that it be able to haul my 88 GW with reletive ease... The other is that it can seat four semi confortably, has AC, cruise (planning on some longish trips) and power windows (that WORK :rolleyes: ) and runs well. I plan on spending AROUND $5K. So... Get a 3K late model waggy and spend $2K making it reliable and able to tow about 8K total (gear, trailer, waggy with heavier running gear, plus fudge factor)? Or buy a Ford truck from the mid 90s with a crew cab and run that?

Oh yeah: Must be 4x4... I will be putting some 31s on and probably a limited slip to enable recovery operations when needed.

Obviously I would perfer a waggy but I am wondering how realistic making a good tow rig/DD is at the $5K price point? What mods would be best (I am thinking hydroboost, disk conversion, 4bbl and maybe gears)?

[HOOT]

Get you a Ford F-350 crew cab 4x4,7.3 powerstroke turbo diesel, and duals in the rear.

I should of done this a couple of years ago. I towed that J4000 Camper Special from MT to AL and never knew it was back there. The truck never wiggled or waggled for that matter. Unbelieveable is all I can say. I wouldn't hesitate to make this a daily driver if the Bird acts up again. I can get about 18 miles a gallon driving like I had a brain. I was averaging about 13 MPG with it loaded(bed) and a loaded trailer on back cross country at 75 MPH with 4;10 gears. Craigslist is loaded with some really nice cheap F-350's right now. Search in Cincy, Louisville and Lexington. Seen some really nice ones in there just tonight.

Mine is a 95. If you stay in the 94-98 years you can pick a nice one up for about $5000 right now.

A stock waggy will have a hard time hauling a built waggy for any distance.

[pineymike]

X2 on the F350 best truck I've ever had&mine is a '89 gas big block 5spd.

[KyooMac]

x3 on the F-350

[duncanstives]

Get you a Ford F-350 crew cab 4x4,7.3 powerstroke turbo diesel, and duals in the rear.

I should of done this a couple of years ago. I towed that J4000 Camper Special from MT to AL and never knew it was back there. The truck never wiggled or waggled for that matter. Unbelieveable is all I can say. I wouldn't hesitate to make this a daily driver if the Bird acts up again. I can get about 18 miles a gallon driving like I had a brain. I was averaging about 13 MPG with it loaded(bed) and a loaded trailer on back cross country at 75 MPH with 4;10 gears. Craigslist is loaded with some really nice cheap F-350's right now. Search in Cincy, Louisville and Lexington. Seen some really nice ones in there just tonight.

Mine is a 95. If you stay in the 94-98 years you can pick a nice one up for about $5000 right now.

A stock waggy will have a hard time hauling a built waggy for any distance.

Yeah... I was looking at them. 350s seems CHEAP... Even brand new they start at under $30K for base model 4x4s. I guess there is not a huge demand for trucks quite that big. How come a waggy will not do well ith upgraded brakes and optimal gearing? I would think a 3/4 ton j20 would do fine and its got a similar drivetrain.

[Bill Moore]

if you can find one, get a 03 Dodge Cummins, best year, preferably with the manual. The f350 that Hoot mentions is a good one, and much cheaper, I just prefer the Cummins. Or you could drop a 6bt cummins in the j20, but lots of fabing will have to be done.

[duncanstives]

if you can find one, get a 03 Dodge Cummins, best year, preferably with the manual. The f350 that Hoot mentions is a good one, and much cheaper, I just prefer the Cummins. Or you could drop a 6bt cummins in the j20, but lots of fabing will have to be done.

Can't use a J20... Needs to seat 4.

6BT in a waggy would be sweet but no dice there... Needs to be =/<$5K

[Bill Moore]

crew cab j20? there were several for sale over the last year

[brubakes]

Truck. :)

[jaber]

I ran a 2000 F250 4x4 with the 7.3 and an auto and it rarely saw over 13MPG empty. Then again, I had a company fuel card, so I was not easy on the skinny peddle... As far as power, I was seriously impressed and enjoyed driving it. My bosses son had a newer Dodge 3500 with the Cummins and a 6 spd 4x4, and the interior of his was falling apart fast. The running gear seemed to hold together well puling a gooseneck and a Johndeere 110 backhoe, as well as various materials...


But I still say the Cummins Waggy is the one you want, You know you do, dont keep lieing to yourself......

Sorry...

[suzq044]

Both - J truck is an FSJ :D

Actually, I was thinking - if you have to seat the family - get a new Ram HD - the new body is coming soon, and in "Power Wagon" trim, will be bad[censored];complete with Winch from the factory, and especially if you get a MegaCab. :D

http://www.autoinfection.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/2010-dodge-ram-power-wagon-1.jpg
http://www.autoinfection.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/2010-dodge-ram-power-wagon-3.jpg

[duncanstives]

If I was doing that I would be buying a ford SVT raptor. No vehicles manufactured by the government for me. Although I REALLY like the power wagon and Rubicon. Sadly this is a delema I simply do not have to face right now... Ethier of those vehicles are just a tiny bit above the $5K price point.

[78J-10]

Early to mid 90's Dodge or Ford 3/4 ton or 1 ton. Diesel or gasser both great trucks. Personally i would try and find a good deal on nice 94-97 12v there out there just got o find them. Or the 5.9 is great motor too.

Waggy wont be able to haul your 88 like a fullsize truck will.

Plus if you get a truck you got even more room for more stuff then if you had the waggy.


-Mike

[Bill Moore]

My bosses son had a newer Dodge 3500 with the Cummins and a 6 spd 4x4, and the interior of his was falling apart fast. .
Of the Dodge 96 and 97, both bodies started falling off them, common problem. Around 170k miles on the 97 the doors started dropping.......not to mention the brakes being fubar.... 2003 doesnt have this problem, as its a 4 door

[sappy76]

Go with the Dodge Cummins.

I have a 98 V10 as my reliable tow truck. (Still working on my chief and it's taking a lot longer and costing me a lot more than I expected. I hope to make it my daily winter driver and hunting/fishing vehicle when it's done. Only thing though, it used to break down frequently, and I'm wondering if all the upgrades have rid the evil spirits.)

My Dodge, although a gas pig and only a cab and 1/2, has been extremely reliable and I don't even notice a difference when pulling a car hauler fully loaded.

[orangebike]

I know alot of people that dont like them but i have 2001 ford superduty....absolutly love it....but when/if the 7.3 does go...i do want to look into the cummins transfer....just cuz i like to have stuff that is unusual and no one i know has:thumbsup: :drivin:

[wickedwagon767]

I dig the mid-90's 4WD F-350 crew cab short-beds but the ones I've seen around here in TX in good condition are usually priced over $5000. Some I"ve seen ridiculously up over $8000 and higher. You could shoot for an F-250 extended cab with the 7.3L Powerstroke. Should be able to find one for around $4grand in good shape.

If you can find an 89-93 Dodge 1st-gen 12v Cummins with the extended cab I'd go that route. Should be able to find a nice one for $4000-5000 in good shape and they'll pull a house down.

Buuuuuut, the FSJ bug in me says find an 86-89 Grand Wag in good condition for around $2500-3000 and swap in a pair of J20 truck axles (Dana44/Dana60) along with the J20 truck rear leaf springs (for towing capacity) along with maybe some helper springs. Most J20's that I've seen had 3.73 axle gears stock which will be better for towing than the stock Wagoneer axles........but the AMC 360 engine may or may not be up to the task of a lot of towing in stock form. A 4-barrel carb upgrade would be better for power/performance but I'd recommend converting it to a GM TBI fuel injection setup for vastly improved all-around driveability......if you can afford it. If you found a Wagoneer with all the power windows and locks and A/C working for the prices I listed above, you should be able to convert it to TBI injection and swap in a pair of J20 axles and be right at the $5000 marker

Hydroboost is a must-have too though and that coversion can be done for a few hundred bucks. Elliott sells the hydroboost units and most needed parts on this board. He can walk you through the install. Knows his stuff

[suzq044]

I would say a mid-90s Dodge with the 5.9 or the Cummins with a 4x4.

[HOOT]

I've towed cross country with the J20 a couple of times. It did it and was cool doing it. The only trouble I had was it liked to get squirrelly when passing semi trucks. If adding sual wheels would stiffen up my J20 for towing I'd do it. Actually I might be doing that anyway and I can see how it handles.
The turbo diesel was Sweetness X 10. Took extremely long and steep climbs in the Big Horn MTs. like it was Kansas.
The cargo capacity of the F-350 is sweet as well. I'd actually like to skin this Ferd to look like a Jeep. ;)

[duncanstives]

I dig the mid-90's 4WD F-350 crew cab short-beds but the ones I've seen around here in TX in good condition are usually priced over $5000. Some I"ve seen ridiculously up over $8000 and higher. You could shoot for an F-250 extended cab with the 7.3L Powerstroke. Should be able to find one for around $4grand in good shape.

If you can find an 89-93 Dodge 1st-gen 12v Cummins with the extended cab I'd go that route. Should be able to find a nice one for $4000-5000 in good shape and they'll pull a house down.

Buuuuuut, the FSJ bug in me says find an 86-89 Grand Wag in good condition for around $2500-3000 and swap in a pair of J20 truck axles (Dana44/Dana60) along with the J20 truck rear leaf springs (for towing capacity) along with maybe some helper springs. Most J20's that I've seen had 3.73 axle gears stock which will be better for towing than the stock Wagoneer axles........but the AMC 360 engine may or may not be up to the task of a lot of towing in stock form. A 4-barrel carb upgrade would be better for power/performance but I'd recommend converting it to a GM TBI fuel injection setup for vastly improved all-around driveability......if you can afford it. If you found a Wagoneer with all the power windows and locks and A/C working for the prices I listed above, you should be able to convert it to TBI injection and swap in a pair of J20 axles and be right at the $5000 marker

Hydroboost is a must-have too though and that coversion can be done for a few hundred bucks. Elliott sells the hydroboost units and most needed parts on this board. He can walk you through the install. Knows his stuff

Thats was EXACTLTY my thinking when I made this thread... Of course I would ALMOST be building another of what I already have:
Waggy... Check!
360... Check!
3/4 ton swap... Check!
Hydroboost... Check!

Of course this one would not be lifted, it would have stiffer springs and probably fuel injection (current one will most likely get a "birthday present" in the form of a propane set-up once I get another vehicle).

[710 Burner]

Of the Dodge 96 and 97, both bodies started falling off them, common problem. Around 170k miles on the 97 the doors started dropping.......not to mention the brakes being fubar.... 2003 doesnt have this problem, as its a 4 door
I have not had a problem with any of this on my 94. I had to replace all of the transmission cooling lines because the vibration of the Cummins causes them to rub holes in them where they are clamped together. But hey, they lasted almost 200K. Ball joints are also something to watch out for on the 2WD, I'm not sure on the 4x4.

[suzq044]

I am voting Waggy - because for the price of them, they're simple to keep; time consuming but simple; And if you want a hauler, you have one, they're quite capable.

[rebeljeep]

Voted truck: My family has good experience with both '90 F250 HD 7.5 auto and '95 F350 powerstroke 5 spd dually. They haul strong and both have well over 250K and are very reliable. The powerstroke direct injection is a good motor with turbo compared to its previous indirect injection models which are still reliable just have less umph. We have a banks stinger kit on the diesel-gets about 16 mpg highway.

The crewcab is a must for adults in backseat, even with seatlift in the extra cab its still a little tight.

The F350 hauls my J10 easily